August 12, 1759 · Brandenburg (Europe) Theater
August 12, 1759
The worst day of Frederick the Great's life. Facing a combined Russian-Austrian army of 59,000 near Frankfurt an der Oder, Frederick attacked with 51,000 men. Initial Prussian success collapsed into catastrophe as Russian troops refused to break, absorbed devastating artillery fire, and then counterattacked. The Prussian army disintegrated. Frederick had three horses shot under him; his coat was pierced by bullets. He left the field with 3,000 men of the 48,000 he had brought. 'I believe all is lost,' he wrote to a minister. 'Save the court; the enemy will be in Berlin in a few days.'
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