Austrian Succession · War Crimes & Atrocities
The War of the Austrian Succession produced atrocities primarily through the use of irregular forces — Austrian Pandours and Croats, Prussian foraging parties — against civilian populations, and through the systematic devastation that accompanied extended campaigns through Silesia, Bohemia, and Bavaria. Unlike later industrialized wars, the atrocities of this conflict were largely driven by the structural realities of 18th-century warfare: armies that lived off the land, irregular fighters operating outside any code of conduct, and the deliberate destruction of economic resources as a military tool.
20,000+
deaths
Victims: Civilian populations of Silesia and Bavaria — predominantly German-speaking farmers and townspeople(Estimated deaths from raids, atrocities, and disease caused by displacement; precise figures unavailable)
5,000+
deaths
Victims: Silesian civilian population — farmers, townspeople, Catholic clergy and institutions(Direct deaths relatively low; economic disruption caused substantial excess mortality through hardship and disease)
500+
deaths
Victims: Austrian prisoners of war(Estimated deaths among prisoners from neglect, exposure, and inadequate provision during forced marches; precise figures unavailable)
10,000+
deaths
Victims: Silesian Catholic communities; ethnic and religious minorities in contested zones(Estimated deaths from displacement, disease, and economic collapse across contested Silesian territories; reflects eight years of recurring military presence)