Having through muddled staff orders started too late to reach the commanding heights first, the Austrian VI Corps brigades, exhausted from a six-hour march, were committed piecemeal against the Prussians commanding the heights.
The Prussian firepower goaded the Austrians into courageous but costly bayonet charges; their officers lost control, and five and a half thousand men fell to the Prussians' thousand.
The news electrified Berlin.
Von Steinmetz was hailed as the "Lion of Náchod", and Bismarck found for the first time in his life that he was popular.
Strategically, Ramming's loss meant the Austrians lost control of one of the passes giving entry into Bohemia.
It also meant that Glabenz' Corps was left in the air at Trutnov (Trautenau), and ultimately meant that the Prussian army could advance towards a union with the other Prussian armies.
Having through muddled staff orders started too late to reach the commanding heights first, the Austrian VI Corps brigades, exhausted from a six-hour march, were committed piecemeal against the Prussians commanding the heights. The Prussian firepower goaded the Austrians into courageous but costly bayonet charges; their officers lost control, and five and a half thousand men fell to the Prussians' thousand. The news electrified Berlin. Von Steinmetz was hailed as the "Lion of Náchod", and Bismarck found for the first time in his life that he was popular. Strategically, Ramming's loss meant the Austrians lost control of one of the passes giving entry into Bohemia. It also meant that Glabenz' Corps was left in the air at Trutnov (Trautenau), and ultimately meant that the Prussian army could advance towards a union with the other Prussian armies.
Battle of Náchod