 Veuillez patienter... Musée de la bataille du 6 août 1870, Woerth (67)
First setbacks for the French army in AlsaceThe first French soldier fell on July 25th, 1870 in Alsace. The non-commissioned officer from the 12th regiment, Claude Pagnier, was killed in a clash with a patrol of Baden dragoons at Schirlenhof.
From 3 August, the Third German Army, which was under the orders of the Prussian price Frédéric Guillaume, occupied Wissembourg and the River Lauter. On 4 August 1870, the first major confrontation took place in town and on the slopes of the Geisberg hill. The French army, under the command of General Mac-Mahon, was defeated for the first time; despite heroic resistance, the disadvantaged vanguard of General Abel Douay's Second Infantry Division succumbed to Prussian attack. |
| The Battle of 6 August 1870The Battle of 6 August 1870 battle took place at Woerth-Froeschwiller. The German forces were camped on the eastern banks of the Sauer and the French army, who were much fewer in number, were up on the Froehwiller plateau, between Langensoultzbach and Morsbronn-les-Bains. Neither combatant had any intention of waging battle that day, but clashes near the river at Woerth caused hostilities to break out; there was an impromptu clash at Froeschwiller.
The armies clashed violently all day. By 1 pm the right wing of the French army had been overwhelmed, despite valiant resistance, and the Germans had taken the village of Morsbronn. |
|  | | Mac Mahon at the Battle of Woerth. Photogravure courtesy of Service Historique de l'armée de terre |
| | Mac-Mahon made a strategic error in sending the Second Armoured Division of the Michel Brigade into extremely unfavourable terrain filled, notably, with hops. The ambushed French troops were decimated by Prussian fire in the streets of Morsbronn. The Germans progressed even farther, taking Eisasshausen before threatening to take the road into Froeschwiller. At around 3.30pm, Mac Mahon sent four regiments of the Bonnemain cavalry division to fight them. Another massacre ensued. However, the impassioned attack of the first Algerian Infantrymen managed to slow down the German advance, only to end up surrendering because of a lack of ammunition. The battle continued in the village of Froeschwiller, which fell at 5pm, after intense attack. |
| The outcome of these battles was disastrous: about 10,000 men killed on the French side, and 10, 640 on the German. Many communal graves and tombs were dug, and the people of Woerth and Froeschwiller called upon to bury the dead.
The Musée de la bataille du 6 août 1870 at Woerth is wholly dedicated to the tragic battle that opened the road to Vosges for the Prussian army. |
|  | | The Geisberg cock monument dedicated to French soldiers killed on 4 August 1870. Photo DMPA. |
|  | | The lion monument dates from 1878. It is dedicated to soldiers of the Third German Army who fell on 4 August 1870. Photo DMPA. |
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| Practical informationOpening hours
From 1 February to 31 March and from 1 November to 31 December
Saturday and Sunday 2pm-5pm
From 1April to 31 May and from 15 September to 31 October
Monday-Sunday 2pm-5pm; closed Tuesdays
From 1 June to 15 June
Monday-Sunday 2pm-6pm; closed Tuesdays
From 16 June to 14 September
Monday-Sunday 10am-noon and 2pm-6pm; closed Tuesdays
Museum closed in January
SERVICES
- Lift access to the museum, excepting the tower, for persons with restricted mobility
- Car park at entrance to museum; bus park 100m away
- Shop
- Guided tours of museum and battleground in French and German
TARIFS
Individuals: 3euro
Groups (more than 10 people) and children under 15: 2.30 euro
Students, school groups: 2euro
Contact information
Association des amis du muse et du patrimoine de Woerth et environs
2, rue de Moulin
67360 WOERTH
Tel: 0033 (0)3 88 09 30 21
Fax: 0033 (0)3 88 09 47 07
E-mail : mus6aout@gmail.com |
| | Source MINDEF/SGA/DMPA Territoire Grand Est |
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