By Alexander Querengässer (Original Publication: 2021)
The Bloody Climax of the Second Silesian War
Introduction: Alexander Querengässer’s Kesselsdorf 1745 provides a long-overdue, modern examination of the battle that effectively ended the Second Silesian War. While often overshadowed by the later tactical refinements of the Seven Years' War, this engagement was a brutal demonstration of Prussian infantry resilience against a formidable Saxon-Austrian defensive position. Querengässer utilizes recent research to provide a minute-by-minute account of Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau’s (the "Old Dessauer") final victory, fought in the freezing conditions of December.
The 6mm Connection: This book is particularly useful for the 6mm wargamer because Kesselsdorf was a battle of extreme terrain and concentrated force. The 24-figure Baccus battalions must navigate steep, icy slopes and village outskirts—details that Querengässer describes with tactical precision. The book’s maps are excellent for ground-scale planning; seeing how the Prussian battalions were squeezed into a narrow frontage gives me the historical justification for the dense, multi-line deployments I use on my tabletop. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Saxon army provides a wonderful excuse to paint those striking yellow-faced uniforms to contrast with the Prussian blue.
Historical Insight: The "lightbulb moment" in this volume is the gritty portrayal of the Old Dessauer’s leadership. Unlike Frederick’s fluid manoeuvres, Kesselsdorf was a frontal, "slogging match" where the overall commander (our three-mounted-figure stand) had to literally lead the first line into the snow-covered batteries. Reading about the sheer carnage caused by the Saxon artillery underscores why I prioritise my 3-gun artillery batteries in defensive positions; it reminds us that before Frederick’s "Oblique Order" was perfected, the Prussian army relied on the raw, bayonet-driven tenacity that Querengässer so vividly recreates.
Conclusion: Kesselsdorf 1745 rounds out the project by providing the essential "prequel" context to the Third Silesian War. It shows the Prussian military machine in its slightly more "primitive" but incredibly lethal state. It is a vital volume for anyone wanting to understand the development of the Prussian infantry and is an excellent guide for recreating one of the most desperate and atmospheric battles of the 18th century.
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