Siege of Danzig (1813)

The Siege of Danzig (1813) was a military engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. It took place from January to December 1813 in the city of Danzig (present-day Gdańsk, Poland). Danzig, then heavily fortified, was held by a French garrison under the command of General Jean Rapp. The besieging forces were primarily Russian, under the overall command of Duke Alexander of Württemberg, though Prussian forces also played a significant role as the siege progressed.

The siege began in the aftermath of Napoleon's disastrous Russian Campaign of 1812. As the Grande Armée retreated westward, Russian forces pursued, liberating territory as they advanced. Danzig, a strategic port city on the Baltic Sea, became a key objective.

The siege was protracted and brutal. The defending French garrison, although isolated and eventually running short on supplies, put up a determined resistance. The Russians, hampered by the strong fortifications and the harsh winter conditions, employed a combination of artillery bombardment and siege tactics.

As the siege wore on, disease and starvation took a heavy toll on both the garrison and the civilian population of Danzig. The besiegers were also affected by disease. The early stages of the siege were largely carried out by Russian troops, but as the situation developed, Prussian troops were increasingly involved.

Following Napoleon's defeats at Lützen and Bautzen in May 1813, a brief armistice was declared, and the siege was temporarily lifted, allowing for resupply of the garrison by sea. However, hostilities resumed after the armistice ended.

By the late autumn of 1813, the situation inside Danzig had become desperate. With supplies dwindling and morale low, General Rapp finally agreed to surrender the city on December 24, 1813, after protracted negotiations. The French garrison was allowed to march out with military honors but were taken as prisoners of war.

The Siege of Danzig (1813) was a costly affair for both sides, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction within the city. It was a significant event in the War of the Sixth Coalition, contributing to the ultimate defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. The fall of Danzig marked a crucial step in the liberation of Prussian territory from French occupation and played a key role in the restoration of Prussian power.