Znojmo Faces Another Assault from Napoleon’s Army
The reconstruction of the military camp, remembrance event at the cemetery Meadow, and the Battle of Dobšice celebrate the capture of Znojmo in 1809, when the Austrian and French armies faced off along with their allies from the German regions of Bavaria, Baden, and Hesse, which the Austrian army had invaded beforehand. The Austrian monarchy instigated the entire conflict in an attempt to make up for the aftermath of the War of 1805, which left the Empire with significant territorial losses following the Battle of Austerlitz. Therefore, our King and Emperor Francis I. was the aggressor. Two brutal battles took place on the northern bank of the Danube, resulting in 56,000 French and 46,000 Austrian casualties. The next engagement occurred on July 11 and 12 in Moravia near Dobšice. The town was taken five times in a single day before ultimately falling to the French. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Napoleon stated “Enough blood” and called for a ceasefire.
The remembrance of these violent times will occur on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12. The military camp beside the Louka Monastery will recreate the atmosphere of 1809. On Friday, July 11, at 9:30 p.m., there will be a memorial event at Louka Cemetery. On Saturday, July 12, at 2:00 p.m., there will be a traditional reenactment of the battle at Dobšice.
Even though Napoleon’s army was quite diminished and had suffered heavy losses by 1809, they still had a chance to defeat their opponent. After all, it was here that some 100,000 French troops and 40,000 Austrians gathered. Thanks to Napoleon’s wise decision to accept a truce rather than continue the battles, many lives were spared, unlike what happened during the similarly-sized Battle of Austerlitz just four years earlier. At Znojmo, there were four times fewer casualties—around 10,250. This year’s reenactments will focus on artillery use during the Napoleonic Wars, allowing spectators to witness some of the largest cannons displayed in battle reenactments throughout the country. This event will also showcase more than 150 soldiers and 20 horses..
Historic Battle and Military Camp
Soldiers from the Napoleonic armies will be displayed in the park near the Louka Monastery campground. You are welcome to visit to view the soldiers’ uniforms and equipment. On Friday at 9:30 p.m., there will be a memorial service honoring soldiers who perished in the Napoleonic Wars and other conflicts, featuring performances by The Vítězslav Novák Singing Association. At 9 p.m., the soldiers will march to the memorial event with drums from the camp, and you can join them.
On July 12, the armies will arrive in the area after 11 a.m. at the Forest Park close to Dobšice. Here, they will prepare for the battle, which will commence at 14:00 with a Battle Clash. This will highlight this year’s hero—a humble miller, along with his friend and fellow soldiers. Those attending will get a glimpse into a small part of his military life, including the emotions and thoughts of the soldiers. Access to the battle area will be available for both pedestrians and vehicles, with controlled parking on the paved area next to the forest park. There is no fee to enter the battle area, but please follow the event organizers’ instructions. The battle demonstration is expected to last about 40 minutes and will conclude with a small battle clash in the river. The entire event will wrap up with a joint military parade.
