Battle of Mars-la-Tour

Battle of Mars-la-Tour
Part of the Franco-Prussian War
Heinrich XVII, Prince Reuß, on the side of the 5th Squadron I Guards Dragoon Regiment at Mars-la-Tour, 16 August 1870. Emil Hünten, 1902.
Date 16 August 1870 Location Mars-La-Tour, France 49°06′11″N 5°52′21″E / 49.103095°N 5.872536°E / 49.103095; 5.872536 Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
North German Confederation Kingdom of Prussia	French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Friedrich Karl	François Bazaine
Units involved
Second Army	Army of the Rhine
Strength
80,000[1] 210+ guns	80,000[1]
Casualties and losses
15,799 4,421 killed 10,411 wounded 967 missing 2,736 horses	17,007 1,367 killed 10,120 wounded 5,472 missing

The Battle of Mars-la-Tour (also known as the Battle of Vionville or Battle of Rezonville) was fought on 16 August 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, near the village of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. One Prussian corps, reinforced by two more later in the day, encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement and, following the course of battle, the Army of the Rhine retreated toward the fortress of Metz.