Five Prussian soldiers. That’s all that stood between the retreating Russo-Prussian forces and a French onslaught at the Nettelnburger Schleuse. This seemingly insignificant skirmish during the Napoleonic Wars holds a pivotal place in history. It occurred on May 30 1813 in the Hamburg suburbs of Nettelnburg and Ochsenwerder. The battle at the Nettelnburger Schleuse wasn’t a grand clash of armies. It was a desperate rearguard action. A small Prussian battalion under Oberstleutnant Karl August Ferdinand von Borcke thwarted Marshal Davout’s attempt to cut off the retreat of General Tettenborn’s troops.
The Nettelnburger Schleuse a crucial waterway connected the Bille River to the Dove Elbe. It was here that the French hoped to trap the retreating allies. They advanced from their base near Wilhelmsburg. They aimed to attack Tettenborn’s forces from the flank and rear. Tettenborn however was negotiating a peaceful withdrawal with the Danes. He did little to defend against the imminent threat.
Into this precarious situation rode Oberstleutnant von Borcke’s fusilier battalion. They were part of the Prussian Grenadier Regiment König Friedrich-Wilhelm IV. They had marched from Lüneburg. They arrived just in time. Von Borcke understood the danger immediately. He cleverly positioned his men in concealed positions within the marshy terrain. The area was difficult to traverse often flooded. This was a key advantage for the defenders.
As Tettenborn’s troops withdrew across the Billerdeich on May 30 1813 the French attacked. They needed to cross the Dove Elbe a narrow ten-meter-wide waterway. This crossing slowed their advance. It gave Von Borcke’s men the element of surprise. A sudden bayonet charge routed the unprepared French troops. Their attack collapsed into panicked retreat.
The battle at the Nettelnburger Schleuse was a small victory but a significant one. It secured the retreat of the Russo-Prussian forces. The French suffered approximately 400 casualties. The Prussians only lost five men. This incredible feat demonstrates the tactical brilliance of Oberstleutnant von Borcke. His skillful use of the terrain and his unexpected assault saved the day. The battle at the Nettelnburger Schleuse remains a testament to courage ingenuity and the importance of even the smallest battles in the grand scheme of war. The location itself the Nettelnburger Schleuse is a sobering reminder of the bravery displayed here. It is a quiet yet powerful tribute to the soldiers who fought there.