Chlum, East Bohemia, July 3 (CTK) – A record 900 fans of military history from nine countries joined today’s simulated Battle of Chlum that marked 150 years from the clash in which Prussian units defeated their Austrian enemy, Radek Balcarek, from the organising association, has told CTK.
The number of spectators reached 30,000.
The fightings between the Prussians and the joint Austro-Saxon armies in the Hradec Kralove (Koeniggraez) area culminated with the battle near the Chlum village on July 3, 1866, which involved 436,000 troops and left behind 16,000 dead and missing soldiers.
After the lost battle, the Austrian units were forced to retreat in the Vienna direction and the Habsburg monarchy had to accept Prussia’s armistice conditions.
In the battle reconstruction today, 800 infantry soldiers and 100 cavalry riders in period uniforms participated and 25 cannons were used.
Five dummy houses burned down amid the raging battle.
Earlier in the weekend, the organisers staged further events on the battlefield and its surroundings, including the unveiling of a memorial of an equestrian clash, open-air concerts, a divine service, a parade of historical units and the reconstruction of the fight for the Svib forest, one of the toughest moments of the Battle of Chlum, which is also known under the names of Koeniggraez Battle or Sadova Battle.
rtj/dr
