Siege of Dresden

{{short description|Siege during Third Silesian War}}

{{Infobox military conflict|

| image = Canaletto (I) 013.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = The ruins of the Kreuzkirche, destroyed by Prussian bombardment. Bernardo Bellotto, oil on canvas, 1765

| conflict = Siege of Dresden

| colour_scheme = background:#cccccc

| partof = the Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War)

| date = 13–22 July 1760

| place = Dresden, Saxony

| coordinates = {{coord|51.0500|N|13.7333|E|source:wikidata|display=title,inline}}

| result = Austro–Saxon victory

| combatant1 = {{flag|Prussia|1750}}

| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Holy Roman Empire}} Austria
{{flagcountry|Electorate of Saxony}}

| commander1 = Frederick the Great

| commander2 = Johann Sigismund Maguire

| strength1 = Unknown

| strength2 = 13,900

| casualties1 =

| casualties2 =

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Seven Years' War: European}}

{{Campaignbox Silesian Wars}}

}}

{{OSM Location map

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| width = 304

| height = 160

| title = Frederick the Great

| caption = {{legend|black|current battle}}{{legend|olive|First Silesian War}}{{legend|maroon|Second Silesian War}}{{legend|navy|Third Silesian War}}

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| mark-title1 = Battle of Mollwitz on 10 April 1741

| mark-description1 = Małujowice

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| label2 =

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|49.95|15.39}}

| mark-title2 = Battle of Chotusitz on 17 May 1742

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| label3 =

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| mark-title3 = Battle of Hohenfriedberg on 4 June 1745

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| label4 =

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| mark-title4 = Battle of Hennersdorf on 23 November 1745

| mark-description4 = Henryków Lubański

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| label5 =

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| mark-title5 = Battle of Lobositz on 1 October 1756

| mark-description5 = Lovosice

| label6 =

| mark-coord6 = {{coord|50.97|13.93}}

| mark-title6 = Siege of Pirna from 10 September to 14 October 1756

| mark-description6 = Pirna

| label7 = Prague

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| mark-title7 = Battle of Prague (1757) on 6 May 1757

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| label8 =

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| mark-title8 = Battle of Kolín on 18 June 1757

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| label9 =

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| mark-title9 = Battle of Rossbach on 5 November 1757

| mark-description9 = Braunsbedra

| label10 =

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| mark-title10 = Battle of Leuthen on 5 December 1757

| mark-description10 = Lutynia, Środa Śląska County

| label11 =

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| mark-title11 = Siege of Breslau (1757) from 7 December 1757 to 20 December 1757

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| label12 =

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| mark-title12 = Siege of Olomouc from 4 May to 2 July 1758

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| label13 =

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| mark-title13 = Battle of Zorndorf on 25 August 1758

| mark-description13 = Sarbinowo, Gmina Dębno

| label14 =

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| mark-title14 = Battle of Hochkirch on 14 October 1758

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| mark-title15 = Battle of Kunersdorf on 12 August 1759

| mark-description15 = Kunowice

| label16 = Dresden

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| mark-title16 = Siege of Dresden from 13 to 22 July 1760

| mark-description16 = Dresden

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| mark-title17 = Battle of Liegnitz (1760) on 15 August 1760

| mark-description17 = Legnica

| label18 =

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| mark-title18 = Battle of Torgau on 3 November 1760

| mark-description18 = Torgau

| label19 =

| mark-coord19 = {{coord|50.79|16.47}}

| mark-title19 = Battle of Burkersdorf (1762) on 21 July 1762

| mark-description19 = Burkatów

| label20 =

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| mark-title20 = Siege of Schweidnitz (1762) from 7 August to 9 October 1762

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}}

The siege of Dresden took place in July 1760 during the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years' War) when a Prussian force led by Frederick the Great unsuccessfully besieged the city of Dresden in Saxony.

Frederick had previously occupied Dresden in 1756 during his Invasion of Saxony, which had triggered the outbreak of war. In 1759 it had been taken back by Austria-led forces. Frederick now targeted it in an attempt to reassert control over Saxony where he had expansionist territorial ambitions.

The Prussian army reached the outskirts of Dresden on 13 July followed closely by a corps of Austrian troops under Count von Lacy. Frederick's forces crossed the River Elbe and overran the suburbs of the city bringing up heavy guns to target inside the city walls.Szabo p.282 Frederick was accused of deliberately shelling civilian areas of the city.Childs p.168

Deciding to move and confront the threatening army of Daun, Frederick abandoned his attempt to reoccupy the city and withdrew. The large amount of damage done to the city and indiscriminate destruction further damaged Frederick's reputation across much of Europe. In particular, his destruction of the Elector of Saxony's gardens at Pirna in the wake of the siege, drew criticism.Dull p.182

Dresden was the third major siege Frederick had been forced to abandon following Prague (1757) and Olomouc (1758).Szabo p.283 Frederick's forces crossed into Silesia and fought the Battle of Liegnitz on 15 August.