The Battle of Tornow was fought between the forces of
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
and
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
on 26 September 1758 during the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754†...
, near modern-day
Fürstenberg/Havel
Fürstenberg () is a town in the Oberhavel district, Brandenburg, Germany.
Until 1919, Fürstenberg was part of the former Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Geography
Fürstenberg is situated on the River Havel, south of Neustrelitz, and ...
(then called Tornow, in the
Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a territory in Northern Germany, held by the younger line of the House of Mecklenburg residing in Neustrelitz. Like the neighbouring Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, it was a sovereign member state ...
).
The Prussians sent 6,000 men, led by General
Carl Heinrich von Wedel
Carl Heinrich von Wedel (also spelled Wedell; 12 July 1712 – 2 April 1782) was a Prussian lieutenant general in the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748), the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), and the War of Bavarian Succession (1778–1779). H ...
, to protect
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
. Wedel attacked aggressively and ordered his cavalry to attack a Swedish force of some 600 men at Tornow. The Swedes bravely fought off six assaults, but the majority of the
Swedish cavalry was lost, and the Swedish infantry had to retreat before the stronger Prussian forces.
The Prussian-Swedish battles continued at the
Battle of Fehrbellin on 28 September 1758.
References
Battle of Tornow
Battles of the Seven Years' War
Battles involving Prussia
Battles involving Sweden
Battles in Brandenburg
1758 in the Holy Roman Empire
{{Sweden-battle-stub