The Battle of Siegburg opened the French Rhine offensive of 1796, allowing Jourdan to cross the Rhine at Neuwied with the main army.
Key Facts
- Date
- 1 June 1796
- French crossing point
- Düsseldorf, 30 May 1796
- French commander
- Général de division Jean-Baptiste Kléber
- Main army crossing point
- Neuwied, led by General Jourdan
- Conflict
- War of the First Coalition
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
As part of the War of the First Coalition, French forces planned a major offensive across the River Rhine in 1796. General Kléber crossed the Rhine at Düsseldorf on 30 May 1796 with two divisions under Lefebvre and Colaud, advancing toward Siegburg to secure the flank and open the route for the main French army.
On 1 June 1796, Kléber's force engaged the enemy at Siegburg and won the battle. This engagement was the opening action of the broader French Rhine offensive, fought with the divisions of Lefebvre and Colaud under his command, establishing French control over the area east of Düsseldorf.
The French victory at Siegburg allowed General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan to bring the bulk of his army across the Rhine at Neuwied, enabling the main campaign of 1796 to proceed. This offensive became the central French military effort during that year of the War of the First Coalition.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Jean-Baptiste Kléber, Lefebvre, Colaud, Jean-Baptiste Jourdan.
Side B
1 belligerent