Tuesday 10 May 2011

Höchstädt and Blindheim


While en route to another destination in Germany, the author made a short stop at Höchstädt and Blindheim. These places are of course known for the (second) battle of Höchstädt fought on 13 August 1704 between French/Bavarian and English/Dutch/Imperial forces. In the English speaking world this battle is commonly referred to as the battle of Blenheim (Blindheim), as the English troops were mostly committed around that vilage.

In Höchstädt is a nice Heimatmuseum (image above). This museum has several dioramas with tin figures showing several episodes of the battle. One diorama shows the surrounding (Einkesselung) of the village of Blindheim, occupied by large part of the French army, by English troops. Below two images of this diorama.





Another diorama depicts the action towards to the north near the village of Lutzingen. A third diorama shows the battle near Höchstädt fought in 1800 between French and Austrian forces. Though this was a very minor engagement, it was heralded in France and by Napoleon as revenge for the defeat suffered in 1704.

After Höchstädt the village of Blindheim was visited. Near the church there is a monument commemorating the battle. The last image is taken from a lookout tower outside of Blindheim enabling to survey the battlefield. The picture was taken towards the east, with Blindheim on the far right.



5 comments:

Rampjaar said...

Erreg mooi zeg! Heb je nog meer foto's?

Wienand Drenth said...

Ik heb alleen van dit diorama fotos gemaakt, en heb nog twee of drie vanuit een wat andere hoek. Een toont ook de doorbraak van de cavalerie richting het Franse kamp. Zal ze je vanavond wel toemailen.
Kwaliteit is niet helemaal super; het dio zit achter glas (terecht) en wilde daarom geen flits gebruiken (wel hoge iso en groot diafragma).

mekelnborg said...

I was going to say the same thing as Rampjaar, but in English. Good to see it. Do you remember if they had one for the first battle?

Wienand Drenth said...

Hm, if my memory serves me well, there was one diorama on the action near Lutzingen (prince Eugens wing so to say), one of the fighting near Blindheim, and one on the battle/skirmish of 1800.
Perhaps I should re-visit the museum and take more pictures (with a tripod). The area is nice enough to spend a whole week :-)

Wienand Drenth said...

Hm, if my memory serves me well, there was one diorama on the action near Lutzingen (prince Eugens wing so to say), one of the fighting near Blindheim, and one on the battle/skirmish of 1800.
Perhaps I should re-visit the museum and take more pictures (with a tripod). The area is nice enough to spend a whole week :-)