First Battle of Polotsk | |||||||
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Part of the French invasion of Russia | |||||||
![]() Belarusian Polatsak (Połacak) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
18,000–44,000 men[1][2][3] 150 guns[4][1] |
17,000–20,000 men[1][2][3] 98 guns[4][1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2,500–6,000[4][1][3] |
1,800–5,500 killed and wounded[1][4][3] 1,200–1,500 captured[4][3] 14 guns[4][3] |
In the First Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot near the city of Polotsk, halting Oudinot's advance toward Saint Petersburg.[5] The First Battle of Polotsk should be distinguished from the Second Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.[6]