Siege of Neu-Breisach
Part of Franco-Prussian War
Date 13 October[2] — 10 November 1870[3] Location Neuf-Brisach, Haut-Rhin, France[4] Result German Victory.[5][6]
Belligerents
French Republic	North German Confederation  Prussia  Bavaria[1]  Baden[1]
Commanders and leaders
Lostie de Kerhor[4]	Hermann von Schmeling[7]
Units involved
Unknown	4th Reserve Division[8]
Strength
More than 5,000 garrisoned[9]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
100 officers and 5,000 soldiers were captured,[10] 108 fire cannons , 60 horses of the cavalry , 6,000 small arms and seized stocks[1][9]	70 Soldiers[9]

The siege of Neu-Breisach ^[11] was a battle of encirclement in the Franco-Prussian War,^[7] which took place from 13 October ^[2] until 10 November 1870 in France.^[11] A few days after the surrender at Fort Mortier of Neu-Breisach,^[12] with a divisional reserve, German General Hermann von Schmeling forced the fortress of Neu-Breisach (which held an army garrison under command of Shanghai Colonel Lostie de Kerhor) which surrendered,^[4][13] and won many spoils from the French army here.^[9] The siege demonstrated the high efficiency of the Baden batteries.^[11] With the surrender of Neu-Breisach, the Imperial German Army captured the last of the fortifications at Alsace, except for the Belfort and of Bitche.^[14] After this victory, Von Schmeling moved his cannons southwest to carry out the Siege of Belfort.^[7]

The French fortress of Neu-Breisach had a garrison of 5,000 men, while Fort Mortier, located near the Rhine, was built for independent defense.^[9] In early October, detachments of the German Fourth Reserve Division command of General Schmeling were ordered beyond the Rhine from Breisgau to conduct a siege on Neu-Breisach. Near the evening of 10 May, a breakout of the French military from Neu-Breisach was attempted, only to be defeated. The same day, the German cannons caused heavy damage.^[1] However, an intense field array of German troops could not force the officer commanding Neu-Breisach to surrender, so Schmeling switched focus to the Siege of Selestat.^[4] After German artillery guns were brought in from Strasbourg,^[1] Neu-Breisach was blockaded on 9 October 1870.^[14] On 12 and 13 October, sporadic raids and engagements broke out, but to no avail.^[1] On 13 October, the encirclement was completed, when in front of Neu-Breisach were 5,000 Prussians, who formed semicircular lines of battle, with the poles lying on the banks of the Rhine. On 16 October a French siege at Neu-Breisach was broken by the Germans.^[2] Although Neu-Breisach was heavily damaged by German artillery during the siege,^[11] the Germans remained unable to defeat Neu-Breisach quickly.^[2]

On 26 October 1870, after defeating Sélestat, Major General Von Schmeling - as commander of the Neu-Breisach siege and blockade corps consisting of Prussian, Bavarian and Baden units - sited the bulk of his division and the artillery battery placed in front of Sélestat south along the Rhine to carry out the siege of Neu-Breisach.^[4][1][7] He undertook the siege of Neu-Breisach forcefully,^[3] and during this period German infantry forces approached Neu-Breisach. On 2 November, from several locations such as Alt-Breisach, German cannons commenced fire.^[9] In the face of aggressive German artillery fire, the French garrison put up a fierce resistance, although on 3 November , the Mortier fortress and its structures were destroyed along with a few artillery pieces. France here was damaged.^[11] Finally, on 7 November, the attack took effect: French Captain Castelli surrendered at Fort Mortier^[4] beneath the rubble.^[9] The German army took prisoners and cannons from the French.^[2] The French defending at Neu-Breisach were in a difficult position.^[11] Three days after the fall of Mortier,^[3] Neu-Breisach surrendered on the same terms as those at Sélestat.^[9] On 11 November, the Prussian army occupied the city walls; an hour later, their prisoners left their posts.^[4]