ABSTRACT
Frederick had chosen his defensive position near the town ofSchmirsitz south of Olmütz well. His position along the rolling hills near the town controlled both the southern and south-western approaches to Olmütz, while his left flank opened on to ‘a nice plain’ the king deemed ‘very advantageous’ to his troops.1 If Daun were to attack him from this side, as it appeared he would when on 27 June he moved the Austrian position north-east of Prödlitz to within 6 kilometres of Frederick’s corps, the attackers would not only have to assault a strong position, but would have the further disadvantage of having the Morawa River at their backs. Once the initial assault was repulsed a Prussian counter-attack could drive the retreating Austrians into the river with calamitous results. The prospects that the Austrian relief army could therefore lift the siege of Olmütz seemed poor, and the king remained supremely confident.
