“Marshal Forward” crosses the Rhine

Blüchers Rheinübergang bei Caub am 1. Januar 1814 “Marshal Forward” crosses the Rhine
Jan 1 1814
Blücher's crossing of the Rhine at Caub on January 1, 1814 (Source: Public Domain)

The left bank of the Rhine becomes German once again

New Year’s Eve 1813/14 saw the first Prussian units under Field Marshal Blücher – known to his troops as “Marshal Forward” – cross the Rhine at the town of Kaub. This marked the beginning of the reconquest of the German-speaking areas on the Rhine’s left bank, annexed by France under Napoleon. After the final defeat of the French Emperor in 1815, Krefeld, Cologne, Kaiserslautern, Aachen and Saarbrücken were officially German again.

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