Battles during the Seven Years' War. Russian troops in the Seven Years' War. Asian theater of war

Seven Years' War 1756-1763 was provoked by a clash of interests between Russia, France and Austria on the one hand and Portugal, Prussia and England (in union with Hanover) on the other. Each of the states that entered the war, of course, pursued its own goals. Thus, Russia tried to strengthen its influence in the West.

The war began with the battle of the fleets of England and France near the Balearic Islands on May 19, 1756. It ended in victory for the French. Ground operations began later - on August 28. An army under the command of the Prussian king Frederick 2 invaded the lands of Saxony, and later began the siege of Prague. At the same time, the French army occupied Hanover.

Russia entered the war in 1757. In August, the Russian army suffered heavy losses, but won the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, opening the way to East Prussia. However, Field Marshal General Apraksin, who commanded the troops, learned about the illness of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. Believing that her heir, Pyotr Fedorovich, would soon take the throne, he began withdrawing troops to the Russian border. Later, declaring such actions treason, the empress brought Apraksin to trial. Fremor took his place as commander. In 1758, the territory of East Prussia was annexed into Russia.

Further events of the Seven Years' War are brief: the victories won in 1757 by the Prussian army under the command of Frederick 2 in 1769 were reduced to zero thanks to the successful actions of Russian-Austrian troops during the Battle of Kunersdorf. By 1761, Prussia was on the verge of defeat. But in 1762, Empress Elizabeth died. Peter III, who ascended the throne, was a supporter of rapprochement with Prussia. Preliminary peace negotiations held in the fall of 1762 ended with the conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty on January 30, 1763. This day is officially considered the date of the end of the seven-year war.

With the exception of military experience, Russia gained nothing as a result of this war. France - lost Canada and most of its overseas possessions, Austria lost all rights to Silesia and the County of Galtz. The balance of power in Europe has completely changed.

Brief biography of Catherine 2

The German princess Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerpt was born on April 21, 1729. Her family was not rich and the princess received only a home education, which shaped the personality of Catherine 2, the future Russian empress. In 1744, an event occurred that determined not only the further biography of Catherine 2, but also, in many ways, the fate of Russia. Princess Sophia Augusta was chosen as the bride of the heir to the Russian throne, Peter III. By invitation Elizaveta Petrovna she arrived at the court. And, treating Russia as her second homeland, she actively engaged in self-education, studying the language, culture, and history of the country in which she was to live.

In 1744, on June 24, she was baptized into Orthodoxy under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna. Wedding ceremony with Peter 3 took place on August 21, 1745. But the husband did not pay much attention to his young wife. And Catherine’s only entertainment was balls, masquerades and hunting. In 1754, on September 20, Catherine gave birth to a son, the future emperor Pavel 1, but the child was immediately taken away from her. Relations with the Empress and Peter 3 deteriorated noticeably. Peter 3 had mistresses, and Catherine herself entered into a relationship with the future Polish king Stanislav Poniatowski.

Daughter Anna, born on December 9, 1758, was not accepted by her husband, since Peter 3 had serious doubts about the paternity of the child. By that time, Empress Elizabeth had become seriously ill. Catherine’s secret correspondence with the Austrian ambassador was also revealed. The fate of Catherine the Great could have turned out completely differently if not for the support of her associates and favorites with whom the wife of Peter 3 surrounded herself.

Peter 3 ascended the throne in 1761 after the death of Elizabeth. Catherine was immediately moved away from the marital quarters, which were occupied by her mistress. Having become pregnant by G. Orlov, she was forced to hide her situation. Her son Alexei was born in the strictest secrecy.

The domestic and foreign policies of Peter 3 caused growing discontent. Intelligent and active Catherine looked much more profitable against the background of such “deeds” of Peter as the return of lands seized during the Seven Years' War to Prussia. A conspiracy formed in the circle of Peter 3. Catherine's supporters persuaded the guards units to take part in the conspiracy. They took the oath to the future empress in St. Petersburg on June 28, 1762. The next day, Peter 3 was forced to abdicate in favor of his wife and was arrested. Soon after this he was killed. Thus began the reign of Catherine 2, called by historians the Golden Age of the Russian Empire.

The domestic policy of Catherine II was determined by the Russian Empress's commitment to the ideas of the Enlightenment. It was during the period called the enlightened absolutism of Catherine II that the bureaucratic apparatus was strengthened, the management system was unified, and the autocracy was strengthened. In order to carry out comprehensive and useful reforms for the country, Catherine 2 convened the Statutory Commission, which included deputies from the nobility, townspeople and rural population. But it was not possible to avoid internal political problems, and the largest of them was the peasant war led by Emelyan Pugacheva 1773 – 1775.

The foreign policy of Catherine 2 was quite energetic and very successful. The Empress sought to secure the southern borders of the country from the claims of Turkey. Perhaps it was in Turkish companies that the interests of the Russian Empire clashed most sharply with the interests of France and England. The second most important task for Tsarina Catherine 2 was the annexation of the lands of Belarus and Ukraine to the territory of the empire, which she achieved with the help of the divisions of Poland, carried out jointly by both Austria and Prussia. It is also worth noting the decree of Catherine 2 on the liquidation of the Zaporozhye Sich.

The period of reign of Empress Catherine 2 the Great was long and lasted from 1762 to 1796. It was based on the philosophy of the Enlightenment. There is information that Catherine was thinking about the abolition of serfdom, but she never decided on such large-scale changes. During the era of Catherine 2, the Hermitage and the Public Library, the Smolny Institute and pedagogical schools in Moscow and St. Petersburg were created. It was during this period that the foundations of civil society in Russia were laid. The death of Catherine 2 occurred from a cerebral hemorrhage that occurred on November 5, 1796. The Empress died the next day, November 6. Her son, Paul 1, ascended the Russian throne.

He significantly expanded the borders of his state. Prussia, which by the beginning of the war of 1740-1748 had the third army in Europe in terms of numbers and the first in training, could now create powerful competition for the Austrians in the rivalry for supremacy over Germany. The Austrian Empress Maria Theresa did not want to come to terms with the loss of Silesia. Her hostility towards Frederick II was intensified by the religious difference between Catholic Austria and Protestant Prussia.

Frederick II the Great of Prussia - the main hero of the Seven Years' War

Prussian-Austrian enmity was the main cause of the Seven Years' War, but the colonial conflicts of England and France were also added to it. In the middle of the 18th century, the question of which of these two powers would dominate North America and India was being decided. The confusion of European relations led to the "diplomatic revolution" of the 1750s. Two centuries of enmity between the Austrian Habsburgs and the French Bourbons was overcome in the name of common goals. Instead of the Anglo-Austrian and Franco-Prussian alliances that fought each other during the War of the Austrian Succession, new coalitions were formed: the Franco-Austrian and Anglo-Prussian.

Russia's position on the eve of the Seven Years' War was also difficult. At the St. Petersburg court, supporters of both Austria and Prussia had influence. In the end, the former prevailed; Empress Elizabeth Petrovna moved her troops to support the Habsburgs and France. However, the authority of the “Prussophiles” continued to remain strong. Russian participation in the Seven Years' War was marked from beginning to end by indecision and hesitation between the two European factions.

The course of the Seven Years' War - briefly

The alliance of Austria, France and Russia against Prussia was concluded in great secrecy, but Frederick II managed to find out about it. He decided to be the first to attack the not fully prepared allies in order to prevent them from uniting. The Seven Years' War began with the Prussian invasion of Saxony on August 29, 1756, whose elector sided with Frederick's enemies. The Saxon army (7 thousand soldiers) was blocked in Pirna (on the Bohemian border) and forced to surrender. The Austrian commander Brown tried to save the Saxons, but after the battle on October 1, 1756 near Lobositz, the Prussians forced him to retreat. Frederick captured Saxony.

The Seven Years' War continued in 1757. By the beginning of this year, the Austrians had gathered large forces. Three French armies moved against Frederick from the west - d'Estrée, Richelieu and Soubise, from the east - the Russians, from the north - the Swedes. The German Diet declared Prussia a violator of the peace. But the English army arrived in Westphalia to help Frederick. The British thought to shackle the French with Prussian hands in Europe, in the meantime, to decisively push them out in the American and Indian colonies, England had enormous naval and financial power, but its land army was weak, and it was commanded by the incapable son of King George II, the Duke of Cumberland.

In the spring of 1757, Frederick moved to Bohemia (Czech Republic) and on May 6, 1757 inflicted a heavy defeat on the Austrians near Prague, capturing up to 12 thousand soldiers. He locked another 40 thousand soldiers in Prague, and they almost repeated the fate of the Saxons in Pirna. But the Austrian commander-in-chief Daun rescued his troops by moving towards Prague. Frederick the Great, who thought to stop him, was repulsed with great damage on June 18 in the battle of Collin and thrown back from the Czech Republic.

Seven Years' War. Life Guards battalion at the Battle of Collin, 1757. Artist R. Knötel

In the Western theater of the Seven Years' War, the three commanders of the French armies intrigued against each other: each of them wanted to lead the war alone. Accustomed to luxury, the French officers looked at the campaign as if it were a picnic. They went to Paris every now and then, bringing crowds of servants with them, and their soldiers needed everything and died in droves from disease. On July 26, 1757, d'Estré defeated the Duke of Cumberland near Hamelin. The Hanoverian aristocrats, thinking only about their own benefits, concluded a capitulation that gave all of Hanover to the French. The Duke of Cumberland also wanted to approve it, but the English government Pitt the Elder prevented this. It succeeded in removing the Duke from command and replacing him (on the advice of Frederick the Great) with the German prince Ferdinand of Brunswick.

Another French army (Soubise), joining with the Austrians, entered Saxony. Frederick the Great had only 25 thousand troops here - half as many as the enemy. But when he attacked the enemies near the village of Rosbach on November 5, 1757, they fled in panic even before the entire Prussian army entered the battle. From Rosbach, Frederick went to Silesia. On December 5, 1757, he inflicted a severe defeat on the Austrians near Leuthen, throwing them back to the Czech Republic. On December 20, the 20,000-strong Austrian garrison of Breslau surrendered - and all of Europe froze in surprise at the exploits of the Prussian king. His actions in the Seven Years' War were warmly admired even in France.

Prussian infantry attack at the Battle of Leuthen, 1757. Artist Karl Röchling

Even before this, Apraksin’s large Russian army entered East Prussia. On August 30, 1757, it inflicted defeat on the old Prussian field marshal Lewald at Gross-Jägersdorf and thereby opened the way beyond the Oder. However, instead of further moving forward, Apraksin unexpectedly went back to the Russian border. This act of his was associated with the dangerous illness of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Apraksin either did not want to quarrel with Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich, a passionate Prussophile, who was supposed to inherit the Russian throne after Elizabeth, or intended, together with Chancellor Bestuzhev, with the help of his army, to force the unbalanced Peter to abdicate in favor of his son. But Elizaveta Petrovna, who was already dying, recovered, and the Russian campaign against Prussia soon resumed.

Stepan Apraksin, one of the four Russian commanders in chief in the Seven Years' War

Pitt's English government continued the Seven Years' War with energy, increasing financial support for the Prussians. Frederick the Great cruelly exploited Saxony and Mecklenburg, which he occupied. In the western theater of the Seven Years' War, Ferdinand of Brunswick in 1758 pushed the French all the way to the Rhine and defeated them at Krefeld, already on the left bank of the river. But the new, more capable French commander-in-chief, Marshal Contade, again invaded the Rhine and in the fall of 1758 passed through Westphalia to the Lippe River.

In the eastern theater of the Seven Years' War, the Russians, led by Saltykov after the removal of Apraksin, moved from East Prussia to Brandenburg and Pomerania. Frederick the Great himself unsuccessfully besieged Moravian Olmütz in 1758, and then moved to Brandenburg and on August 25, 1758 gave the Russian army the Battle of Zorndorf. Its outcome was indecisive, but after this battle the Russians chose to retreat from Brandenburg, so it was recognized that they were defeated. Frederick rushed to Saxony, against the Austrians. On October 14, 1758, the rising star of the Austrian army, General Laudon, thanks to a surprise attack, defeated the king at Hochkirch. However, by the end of the year, Frederick's generals drove the Austrians out of Saxony.

Frederick the Great at the Battle of Zorndorf. Artist Karl Roechling

At the beginning of the 1759 campaign, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick suffered great damage in the western theater of the Seven Years' War from the French general Broglie in the battle of Bergen (April 13), near Frankfurt am Main. In the summer of 1759, the French commander-in-chief Contad advanced deep into Germany to the Weser, but then Prince Ferdinand defeated him in the battle of Prussian Minden and forced him to retreat beyond the Rhine and Main. Ferdinand, however, was unable to develop his success: he had to send 12 thousand soldiers to King Frederick, whose position in the east was very bad.

The Russian commander Saltykov led the 1759 campaign very slowly and only reached the Oder in July. On July 23, 1759, he defeated the Prussian general Wedel at Züllichau and Kaei. This defeat could have been disastrous for Prussia and ended the Seven Years' War. But Saltykov, fearing the imminent death of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and the rise to power of the “Prussophile” Peter III, continued to hesitate. On August 7, he united with the Austrian corps of Laudon, and on August 12, 1759, he joined Frederick II himself in the Battle of Kunersdorf. In this battle, the Prussian king suffered such a defeat that after it he already considered the war lost and was thinking about suicide. Laudon wanted to go to Berlin, but Saltykov did not trust the Austrians and did not want to assist them in acquiring unconditional hegemony over Germany. Until the end of August, the Russian commander stood motionless in Frankfurt, citing heavy losses, and in October he returned to Poland. This saved Frederick the Great from inevitable defeat.

Pyotr Saltykov, one of the four Russian commanders-in-chief in the Seven Years' War

Frederick began the campaign of 1760 in the most desperate situation. On June 28, 1760, the Prussian general Fouquet was defeated by Laudon at Landsgut. However, on August 15, 1760, Frederick the Great, in turn, defeated Laudon at Liegnitz. Saltykov, who continued to avoid any decisive undertakings, took advantage of this failure of the Austrians to retreat beyond the Oder. The Austrians launched Lassi's corps on a short raid on Berlin. Saltykov sent Chernyshov’s detachment to reinforce him only after a strict order from St. Petersburg. On October 9, 1760, the united Russian-Austrian corps entered Berlin, stayed there for four days and took an indemnity from the city.

Frederick the Great, meanwhile, continued the struggle in Saxony. On November 3, here, at the Torgau fortress, the bloodiest battle of the Seven Years' War took place. The Prussians won a brilliant victory in it, but most of Saxony and part of Silesia remained in the hands of their opponents. The alliance against Prussia was replenished: Spain, controlled by a subsidiary branch of the French Bourbons, joined it.

But soon the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died (1761), and her successor, Peter III, an enthusiastic admirer of Frederick II, not only abandoned all the conquests made by the Russian armies, but even expressed his intention to go over to the side of Prussia in the Seven Years' War. The latter did not happen only because Peter III was deprived of the throne by his wife Catherine II after the coup on June 28, 1762. She withdrew from any participation in the Seven Years' War, Russia withdrew from it. The Swedes also lagged behind the coalition. Frederick II could now direct all his efforts against Austria, which was inclined towards peace, especially since France fought so ineptly that it seemed to have completely outlived its former military glory of the era of Louis XIV.

The Seven Years' War on the European continent was accompanied by colonial struggle in America and India.

Results of the Seven Years' War - briefly

The results of the Seven Years' War determined the Paris and Hubertsburg peace treaties of 1763.

The Peace of Paris of 1763 put an end to the naval and colonial struggle between France and England. England seized an entire empire in North America from the French: Southern and Eastern Canada, the Ohio River Valley and the entire left bank of the Mississippi. The British received Florida from Spain. Before the Seven Years' War, the entire south of India was subject to French influence. Now it was completely lost there, soon to pass to the British.

Results of the Seven Years' War in North America. Map. Red indicates British possessions before 1763, pink indicates the annexation of the British following the Seven Years' War.

The Treaty of Hubertsburg of 1763 between Prussia and Austria summed up the results of the Seven Years' War on the continent. In Europe, the previous borders have been restored almost everywhere. Russia and Austria failed to return Prussia to the position of a minor power. However, Frederick the Great’s plans for new seizures and weakening the power of the Habsburg emperors of Germany to the benefit of the Prussians did not come true.

Most people, even those who are interested in history, do not attach much importance to the military conflict called the “Seven Years' War” (1756-1763). But this was the largest conflict, the battles of which were fought not only in Europe, but also in Asia and America. Winston Churchill even called it “the First World War.”

The causes of the war were related to the conflict between Austria and Prussia over the historical region called Silesia. It would seem nothing special, an ordinary local war, but it should be taken into account that Prussia was supported by Great Britain in the conflict, and Austria by Russia and France. The statement of Frederick II, who called his rivals “The Union of Three Women”, has remained in history - i.e. Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Austrian Maria Theresa and French Madame Pompadour.

It was in this war that the military genius of Friedrich II, a commander who was an idol for Adolf Hitler, manifested itself. It is curious that the underlying causes of both the Seven Years' War and the Second World War were the ambitions of the Germans on the political map of Europe.

The first phase of the war (1756-1757) was marked by the successes of the Prussian army, which captured some provinces of Austria. However, the entry of France and Russia stopped Prussia's offensive fervor. Russian troops showed themselves brilliantly in the battle of Gross-Jägersdorf.

Main events of the Seven Years' War

The bloodiest battle of the Seven Years' War, Zorndorf, dates back to 1758. Russia and Prussia lost more than 10 thousand soldiers in this battle, and neither side emerged as the sole winner of the battle.

Subsequently, the heroism of Russian soldiers allowed them to win a number of high-profile victories, including the battle of Kunersdorf. Even then, in 1759, for the first time in their history, the Russians could occupy Berlin, but this happened, due to a lack of organization, only a year later, in 1760. Although not for long, the Russians first came to Berlin 185 years before the legendary May days of 1945...

Frederick II proved himself to be a great commander, he defended himself as best he could, he even managed to recapture Saxony from the Austrians in 1760 and resist powerful rivals. Frederick was saved by what would later be called in history the “miracle of the House of Brandeburg.” Suddenly, the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna dies, and Peter 3, who was an admirer of Frederick and everything Prussian, comes to power. The situation turns upside down: in May 1762, Russia concludes a peace treaty with Prussia and returns all its conquests in East Prussia to it. It is curious that in the spring of 1945, Adolf Hitler hoped that the “miracle of the Brandeburg House” would happen again...

Friedrich 2

The war ended in 1763 due to the complete exhaustion of the parties. Prussia retained Silesia and entered the circle of leading European powers. The Russians again showed themselves to be magnificent soldiers who, alas, received nothing from this war, but many do not remember the most important result of this war.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, Great Britain participated in the war. The theater of war for her was the American continent, where the British won a resounding victory, taking Canada from the French in 1759.

Moreover, the British ousted the French from India, where the British fleet once again showed its best side, and then victories were won over France on land.

Thus, “under the guise” of redrawing the map of Europe, Great Britain established itself as the largest colonial power during the Seven Years’ War, which laid the foundation for its power for a couple of centuries.

In memory of that war in Russia, only a small paragraph remains in school history textbooks, but it’s a pity - as we see, the story about the Seven Years’ War deserves much more.

Seven Years' War 1756-1763 was provoked by a clash of interests between Russia, France and Austria on the one hand and Portugal, Prussia and England (in a union with Hanover) on the other. Each of the states that entered the war, of course, pursued its own goals. Thus, Russia tried to strengthen its influence in the West.

The war began with the battle of the fleets of England and France near the Balearic Islands on May 19, 1756. It ended in victory for the French. Ground operations began later - on August 28. An army under the command of the Prussian king Frederick II invaded the lands of Saxony, and later began the siege of Prague. At the same time, the French army occupied Hanover.

Russia entered the war in 1757. In August, the Russian army suffered heavy losses, but won the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, opening the way to East Prussia. However, Field Marshal General Apraksin, who commanded the troops, learned about the empress’s illness. Believing that her heir would soon take the throne, he began withdrawing troops to the Russian border. Later, declaring such actions treason, the empress brought Apraksin to trial. Fermor took the place of commander. In 1758, the territory of East Prussia was annexed to Russia.

Further events of the Seven Years' War (briefly): the victories won in 1757 by the Prussian army under the command of Frederick II were reduced to zero in 1769 thanks to the successful actions of Russian-Austrian troops during the Battle of Kunersdorf. By 1761, Prussia was on the verge of defeat. But in 1762, Empress Elizabeth died. Peter the 3rd, who ascended the throne, was a supporter of rapprochement with Prussia. Preliminary peace negotiations, held in the fall of 1762, ended with the conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty on January 30, 1763. This day is officially considered the date of the end of the Seven Years' War.

The Anglo-Prussian coalition won. Thanks to this outcome of the war, Prussia finally entered the circle of leading European powers. Russia gained nothing as a result of this war, except for the experience of military operations. France lost Canada and most of its overseas possessions, Austria lost all rights to Silesia and the County of Galtz.

The Seven Years' War is commonly referred to in historiography as the conflict between Prussia, Portugal, Russia, and Britain on the one hand and the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Sweden, and France on the other.
One of the greatest Britons, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, called the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) “the First World War,” since it took place on several continents and involved enormous human resources.
The Seven Years' War was also called the "first trench war", because it was then that quickly erected fortifications, redoubts, etc. were used on a large scale. During the conflict, artillery pieces also began to be widely used - the number of artillery in armies increased 3 times.

Causes of the war

One of the main reasons for the Seven Years' War is considered to be the Anglo-French conflicts in North America. There was intense colonial rivalry between the countries. In 1755, a war began in America between England and France, during which indigenous tribes also took part. The British government officially declared war in 1756.

It was the conflict between the French and the British that violated all the alliances and agreements that had developed in Western Europe. Prussia, a once weak state, began to gain power after Frederick II came to power, thereby pushing out France and Austria.
After the war with France had already begun, the British entered into an alliance with a new powerful player in the political arena - Prussia. Austria, which had previously lost the war to Prussia and ceded Silesia, entered into negotiations with France. In 1755, France and Austria signed a defensive alliance, and in 1756 the Russian Empire also joined this alliance. Thus, Frederick found himself embroiled in a conflict against three powerful states. England, which at that moment did not have a powerful land army, could only help Prussia with funding.

France, Austria and Russia were not interested in the complete destruction of Prussia, but each of them wanted to significantly weaken the country and then use it to their own advantage. Thus, we can say that France, Austria and Russia sought to resume the old political picture of Europe.

The balance of enemy forces at the beginning of hostilities in Europe
Anglo-Prussian side:

Prussia - 200 thousand people;
England – 90 thousand people;
Hannover – 50 thousand people.

In total, the Anglo-Prussian coalition had 340 thousand fighters at its disposal.
Anti-Prussian coalition:

Spain – 25 thousand people;
Austria – 200 thousand people;
France – 200 thousand people;
Russia – 330 thousand people.

Opponents of the Anglo-Prussian side were able to assemble an army with a total strength of 750 thousand people, which was more than twice the strength of their enemies. Thus, we can see the complete superiority of the anti-Prussian coalition in manpower at the beginning of hostilities.

On August 28, 1756, the Emperor of Prussia, Frederick II the Great, was the first to start the war, without waiting for the moment when his enemies would join forces and march on Prussia.
First of all, Frederick went to war against Saxony. Already on September 12, the Russian Empire responded to Prussia’s aggression and declared war on it.

In October, an Austrian army was sent to help Saxony, but Frederick defeated it at the Battle of Lobositz. Thus, the Saxon army was left in a hopeless situation. On October 16, Saxony capitulated, and its fighting forces were forced into the ranks of the Prussian army.

European theater of war in 1757

Frederick again decided not to wait for aggression from France and the Russian Empire, but decided to defeat Austria in the meantime and throw it out of the conflict.

In 1757, the Prussian army entered the Austrian province of Bohemia. Austria sent 60 thousand people to stop Frederick, but was defeated, as a result of which the Austrian army was blocked in Prague. In June 1757, Frederick lost the battle to the Austrians without taking Prague, after which he was forced to return to Saxony.
The initiative was seized by Austrian troops and during 1757 they inflicted several defeats on the Prussian army, and in October of the same year they managed to capture the capital of Prussia, Berlin.

Meanwhile, Frederick and his army defended their borders from the West - from French aggression. Upon learning of the fall of Berlin, Frederick sends 40 thousand soldiers to regain the advantage and defeat the Austrians. On December 5, leading the army in person, Frederick the Great inflicts a crushing defeat on the Austrians at Leuthen. Thus, the situation at the end of 1757 returned the opponents to the beginning of the year, and the military campaigns ultimately ended in a “draw”.

European theater of war in 1758

After an unsuccessful campaign in 1757, the Russian army under the command of Fermor occupied East Prussia. In 1758, Koenigsberg also fell under the pressure of the Russian army.

In August 1858, the Russian army was already approaching Berlin. Frederick advances the Prussian army to meet. On August 14, the battle takes place near the village of Zorndorf. A bloody, chaotic battle ensued, and eventually both armies retreated. The Russian army returned across the Vistula. Frederick withdrew his troops to Saxony.

Meanwhile, the Prussian army is fighting against the French. During 1758, Frederick inflicted three major defeats on the French, which also seriously weakened the Prussian army.

European theater of operations in 1759

On July 23, 1759, the Russian army under the command of Saltykov defeated the Prussian army in the Battle of Palzig. Frederick moved towards the Russian army from the south and on August 12, 1759, the Battle of Kunersdofra began. Having a numerical advantage, the Austrian-Russian army was able to deal a crushing blow to Frederick. The king had only 3 thousand soldiers left and the road to Berlin was already open.
Friedrich understood that the situation was hopeless. And yet, a miracle happened - due to disagreements, the allies left Prussia, not daring to go to Berlin.

In 1759, Frederick asked for peace, but was refused. The Allies intend to completely defeat Prussia next year by taking Berlin.
Meanwhile, England inflicted a crushing defeat on the French at sea.
European theater of operations in 1760
Although the Allies had a numerical advantage, they did not have a coordinated plan of action, which Frederick II continued to exploit.
At the beginning of the year, Frederick with difficulty reassembled an army of 200 thousand people and already in August 1760, not far from Liegnitz, he defeated the corps of the Austrian army.

Allies storm Berlin

In October 1760, the Allies stormed Berlin, but the defenders repelled the attack. On October 8, seeing the enemy's advantage, the Prussian army deliberately left the city. Already on October 9, the Russian army accepted the surrender of the Prussian capital. Then information about Frederick’s approach reaches the Russian command, after which they leave the capital, and the King of Prussia, having heard about the retreat, deploys his army to Saxony.

On November 3, 1760, one of the largest battles of the war takes place - at Torgau, Frederick defeats the Allied armies.
European theater of operations in 1761-1763

In 1761, neither side was actively fighting. The Allies are confident that Prussia's defeat cannot be avoided. Frederick himself thought differently.

In 1762, the new ruler of the Russian Empire, Peter III, concluded the Peace of St. Petersburg with Frederick and thereby saved Prussia from defeat. The Emperor gives up the captured territories in East Prussia and sends an army to support Frederick.
Peter's actions caused discontent, as a result of which the emperor was thrown off the throne and died under strange circumstances. Catherine ascends the throne of the Russian Empire. Afterwards, the empress recalls the army sent to help Prussia, but does not declare war, adhering to the peace agreement of 1762.

In 1762, the Prussian army, taking advantage of the situation, won four major battles against the Austrians and French, completely returning the initiative to Prussia.

In parallel with the fighting in Europe, there was a war going on between the French and the British in North America.
On September 13, 1759, the British won a brilliant victory over the French at Quebec, despite being outnumbered by their enemies. In the same year, the French retreat to Montreal, and the British take Quebec - Canada was lost to France.

Fighting in Asia

In 1757-1761, the war continues between France and England in India. During the fighting, the French suffered a number of crushing defeats. As a result, in 1861, the capital of the French possessions in India surrendered to the onslaught of the British army.
After the victory in India, the British faced a war with the Spaniards in the Philippines. In 1762, the British sent a large fleet to the Philippines and captured Manila, which was defended by a Spanish garrison. And yet, the British did not manage to gain a permanent foothold here. After 1763, British troops gradually began to leave the Philippines.

The reason for the end of the war was the complete exhaustion of the warring parties. On May 22, 1762, Prussia and France signed a peace treaty. On November 24, Prussia and Austria abandoned hostilities.

On February 10, 1763, Great Britain and France signed a peace treaty.
The war ended with the complete victory of the Anglo-Prussian side. As a result, Prussia significantly strengthened its position in Europe and became an important player in the international arena.

France lost control of India and Canada during the war. Russia acquired nothing during the war except military experience. England received India and Canada.

During the fighting, approximately 1.5 million people died, including civilians. Prussian and Austrian sources speak of a figure of 2 million people.