Throughout the Seven Years' War, Wunsch operated successfully as a light troops officer. After the Battle of Prague in 1757, he was promoted to major. He followed this up with stellar action near Torgau in September, and the following day his troops overran Leipzig. The subsequent Prussian successes at the battles of Breslau and Leuthen led to his promotion, this time by Frederick himself, to lieutenant colonel. The King also gave him command of an independent battalion and awarded him the Order Pour le Mérite. Wunsch made a brief journey to his home town of Heidenheim and returned to his unit in Bohemia.