He is best known as a hero of the Franco-Prussian War after the Battle of Mars-la-Tour on 16 August 1870. During this battle he commanded the Prussian 12th Cavalry Brigade on one of the last successful massed cavalry charges in warfare. Before his assault Bredow stated of that "it will cost what it will". "Von Bredow's Death Ride" resulted in massive casualties on the Prussian forces but he managed to defeat a French force that outnumbered them four to one. The event was used in the following decades by military tacticians to argue that cavalry charges could still win battles. Bredow was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the 18th Infantry Division.