page_title: Battle of Podol
section_title: The battle
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Podol / The battle
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Generalleutnant von Bose English: major general von Bose
context_page_description: The Battle of Podol was a minor engagement in the opening days of the Königgrätz campaign of the Austro-Prussian War in Bohemia on 26 and 27 June 1866. The battle took place in modern-day Svijany between troops from the Prussian First Army and elements of Eduard Clam-Gallas' Austrian I Corps.
context_section_description: The Prussian 8th Division's advance guard of five companies, commanded by Major Flotow, arrived at Podol in the evening of 26 June 1866 and seized the unoccupied village and the four bridges across the river, including a stone bridge.
  The battle started around 8:30 pm when elements of Ferdinand Poschacher's brigade encountered Flotow's infantry. At 11 pm, the heavily outnumbered Flotow decided to fall back. Generalmajor Julius von Bose, the commander of the 8th Division's 15th Brigade, was nearby at Preper and heard the gunfire from Podol. He marched off with two of his battalions, some 1,300 men. Near Podol, Bose saw the retreating Prussians and was told of the strength of the Austrian attack. Due to the vital importance of the bridges, Bose decided to attack immediately and retake the village along with its bridges. 
  After clearing the village, the Austrians continued their advance. An Austrian close order column was engaged by one of Bose's battalions and driven back by the superior firepower of the Prussian Dreyse needle gun. The 15th brigade advanced gradually through Podol, defeating several Austrian counterattacks along the way. With more Prussian forces arriving at the scene, Bose and Colonel Drygalski personally led an attack to retake the bridges. Drygalski was shot and killed by the Austrians and the Prussians faltered. Bose then picked up a rifle and led his men forward, capturing the bridges after heavy hand-to-hand combat.
  Another Prussian battalion crossed the river upstream and moved to attack the Austrians engaged in the town but stumbled across Poschacher's two reserve battalions. Clam-Gallas had now arrived at the battlefield and ordered these reserves to attack, but they were beaten off by the Prussians. However, after repulsing three attacks, the Prussians had exhausted their ammunition and retired over the river. Having lost the town, Clam-Gallas admitted defeat and withdrew around 1 am.
caption: Generalmajor Julius von Bose led the Prussian attack that captured Podol and the bridges over the Iser.
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