The Battle of Hochkirch took place on 14 October 1758 during the Third
Silesian War, part of the Seven Years' War. After several weeks of
maneuvering for position, an Austrian army commanded by Lieutenant Field
Marshal Leopold Joseph von Daun surprised the Prussian army commanded
by Frederick the Great. The Austrians overwhelmed the Prussians and
forced a general retreat from the village of Hochkirch, 9 kilometers
(6 mi) east of Bautzen, Saxony. Most historians consider the battle one
of Frederick's greatest blunders. Contrary to the advice of his
subordinates, he refused to believe that the cautious Daun would engage
him in battle. After a pre-dawn attack, Frederick lost over 30 percent
of his army, 5 generals, 70 munitions wagons, and his artillery park.
Daun failed to pursue the retreating Prussians, allowing the entire
force to escape and regain the momentum over the winter.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hochkirch>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1863:
American Civil War: In the Battle of Bristoe Station, the Union
II Corps surprised and repelled the Confederate attack on the Union rear
guard, resulting in a Union victory.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bristoe_Station>
1943:
The Holocaust: Inmates at the Sobibór extermination camp in
eastern Poland led a revolt, killing 11 SS officers; the camp shut down
a few days later.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobib%C3%B3r_extermination_camp>
1956:
B. R. Ambedkar, a leader of India's "Untouchable" caste,
publicly converted to Buddhism, becoming the leader of the Dalit
Buddhist movement.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalit_Buddhist_movement>
2012:
Felix Baumgartner jumped from a helium balloon in the
stratosphere to become the first person to break the sound barrier
without vehicular power.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Baumgartner>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
troth:
1. (countable, archaic) An oath, pledge, or promise.
2. (countable, specifically) A pledge or promise to marry someone.
3. (countable, specifically) The state of being thus pledged; betrothal,
engagement.
4. (countable, uncountable) Truth; something true.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/troth>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely,
the other is absent. Violence appears where power is in jeopardy, but
left to its own course it ends in power's disappearance.
--Hannah Arendt
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hannah_Arendt>