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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ 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

___________________________ 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