Thread by @2econd_crossing

#Onthisday #OTD 10 March, 1813, on the birthday of Queen Louise, King Frederick William signed the Charter of Foundation of the Iron Cross drafted by Scharnhorst. Distinguished by its black cross and ribbon, the new medal of honor was promised to all soldiers of merit.

The decree read:
"Amidst the current catastrophe... on which everything depends for the fatherland, the vigorous spirit which uplifts the nation so highly deserves to be honored and immortalized by a monument very peculiar.

That the steadfastness with which the people endured the irresistible ills of an iron age did not degenerate into pusillanimity proves that their noble courage, which now animates every heart rests only on faith and loyal devotion to the king and fatherland, could persevere.

We have therefore decided to distinguish the merit acquired in the war breaking out now, either in the actual fight with the enemy or also in the field or at home, but all with regard to the great struggle for freedom and independence,

and not to confer this peculiar award any further after this war.
Accordingly, we order the following:
1. That the award of merit to our subjects for the fatherland, existing only for this war, is to be:
the Iron Cross of two classes and a Grand Cross.

2. Both classes have the same black cross made up of cast iron framed in silver, a frontside without inscription, a backside with the name F. W. at the top...three oak leaves in the middle...and the year 1813 at the bottom.

The award would be bestowed upon any soldier of distinguished performance in the campaign of 1813, regardless of his class. It was an appeal to both meritocracy and patriotism to consolidate mass support for the budding nation, which would come to outlive Scharnhorst's plan.

An incident in Dresden demonstrated how the same spirit began to manifest itself in the adjacent states of the Confederation. When Reynier's men resumed the dismantling of the Elbe Bridge, they were again confronted by a mob of craftsmen whom they had largely ignored a day ago.

The ensuing scene, recorded by a local eyewitness, went as follows:
"Initially, the patrols were still allowed through, only to mock them; but when a larger commando came to clear the bridge and a French officer reached for a measuring chain,

his apparatus was torn away from him and thrown overboard. This was the signal for the general attack.
Masses of people pushed the French back and one of their officers, who had the madness to hit a Saxon hussar because he did not want to fight,

escaped by the skin of his teeth a salto mortale over the railing of the bridge by approaching town guards (Bürgergardiſten). In the afternoon, a dense crowd claimed the bridge when the French sappers again attempted to to tear up the pavement.

Finally, the Saxon cuirassiers cleared the bridge. Trotting up, the cavalry captain commanded:
"Rifles up!"
...Then a good travelling bricklayer stepped forward, shouted Halt! and said:
"Comrades, we are all brothers and compatriots , you will not hit us,

we would rather beat the French to death."
While the captain clearly looked hesitant to draw his sword, his men roared Hurrah! and Vivat!, which had the opposite effect.
Now, the bricklayer adamantly declared,
"We must strike all the French dead and start with the generals."

His speech, received by the onlookers with "greatest pleasure," forced Reynier to seek refuge in the Brühl Palace, which soon became his new headquarter. The rest of his men refuge fled to the palace belonging to Minister of Foreign Affairs von Pilsach.

Only late at night did the unrest subside, thanks to the town guards.
Although Frederick Augustus had pledged his allegiance to France, his absence in the court of Dresden became highly favorable to anti-French dissidents in Saxony.
(Forster)

Based on an earlier order from Scarnhorst, Yorck ordered Bulow to cross the Oder at Schwedt, and Borstell to enclose the right bank of the Oder between Stettin and Alten-Damm. Kleist continued his march to Zellin, where he would join Wittgenstein.
(Droysen)

Eugene remained uncertain about the progress of the negotiation between Russian and Prussia, but was anxious about various enemy units near his right flank.
"There is nothing new here...No writing or proclamation from Russia had yet appeared," he wrote.

Based on the most recent information from the 7th, Colonel Proendel was seen in Görlitz with 1,000 Cossacks, Benckendorff in Interbrock with 500 cavalry and 2 pieces of artillery, and Chernyshev's force of 2,000 between Berlin and Truenbrietzen.

"Wittgenstein's Corps was expected to reach Berlin by 7 March. Emissaries were sent to various points and especially to Breslau and Ravitz. It is to be presumed that several of those already arrived will find us."

Thus, Eugene concluded that it was all over for Berlin, when, in fact, he had another full day to himself.
(Eugene to Napoleon, 10 March 1813)

-The End-

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