This augmented army of about 33,000 troops arrived near Leuthen (now Lutynia, Poland), 27 km (17 mi) west of Breslau, to find 65,000 Austrians in possession.

[3] In a decisive action, the Prussians executed a difficult oblique maneuver to attack the Austrians at the weakest part of the line; the Battle of Leuthen turned into a rout.

Charles and his second in command, Count Leopold Joseph von Daun were "sunk in the depths of despondency", and the prince could not fathom what had happened.

[2] The Austrians were determined to hold Breslau, not only because losing it would cost them control of Silesia and considerable prestige, but also for the immense quantities of stores it held.

The Austrian commander, recognizing his grim plight, posted placards on gallows and poles throughout the city, warning anyone who spoke of surrender would be instantly hanged.

By 12 December, the Prussian troops, commanded by Prince Ferdinand, had control of the St. Moritz church in the city suburbs, and erected a new battery with two cannons and two mortars.

[4][6] On the night of 13–14 December, General Wied zu Neuwied and his Prussian force took the Polnischen Vorstadt adjacent to the Oder river, and captured 51 Pandurs.

Sprecher also reported that the Prussians used the so-called ricochet, balls fired into the city at a low angle that would barely clear the parapet and then bounce before exploding.

[6] The Austrians and the French lost 17,000 troops, the entire garrison, plus the entirety of the stores in Breslau, over 1000 horses, 81 guns, and almost 700 officers, including 13 generals.

Maria Theresa did not despair of winning this war against Frederick and recovering part of her patrimony (Silesia) that she had lost in 1748, but she removed her brother-in-law Charles from command of the army and sent him to the Netherlands, where he was better suited as governor.