Units of the VIII Army Corps of the German Confederation stormed the town of Freiburg im Breisgau, which was occupied by republican volunteers (Freischärlern).

[1] Following the defeat of Friedrich Hecker on 20 April at the Battle of the Scheideck, Karl von Rotteck junior and Carl Mez tried in vain to persuade the Freischaren in Freiburg to avoid an armed uprising, which is why the republicans described them later as traitors.

The rebels did not believe the news of Hecker’s defeat and expected relief from a Freischar of an estimated 5,000 men under Franz Sigel which was approaching Freiburg.

The expected relief of Freiburg from the approaching Freischärler under Franz Sigel and Theodor Mögling came too late, which presumably avoided greater damage to the town.

At the place unofficially described as the "site of the last barricade" (Platz der letzten Barrikade) next to the Swabian Gate (Schwabentor) a plaque recalls the events of that time.