Monument to the battle near Tongrund

The Monument to the Battle near Tongrund is a modest but striking granite monument standing along the road from Kunratice to Frýdlant, in the heart of the Frýdlant salient in northern Bohemia, close to the borders with Poland and Germany. The obelisk commemorates armed clashes that took place in this area in August 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars.

What exactly does the monument commemorate?

The monument was erected in memory of the soldiers who died in skirmishes fought around Kunratice, Frýdlant, Albrechtice and Mníšek between 17 and 19 August 1813. These clashes, known locally as the skirmishes at Tongrund (named after the nearby terrain and pond), were one episode of the War of the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon.

What happened during the fighting in August 1813?

On the evening of 17 August 1813, a Polish corps of roughly 40,000 soldiers, led by Marshal Prince Józef Poniatowski and fighting on Napoleon's side, entered what is now northern Bohemia. In several places, including an area east of Kunratice, the Polish-French troops clashed with Austrian defenders — a cavalry division under General Ferdinand von Bubna und Littitz and the 2nd light cavalry division commanded by Major General Adam Albert von Neipperg. On the French-Polish side, the fighting was led by General Jan Nepomucen Umiński, commander of the Polish 27th light cavalry brigade. On 17 August, French-Polish forces occupied Frýdlant, and two days later Umiński had the Frýdlant town councillor Josef Oelmann and Count Franz Nemeth escorted to Prince Poniatowski's camp at Eckartsberg, and from there to Zittau, where they were presented before Napoleon himself.

What does the monument look like?

The monument takes the form of a four-metre granite obelisk set on a pedestal and stepped base, topped with a military cross. A plaque on the monument bears an inscription dedicated to the Austrian officers and soldiers who fell in 1813. The obelisk was carved by the stonemason Lange from nearby Raspenava. The formal unveiling and consecration took place on 3 August 1913 — exactly one hundred years after the events it commemorates — with the ceremony led by O. H. Metzger.

Where exactly does the monument stand?

The monument stands on the right-hand side of road III/03511, leading from Kunratice towards Frýdlant, just before the Tongrund pond, also known as Totex. This is a quiet, rural corner of the Frýdlant region, off the main tourist routes, making it an interesting stop for anyone interested in the Napoleonic Wars and the local memorials to those events.

Is the monument well preserved today?

After years of neglect, the obelisk underwent a thorough restoration, and its re-unveiling was held on 3 August 2013 — exactly one hundred years after the original 1913 ceremony. The municipality of Kunratice, which oversaw the restoration, received a commemorative plaque awarded for the care of war graves. A commemorative ceremony recalling the 1813 events is held at the monument every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which conflict does the monument relate to? The Napoleonic Wars, specifically the clashes of August 1813 between Austrian forces and a French-Polish corps fighting on Napoleon's side.

Who took part in the fighting near Tongrund? On the Austrian side, generals Ferdinand von Bubna und Littitz and Adam Albert von Neipperg; on the French-Polish side, General Jan Nepomucen Umiński, part of the larger corps commanded by Prince Józef Poniatowski.

When was the monument unveiled? Originally on 3 August 1913, on the hundredth anniversary of the events, and again after restoration on 3 August 2013.

Where exactly is the monument located? Along road III/03511 between Kunratice and Frýdlant, just before the Tongrund pond (Totex).