On October 24th, 1807, the fields near Woikowitz became the stage for the largest battle Europe had ever seen, pitting Gaspard Lefebvre’s 65,000-strong Army of the Republic against a combined Coalition force of 80,000 men. Facing a numerical disadvantage, Lefebvre devised a risky strategy predicated on the contrasting personalities of his enemies: the aggression of the Polabians and the passivity of the Bavarians. He gambled that the Polabians under General von Steinwehr would advance rapidly on his left flank, while the Bavarians under Feldmarschall von Hohenbruck would lag behind on the right, creating a tactical "gap" between the two armies. To exploit this, Lefebvre concentrated his artillery against the Polabians and held General Dubois’ elite Cavalry Guard in reserve, waiting for the precise moment to strike.

The battle opened with a ferocious Polabian assault on the French left wing commanded by Generals Aubert and Morel. Throughout the morning, the French lines were hammered by superior Prussian volley fire and artillery, taking heavy casualties. The pressure became so intense that Aubert and Morel personally approached Lefebvre to express concerns about a potential collapse. Under immense stress, Lefebvre exploded in a rare fit of rage, berating his most trusted lieutenants to mask his own fear that his plan was unraveling. The crisis on the left peaked in the afternoon when the Polabian cavalry launched a massive charge to break the French squares. The line was saved only by the unauthorized intervention of French light cavalry, which counter-charged the Polabians, disrupting their momentum and allowing the infantry squares to hold firm against the onslaught.

On the right wing, the Bavarians remained dormant for most of the day, only advancing in the late afternoon to avoid letting the Polabians claim sole credit for the victory. Their delayed entry allowed the French IV and V Corps to maintain their defensive positions, repelling a Bavarian cavalry charge with disciplined musketry and bayonets. As evening approached, the disparity in movement speeds produced the exact scenario Lefebvre had predicted: a mile-wide gap opened between the overextended Polabians and the sluggish Bavarians. Seizing the opportunity, Lefebvre ordered Dubois and his 8,000 heavy cavalry to charge through the breach.

The French cavalry swept through the gap and enveloped the Bavarian flank, shattering their formation. Simultaneously, the French infantry launched a bayonet charge that completed the encirclement, forcing the surrender of the Bavarian army and General von Hohenbruck. Witnessing the destruction of their allies and facing a victorious French army now turning its full attention toward them, the Polabian King ordered a retreat. The battle ended in a decisive French victory, though at the cost of 8,000 casualties. In the aftermath, the coalition forces split; the Polabians retreated north into Silesia to recover, while the remnants of the Bavarian army fled northeast into Poland to avoid a pursuit toward Vienna. Lefebvre, determined to crush the Polabians once and for all, chased them into the Wendic lands, setting the stage for a final confrontation near Cottbus.