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 Prussians and the passivity of the Austrians. He gambled that the Prussians under General von Steinwehr would advance rapidly on his left flank, while the Austrians 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 Prussians and held General Dubois’ elite Cavalry Guard in reserve, waiting for the precise moment to strike.

The battle opened with a ferocious Prussian assault on the French left wing commanded by Generals Davout and d’Ornano. Throughout the morning, the French lines were hammered by superior Prussian volley fire and artillery, taking heavy casualties. The pressure became so intense that Davout and d’Ornano 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 Prussian 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 Prussians, disrupting their momentum and allowing the infantry squares to hold firm against the onslaught.

On the right wing, the Austrians remained dormant for most of the day, only advancing in the late afternoon to avoid letting the Prussians claim sole credit for the victory. Their delayed entry allowed the French IV and V Corps to maintain their defensive positions, repelling an Austrian 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 Prussians and the sluggish Austrians. 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 Austrian flank, shattering their formation. Simultaneously, the French infantry launched a bayonet charge that completed the encirclement, forcing the surrender of the Austrian 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 Prussian 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 Prussians retreated north into Silesia to recover, while the remnants of the Austrian army fled northeast into Poland to avoid a pursuit toward Vienna. Lefebvre, determined to crush the Prussians once and for all, chased them into Brandenburg, setting the stage for a final confrontation near Cottbus.