Frederick, a believer in the pre-emptive strike, leads Prussian troops across the border of Saxony, one of the small German states in league with Austria, on August 29, 1756, against the advice of his British allies.

He intends this as a bold preemption of an anticipated Austro-French invasion of Silesia.

Frederick has three goals in his new war on Austria.

First, he will seize Saxony and eliminate it as a threat to Prussia, then use the Saxon army and treasury to aid the Prussian war effort.

His second goal is to advance into Bohemia, where he might set up winter quarters at Austria's expense.

Thirdly, he wants to invade Moravia from Silesia, seize the fortress at Olmütz, and advance on Vienna to force an end to the war.

Accordingly, leaving Field Marshal Count Kurt von Schwerin in Silesia with twenty-five thousand soldiers to guard against incursions from Moravia and Hungary, and leaving Field Marshal Hans von Lehwaldt in East Prussia to guard against Russian invasion from the east, Frederick sets off with his army for Saxony.

The Prussian army marches in three columns.

On the right is a column of about fifteen thousand men under the command of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick.

On the left is a column of eighteen thousand men under the command of the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern.

In the center is Frederick II himself, with Field Marshal James Keith commanding a corps of thirty thousand troops.

Ferdinand of Brunswick is to close in on the town of Chemnitz.

The Duke of Brunswick-Bevern is to traverse Lusatia to close in on Bautzen, while Frederick and Keith make for Dresden.