The Battle of Leipzig or Battle of the Nations, on 16th
– 19th October 1813, was fought by the coalition armies
of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon.
Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops as well as
Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine. The battle involved over
600,000 soldiers, making it the largest battle in Europe prior to World
War I.
Defeated, Napoleon was compelled to return to France while the Allies
hurried to keep their momentum, invading France early the next year.
Napoleon was forced to abdicate, and was exiled to Elba that spring.
Also there were so many young men from Kranichborn, young and old,
which came to pull to the side of the allies against Napoleon. These
men, and the successful fights itself, were honoured by the native military
organization establishing this memorial stone with the shape of a millstone.
The stone is located under a huge oak. According to information from
the local historians this oak's more than 200 years old (planted 1797).
The memorial stone was set in 1813 and thus celebrated its 100th anniversary
in 1913.