The Convention of Tauroggen

18-30 December 1812

Translated from original documents by George Nafziger

Text of the Convention

1. The Prussian Corps shall occupy the interior of the Prussian territory along the line from the frontier near Memel and Nimmerstat to the route from Woinuta to Tilsit. From Tilsit, the route which passes by Schillapischkew and Melankew to Lobiau and includes the villages and cities it touches, shall determine the extent of the country the aforementioned Prussian corps may occupy.

The Prussian troops, it is understood, may come and go along those aforementioned routes, but they may not take their quarters in this area.

2. The Prussians shall remain neutral in the area designated in Article 1 until the arrival of orders from His Majesty, the King of Prussia. In case of orders to rejoin the French, the Prussians shall not engage in combat with the Russians for the space of one month from this date.

3. In case of His Majesty, the King of Prussia, or His Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, refusing to ratify this convention, the Prussian corps shall be free to carry itself where the orders of their king call them.

4. The Russians will surrender to the Prussians all stragglers which they find along the main route to Mittau and equally all military equipment found there. With regard to the branch of supply and train of the aforementioned corps, all which composes it, shall cross without obstacles through the Russian lines to rejoin the Prussian Corps.

5. In the event of orders from Lieutenant General Yorck reaching Lieutenant General Massenbach, the troops under his command shall be included in this convention.

6. All the prisoners captured by the Russians commanded by Major General Diebitsch from those commandedby General Massenbach, shall be equally included in this convention.

7. The Prussian corps shall conserve the right to concert all that is relative to its provisionment with the provincial regencies of Prussia. This case is not excepted when those provinces are occupied by Russian forces.

The aforementioned convention has been dispatched in duplicate and carries the signature and seal of the undersigned.

Made in the Poschernu Mill on 18-30 December 1812.

Signed:

Von Yorck
Lieutenant General in service of Prussia

Von Diebitsch
Major General in service of Russia

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