Hochkirch was Frederick's 11th battle (out of a total of 15) and, as things would turn out, only his 2nd defeat (he would only ever suffer one more).

Having been defeated at Kolin in 1757, Frederick found himself having to defend his homeland against attacks from all sides. And so he fought that inexplicably brilliant trilogy of battles, Rossbach against the French, Leuthen against the Austrians, and Zorndorf against the Russians. But within two weeks of this last victory, Frederick heard that his brother, Prince Henry - whom he had left to guard Saxony with 45,000 men - was being threatened by a resurgent Austrian army of 100,000 under Daun. With the Russians withdrawing east, Frederick immediately turned south and united his armies.

Frederick, facing east, founded his position along a line of three villages, from north to south being Rodewitz, Pommritz and Hochkirch. The village which would give its name to the battle was therefore the extreme right of the Prussian line.

But Frederick underestimated his opposite number. Daun, who had already embarassed him at Kolin, was preparing his ground, and would attack where the Prussian King least expected it. The Prussians lost 9,000 men and 28 colours. Frederick now withdrew his main force from Saxony and marched via Gorlitz to Silesia. But aside from the loss of men, his only significant loss was psychological. The Austrians had in fact lost almost as many men, and had withdrawn south into Bohemia. The war would continue and Prussia would have to face down Austria three more times to settle things - at Liegnitz (1760), Torgau (1760), and Burkersdorf (1762).