On 1 December 1805, the Russian and Austrian allied armies, 85,000 men strong, established their position in the area between  Pozoritz, Holubictz, and Pratzen, extending up to Augezd. Against them stood the French army, which had nearly 10,000 fewer troops than the allies. A final re-grouping of the armies prior to the upcoming battle transpired all throughout the day.

Shortly after midnight, Napoleon abandoned his command post on Zuran a man-made mound situated westward from Girzikowitz, in order to personally ensure that his French units were prepared for the inevitable battle. He set off from Girzikowitz on horseback with an entourage, and under an ominous veil of darkness he reached the French forward guard, positioned beneath the Pratzen heights. Somewhere between Puntowitz and Girzikowitz, Napoleon's personal doctor, Yan, fell from his horse while attempting to jump over either the Rokytnice Stream or the Velatický Stream, and it is believed that the Emperor himself helped to pull Yan to his feet.

The Vandamme Division soldiers who were spending the frosty night in Girzikowitz and its surrounding meadows, recognized their Emperor, who was passing through the village, around the chapel belfry and mill, travelling towards Zuran.

A stately tree known as Napoleon's Linden stood by the Girzikowitz Mill until 1972. A village path led around the tree, over the Rokytnice Stream towards Loučky, and up to Zuran. Napoleon used to follow this path when carrying out nightly inspections of his army. The path was still used by market vendors from Letein until the beginning of this Century. This old connecting path disappeared from existence when the surrounding fields were consolidated in the years of collectivization.

People gave the Emperor a heartfelt ovation in the torchlight. "This is the most beautiful evening of my entire life," Napoleon confided on his coronation anniversary eve, emotionally moved by the unexpected and undoubtedly overwhelming spectacle.