Battle of Lützen (1632)
| Battle of Lutzen | |
|---|---|
| Dates of battle | November 16, 1632 |
| Conflict | Thirty Years' War |
| Site of battle | near Lützen southwest of Leipzig, Germany |
| Combatant 1 | Sweden, protestant Saxony |
| :led by | Gustavus Adolphus+, Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar |
| Combatant 2 | Catholic Holy Roman Empire |
| :led by | Albrecht von Wallenstein, Gottfried zu Pappenhein+, Heinrich Holk |
| reesult | decisive protestant victory |
The Battle of Lützen was potentially one of the most decisive battles of the Thirty Years' War.
Description of the battle
Count Wallenstein had split up his forces as to retreat his army into winter quarters, as he was suddenly informed at 02.00 in the morning that the Swedish army was approaching. He quickly dispatched a notice to general Pappenheim for assistance. Pappenheim replied he was too far off, and would arrive too late. Slightly outnumbered, Wallenstein deploy his army up for defence, paralel to a long hollow road, with his right flank anchored by some low hills, which he reinforced with artillery. All day, the Swedish attacked bravely against the Imperialist position. King Gustav Adolph was always there where his soldiers expected him to see: in the thick of the battle, at the critical moments at the critical spot. Just as the Swedes seemed to make some progress, general Pappenheim arrived with the cavalry of his army and drove the Swedes back. This made Wallenstein exclaim "Thus I know my Pappenheim!". That afternoon the Swedish king Gustaph Adolph was killed, and the news quickly spread through the Swedish army. Instead of having a disastrous effect on the Swedish morale, the Swedish soldiers just got mad. They rallied to a grim bunch of determined soldiers, and lead by Earl Horn they cleared the battlefield of Imperialist forces. But they did not follow up their victory. They sought out the body of their beloved King, and mourned his loss. This smashing tactical Swedish victory was not turned into a strategic victory. Instead, the war dragged on for numerous years.
Other battles at same place
On May 2, 1813, Wittgenstein attacked Napoleons advanced column near Lutzen to stop Naps advance on Leipzig. After a day of heavy fighting, the Prussians retreated, both sides suffered about 18.000 casualties.