Get 25% off an annual membership of CuriosityStream using code sandrhoman: : curiositystream.com/sandrhoman Also, let us know what you think about this format. Some seemed to like our other Video in this format on the battle of Breitenfeld a lot, but the statistics don't really reflect that.

I’m actually most impressed by the fact that Wallenstein managed to build up an army that could hold its own against the battle hardened Swedish veterans from hastily recruited bohemians. This and the fact that both sides held up morale in such a carnage show not only the skill of the generals but also of the officers making up the backbone of such armies.

"One of the most gruesome encounters of the Thirty Year War..." That, that says a LOT.

Its interesting how this battle has affected language - I still call a heavy fog a "Lützenfog", and my grandma always used to say "I know my Pappenheimer" whenever someone did something she expected.

As a Croat i must say, we are the experts in stealing and running away

Great job!

Please never stop making these, i could watch a 4 horu version and wouldnt become bored.

"Why do I hear boss music?" -Gustavus Adolphus and Albrecht von Wallenstein, November 16th 1632

just wanted to say you are one of my favorite history KZfaqrs. I500s and 1600s warfare seems to be overlooked quite a bit so I appreciate you making these videos.

I totally agree with the analysis at the end of the video. Since so much of popular history focuses on battles where one side has a spectacular victory, Luetzen might appear to the casual viewer as an unimaginative slugfest, but if both armies are competently led and organized, then every clever maneuver and trap meets mediocre results, and the character strengths of the fighting force such as the spirit of the troops and the quality of the subordinate officers means the difference between survival and catastrophe. War is not all genius generals and elite troops. How every individual soldier decides to conduct himself on the battlefield determines what happens on the battlefield. Be it modern low-intensity conflict where a soldier has to make a split second decision whether the vehicle barreling down the road at him is going to explode and take out his whole squad or it's just an oblivious civilian, or be it 17th century warfare when a soldier was facing a wall of pikes stabbing at him- there's an officer somewhere around trying to figure out how to make chaos look like order but there is never an officer there whispering in his ear telling him what he should think or do. There are two points on the late stage of the battle I think are relevant. I very much doubt Bernard's decision to renew the attack was simply a matter of ambition. Attempting to break contact with a strong enemy to the front and a difficult obstacle to the rear could have been a disaster, especially since retreating after difficult combat and the death of the king would instill a sense of defeat in the men and lead to panic. I also think that Wallenstein made the right call to retreat. If fighting continued the next morning, even (relatively) fresh troops might not have been enough to stem the tide of an enraged enemy fighting on deadly ground that had shown a willingness not only to fight but to fight to the last. Even if Wallenstein had managed to destroy the Protestant army, it would be so costly that men would not fight for him anymore and he would be politically finished. The outcome in war can often be predicted more accurately by which side is more desperate to win than by which side has the material advantage. Commanders are officers who know where and when to place their troops to use their weapons to maximum effect. Leaders are officers who understand the motives of their troops and can get them to see their task to the end, but also understand the limits of their credibility in asking men to die. Wallenstein and King Gustav were very different men. One was the cynic's most beloved cynic, the other was the dreamer's most beloved dreamer, but they were both leaders who looked at their soldiers as human beings with their own needs and interests, and led on the basis that they were giving the men something they were willing to risk death for in exchange for their willingness to die. King Gustav's advisor Oxenstierna thought rightly that wars did not begin and end based on hopes and dreams but based on the motives and concerns of rulers, realpolitik, the balance of power etc. However, King Gustav understood what Oxenstierna did not, that men will not die for the motives and concerns of rulers, that realpolitik isn't real on a battlefield, but the hopes and dreams of the soldiers who must decide to die in order for battles to be won are very real on a battlefield. While the enemy can't argue with a bullet to the face, first you have to decide it's worth taking one yourself in order to deliver it. Gustavus Adolphus isn't remembered to this day because of a few tactical innovations which were adopted so quickly by his opponents that it was a zero sum game. He's remembered because he was such an inspirational leader that his leadership survived him in death and affected the outcome of a battle, and therefore a war, and therefore the history of the world. Luetzen is not remembered because it was a day's long slaughter that was tactically inconclusive. The battle demonstrated that the Protestant troops were now motivated to fight and die for their own cause, that they didn't see themselves as pawns in the power struggle between princes in which their religion was merely a political consideration for princes to use against each other and their subjects. By fighting so valiantly in such desperate circumstances, the common soldier of Gustav's army showed the Catholic princes that even if they could destroy or subjugate their rival Protestant princes, they would destroy themselves in the process. By preserving his own army, Wallenstein ensured that the Protestant side could not gain a quick victory and that destroying the Catholic side would require a war of attrition they could not win. There would be no more wars of religion in Germany, and while religious suspicions and undertones of religion would persist in the struggles between the princes, the wholesale slaughter and persecution of the people based on their religion would end. In a word, both sides would have to come to terms with their inability to destroy the other, and mutual disgust would have to turn into grudging respect and eventually back into brotherhood. The Battle of Luetzen directly contributed to lasting religious harmony in Germany. It's a stark contrast with countries like the UK which never had a full blown war of religion and yet animosities have persisted to the point where there are still occasional brawls between atheists identifying as Protestants and atheists identifying as Catholics. It's patently absurd. Speaking from the perspective of a Protestant who grew up with a beloved aunt who was a Catholic nun, I am deeply disgusted by people LARPing the wars of religion and they should be ashamed of themselves, but I also understand the feeling of sympathizing with your team when you look back at yesteryear's disasters. There are two moments in the Thirty Years War which are the most memorable images in the mind's eye, and they are closely related. The first is the Spanish pikeman standing in the last tercio at Rocroi, completely surrounded, helpless in the face of artillery but still defiant. The second is the Protestant soldier at Luetzen, covered in black powder soot, sweat and blood, but going back across the field of his fallen comrades to attack again against all odds for grief over the only leader who ever showed genuine concern for him. If you're Catholic, the Protestant soldier is an icon smasher, he would be your enemy. If you're Protestant, the Spanish pikeman is the enforcer of the Inquisition, he would be your enemy. But you can't help but see the genuine love in him, that he is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for what he believes in even if you believe he's wrong. And it makes no sense, the most disgusting human characteristic, that we butcher each other because we can't get along, displays the most noble human characteristic, that we're willing to give our own lives out of love for each other. And I suppose that's why we find stories of battle so interesting, even if we've seen war with our own eyes; that even within the driest, most apolitical tactical analysis we can see the full range of humanity good and evil, and try to understand it better without the stress of thinking about what we'll cut each other's throats over tomorrow.

I was the king of Sweden... that's gotta be one of the greatest last words in all of history.

This battle is one of my main examples of how artillery was used in this war in my bachelor thesis.

You are one of the most underrated history channels in this platform

This video is top-notch. Please keep them coming. The Pike & Shot era deserves more recognition. Any chances you'll cover the English Civil War or Time of Troubles in the future?

It's worth noting that at this time, the Imperial Cuirassier's were a different grade entirely. They were extremely heavily armored (as a whole) , well-disciplined and rode large, strong horses. They were different from other elite cavalrymen of the time ( Winged - Hussars and their Swedish counterparts) in that they functioned more like an armored fist that focused on raw strength over maneuverability.

Lützen: -6000 casualties- a perfect example how destructive the 30 years war was. WW1: -200000 casualties to capture 20m of wasteland- A total win chaps, well done.

Sweds: For the king!!! Imperials: ah s#$% here we go again.

Soldier: Who are you? Gustavus: I was the King Of Sweden Soldier: Shoots Gustavus in the temple*

“I was the king of Sweden” I’m not crying, you’re crying

Hey algorithm, Recommend this to others. Shed the light of knowledge on people's minds.

"Arise, Riders of Pappenheim" lmao excellent reference

Damn man I’m impressed by how fast you make these long videos, amazing work.

My quarantine became incredably interesting for half an hour

Gustavus's ghost: You suck Wallenstein! I'm dead and still winning!

Hour by hour breakdown is an amazing format. Thanks for all the work you put in to these videos

I remember being taught in the fifth grade that this, Lützen, was a glorious swedish victory... Do I need to say that I went to school in Sweden?

I'm currently reading the book 1632 by Eric Flint. It's about the story of a small west virginian town from the year 2000 suddenly appearing in medieval germany during the 30 year war. I thought this was about that for a second and was confused at why everything sounded off.

Now, we need the battle of Nordlingen, and an in-depth analisis of the use of tactical rolling in XVI century warfare

Oh yes details The spice and salt of a story, video, battle, movie or anything.

The 30-year-war was such a drastic war in Europe, which had effects that last to today. Hell, my family probably came down to Germany from Sweden around the time of the 30-year-war, so it is personal for me and many others around Europe.

These types of video are like an event for me. I'm so excited!

16:55 nice touch.

This is a superb piece of work: you've given the right amount of emphasis to the strategic background for the battle and then used very effective graphics to make its course clear.

Incredibly well done video! Graphics were really good, narration was easy to understand, and you took a complicated subject like the Thirty Years War and you had me from start to finish wrapped up in it. That's very impressive! Well done and God bless you and your team, my friend!

The Moment when I go to KZfaq and there is a video about the war of my hometown. It's very interesting good job👍

I cry at this battle, rip Gustavus

Always happy to see a new video on your channel. Keep up the good work!

Talking about the Croats like that...made it sound like they were only good for looting supply trains :D

Interesting vid. To me, several aspects of this battle are remarkable: 1. The Swedes making their first infantry assault piece meal with three largely unsupported formations in the center, allowing them to be outflanked by both Imperial infantry and cavalry. 2. Imperial infantry and cavalry formations on multiple occasions winning 1v1 engagements against their Swedish opponents. This is even more stunning as you say the Imperial army was mostly freshly raised, using their enemies' tactics against an army of veteran Swedes. 3. Gustavus Adolphus, as king and veteran of a string of engagements, leading an initial flanking attack by a cavalry wing from the front like a mere captain, allowing himself to come into harm's way when things went south. 4. The Swedish army essentially deciding to fight to the death once they heard of their king's demise. Remarkable as this would have meant the war was all but lost. Granted, their retreat would have been difficult, but halting that initial wave of panic on hearing the news and inspiring them to press the attack until the very end must have been no mean feat. I understand there are limits to both the vid's scope and format, as well as available research, but I was hoping for a bit more discussion of above points in your conclusion, as well as the armies' composition in general (nationalities, mercenaries, training and equipment), as there appears to be such a discrepancy in veterancy. Your ending fell a bit flat to me as it mostly offered that age-old adagium that war, yes truly, is hell.

Absolutely great video. You really captured the bravery and horror of this battle.

It's a nice weekend when SRH uploads a new video :D

You die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain Gustavus and Wallenstein respectively.

Amazing video, thank you for your hard work

Excellent video !! Thanks for the great work!!!

This was an awesome account, even-handed and thorough. Thank you for some sterling content!

Great content, you are one of the best!

What an amazing video! Very well made =)

Above the crypt in Riddarholmen Church which contains Gustavus body, there reads an inscription. In Augustiis intravit / Pietatem Amavit / Hostes Prostravit / Regnum Dilatavit / Suecos Exaltavit / Oppressos Liberavit / Moriens Triumphavit. "In difficulty he began / Piousness he loved / His enemies he defeated / The kingdom he expanded / The Swedes he exalted / The oppressed he freed / victorious in death.

Thx for this video, excellent as always! Since you now did a video on the Spanish, Dutch and Swedish army models, have you considered doing a video on the French army model? Did they orient their forces on one particular model or did they create their own one?

your battle reports are the best, SandRoman!

Yessss I've been looking forward to a video on Lützen for a long time Weiter so!

Wow one of your best infographics yet. Good information.

the last vid on the seige of candia was great but this is what I've been waiting for. looking forward to the rendición de breda. your content is very great thanks for the effort wish you the best.

This is a fantastic account of the this awesome battle - great stuff 👍

May Gustavus rest in peace. He will always be remember.

Another fantastic video. Honestly you deserve some kind of award. And more views anyway.

Great detailed video. Keep it up!

17:00 mark, the Empire counter attacks using the 'Guts' kurrasiers!? ''Beserk ~Forces~'' theme intensifies!

You must be trained in history cause I love how you do historiography in these videos. It's a great way of showing the layman how history is done

I didn’t know the king’s death was so awful. What a sad ending. Said as an imperial sympathiser.

These videos always blow my mind, i dont "ring the bell" often, but i dont want to miss a minute!

Love the animation you guys do.

Gustavus Adolphus: We have an army! Wallenstein: We have a Holk!

Another excellent video. I absolutely love your content.

The music this channel uses is exquisite. Reminds me of the best pieces in the Final Fantasy series.

This channel is great! Covering many significant yet less well known European historic events.

The battlefield can be found around 51.255, 12.16 on maps. It is still easy to recognise due to the rivers, although the Mühlgraben is called Ellerbach now. Many things there were named after Gustavus Adolphus - the modern road that replaced the sunken road, a school in Lützen, and a nearby memorial said to have been placed on the exact spot where his body was found.

Thank you so much for this!

Damn, that was such a ride! Too bad Lion RIP, wonder how war will end.

A bloody good video this was. Certainly tells fairly well a terribly bloody battle. I wonder what would've happened had the Swedish king not been killed in this battle.

Good presentation. Very understandable.

Well done - great presentation.

Great Vids. I most certainly subbed

Napoleon: "And it was here, yes here indeed, that Pappenheim launched his ill-fated charge and- WHO LE FUCK IS FIRING THEIR CANNONS WHILE I'M LEADING A TOUR"

Great video, here have a little gift for the algorithm...

Nicely done!!

Thanks for your work!

Thank you for this & your hard work. An excellent presentation. Here in the UK the Thirty Years War is overlooked as it co-insides with the run up to The English Civil War. I first got interested after watching the film "The Last Valley" with Michael Caine & Omar Sharrif. The only book to read was C V Wedgewood's The Thirty Years War. British Historians seem not to be interested in studying/writing about it.

Amazing Explanation

Outstanding! Thank you.

These videos are the best! like watching a history book. hope one day you also do some, battles from asia or far east.

Very well done, the whole series. A pieorid of history not tought or studied in the US. I like the graphics and maps which help to show what happened and when.

A fine Easter present!

The Swedish army's hatchet was the legendary Finnish cavalry that finished off the Catholics. It was a fearless and brutal killing machine led by Torsten Stålhandske. Hakkapeliitas are remembered with horror in Central Europe even today.

Superb video I’ve subscribed 👍👍

Immidiately after his great victory at Breitenfeld, which won him fame as "The Lion of the North" the "lion" began to blunder in ernest, which was overstretching his lines of communication and supply , making worthless conquests and staggering around aimlessly in Germany, too late realizing , that it was a rather large country. Finally topping this with the last monstrous mistake , instead of leading from behind , stumbling about in the fog of Lützen, which cost the great military man his life. In fact, the battle was a draw, neither side won.

This was amazing!

a another excellent account of this battle and lovin those chapter names [winks] :)

Very impressive, thank you very much

If you watch this with closed captions, 25:12 Adam Trackhawk is Count Adam Trcka, Bohemian nobleman and brother in law of Wallenstein, who was murdered in the Eger Bloodbath with Wallentstein and other noble relations.

Awesome video btw

A fascinating character, think Goethe wrote a play about him. Lived in one of his old holdings in Czech Republic btw 😄🙂

thank you!

Amazing video.

Excellent content! Any chance of knowing the song / piece that plays at 1:10 and all your other videos? Thanks.

5:26 always great to hear from my City Passau

I loved the episode V title

I live just a few minutes away from the Alte Veste in Zirndorf, didnt know there was a somewhat major battle of the 30 years war here!

About the so called "tercio formation", even in its peak of usage wasn't used a lot. Mainly was used for positioning the forces before the battle started, but usually, the arquebusier and musketeer wings were put on front sides to maximize firepower since the beginning of the sistem. In battle the "tercio" formation were only used when were a danger of envolvement of the enemy, but with enough cavalry to protect the flanks, weren't used so much. In fact, in the greatest victories os the spanish tercios, they didn't used the "tercio" formation. In fact, the name "tercio" referred as a formation is wrong (in the primaries sources it is called "castle squadron"), and probably this makes a great misunderstanding of how the people fight at that time, and a lot of people think the tercios only fought in "tercio formation", when in reality were the less used. A good source of the spanish-italian formations are the primary source "De'll Ordinance de battaglia" (1583) from the autor Cesare D'Evoli. What is true is that Gustavus Adolphus elongated the formations and made them smaller, but making formations smaller was something common at thar time in all Europe, because they knew that a smaller formation were easier to control and more effective (thats the reason why the most common spanish tactic was to take loose arquebusiers and musketeers from main formations and attack with them alone getting ahead from the main army, as in the spanish victory of Gembloux (1578) using only loose arquebusiers and cavalry.

Gustavus Adolphus vs Wallenstein = Tactical genius vs Strategic genius