Battle of Grunwald.Slaughter, who has repeatedly described the writers of the books, which brought a huge number of casualties on both sides.In the history of this battle comes as one of the most ambitious, bloody, changing the course of history.
Background and preparation for battle
Teutonic Knights XIV-early XV century, especially getting out raids on neighboring states.More all fell Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania.The main advantage of the Germans was much better uniforms and weapons.Despite this, Battle of Grunwald showed that the decisive factor is the right choice of strategy and tactics.In the winter of 1409-1410 years of negotiations between the allies: Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania.He was appointed an offensive plan in the midst of summer, under the command of the Polish King Vladislav II Jagiello.In late June, the Polish king received news that the Lithuanian and Russian troops lined up on the banks of the River Narev for inspection.Most of them were combat-ready Smolensk regiment, who played a very important role in the battle called "The Battle of Grunwald".June 30 army marched in the campaign, June 7 was produced by inspection of all parts of the combat brigades and the 9th Allied forces crossed the territory dominated by the Teutonic Order.The Great Battle of Grunwald inexorably, in the meantime, on July 13 the troops looked into the fortress Gilbenburg, which immediately captured.
July 15th.Battle
first time since thousands of opponents of army troops Jagiello agreed on July 10 but the management did not find how to cross the river Drwęca that housed the Germans.It was decided to go to the source Soldau.Finally, between the villages of Grunwald and Tannenberg two armies met.So began the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.July 15 at 12:00 Jagiello army received from opponents of the package: two crossed swords.Took it as a sign of offensive, commanders gave the order to go on the offensive.On the field, the size of 11h9 km located 130,000th Allied forces, which included Poles, Lithuanians, Russian, Tatars, Armenians, Volohov, as well as the Czechs, Hungarians and Moravians as mercenaries.The army of the Teutonic Knights had 85 thousand. Soldiers who were 22 nationalities, the majority of which are occupied by the Germans.Despite the advantage of the allies in the soldiers who have Teutons had better weapons.Fight Lithuanian troops launched an offensive, the Germans responded cores artillery.Then the Lithuanian army was pushed back by the Germans.Smolensk regiments were left on the battlefield and hard to repel the attacks, while the Lithuanians retreated.Poles at this time attacked the banners of Liechtenstein, and the right of Smolensk covered shelves.And then he sounded the cry: "Lithuania is returned."Indeed, Vytautas gathered fled the army and returned to the field.With renewed vigor they hit the Teutonic Knights, who could not stand the last fight.Part of the troops killed, some taken prisoner, wounded, fled, and by the Teutonic Knights almost nothing left Battle of Grunwald.Year 1410 long remembered as a year of both sides of a large battle.
Consequences
Battle of Grunwald significantly weakened the Teutonic Order, which was on the verge to cease to exist.A threat to the Allies from the West as crusaders was eliminated.And only in 1422 a peace treaty was signed between the parties to the war, according to which the Order lost Zanemane, Samogitia, Neshavskie land and Pomerania.
