Battle of Preßnitz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Preßnitz
Der Posto bei Presnitz, 1641 by Pieter Snayers. Portrait of the battle between Swedish and Imperial troops
Date 27 March 1641 Location Preßnitz (now Přísečnice) 50°28′9″N 13°7′31″E / 50.46917°N 13.12528°E / 50.46917; 13.12528 Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
Holy Roman Empire	Sweden
Commanders and leaders
Ottavio Piccolomini	Johan Banér
Strength
	14,000
Casualties and losses
	4,000

The Battle of Preßnitz was an important fight during the Thirty Years' War. It happened on March 27, 1641. In this battle, soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire fought against the Swedish army. The Imperial troops, led by Octavio Piccolomini, won against the Swedish army, led by Field Marshal Johan Baner.

What Happened at Preßnitz

Preparing for Battle

In the winter of 1640 and 1641, the Swedish army, led by Johan Baner, set up their winter camp. They were in a place called Cham, close to the border of Bohemia. Their plan was to meet up with French soldiers. At that time, it was unusual for armies to fight in winter, but the Swedish troops were ready for it.

A Surprise Attack

On March 17, 1641, the Imperial army attacked Baner's camp. The Swedish army was caught off guard and had fewer soldiers. Many of their men were already hurt or had died. The Imperial troops almost completely surrounded them.

Baner had to act fast. He ordered his army to retreat quickly towards Saxony. They took a shorter path through Bohemian land. The Imperial cavalry (soldiers on horseback) chased after them.

The Race to Preßnitz

On March 27, Baner's soldiers left a town called Kaaden. They were heading for the small town of Preßnitz in the Ore Mountains. Piccolomini, the Imperial commander, tried to get there first. He took a shorter but harder route over the mountains. He wanted to block the passes near Preßnitz.

However, Piccolomini was about half an hour too late. Baner's army reached the area around Preßnitz just before him.

Fighting at the Rear

When the Swedish army got close to Preßnitz, a big fight broke out at the back of their army. This is called a rearguard action. It lasted until midnight.

Meanwhile, Baner's main troops used the thick forests around Preßnitz to help them escape. They even built a special defense called a wagon fort. This was like a temporary fort made from wagons. From this fort, they used their artillery (cannons) to fight the Imperial soldiers.

The wagon fort helped the Swedish infantry (foot soldiers) a lot. The ground was covered in deep snow and mud, which made it hard for the heavy Imperial cavalry to move. Even though the Imperial army had more soldiers, the Swedes were able to protect their retreat.

The Aftermath

The Swedish army lost about 4,000 men in this battle. That was almost a third of their total strength. However, they managed to avoid a complete defeat. They successfully retreated from Preßnitz to Annaberg and then to Zwickau.

Sadly, not long after this battle, Johan Baner died. He passed away on May 10, 1641, when he was 45 years old.