Blockade of Stralsund facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blockade of Stralsund |
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| Part of the Pomeranian War (Seven Years' War) | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Prussia |
 Sweden |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Hans von Lehwaldt | Fredrik von Rosen | ||||||
The Blockade of Stralsund was an important event during the Seven Years' War. It happened when soldiers from Prussia surrounded the city of Stralsund. This city was the capital of Swedish Pomerania, and it was held by Swedish troops. Instead of a full siege (a direct attack), the Prussians tried to cut off the city. They blocked all land routes to Stralsund. However, they could not block the sea routes. This was because Prussia did not have a strong navy. In the end, the blockade was stopped. Most Prussian soldiers were called away to fight in other battles.
Why the Blockade Happened
Sweden joined the Seven Years' War in 1757. They teamed up with France, Russia, Austria, and Saxony. These countries were all fighting against Prussia. In the autumn of 1757, many Prussian soldiers were busy fighting elsewhere. This allowed the Swedes to move south. They took control of a large part of Pomerania.
After the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, Russian forces left East Prussia. Because of this, Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia, gave an order. He told his General, Hans von Lehwaldt, to move west. General Lehwaldt's mission was to go to Stettin and fight the Swedes.
The Prussian soldiers were very well-prepared. They had better equipment and training than the Swedes. Soon, they pushed the Swedish army back. The Swedes had to retreat into Swedish Pomerania. The Prussians kept moving forward. They captured the towns of Anklam and Demmin. The Swedish army was left with only the strong city of Stralsund. They also held the nearby island of Rügen. A new commander, Fredrik von Rosen, was sent to lead the Swedish forces.
The Blockade Begins
Stralsund was a very strong city. It was clear that the Swedish soldiers inside would not give up easily. To force the city to surrender, the Prussians needed help from ships. King Frederick of Prussia asked his British allies many times for a navy. He wanted them to send a fleet of ships into the Baltic Sea.
However, the British did not want to get involved in a fight with Sweden or Russia. Britain was not at war with these countries. So, they said no to Frederick's request. They explained that their ships were needed in other places. The British navy's refusal to help was a big reason why the Prussians could not take Stralsund.
During this time, the Prussians also forced men from the areas they controlled in Swedish Pomerania to join their army. Meanwhile, France helped Sweden keep fighting. They sent money to Sweden. France also paid Denmark to stay neutral. This stopped Denmark from joining the war on Prussia's side.
What Happened Next
The year 1758 brought new fighting seasons. The Prussian soldiers who were blocking Stralsund were needed more urgently. They had to go fight on the Russian front. So, most of them were pulled away from Stralsund. This effectively ended the blockade.
It was not until 1759 that the Swedes went on the attack again. This happened after the Prussians lost a major battle called the Battle of Kunersdorf. Prussian forces were once again busy fighting on other fronts. The Swedes then won the Battle of Frisches Haff. Even with this victory, the Swedes did not gain much land.
In 1762, Russia left the war. After this, Sweden made peace with Prussia. They signed a document called the Treaty of Hamburg. This officially ended their part in the war.
