Battle of Jankau 1645 - Thirty Years' War DOCUMENTARY

Our animated historical documentary series on the Thirty Years' War continues with the aftermath of the battle of Freiburg - the battle of Jankau of 1645. The Swedes under Torstensson are on the attack again and their rampage through the modern day Czechia, where he will meet the Imperial army under von Hatzfeld at the battle of Jankau.


#Documentary #30YearsWar #Kingsandgenerals

[catriona_drummond]

Poor Hatzfeld, desperately trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of utter annihilation but the incompetence of his underlings was just too great.

[stygian]

"...or decided it's a good moment to show his disobedience."

Yeah, this is what happens when you have -40 opinions with your vassals

[adamjan]

Commanders in early 30 years war: "Modern war ought to be fought with well disciplined infantry. Cavalry based armies are relicts of the past"
Commanders in later 30 years war: "I am speed"

[sanher]

Torstensson is a very underrated general, he was very fast even though he was crippled and sick and definitely made use of some of the Gustavian tactics.

[letoatreides]

I really believe, that the breaking of little squares is the most satisfying sound ever😂
I've been pavlov-trained by K&G

[benedictjajo]

"A good moment to show his disobedience"
LMAO

[MDP]

Just imagine a tv series set in the 30 years war. You'll have a large battle every 1-2 episodes. So much source material. I'd love it.

[abcdef]

"The wives of the swedish officers were captured here, including Torstenson wife".

Swedes: "So, you choose death!".

[WolfgangRavenna]

Gotta say: Every other K&G episode is like

"The broke the lines, Decisively gaining the upper hand!..." YAH! Alright! They may win this

"...And then they began looting the baggage train" GOD DAMN IT.

[ThelostPenguin]

feel really bad for Von Hatzefeldt, He did everything he could with his numbers and disobedient/incompetent commander's.

[seantomlinson]

What a complicated terrific battle. Wow. No wonder I've never really understood what happened. Turns out discipline matters. Who would have thought?

[PostmanCZ]

Jankau was probably the most important battle of this war phase. Sice then the Emperor knew the
hope of victory is lost and he has begun negotiate for peace.

[antoinemonks]

15:50 "It's over, we have the high ground!"
"You underestimate our power."

[eldorados_lost_searcher]

That was one hell of a nail biter. The battle ranged all across the countryside, to the point where it's amazing how the forces managed to stick together.

And once again, one of the decisive moments is when the cavalry stopped to loot the baggage train.

[Jauhl]

I have always wondered why Jankau is hardly ever mentioned. It any battle can be said to decided the long 30-years war it's Jankau, not only was yet another Imperial army annihilated, The loss of the experienced Bavarian Cavalry made further Bavarian resistance against France hopeless. After Jankau the war continued to settle how much Habsburg would have to offer for a peace, to turn the tide was now beyond Imperial resources.
Btw Lennart Torstensson was a very interesting man, He was military prodigy and favorite of Gustavus. Colonel at 26, General and commander of the artillery at 29, playing key roles in the kings victories. 1632 he was captured and spent a year in a dank dungeon in Ingolstadt. This afflicted him with gout and utterly ruined his health, he still continued to serve in the army as well as he could. His actions at Wittstock and Chemniz was critical to Johan Banér the new Swedish commander in chief victories but in 1640 Torstensson retired from the army due to his illness and joined the Council of the Realm. Not a year later Banér died. The Council appointed Torstensson as his replacement, despite Torstensson's own objections. He had the misfortune of having the army's absolute confidence, while also being part of the Swedish high aristocracy and thus unlike foreign generals in Swedish service unquestionable loyal. Despite frequently having to be carried on a stretcher because the pain was so severe that he couldn't ride, he quickly made his mark on the war. He was a master of maneuver warfare and destroyed two Imperial armies simply by boxing them into desolated land decimating them through starvation and disease. In 1642 he crushed the Imperials at the second battle of Breitenfeld, In 1644 he was ordered to conquer Denmark so he did, and a year later he wrecked the Imperials at Jankau. Year after year he asked to be relieved which didn't happen until 1646, He died 1651. 48 years old.

[anzaca]

7:00 Hill 554 sounds like a battle location from WWII, like Hill 113 (in Normandy).

[xusteve]

Looting the enemy camp seems lke the second most common sign that one side is about to lose the battle. (1st as killng envoys)

[ΓιαννηςΜπουγιος]

Man those videos were mad interesting before quarantine. Now they are pure gold

[komm]

I can only imagine the 1, 000 yard stare someone who fought in this entire war from start to finish would have.

[MichaelSmith-ijut]

11:18 I don't know why but the forced conversion of the Imperial artillery was so damn satisfying.