Battle+Of+Warsaw+(1656)

The Battle of Warsaw (July 28-30, 1656) was a major battle that took place during the Second Northern War between with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on one side and Sweden and Brandenburger (German) on the other. The Polish-Lithuanian forces were led by John II Casimir of Poland and had approximately 36,000 men while the of Sweden and Brandenburger were led by King Charles the X of Sweden and had only 19,000 men. The Sweden Brandenburg army fought with approximatley 47 artillery pieces while the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth fought with only approximately 18 pieces. Although the battle lasted only three days, there were 3,900 casualties with the Swedish Brandenburger winning over Polish-Lithuanian army. In the longrun, the battle settled little to nothing. On the first day, the Swedish and the Germans set up an attack from the rear and the sides. This plan did not work because of Bialoleka forest and the Vistula River making it very hard for the Sweedish and the Germans the make it effective firing area. Also during day one, the Polish dug trenches in the ground which made it hard for the Sweedish and the Germans to kill the Polish. On day two, a German leader, Frederick William, found a hill that could over see over the Bialoleka Forest. From the top of this this hill he set up his artillery pieces and his men shot at the Polish army when they tried to make any sudden moves. While the Germans held the Polish back, the Swedish went around the Bialoleka Forest and came up on the Polish right flank, which made it impossibe for the Polish to hold their ground. During the night, John II Casimir evacuated most of his men and he went back over the Vistula River while the calvary held the Swedish and the Germans back. On day three, hard fighting on bolth sides caused the Commonwealth to be beat after a final retreat of the all the men and calvary while trying to get over the bridge, causing a traffic jam. Also, Field Marshall Von Sparr led an attack from the front of the Polish lines while Fredrick William led another attack to the right. Many Polish men were trying to escape over the Vistula River and soliders were falling into the water. The force of troops on the bridge caused the bridge to collapsed. The bridge was put back together and the dragoons held the Sweedish and the Germans back, but John II Casimir order the bridge to be burnt down immediatly. Many soliders were left behind and captured by the Swedish forces. After the Battle, the Swedish and the Brandenbugrs marched through Warsaw during a victory parade, but were later forced to evacuate. A year later, the Polish King signed the Treaty of Wehlau. After this war it was set to be the Prussian Militarys History. This batlle was so important because it was a very bigwar during the Second Northern war, which was a very long time period were the Sweedish attacked the Polish.