WEBVTT

1
00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:24.000
<v Speaker 1>Hello, and Welcome to Western Sieve episode four hundred and

2
00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:28.199
<v Speaker 1>forty three. A new alliance, the Peace of Prague, intended

3
00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:31.199
<v Speaker 1>to bring stability and much needed funds, failed to deliver.

4
00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:35.560
<v Speaker 1>The emperor. Now, Ferdinand the Third was desperate to maintain

5
00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:39.679
<v Speaker 1>his armies, resorting to assigning entire regions to support his allies,

6
00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:44.320
<v Speaker 1>further draining the Empire's already depleted resources to continue the

7
00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:48.159
<v Speaker 1>Thirty Years War. This lack of funds trickled down to

8
00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:52.600
<v Speaker 1>the soldiers, who often went unpaid for months, leading to

9
00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:56.679
<v Speaker 1>widespread desertion and undermining the morale of the Imperial army.

10
00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:02.159
<v Speaker 1>Adding to the Empire's woes. Now, the bubonic plague swept

11
00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:06.879
<v Speaker 1>through its ranks, further decimating the army's strength. The shortage

12
00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.239
<v Speaker 1>of funds and the impact of disease forced the Imperial

13
00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:14.760
<v Speaker 1>forces to withdraw from several key areas, weakening the imperial

14
00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:18.599
<v Speaker 1>hold on the Rhineland and embolding Cardinal Richelieu of France.

15
00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.799
<v Speaker 1>The power vacuum also allowed opportunistic individuals like Bernard of

16
00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:28.920
<v Speaker 1>Vemar to rise. A skilled military leader. Bernard realized the

17
00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:32.680
<v Speaker 1>opportunity to challenge the Habsburg dominance and the reline. He

18
00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:35.159
<v Speaker 1>wasn't alone in the fight either. He relied on the

19
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:38.879
<v Speaker 1>talented mercenary commanders, many of whom who had risen up

20
00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:42.879
<v Speaker 1>over the past two decades, to such Jacob Walter and

21
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.640
<v Speaker 1>Johann von Goltz, whose expertise and ambition would help to

22
00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:49.799
<v Speaker 1>shape the course of the end of the war. The

23
00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:53.280
<v Speaker 1>war at this point was no longer a clash of ideology.

24
00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:56.040
<v Speaker 1>It was no longer about politics, It was no longer

25
00:01:56.040 --> 00:02:00.200
<v Speaker 1>about tactics. This had become nothing less than just a

26
00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:05.359
<v Speaker 1>struggle for survival. Soldiers, often driven to desperation by lack

27
00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:09.000
<v Speaker 1>of pay and just food, resulted to plundering simply to

28
00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:13.120
<v Speaker 1>feed themselves. It's a grim picture of sieges at this point,

29
00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:17.319
<v Speaker 1>where starvation and disease become as deadly as swords on

30
00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:21.479
<v Speaker 1>both sides of the wall. For one example, the siege

31
00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:26.840
<v Speaker 1>of Breyshach in sixteen thirty eight is particularly harrowing. The

32
00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:31.120
<v Speaker 1>defending garrison found itself reduced to eating horses and even

33
00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:36.800
<v Speaker 1>resorting allegedly to cannibalism in its desperation. The war's brutality

34
00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.599
<v Speaker 1>at this stage now left a psychological scar on the

35
00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:45.039
<v Speaker 1>peoples of Germany, giving rise to gruesome stories and perpetuating

36
00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:49.360
<v Speaker 1>a climate of fear and uncertainty. The Battle then of

37
00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.919
<v Speaker 1>Wittenmeier in sixteen thirty nine marked yet another decisive turning

38
00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.080
<v Speaker 1>point in this war that has not lacked for them

39
00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.159
<v Speaker 1>to this point. It highlighted the importance of leadership and

40
00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:05.280
<v Speaker 1>devastating consequences also of recklessness. Gutz, the imperial commander, despite

41
00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:09.159
<v Speaker 1>his experience, made a series of tactical blunders that led

42
00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.080
<v Speaker 1>to a crushing defeat on the hands of the Protestant forces.

43
00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:16.680
<v Speaker 1>The loss at Bittenmeier contributed to the fall of Bressok,

44
00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:20.280
<v Speaker 1>a strategic fortress that had long been a symbol of

45
00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:24.400
<v Speaker 1>Habsburg power and was considered to be just a given

46
00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:28.360
<v Speaker 1>as an imperial fortress. But even the victory at taking

47
00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:32.599
<v Speaker 1>Bressok didn't work out for the Protestants. Bernard of Weimar,

48
00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:37.120
<v Speaker 1>despite his initial successes, met his tragic end there. While

49
00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:41.520
<v Speaker 1>laying siege to Bressak, he succumbed to illness. His death,

50
00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:43.759
<v Speaker 1>though didn't mark the end of the war, though it

51
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:48.199
<v Speaker 1>did deal another major blow to the Protestant forces. And

52
00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:51.919
<v Speaker 1>if you're keeping track from Gustavus Adolphus all the way

53
00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:55.240
<v Speaker 1>through this conflict, one of the reasons perhaps that this

54
00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:57.719
<v Speaker 1>war drags on for as long as it does is

55
00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.479
<v Speaker 1>that it's just impossible for either side to keep their

56
00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:05.199
<v Speaker 1>leaders alive long enough to prosecute an end to the conflict.

57
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:10.400
<v Speaker 1>So instead, the Thirty Years War rages on, leaving a

58
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:14.400
<v Speaker 1>continued trail of destruction and what will ultimately come to

59
00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:19.759
<v Speaker 1>shape the political landscape of Europe for generations. The profound

60
00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.480
<v Speaker 1>human cost of this war at this point is significant.

61
00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:33.319
<v Speaker 1>Soldiers and civilians suffered alike. Brutality and desperation permeate every aspect.

62
00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.279
<v Speaker 1>The Thirty Years War was a stark reminder of the

63
00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:43.000
<v Speaker 1>consequences of religious and political intolerance, leaving a legacy of

64
00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:48.199
<v Speaker 1>destruction and yearning for peace in its wake. After sixteen

65
00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:53.120
<v Speaker 1>thirty eight thirty nine, a new force and alliance would

66
00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:58.040
<v Speaker 1>emerge that again would provide some hope that perhaps the

67
00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:02.079
<v Speaker 1>end was near and that we'll be right after this.

68
00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:28.319
<v Speaker 1>About two thirds of the way through the Thirty Years War,

69
00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:32.199
<v Speaker 1>a new force emerged, one that would significantly alter the

70
00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:36.040
<v Speaker 1>political and military landscape of the conflict. This new alliance

71
00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:39.639
<v Speaker 1>was called a quote unquote third party. It was born

72
00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:44.079
<v Speaker 1>out of a strategic vision of Duke George of Lunenburg

73
00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:47.279
<v Speaker 1>and the ambitions of probably getting used to hearing this

74
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:53.160
<v Speaker 1>name Cardinal Richelieu of France. George wanted to strengthen his

75
00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:58.800
<v Speaker 1>position and protect his forces from both Imperial and Swedish encroachment.

76
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.879
<v Speaker 1>He saw an opportunity in the then existing Franco Swedish alliance.

77
00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:11.560
<v Speaker 1>He initiated negotiations with Amelia Elisabeth of Hesse Kassel, proposing

78
00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:16.040
<v Speaker 1>a coalition that would create essentially a neutral block in

79
00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:21.680
<v Speaker 1>the middle of Germany. The block, centered around vital territories

80
00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:26.199
<v Speaker 1>like Hamburg, Cologne and Manse, would serve as a buffer

81
00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:30.920
<v Speaker 1>against the Habsburg forces and offer a safe haven for

82
00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:35.279
<v Speaker 1>various houses which could no longer continue to effectively participate

83
00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:40.639
<v Speaker 1>in the conflict. The emergence of this French backed third party,

84
00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:42.720
<v Speaker 1>and it's called a third party because it really doesn't

85
00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:45.319
<v Speaker 1>want to choose a side, sent ripples through the Holy

86
00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:51.319
<v Speaker 1>Roman Empire, particularly alarming Emperor Ferdinand the Third. The Emperor,

87
00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:55.360
<v Speaker 1>always vigilant against threats to his authority, saw this new

88
00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:59.560
<v Speaker 1>alliance as a dangerous challenge to his power. He attempted

89
00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:04.319
<v Speaker 1>to pressure Duke George into abandoning these plans, urging him

90
00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:08.560
<v Speaker 1>to expel any Allied troops and instead get back in

91
00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:13.439
<v Speaker 1>line with the Imperial forces. But George persisted, and the

92
00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:17.319
<v Speaker 1>Third Party's influence extended beyond the realm of politics, directly

93
00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:21.439
<v Speaker 1>impacting then the course of the war. In sixteen thirty seven,

94
00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:26.199
<v Speaker 1>the Swedish commander Johann Banaier launched a new offensive, aiming

95
00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:30.279
<v Speaker 1>to capitalize on the instability caused within the Imperial forces

96
00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:34.360
<v Speaker 1>by this new faction and their refusal to participate any

97
00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:38.480
<v Speaker 1>further in the war. This campaign, marked by a series

98
00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:43.560
<v Speaker 1>of battles and strategic maneuverings, further complicated the already tangled

99
00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:47.480
<v Speaker 1>web of alliances and rivalries that had come to define

100
00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:51.279
<v Speaker 1>the Thirty Years War. The creation of the Third Party

101
00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:55.480
<v Speaker 1>added another layer of complexity to an already volatile conflict.

102
00:07:56.120 --> 00:08:00.519
<v Speaker 1>It continued to highlight the shifting allegiances, intricate powerdyne, and

103
00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.600
<v Speaker 1>constant struggle for advantage that characterized the Thirty Years War.

104
00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.680
<v Speaker 1>The Third Party, though initially welcomed by many as a

105
00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:15.040
<v Speaker 1>potential force for peace, ultimately became little more than another

106
00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.879
<v Speaker 1>pawn I guess you would say in the larger game

107
00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:22.800
<v Speaker 1>of power. Frankly, little more than a force that could

108
00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:27.279
<v Speaker 1>be used by Cardinal Richelieu when he wanted. This period

109
00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:30.120
<v Speaker 1>of the Thirty Years War, which was marked by increasingly

110
00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:34.519
<v Speaker 1>shifting alliances as different sides tried to tap out, as

111
00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:38.360
<v Speaker 1>well as military setback, and of course, the constant struggle

112
00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:45.080
<v Speaker 1>for financial stability continued to devastate Germany. Meanwhile, the Franco

113
00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:50.320
<v Speaker 1>Swedish alliance, though formidable, faced its own challenges, just like

114
00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:54.559
<v Speaker 1>the Imperial Force was. Count Johann Benaer, the Swedish commander,

115
00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.960
<v Speaker 1>inherited a war weary army that was plagued by mutiny

116
00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.360
<v Speaker 1>in financial I know I've mentioned this a million times.

117
00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:06.320
<v Speaker 1>Remember we're still in early modern Europe here. These states

118
00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:10.080
<v Speaker 1>do not have the financial resources to continue this war

119
00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:13.759
<v Speaker 1>for thirty years, though they seemed to be trying. His

120
00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:17.360
<v Speaker 1>attempts to rebuild the army and restore discipline were hampered

121
00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:20.080
<v Speaker 1>by the lack of funds and the constant need to

122
00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.440
<v Speaker 1>secure resources through plundering, especially when you're trying to plunder

123
00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:28.879
<v Speaker 1>a territory that's already been plundered. Bannair's situation mirrored the

124
00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:33.000
<v Speaker 1>broader financial difficulties that plagued many participants in the war,

125
00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:38.000
<v Speaker 1>highlighting the importance of economic resources in sustaining military campaigns.

126
00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.960
<v Speaker 1>The Imperial forces, though as mentioned, facing their own setbacks,

127
00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:49.720
<v Speaker 1>sought to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of their opponents. Ferdinand

128
00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.639
<v Speaker 1>the Third found himself increasingly forced to rely on negotiation

129
00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:57.600
<v Speaker 1>and diplomacy to maintain a semblance of unity within the Empire,

130
00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:01.360
<v Speaker 1>a strategy that was often un mind by self serving

131
00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:06.399
<v Speaker 1>interests of various princes and electors. The military campaigns between

132
00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:10.360
<v Speaker 1>sixteen forty one and sixteen forty three underscore the fluidity

133
00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:15.399
<v Speaker 1>of alliances and the constant maneuvering for advantages. Banair launched

134
00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:18.559
<v Speaker 1>an offensive in sixteen thirty seven aimed at exploiting the

135
00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:22.360
<v Speaker 1>instability caused by the Third Party, but this went nowhere.

136
00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:27.600
<v Speaker 1>The Battle of Wolftenburton in sixteen forty one exemplifies the

137
00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:32.879
<v Speaker 1>unpredictable nature of this conflict, with shifting alliances and unexpected

138
00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:38.360
<v Speaker 1>betrayals shaping the course of the battle. The battle was

139
00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:42.679
<v Speaker 1>a conflict between imperial forces, a coalition of course, and

140
00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:45.600
<v Speaker 1>essentially the Swedish Army. In the end, it appeared that

141
00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:49.679
<v Speaker 1>the Imperial forces had the upper hand, though ultimately Swedish

142
00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:55.679
<v Speaker 1>cohesion forced the Imperial forces to retreat Despite the victory,

143
00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:59.480
<v Speaker 1>the Swedes were unable to capitalize on anything that they

144
00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.720
<v Speaker 1>had achieved, which had become sort of a characteristic of

145
00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.639
<v Speaker 1>the Thirty Years War. It was easy for one side

146
00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:08.480
<v Speaker 1>or another to win a pitched battle here or there,

147
00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:13.039
<v Speaker 1>but almost it seems impossible for either side to ever

148
00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:16.919
<v Speaker 1>capitalize on the opportunities that they had created, which made

149
00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:21.000
<v Speaker 1>it again impossible to bring the overall conflict to a

150
00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:25.679
<v Speaker 1>complete resolution. Look, the writing was on the wall. This

151
00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:28.600
<v Speaker 1>conflict was not going to be resolved by someone achieving

152
00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:32.080
<v Speaker 1>total victory. This was going to be a negotiated settlement.

153
00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.360
<v Speaker 1>Both sides had to figure out a way to get

154
00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:39.759
<v Speaker 1>to that settlement. Now. Between sixteen forty two and sixteen

155
00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:43.639
<v Speaker 1>forty five, the Swedish and Imperial forces fought a series

156
00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:46.759
<v Speaker 1>of battles that went a long way toward finally ending

157
00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.200
<v Speaker 1>the war in sixteen forty eight, but that will be

158
00:11:50.279 --> 00:12:16.279
<v Speaker 1>right after this. In sixteen forty two, the Swedish Army,

159
00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:19.799
<v Speaker 1>now under the command of General Leonard Tortensen, achieved a

160
00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.720
<v Speaker 1>major victory over the Imperial forces at the Battle of Kempen.

161
00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:27.159
<v Speaker 1>Tortensen's victory was due in part to the Imperial commander

162
00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:31.240
<v Speaker 1>Guimar de le Boy's tactical blunder in dividing his forces

163
00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:35.279
<v Speaker 1>never something you want to do. Limbois, facing financial difficulties

164
00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:38.320
<v Speaker 1>and pressure from his hungry soldiers, had sent a portion

165
00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:41.679
<v Speaker 1>of his troops off to plunder the surrounding countryside. When

166
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.720
<v Speaker 1>the Swedes attacked, Limbois was caught unprepared and outnumbered, leading

167
00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:49.919
<v Speaker 1>to a decisive defeat. This victory put the Swedish forces

168
00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:53.039
<v Speaker 1>in a strong position, but as I mentioned, they were

169
00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:56.240
<v Speaker 1>unable to fully capitalize on their success because they too

170
00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:01.080
<v Speaker 1>were suffering from a lack of resources. The Imperial Forces,

171
00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:05.080
<v Speaker 1>then under the command of Franz Albrecht, suffered another defeat

172
00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:08.200
<v Speaker 1>at the hands of Tortensen in sixteen forty five at

173
00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:12.519
<v Speaker 1>the Second Battle of Bretonfield. Despite being outnumbered, the Swedish

174
00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.240
<v Speaker 1>Army was able to achieve a decisive victory, largely due

175
00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:20.320
<v Speaker 1>to Tortensen's superior tactics and the overall quality of his troops.

176
00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:25.000
<v Speaker 1>The Imperial Army was routed and their commander, Franz Albrecht

177
00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:30.519
<v Speaker 1>was killed. After the Swedish victories first at the Battle

178
00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.759
<v Speaker 1>of Kempen and then at the Second Battle of Brettenburg,

179
00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:37.480
<v Speaker 1>the Imperial forces severely weakened an immoralized had been forced

180
00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:41.440
<v Speaker 1>into retreat. Ferdinand the Third understood at this point he

181
00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:44.320
<v Speaker 1>needed to take decisive action, an effort to try to

182
00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:47.600
<v Speaker 1>restore his army strength and regain the initiative in the war.

183
00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:53.720
<v Speaker 1>Ferdinand replaced his previous commander with Mathias Gallis, a seasoned

184
00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.799
<v Speaker 1>and experienced general who had previously served in the Imperial

185
00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:01.080
<v Speaker 1>Army with distinction. Gallis was given command of all available

186
00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.639
<v Speaker 1>Imperial troops, the first time that really anyone had been

187
00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:09.080
<v Speaker 1>given command of the overall military operations of the Empire.

188
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.320
<v Speaker 1>Now this included a contingent of Bavarian soldiers. He was

189
00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:16.720
<v Speaker 1>tasked with rebuilding the army, driving the Swedes out of Germany,

190
00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:21.440
<v Speaker 1>once and for all, and restoring imperial prestige. But Gallis

191
00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:25.159
<v Speaker 1>faced a formidable challenge. The Swedish Army under Tortensen was

192
00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:28.159
<v Speaker 1>one of the most formidable fighting forces in Europe. They

193
00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.879
<v Speaker 1>were well equipped, well trained, and they were led by

194
00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:35.919
<v Speaker 1>a brilliant general. Despite these challenges, Gallas remained determined to succeed.

195
00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:40.320
<v Speaker 1>He implemented a rigorous training program for his troops, improved

196
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.879
<v Speaker 1>their logistics and supply lines, and sought to regain the

197
00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:47.440
<v Speaker 1>support of the German princes, who had now been alienated

198
00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:53.799
<v Speaker 1>by the previous imperial commander's constant plundering and harsh policies. However,

199
00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.240
<v Speaker 1>Galus's efforts were hampered by the continued lack of financial resources.

200
00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:03.080
<v Speaker 1>The Imperial treasury was essentially bankrupt after years of war,

201
00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.159
<v Speaker 1>and the German princes were now reluctant to provide any

202
00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:10.080
<v Speaker 1>additional funding. As a result, Gallas was forced to rely

203
00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:13.240
<v Speaker 1>on plunder and extortion to supply his army, which further

204
00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:19.039
<v Speaker 1>alienated the local population and weakened imperial authority. In sixteen

205
00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:23.600
<v Speaker 1>forty three, Gallas launched a campaign against the Swedes in Silesia.

206
00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:27.480
<v Speaker 1>He initially achieved some success, but he was soon forced

207
00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:31.159
<v Speaker 1>to retreat after Tortensen out maneuvered him and cut off

208
00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:36.039
<v Speaker 1>his supply lines. Galus's defeat in Silasia was a major

209
00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:40.159
<v Speaker 1>setback for the Imperial cause. It demonstrated the Swedish army's

210
00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:46.399
<v Speaker 1>continued superiority and further weakened imperial morale. Despite this setback,

211
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:50.240
<v Speaker 1>Gallas continued to fight on. He was able to lead

212
00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:54.240
<v Speaker 1>a successful campaign against the French in Alsace, Lorraine in

213
00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:59.440
<v Speaker 1>sixteen forty four, but all his victories were simply overshadowed

214
00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:06.480
<v Speaker 1>by the continued Swedish advance deep into Bohemia. Gallus's inability

215
00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:10.360
<v Speaker 1>to decisively defeat the Swedes ultimately led to his downfall.

216
00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:15.159
<v Speaker 1>He was replaced as overall commander in sixteen forty five

217
00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:20.080
<v Speaker 1>by Johann von Wirth, who would also face significant challenges

218
00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:23.200
<v Speaker 1>in trying to turn the tide of the war. But

219
00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.000
<v Speaker 1>while there would not be peace in Germany for yet

220
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.200
<v Speaker 1>another three years, the situation to the north in the

221
00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:35.879
<v Speaker 1>Baltic was different. Next time, we turn our attention to

222
00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:39.639
<v Speaker 1>the Baltic region specifically and see how the Thirty Years

223
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:44.519
<v Speaker 1>War has impacted the varying states between the kingdoms, particularly

224
00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:48.960
<v Speaker 1>of Sweden and Denmark, and how those two kingdoms were

225
00:16:49.000 --> 00:17:03.000
<v Speaker 1>able to ultimately achieve a lasting peace a