Battle of Zusmarshausen

The battles of Zusmarshausen , which took place the May 17th 1648 is one of the last great battles of the Guerre Thirty Year old and the last in German territory.

Context

The catholic armies ordered respectively by the count Jost Maximilian von Gronsfeld - who were since 1645 commander-in-chief of the army of Maximilien Ier of Bavaria - and by the count Peter Melander von Holzappel had invested vainly, in January 1648, the town of Magdeburg. They made retirement towards the the Danube which they were to cross in Günzburg.

They continued a Swedish army under the orders of Carl Gustaf Wrangel and a French Army ordered by Turenne which reached the the Danube the May 13rd close to Lawingen.

Dissensions appeared between Gronsfeld and Melander, concerning questions of precedence; they delayed an joint action of the troops of the imperial camp.

The battle

The Free-Swedes cross the the Danube in Lawingen which holds a French garrison, and by a walk of night, their enemies with Zusmarshausen between Lawingen and Augsburg reach.

TheBavarian ones burn their camp then and stain to be withdrawn with the favor of wood and the ravines. Their rear-guard makes a beautiful defense. It is ordered by the count Raimondo Montecuccoli, officer Italian with the service of the emperor, who is for the first time opposite Turenne, and which will become one day its rival of glory.

The cavalry of Montecuccoli is reversed. The , general-in-chief of imperial Melander, returned to the help of his rear-guard and endeavors to stop the Free-Swedes but it is mortally wounded. 2.000 infantrymen are taken or sabred around its body. 8 guns are removed, and all the Austro-Bavarian army had been destroyed, if the duke Ulric of Wurtemberg, had not rejoined behind escarpées banks of a brook 2.000 to 3.000 men of elites, which heroically left mitrailler to give to the remainder of the army time to gain Augsburg.

Consequences

Their victory opened with the French allies and Swedish the road towards the south of Germany. They devastated all Right Bank of the the Danube, drove out the Voter of Bavaria of his States and went on the Inn. The rains prevented them from crossing this river, and vivres misses it forced them to be withdrawn in the Souabe.

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