These are dramatic scenes that take place on December 20th, 1712 in front of the gates of the Mecklenburg town of Gadebusch. Around 35,000 soldiers fight for every meter of terrain and for survival. When the gun smoke clears, more than 3,000 dead lie on the ground - Swedes, Danes and Saxons. They are all victims of the largest field battle that has ever taken place on Mecklenburg soil, the Battle of Wakenstadt. What happened?
Sweden in retreat
A tough struggle for supremacy in the Baltic region has been raging in Northern Europe since 1700. Sweden and Denmark, partly allied with Saxony, Prussia and Hanover, fought violently. However, neither side seems superior enough for an outright victory. Tens of thousands of soldiers have been traveling on foot or on horseback for years. Sweden is under King Charles XII. the major power in the region, dominates the eastern Baltic Sea far inland. In June 1709, however, the royal army suffered a decisive defeat. In the Battle of Poltava in today's Ukraine, she is defeated by Russian troops and has to capitulate. However, the war is not over yet.
Danes are looking for a fight
Tsar Peter I ruled from 1682 to 1721 as Grand Duke of Russia.In September 1712, fresh Swedish troops land on Rügen. Under General Graf Stenbock they are supposed to fight the army of arch-enemy Denmark, which has been besieging Wismar for months. The Danes, allied with Saxony and Russia at the time, want to risk a fight. They turn down Tsar Peter I's advice to wait for Russian reinforcements. Danish King Frederik moves into quarters in Gadebusch Castle. On December 19, the Swedes arrive at Gadebusch. The decision is near. At midday the following day, all preparations are complete, and the battle begins on a field near Wakenstadt. The superior Swedish artillery fired their cannons, followed by soldiers on horseback and on foot. Apparently the ground is not frozen hard these winter days, because the Danish cavalry fails in the swampy terrain.
The battle raged for around two hours, then the remnants of the Danish troops had to retreat. A good 2,000 Danish soldiers lost their lives, hundreds were wounded and 4,000 were taken prisoner by the Swedes. The Swedes also suffer significant losses, but decide the battle for themselves. It is their last major victory in this war. In May 1713, the Swedish troops surrendered near Tönning.
What exactly happened is a mystery
Lead bullets are among the few finds from the battle.To this day, the exact battle is still a mystery to researchers. It was not until 2002 that the battlefield was precisely located using old maps and waymarks. But despite significant amounts of ammunition that must have been fired at the time, archaeologists have so far recovered only a few finds on the approximately ten-hectare battlefield. These include lead bullets as thick as a thumb, which are now kept in the archaeological archive in Wiligrad Castle on Lake Schwerin, as well as some parts of guns. State archaeologist Detlef Jantzen explains the few finds with the fact that the poor population of the region could have plundered the combat zone. In addition, not all possible localities have been investigated.
The search for a mass grave continues
The knowledge gained so far about the Battle of Wakenstädt is largely based on written records. However, the information partially contradicts itself. The number of dead also varies between 3,000 and 4,000. Jantzen points out that a distinction must be made between the soldiers who were killed immediately and those who later succumbed to their injuries. But where have the thousands of dead gone? So far, no mass grave has been discovered in which the victims are believed to have been buried.
Frank Rohmann, Chairman of the Cultural History Association 1712, is certain that there will be more finds. Until then, he wants to keep the memory of the battle alive and keeps meeting like-minded people from Northern Europe to discuss what happened back then.