Historical calendar: anniversary of the conflict of Wschowa, in which Swedish forces and forces of Russia and its Saxon allies clashed.
Today in our calendar, we will look at the circumstances surrounding this clash.
On 13 February 1706, 1 of the most crucial battles of the large Northern War occurred in the fields between Osowa Sienia and Dębowa Łęka. On that day the Swedish troops were in command. Carl Gustaf Rehnskiöld with combined Saxo-Russian forces under command Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg. In this battle, despite the crucial numerical advantage of the opponent, the Swedes won a decisive victory.
On the left Saxon wing, other Rehnskiöld's infantry, a Russian infantry was set up. Since she was little trained than the Saxon infantry, it was decided to hide her from the Swedes by wearing uniforms on the other side (the saska infantry had red uniforms, while the Russian had green uniforms, but they were red from within). The Swedish infantry, under the fire of artillery and muskets, moved on to the frontal assault on Saxo-Russian infantry positions.
As shortly as Rehnskiöld noticed that the left wing of the enemy line was occupied by weaker Russian troops, he directed the infantry at their positions, which at the time were attacked from behind by Colonel von Krassov's cavalry.
The Saxon center had a wing and rear without a shield, and pressed along the left wing the Saxon regiments blended and broke formation. The Saxon's right wing initially held firm, causing serious losses to the Swedish infantry. However, this situation changed rapidly erstwhile the Swedish cavalry attacked Saxons from behind through the frozen swamp. The Saxo-Russian army divided into parts, and the main part of it rushed to flee southward (to Wschowa).
This part of the Swedish cavalry, which initially collapsed in the swamps, yet went out into open ground and encountered fleeing Saxons and Russians who had previously run across the city and found themselves on its outskirts. Caught in a trap by a Swedish ride from the front and a Swedish infantry from behind, Sasko-Russian troops capitulated.
One of the victims of the conflict was Carl Ludwig von der Osten-Sacken, whose image and epitaph are at a permanent exhibition at the office of the MZW at Farny 3. Visitors can besides see a multimedia presentation, a model and many maps and graphics, thanks to which they will learn the sources of conflict named by historians the large Northern War, as well as the course of the clash from February 1706.
At the fresh Gardens there was a plaque in the local inn that reminded guests of the conflict of Wschowa. The plaque commemorated the death of eighty soldiers. Unfortunately, she did not last until today, but you can see her appearance on old postcards and pictures. Interesting thing about the board – respective letters were written in larger size. After a appropriate arrangement, these letters form the year 1706 (the year in which the conflict of Wschowa took place) recorded in the form of Roman digits – MDCCVI.
Recently in the museum courtyard visitors can see the remains of the monument which commemorated the conflict of Wschów. This monument, at the initiative of Johann Balthasar von Schlichting, was set on the centenary of the conflict (1806) in a park owned by Osowa Seń. In fresh Gardens stands the triangular ellipse of this monument preserved to our time.
The conflict of Wschowa is inactive very popular. Much credit included the Swedish dense metallic band Sabaton, who recorded the song "Killing Ground", devoted to events of 13 February 1706.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
