A war of religion and territory, the Thirty Years War transformed Europe economically and materially. Near and far millions were killed and this war quickly became one of the longest and most damaging wars in history. As others would say, the Thirty Years War was not the most devastating war as historians argue that what is considered Europe’s second Thirty Years War’ is, however, it is clear that the impact of the war distorted the population, culture and economy in Germany ominously.
The Thirty Years War started in 1618 when the Bohemians revolted from the pressure faced from the Habsburgs. When looking for the assistance of others, Ferdinand II defeated the Bohemians at the Battle of White Mountains in 1620. The Spanish conquered the Lower …show more content…
In 1631 the Swedish invaded northern Germany and took over most of southwest Germany. The Swedish territory in Germany did not last for long as the Imperial and Spanish armies joined and defeated the Swedes at Nordlingen in 1634. The entrance of the French in 1634-1643 began with the Peace of Prague in 1635. The French declared war on Spain and soon took control of Alsace and Rhineland and northern Germany was conquered once again by the Swedes who brought the war to Bohemia. In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia was developed which brought some comfort to the civilians, that finally after all the years an end to the war was in sight. The Thirty Years war changed the face of European policy, declined Spain as a power in Europe and a necessity to go back to a constitutional Holy Roman Empire was …show more content…
Affected the most, rural area towns destroyed represented 1/3 of German towns.
The large loss of population could be blamed on the introduction for the new battle tactics of cavalry charges and intensive use of artillery . Soldiers brought famine and diseases to the towns and because of the lack of food supplied to them they took out all their anger on the civilian population.
“After the death of his wife a sick soldier in Stendal took the child- who he falsely claimed was also dead-and for lack of a knife tore open its belly with a sharp-pointed nail, took out the heart, lungs and liver, and ate them raw. This he himself himself admitted in response to the pressing enquiries of several citizens who passed by and saw his bloody mouth”
Civilians and soldiers experience malnutrition towards the end of the war and soldiers began to rely on dead animals or human parts for food . One of the main reasons for depopulation was the break out of a plague in 1634-39.Frankfurt, Germany lost nearly 7,000 civilians in 1634 and Augsburg lost 18,000 in 1632-35 . It is know that the highest attack of famine occurred in 1628-30 due to foreign armies bringing along the disease
The Thirty Years War started in 1618 when the Bohemians revolted from the pressure faced from the Habsburgs. When looking for the assistance of others, Ferdinand II defeated the Bohemians at the Battle of White Mountains in 1620. The Spanish conquered the Lower …show more content…
In 1631 the Swedish invaded northern Germany and took over most of southwest Germany. The Swedish territory in Germany did not last for long as the Imperial and Spanish armies joined and defeated the Swedes at Nordlingen in 1634. The entrance of the French in 1634-1643 began with the Peace of Prague in 1635. The French declared war on Spain and soon took control of Alsace and Rhineland and northern Germany was conquered once again by the Swedes who brought the war to Bohemia. In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia was developed which brought some comfort to the civilians, that finally after all the years an end to the war was in sight. The Thirty Years war changed the face of European policy, declined Spain as a power in Europe and a necessity to go back to a constitutional Holy Roman Empire was …show more content…
Affected the most, rural area towns destroyed represented 1/3 of German towns.
The large loss of population could be blamed on the introduction for the new battle tactics of cavalry charges and intensive use of artillery . Soldiers brought famine and diseases to the towns and because of the lack of food supplied to them they took out all their anger on the civilian population.
“After the death of his wife a sick soldier in Stendal took the child- who he falsely claimed was also dead-and for lack of a knife tore open its belly with a sharp-pointed nail, took out the heart, lungs and liver, and ate them raw. This he himself himself admitted in response to the pressing enquiries of several citizens who passed by and saw his bloody mouth”
Civilians and soldiers experience malnutrition towards the end of the war and soldiers began to rely on dead animals or human parts for food . One of the main reasons for depopulation was the break out of a plague in 1634-39.Frankfurt, Germany lost nearly 7,000 civilians in 1634 and Augsburg lost 18,000 in 1632-35 . It is know that the highest attack of famine occurred in 1628-30 due to foreign armies bringing along the disease