German Peasant War 1525 - somewhere near Frankenhausen

Apologies - for the long radio silence, but omni present covid seems to come in between everything ... end of a long story, I lost my job, but at least I tested negative (hey!) ... and as I had lately lots on my mind/and to organise ... I thought it would be good to get the toys out again, in defiance of the newly imposed "lockdown" measurements if nothing else ...

The German Peasant War, 1525, 28mm, nothing in particular specific just a generic scenario, the Peasants set up their fortified camp between two little forests, while "having persuaded" Götz v. Berlichingen and his small Landsknecht retinue and some of his small cannons to "help out" against the upcoming Swabian League and the "Peasant strangler", Georg III von Waldburg-Zeil.

The peasants are lacking experienced command (just 2 commands (8, Götz and 7 Thomas Müntzer), and are out gunned, and outnumbered on professional mercenaries and on horse and foot. But ist not all plain sailing for the Swabian League as well, the heavy horse, the big guns and most of the Landsknechts are being used and needed in the Italian Wars. So Georgs "Haufen" has to deal with just light guns and cavalry and just one pike block. At least they have 3 commands (all 8) and some angry priest mob - that‘ll do! 

As I played against myself, I decided to give the noblemen of the League a rather haughty inflexible two flank pincher approach, versus the dull rabble. While the shanghaied "Raubritter" (robber baron) Guotz, probably would have gone for the jugular vein and tried to attack Georg himself to disperse the otherwise in the long run overwhelming odds of the League.

The peasants started the game and launched a right flank upper cut - into the soft centre of the League. There the two main protagonists clash in a bad war style with their doppelsöldners. The two folded pincer attack enfolded quite quickly and brutally and depleted the peasants of a lot of units ... but thats what they have in abundance! The pike block attack got caught in a close range fire while attempting to break and enter the camp. But in the end the unit with Georg got flat out trashed and broke - Götz had the better luck and the centre of the league began to disintegrate.

The Peasants had won the day! Revolution! A new world! ... until the next League commander would be appointed to hunt them all down again.

The initial set up - left the Peasant camp and right the Swabian League

The Georg and his war council next to his tent with some overfed monks (they have even guiness in their crates!)

The only pike block he has - sponsored by the Fuggers

His other Cavalry and some angry monks coming in late

The big peasant mobs pouring out of the camp already ... lack of discipline

Götz Doppelsöldner and small Pike holding the centre/entrance of the camp

on the other side mob is pouring out  as well ...

Götz and Thomas in discussions ???

The peasant startling the soldiers by attacking

The monks are engaged and quite a match for the peasants

Then the professionals advance

The Landsknecht pike block advancing is a sight to behold

Götz and retinue leaving the camp

In anticipation of long pikes the peasants fall back ...

The sling and bow unit of the peasants fire ... no effect

The handgunners of both sides clash in an urgent melee!

The light cavalry charges into a large peasant mob

the mob breaks

meanwhile the doppelsöldner clash -  both Götz and Georg attached!!!

the battlefield is in turmoil

v. Berlichingen is victorious and killed Georg and his guard! - the snake is without its head!

the left cavalry flank is loosing men fast but extinguishes the right flank of the peasants

in the centre two small guns open fire close up to the advancing pike block - ouch!

the only gun on the right Swabian flank left wanted to do the same, but exploded!

its not looking good for the nobles

The bishop has been voted CinC in a hurry ...

Only the right flank with the pike block and the men-at-arms look steady

only to get under fire again ...

the last melee between the handgunner, lasted the longest, but inevitably the Swabians lost

time for the bishop to give up!

A victory for the rebellion! Another day to live!