Battle of Rathenow

Battle of Rathenow
Part of Swedish-Brandenburg War
Date15 June 1675
Location
Rathenow in Brandenburg
Result Brandenburgian victory
Belligerents
Swedish Empire Brandenburg-Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Wangelin Field Marshal Georg von Derfflinger
General von Götze
Strength
500, of which 70 men sick[1] 8,000[2] of which 1,500–2,000 engaged[1]
Casualties and losses
200 killed[1]
270 captured
100 killed and mortally wounded[1]

The Battle of Rathenow (German: Schlacht um Rathenow or Überfall von Rathenow) was the first engagement between the forces of Brandenburg-Prussia and Sweden in the Swedish-Brandenburg War (also called the Scanian War).

The battle took place on 15 June [O.S. 25 June] 1675 and ended with the capture of the town of Rathenow, the front of which had been occupied by Sweden, by the Brandenburg troops.

The Swedes, led by Colonel Wangelin, had about 500 men; the Brandenburg force, commanded by Field Marshal Georg von Derfflinger and General von Götze had some 1,500–2,000 men in the battle.

  1. ^ a b c d Silfverstolpe, Carl. Historiskt Bibliotek (1875–1880), tredje delen. pp. 284–288. "Wangelin had 500 men, whereof 60 men sick. Derfflinger had 900–1,400 infantry (Götze 600–800 men, Canolski 300–600 men) and 8 companies of dragoons (about 600 men under Ückerman). Wangelin lost more than 28 officers and 162 privates in killed. Derfflinger lost Colonel Ückerman, 4 officers and about 100 men killed or mortally wounded."
  2. ^ Christopher C. Clark. Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2006. p. 45