Why the Thirty Years' War Was So Devastating - European Wars of Religion 

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"When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers." ---Kenyan proverb

This conflict should be taught as much as the world wars or crusades. One of the most important wars in early modern history.

A baby born by a camp follower could be raised in a mercenary group and then finally fight as a mercenary in the exact same conflict that his father was fighting in, entire lifetimes came and went and this war still raged on. I can't even imagine what it was like living in this time period.

God that was depressing. The Thirty Years War is criminally under-studied. Perhaps it’s just the German in me saying this, but we need more books on this in English, rather than a 1274th book on the Civil War.

"First came the Greycoats to eat all my swine, Next came the Bluecoats to make my sons fight, Next came the Greencoats to make my wife whore, Next came the Browncoats to burn down my home. I have naught but my life, now come the Blackcoats to rob me of that." -Anonymous Poem from the Thirty Years War

The Ottoman Empire : what the hell are they doing over there

A video about a horrible catastrophe, sponsored by RAID? Makes sense

The lessons to be learned: -End your wars quickly. -Manage your supplies. -Don’t hire soldiers you can’t afford. -*Pay your goddamn soldiers.*

Creative Assembly, who makes Total War, should really do a game that takes place during this time period. Super interesting with conflicts like the 30 years war, not to mention the English Civil War, the Deluge, and 80 Years War, along with new pike-and-shot units/tactics

I just wanted to add a small detail. In German we have the word Magdeburgisieren. It describes the siege and destruction of a city.

Nothing like this to feel better in 2020.

It was a Lifetime of War.

In Germany the thirty years war is not really teached in schools. Which is a shame as it is one of the most important events in german history. Some regions never fully recovered to this day.

So during 30 years war European Kings basically hired mercenaries and then unleashed them to the territories of the enemies like starving wild dogs because they have not enough money to pay them?

Thirty Years War: When you combine Sengoku Jidai, Three Kingdoms Period and (even more) religious conflict.

There are some scholars who raise the point that the modern German morbidity (as in: being gloomy, having no humour, being overly stern, etc.) is a result of the 30-years war. And while the war itself is often only talked about very little in history classes, it's very much present in art and german classes via poems like "Tränen des Vaterlandes" or etchings like "Der Galgenbaum".

Still my favorite series. Well done folks.

King Gustavus Adolphus was a real diamond in the rough wasn't he? Courageous, good commander, one of the few commanders in this war that gave any consideration to European commoners.

Catholics: hey we are winning the war Some protestant king in the north: A time of religion and war, legend tell the tale of a lion!

I grew up about 30 km southeast of the city of Magdeburg, and it's history is quite sad. For several centuries it had been one of the most important and wealthiest cities in the Holy Roman Empire, but the sacking of Magdeburg in 1631 destroyed all this, and the city never really recovered. The vast majority of the population was dead, the number of inhabitants sank from 35000 before the war to about 450 and it took until the 19th century to recover from these losses. Today not much is left of the former glory and importance.

Fun(?) fact: The sack of Magdeburg was so shocking that the term _magdeburgisieren_ ("to magdeburgize") was coined to describe that kind of pillaging and massacre.

Army: *Goes to a town, loots everything and murders much of the population, then burns the town to the ground in the chaotic looting* Army two years later: "Why isn't there a town here? We need provisions!"

K&G : " The destruction of thousands of villages,towns,and other smaller settlement. The years from 1632 to 1640 are considered to be the deadliest period of the war. " Also K&G : Let's put some Epic and Glorious music with that !

I'm a German Catholic and hearing, watching and reading things about this (and this comment section) is still a very bitter pill. Peace, everyone!

Ottomans were fighting Safavids for those wondering why they didn’t invade.

I wonder how different this war would've been had Gustavus Adolphus had not died in this war. My compliments to all those who made this video a reality.

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My small hometown in the east of Germany was sacked min 5 times. The first time they resisted opening the gates, so the merceneries took the town by force and raped and plundered - later times they kept the gates open to see them plunder and rape a bit less. Until 1648 two third of the population was dead or fled the town.

"Has man gone insane? A few will remain Who’ll find a way To live one more day Through decades of war It spreads like disease, There’s no sign of peace Religion and creed Cause millions to bleed Three decades of war"

Well done for tackling this 'unglamorous' but vital topic.

I can’t imagine a 30 year 30-years war veteran

the German part of my family have been living in the Osnabruck/Saxony area for at least 700 years, so this destruction would have been seen first hand by some of my ancestors (if they weren't involved themselves). Thanks for doing this doco on this part of history, it made a massive impact on european history as a whole, and many peoples personal history.

Such a sad event for civilians who were innocent. Pillaging, rape, murder and disease. Is crazy how much is lost when history focus on the politics and not the suffering of the common people

looks like Devin got his glas of water. Not a single cough. Great job!

Goodness gracious. Thank you for highlighting this! 🤙🏾

Heinrich Holk: "Yes, it was good time, good time."

Wars are not to be celebrated, but to remember how much we as humans are just engaging in friendly fire

Finally. I was waiting for a 30 years war video from you. Thanks for that

So glad y'all fleshed out this conflict

Sabaton's Lifetime of War song from their Carolus Rex Album really perfectly sums this up, both in its English and Swedish Version (They have different meaning, depends on language)

I really like learning stuff like this. You usually only hear about kings and wars in history, it is nice to hear about what those wars and kings did to their peoples. I really belive that spreading the knowledge of the impacts of certain leaders and wars on common peoples can really change and educate people on why parts of the world are the way they are, and why people from one place have a different culture, identity, ethinicity than other places. Thanks for this.

Yayy! 30 years war is back! Hopefully you’ll cover the final battles of this war, culminated in Zusmarshausen and Siege of Prague soon!

Outstanding video. With a huge emotional side. This was deeply moving.

Beautiful illustrations and great video, thank you

Haven't even seen the video but I am already humming Sabaton's Lifetime of War. You are probably right that compared to its significance The Thirty Years War is probably one of the most overlooked conflicts in history. It took centuries for Central Europe to recover just from the population loss alone.

In my Hometown you can still see the result of the thirty years war today. The city went from a small prosperous hanseatic trade city leading within its dutchy to a so called "peaseant city" (meaning most inhabitants were making money with agriculture). After the war the city only slowly recovered and was soon overtaken as the most important city in the dutchy by a newly created residential city from the duke/count. During the thirty year war the cities outlining villages had a small defense system agains looters. All villages within around 5km of the city were connected by a sizeable dirt wall reinforced with big headges and water blockades. This wouldnt stop an army, but be a major pain for any bandid group trying to sneak around the villages. The only entreances would be the villages which each got a small tower with a guard to control entry and keep lookout. If a bandid group was detacted the guard would signal the city guard tower to send out a patrol to drive them of. If an army was detectzed the villages would signal eachother via the towers to evacuate towards the city asap and warn the city to get ready. It served as an early warning system. It didnt help in the end because the city was sacked by both the cathlics (the city was part of a lutheran dutchy) and the swedes. Most architecture you can visit in the citie core is from the pre thirty years war time. Only very few "fancy" buildings were constructed after it. But well.....only shortly after the thirty years war ended the city reintroduced witch hunts under an infamous mayor. It resulted in over 200 people killed and the city becoming known as the "Witch nest" in the dutchy. After the "Golden Age" of beeing a hanseatic city followed the catastrophe of the thirty years war and then the short return to the dark ages during the "witch hunt mayors" rule.

Thanks! You've done an incredible job on this series :)

I just found this channel & I love it. Thank you for all of the videos, it helps me keep learning history. Your videos are comprehensive & accurate, and explained in a way that I can understand.

TLDW: War is hell. And we should work together and peacefully to prevent another world war ever again.

I was just saying the other day to a friend, that these videos are awesome, but especially for the 30 years war, they tend to skip over the abject destruction that is often wrought by armies. Lo and behold, this beauty! everyone appreciates your efforts and thank you!

Thank you , K&G .

Extremely interesting. Keep it up!!

The history telling and animation is so epic

Just by pronouncing "Wallenstein" correctly as it is in Deutsch (German), you've brought this video up to another level. Good work, keep it up!

Great stuff.... thank you!

Yes more Thirty Years War content please. Awesome video

Man their war exhaustion must've been really high after 30 years.

May the algorithm bless you!

Great video as always. In the future can you guys please make a video on the First/Second Boer War?

Great video!!

A truly devastating war, whose devastation remained almost unmatched until WW2. Even the meat grinder of WW1 can't compared to how much civilians were persecuted and slaughtered as the 30 Years War- its extremely frustrating that many outside of Germany and Czechia do not know about it. I'd personally argue this is the 1st true modern war- or where the early modern period was truly born and divided from the feudal age of knights before this time. Conflicts like the Hussite Wars and French Wars of religion might have tactical and regional legacies but 30 Years War was a continental War where most states around HRE throw there lot to support 1 faction or another in the empire, that's why you have Croats, Spaniards and Poles~ on behalf of the Hapsburgs fighting Swedes, English mercenaries, and Scots in the other serving the various early champions on the Protestants side. In the political arena it is also extremely influential even today- for in the Treaty of Westphalia it determined that States/ i.e, proto- nations, rather than sovereigns and personal loyalty to said sovereigns are the ultimate representation of the state. No longer are boarders solely something of an inheritance issue, or a network of lords linked by chains of fealty but as distinct nations, each nation was empowered with an identity and set of legal rights due onto itself- such as inviolable boarders and sovereignty. The first great seeds of nationalism was born here. Rather interesting that before this seemingly everlasting war at the heart of Europe broke out, that knights (some still armored like they are in the 15th century), great lords, and a system of Catholic supremacy waded into it, and from the other end came religious tolerance (or at least legal plurality,) early modern warfare and the foundation for the 1st nation- states. Without this war, our modern world~ and much of the key points of the last 3 centuries probably wouldn't exist.

Pretty much one of my favourite periods to study. Grossly understudied in curricula in secondary schools (hell, elementary school students should be studying this too) and just overall interesting, if not utterly tragic and devastating.

Keep up the good work

I like that you are doing videos lately that are not just military campaings

The 30-years war is definitly not taught enough, even here in Germany were it brought so much suffering.

I was just thinking of searching for 30 years war but kings and generals got my back. Thanks alot kings and generals 😍😘❤

Excellent 👍

Top video mate. Effect on populations and economies are absent from most war reviews.

A Trauma for generations of germans, i recommend "C.V: Wedgwood, The thirty years war".

Treaty of Westphalia: “Peace in Europe” ... “Peace in Europe?” *”PEACE IN EUROPE!”*

One of your best videos ever tbh

a brilliant, cold blooded analysis of one of the most destructive wars ever waged.

Carpe diem + Memento mori... "seize the day" and "remember death comes for all of us"... this way of thinking is so far removed from us today but for them it was day to day life.

The Thirty Years War, War of Spanish Succession, Seven Years War and Napoleonic Wars all set up the futility and brutality of WWI & WWII.

¡Gracias!

Aahh yes. Henry! Good to see you!

Forget about WW1 and WW2, this really was the time when everybody fought the Germans. Even the Germans fought the Germans.

Good video just a little correction the map at the end of the video of 1648 shows that Denmark still has plenty of regions left that actually was taken by Sweden in 1645.

Your art is great and psychedelicly awesome thank u

Very good to focus specifically on the devastation caused by the Thirty Years War. It was a particularly egregious aspect of this war and so much is missed by just going over the troop movements of each operation.

Among the many effects of the 30 years war, it sparked the ideas of basic human rights and laws of war. This eventually led to the criminilisation of systemic violence and exploitation of civilians, finally culminating in the Geneva Conventions centuries later. It also gradually led to the development of better but far from imperfect supply systems for armies. The war also greatly enforced the ideas of freedom of religion, which was to break through during the coming two centuries in the Western world. The war certainly sparked an ever growing sense of nationalism among Germans regardless of religious affiliation, as they saw the consequences of being the victims of other more centralized states preying upon them. The practice of plunder and exploitation by armies was largely the norm throughout thousands of years of European and global warfare. However, the 30 years war took it to an entirely new level that was still quite rare in history. The war also instilled the need for standing professional armies with standardized training and equipment and financing. Throughout history most governments up until the late 19th century have spent most of their funds on their armed forces. If from that perspective states can be seen as mostly an infrastructure for armies, then the 30 years war can largely be viewed as the embryo for modern centralized governments across much of Europe.

I am currently doing A level in the UK and my exam board ONLY focuses on modern european history.I feel like its unfair because theres is much more history other than modern european history.

Now this is excellent a like for sure

If we know that population of Rhine Palatinate was 100 000, then only 2 thousand survived the war. Olomouc, second largest city in Moravia, had 30 000 inhabitants before the war. Only 1675 survived (respectively 1175, because another 500 died of plague). From city of Iglau (Jihlava), which had 13 000 inhabitants, had after war only 300 people. These numbers may be unbelievable, but the roaming armies, plague, famines and another terrifying things were common during thirty years war.

imagine living in a city of 25,000 and just be left with 1,000 god damn that is devastation

This war is deeply engrained in German consciousness and culture unto this very day, even if they are not fully aware of it. And it is the root of all German history that was to follow.

I am looking forward to the last video in the Thirty Years' War series!

Very good and very somber. Is there a chance we could see more videos on the effects war has on average people in different eras such as medieval europeans or Romans?

Living in Mecklenburg, I´d like to see a video on the aftermath of the War, not just the treaties signed when peace was made, but also the actions of the participating factions. Events like the Swedish Government pressing the Duke of Mecklenburg into paying tolls to keep the harbors of coastal Tradehubs unblockaded by the Swedish Navy. Or the fact that the war has the collapse of the Hanseatic League as a result.

Can we get a series on Vlad Țepeș? I never really realized how deeply surrounded he was by the Ottomans to be honest, and I've studied him somewhat.

Thank you

Wonderful video and thank you. I would recommend the film 'The Last Valley ' Which is an excellent film depicting the Thirty years War. Greetings from the UK 👍🇬🇧

Ottomans while sipping on their Ayran: What the hell are they fighting for up there?!

This war was one of the reasons why germany end up being unified by militaristic state of Prussia. Since constant devastation of the brandenburg taught germans well about the importance of having a strong army.

It's bizarre that I was browsing books on the 30 years war and then 10 minutes later K&G uploaded a video on it 🤯

Best history channel 👌👌👌

Please do more Rome or do some about the Holy Roman Empire in the medical ages

In Sweden we learn in history books that our participation was necessary to "protect protestantism" and that this war was something glorious. While in reality it's just mass murdering madness. So sad.

Thank you for covering this angle of the war. Yes, the political and the religious angles are important, but this is in many respects the most important issue. Especially since it seems like, in many parts of the world, the drums of war are getting louder and louder.