Siege of Poltava
| date | April 8 - July 8, 1709 |
|---|---|
| place | Poltava , Tsarist Russia (now Ukraine ) |
| output | Demolition of the siege |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
Charles XII. |
Colonel Alexei Stepanowitsch Kelin |
| Troop strength | |
| 8,000 men | 6000 men |
1st phase: Swedish dominance (1700–1709)
Riga I • Jungfernhof • Varja • Pühhajoggi • Narva • Pechora • Düna • Rauge • Erastfer • Hummelshof • Embach • Tartu • Narva II • Wesenberg I • Wesenberg II
Arkhangelsk • Lake Ladoga • Nöteborg • Nyenschanz • Neva • Systerbäck • Petersburg • Vyborg I • Porvoo • Neva II • Koporje II • Kolkanpää
Vilnius • Salads • Jacobstadt • Walled Courtyard • Mitau • Grodno I • Olkieniki • Nyaswisch • Klezk • Ljachavichy
Klissow • Pułtusk • Thorn • Lemberg • Warsaw • Posen • Punitz • Tillendorf • Rakowitz • Praga • Fraustadt • Kalisch
Grodno II • Golovchin • Moljatitschi • Rajowka • Lesnaja • Desna • Baturyn • Koniecpol • Weprik • Opischnja • Krasnokutsk • Sokolki • Poltava I • Poltava II
2nd phase: Sweden on the defensive (1710–1721)
Riga II • Vyborg II • Pernau • Kexholm • Reval • Hogland • Pälkäne • Storkyro • Nyslott • Hanko
Helsingborg • Køge Bay • Gulf of Bothnia • Frederikshald I • Dynekilen Fjord • Gothenburg I • Strömstad • Trondheim • Frederikshald II • Marstrand • Ösel • Gothenburg II • Södra Stäket • Grönham • Sundsvall
Elbing • Wismar I • Lübow • Stralsund I • Greifswalder Bodden I • Stade • Rügen • Gadebusch • Altona • Tönning II • Stettin • Fehmarn • Wismar II • Stralsund II • Jasmund • Peenemünde • Greifswalder Bodden II • Stresow
The siege of Poltava by an 8,000-strong Swedish contingent of Charles XII's main army . in the Russian campaign took place from April 6, 1709 to the battle of Poltava on July 8, 1709. The siege of the Poltava fortress ended with the withdrawal of the Swedish besiegers.
prehistory
From the end of February 1709 the main Swedish army stood between the Psjol and the Worskla , the northern tributaries of the Dnieper , with its headquarters in Budishchi north of the Poltava fortress. Poltava is located on the Vorskla River about 300 kilometers east-southeast of today's Ukrainian capital Kiev and about 100 kilometers south of today's border between Russia and Ukraine .
The strategic initiative was now in the hands of the Russians. Karl's attacks on several places in the tsarist empire in winter, for example the storming of Weprik , in which more than a thousand Swedes fell, showed his perplexity and the lack of a concrete plan. His decision to siege Poltawa was also not based on strategic considerations, but due to a lack of options. An advance into Moscow was impossible, a retreat to Poland was blocked by the main Russian army. The own strengths were severely weakened by the ruthless warfare in winter, in which thousands of Swedes froze to death. The uprising of the Zaporozhian Cossacks , the target of the Swedes in the Tsarist empire , had also failed in the beginning. An attack by the Ottoman Empire had also not taken place at the time. Peter's army, on the other hand, was intact and strengthened with fresh forces and was waiting for the decisive moment.
course
 
| |
After the winter of the millennium , the Swedish army began with the contingents of Ivan Masepas on April 6, 1709 with the siege of the Poltava fortress. The city of Poltava was fortified with earth walls and palisades and was under the command of Colonel Alexei Stepanowitsch Kelin . He had previously spent years in Swedish captivity and was accordingly negative towards the Swedes. The garrison consisted of 4,000 Russian soldiers and was supported in defense by 2,000 soldiers from the Cossack Army and another 2,500 residents. The fortress served as a depot for the Russian army and had a large material store, so that the defenders were supplied for months. The fortress was repaired and repaired in advance by the defenders.
For the Swedes, the lack of supplies made itself felt. In addition to food, there was a lack of gunpowder for cannons and muskets. The siege was led only half-heartedly by the Swedes. The Swedes concentrated on maintaining the blockade and periodically bombarding the fortress. Nevertheless, there were several attacks with partial forces on the bastions of the fortress. These could be repulsed by the besieged with all available forces. Several Swedish offers of surrender were turned down by the defenders.
The main Russian army was approaching in the meantime and built defensive positions five kilometers from Poltava. There she was attacked by the main Swedish army on July 8, 1709. The Swedes suffered a crushing defeat.
consequences
After the Battle of Poltava, the Swedes broke off the siege. The remnants of the Swedish army withdrew south to the Dnieper River and were captured there.
literature
- Peter Hoffmann: Peter the Great as a military reformer and general, Peter Lang, 2010