From Moves#49

Men at Arms: The Downfall of the Teutonic Order

by James C. Gordon

Battle of Tannenberg (or Grunwald)

July 15, 14 10: East of the Vistula River near Lake Lubien

Combatants

Blue: Teutonic Order, approximately 27,000 men, including 21,000 mounted
troops, 6000 foot soldiers, and a few guns led by Ulrich von Jungingen

Red: Poles-Lithuanians, approximately 39,000 men, including 29,000
cavalry and 10,000 infantry led by Wladislaw Jagiello

Historical Note

Early in the fifteenth century after nearly 200 years of expansion and
dominance in Prussia, the Teutonic Order of Knights reached the apex of
its power and stature, led by the Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. The
Order numbered its members in the thousands and held title to vast lands.
To the cast lay the unified kingdom of Poland and Lithuania with its
independent-minded nobility led by Wladislaw Jagiello (Ladislas II),
former Grand Duke of Lithuania and now King of Poland. The Teutonic
Order was old and established; the Polish-Lithuanian kingdom was
growing. Jagiello had managed to unite his subordinate noblemen who
often opposed him. The combined forces included troops commanded by his
cousin by marriage, Witold. A series of raids and attacks in Prussia
brought some success but the Order rallied and pursued Jagiello as he
retreated.

On the morning of 15 July 1410, Jagiello halted his army in the woods
around Lake Lubien, a few miles from Grunwald, and elected to hear mass
before continuing. His forces were unprepared for battle when word
arrived that the Knights were approaching. While Jagiello continued his
mass, Witold (L2) moved quickly to deploy the bulk of the forces (3xP1,
5xP2,24xC1) in two ranks with the Lithuanians north of the Lake on the
right flank and the Polish troops arrayed to the west and south. The
Teutonic knights deployed skirmishers forward and erected some obstacles
with cavalry in support. Von Jungingen (L1) arrived with more cavalry,
infantry and a few guns and deployed his forces at a slightly higher
elevation than the enemy. Infantry (3xP1, 2xP2) and artillery (2xG1)
were deployed in front with archers (1xA1) on the left and mounted
troops behind (21xC1). If he had attacked immediately the battle could
have been over quickly. But von Jungingen's defensive-offensive plan
called for provoking the enemy to attack his position and then launching
a counterattack with his heavy mounted troops.

The battle opened with the advance of the Polish and Lithuanian horsemen
who overran the forward Teutonic positions before being halted by the
heavy cavalry. Intense fighting followed at close quarters with heavy
losses. The Lithuanians on the right wing started to lose cohesion and
break ranks in retreat, prompting the knights to press the pursuit. A
few squadrons held together and Witold sent frantic messages to Jagiello
to join the fight. A group of knights captured the Royal standard and
spurred the Poles to launch a fierce counterattack. The knights on the
left flank returned with prisoners after scattering the Lithuanians and
fell on the Polish flank. Von Jungingen himself led sixteen reserve
squadrons and might have defeated the Royal forces with a concentrated
persistent effort. But the ebb and flow of battle was distracted when
Jagiello (L1) approached the battle lines with his reserves (5xC1).
There was confusion over how to protect the king until Jagiello charged
forward and precipitated a singular joust which temporarily halted the
general melee. When the action recommenced, the Lithuanians had rallied
and closed in on the Teutonic left while the Poles turned the right
flank and the knights were caught in the circle. In a matter of minutes,
the situation shifted from a probable victory for the Order to the death
of the Grand Master and many others. The Polish-Lithuanian forces
pursued the survivors and then plundered the Teutonic camp near
Grunwald, taking many prisoners and much loot.

Estimates place the German losses at 18,000 dead and 14,000 prisoners
(including many noncombatants occupying the camp), effecting destroying
the Teutonic army. Soon after, Jaqiello's forces captured Marienburg,
the Teutonic capital. In the peace treaty that followed, he allowed the
knights to return to their lands and retain some measure of independence
but the losses were the beginning of the end for the Teutonic Order
which eventually became vassals to the Polish monarchy.

Order of Battle

Blue (Teutonics): 3xP1 2xP2, 1xA1, 21xC1 2xG1, 1xL1 (BPV=15). Disc.=10. 
BP=20.

Red (Polish-Lithuanian): 5xP1, 5xP2, 29xC1, 1xL1 (BPV=10), 1xL2 (BPV
=15). Disc.=10. BP=20.

Arraying Instructions

Map Order: 11C-6A, 6D-2B, 2D-10B, 10A-3A, 3D-1D, 1B-11D, map 11 is 
north.

Weather: some rain, muddy.

Order of set-up:

Red: Set-up first on map sheets 11, 1 and 3.

Blue: Set-up second on map sheets 6,2 and 10, move first.

Victory: Red (Teutonic): Marginal; Blue (Polish-Lithuanian): Decisive 

Special Rules:

Both sides must make some cavalry counters to fill out their ranks.

No more than one unit may be stacked in a single square at any one time.

SCALE: Each unit = about 1000 men or horses. 

NB submitted by John Kula (kula@telus.net)
on behalf of the Strategy Gaming Society
(http://pages.about.com/strategygames/), 
originally collected by Andrew Webber 
(gbm@wwwebbers.com)