1410 Tannenberg (Grünwald) 5

UPDATED--July 16, 2007. I was asleep at the switch yesterday, July 15, anniversary of the Battle of Tannenberg (Grunwald) fought on July 15, 1410, between the Teutonic Knights and the forces of Poland-Lithuania. This is one of the great symbolic battles of history, and has created an emotional impact that carried down through the centuries into the Twentieth Century, at least. I understand that the 600th anniversary on July 15, 2010, is going to be a big deal, and I plan to attend if my health holds up. ORIGINAL COMMENT--June 30, 2006. I was going to review this battle on the 15th of July, its anniversary, but I shall do it today, June 30th, in order to tie together some of my thoughts. This great battle was fought in East Prussia between the forces of the Teutonic Knights and the Polish-Lithuanian army with allied Czech mercenaries and others. The details may be found in this Wikipedia link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Grunwald The Teutonic Knights were crushed and German expansion in the east was curtailed until the Prussian expansion during the Polish Partitions in the 18th Century. The Germans never forgot the slight. The the Kaiser insisted that the German victory over the Russians in somewhat the same area in 1914 be named Tannenberg as a revenge of Teuton on the Slav. I have posted elsewhere about the conflict of Teutons and the Peoples of the East elsewhere, and suffice it to say that it was a thousand year struggle that probably was ended for all time with the crushing of Hitler in 1945. Tannenberg is probably the most important battle in Polish History. Without the defeat of the Knights, the Poles might have suffered the fate of the Baltic Prussians: either extermination or Germanization. Festivals are held annually celebrating the battle. There are re-enactos galore and everyone is gearing up for this years festival. If you are interested please read my review to the Teutons vs Slavs in my posting on the Battle of Lake Peipus. http://www.rateitall.com/i-63638-lake-peipus1242.aspx An interesting sidelight is Jan Zizka, the great Czech Hussite General who fought at Tannenberg. See my posting at http://www.rateitall.com/i-847865-ika-jan-1370-1424-czech-hussite-general.aspx I think you can even tie Adolf Hitler into Tannenberg. See my review at http://www.rateitall.com/i-920826-adolph-hitler.aspx Finally the climax to the Lake Peipus, Tannenberg, German vs. Slav saga was written by the fall of Koenigsberg in 1945. Please see my posting at http://www.rateitall.com/i-47402-knigsberg-1945.aspx I was always fascinated how long are the memories in the East and how it all fits together as if you were building a puzzle.