Battle of Płowce

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Płowce
Part of Polish-Teutonic War (1326–1332)
date=27 September, 1331
place=Płowce, Poland
result=Indecisive
combatant1=Kingdom of Poland
combatant2=Teutonic Order
commander1=Władysław I the Elbow-high
Casimir III of Poland
commander2=Dietrich von Altenburg
Reuss von Plauen
Otto von Lutterberg
Otto von Bonsdorf
strength1=5,000
strength2=7,000
casualties3= About 4,000The Battle of Płowce took place on 27 September, 1331 between Poland and the Teutonic Order.

Battle

The Teutonic Order attempted to take Brześć Kujawski in a lightning attack. The German army from the Teutonic Order had 7,000 men, and was opposed by a Polish army of 5,000 men. On September 27, 1331 one-third of the Teutonic Order's force of knights under Dietrich von Altenburg left the blockaded peasant town of Płowce. The Poles, under Władyslaw Łokietek (Władysław I the Elbow-high) and his son Casimir, immediately attacked in a frontal assault. A few seconds later, Polish detachments hiding to the left of the city in a forest also attacked. Reportedly, as the battle was just beginning Prince Casimir fled the field in terror. Despite this, in three hours the Teutonic knights had been defeated and their leader captured. The Polish forces were victorious in this phase of the battle, took prisoner 56 knights, and freed many Polish captives.

However, upon hearing the sounds of battle from Płowce, rear elements of the German formations rushed to aid their fellow knights, and soon another third of the Teutonic Order's forces arrived. The long and bloody battle resumed and continued until dark, with high casualties on both sides. Neither side scored a clear victory, though Reuss von Plauen, commander of the German army, and 40 knights were taken prisoner by the Poles. After leaving Płowce, the knights returned to Toruń.

Despite the inconclusive outcome, it was an important battle for Poland, which was just regaining its stature as a country on the international scene, and held its own against a powerful military force.

Aftermath

An estimated 4,000 men (combined) were said to have fallen on the field of the battle. Of these, 73 were brotherly knights of the Teutonic Order. About one half of the dead were Poles. The Germans had to retreat back to Toruń, their death toll climbing to one third of all their knights taking part in the war. The Polish armies, also suffering heavy casualties, did not follow the retreating Germans.