Wagenburg
The tactic of the Wagenburg was used throughout the Hussite Wars. This tactic was invented by the commander Jan Zizka. The tactic was made to by the Hussites to combat the heavily armored knights of the armies brought against them. This tactic would be used succesfully for many years. The crew of each wagon consisted of 18-21 soldiers: 4-8 crossbowmen, 2 handgunners, 6-8 soldiers equipped with pikes or flails, 2 shield carriers and 2 drivers. The wagons would normally form a square, and inside the square would usually be the cavalry. There were two principal stages of the battle using the Wagenburg: defensive and counterattack. The defensive part would be a pounding of the enemy with artillery. Then, once the enemy would come close, crossbowmen and hand-gunners would come from inside the wagons and inflict more casualties on the enemy at close range. There would even be stones stored in the wagons for throwing whenever the soldiers were out of ammunition. After this huge barrage, the enemy would be demoralized. The armies of the crusaders were usually heavily armored knights, and would dismount when they charged. Their heavy armor only slowed them down, and made them easier targets for the ranged men. Once the commander saw it fit, the second stage of battle would begin. Men with swords, flails, and polearms would come out and attack. With the infantry, the cavalry in the square would come out and attack. At this point, the enemy was eliminated. The Wagenburg was later used by the crusading armies at the Battle of Tachov. However, the Germans lost. This proved that the Wagenburg could not just be used by anyone. It took an army that knew how to use the tactic to win the day.
References
- Hussite Tactics
- "The Hussite Wars (1419-36)", Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing (ISBN 1841766658)