Swedish garrison surrenders in Warsaw

Course of events

The Swedish garrison in Warsaw surrendered after a siege by Commonwealth forces. The capital’s recovery preceded a major field battle outside the city later that month.¹

A closer look

The blockade began on 24 April. According to the museum, Lithuanian forces arrived first and Crown troops joined in mid-May. Arvid Wittenberg’s Swedish garrison repelled four assaults, but with no relief force arriving it had to surrender; its commander and senior officers were taken prisoner.¹

More than two months under siege

The blockade began on 24 April. Lithuanian troops arrived first, followed by Crown forces in mid-May. The Polish Army Museum estimates that John II Casimir commanded about 50,000 besiegers against Arvid Wittenberg's Swedish garrison of roughly 3,000. Four assaults failed to break the defence; the absence of a relief force also determined the outcome.¹

After the surrender

The garrison left the city on 1 July. Wittenberg and his senior officers were taken prisoner. Recovering the capital did not end fighting nearby: later that month John II Casimir faced a Swedish-Brandenburg army in the three-day Battle of Warsaw.¹²