1645 – Brno Under Siege – Exhibition at the Brno City Museum

The exhibition "1645 – Brno Under Siege" at the Brno City Museum commemorates the 380th anniversary of one of the most significant events in Brno's history – the four-month siege of the city by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War. Swedish Field Marshal Lennart Torstensson approached Brno from the south on 3 May 1645 with an army composed mainly of German mercenaries, following his victory at the Battle of Jankau. He expected the city to fall within a week – he was mistaken. Brno held out for four long months, the Swedish army lost nearly 8,000 soldiers, while the defenders' losses numbered approximately 250 men. The exhibition presents the stories of specific individuals: faith in resistance to the enemy resonates in the prayer of Father Martin Středa, determination to defend is embodied by a student volunteer from the student company, whose banner is one of the exhibition's key artifacts. The exhibition also considers the fates of soldiers on the other side of the trenches – the hardships of military service are recounted by an ordinary soldier Georg Erdhart and his wife Elisabeth. The accompanying programme includes a military camp before the ramparts, combat demonstrations, musketeer and pikeman training, camp tours, and lectures and activities for both children and adults. The events of the siege are commemorated annually at Brno Days, on the anniversary of the general assault on 15 August.