One of my forefathers' brother, Halvar Rönnberg, was one of the soldiers who perished in the snowstorm. He was 19 years old. Of the 14 soldiers from my village, only 8 came back. Two of them had severe frostbites and had their legs cut off.
Thank you for sharing - having a personal connection to this history makes it even more powerful. We appreciate you bringing that perspective to the story!
What a great video. It captured me instantly! Keep on doing these videos. I've been in Duved, Ånn and Handöl. There I got told briefly about the death march of the Caroleans and we got to walk around the area were they had also been. I've seen some monuments in Handöl where the soldiers were buried which was really breathtaking knowing the story.
Thank you for sharing! Visiting those places must have been an incredible and moving experience. Seeing the monuments and walking where they marched really brings the history to life. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Mother nature is an exceptionally unforgiving foe. I have a feeling it is a pitiful story many failed invaders could tell about such regions. To die slowly in the bitter cold, starving and struggling so far from home. To instead be quickly cut down in battle would be a blessing, in comparison anyhow.
Absolutely! Mother nature can be the most unforgiving enemy . There’s something haunting about armies falling to cold and hunger rather than battle. A quick end in combat almost seems merciful by comparison. Although freezing to death is more like falling asleep. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - we love exploring these powerful moments in history!
It is also a horrible time in history for, at the time a large chunk of Sweden, Finland, which had to endure all the rape, torture, killing, famine, disease, burning of houses and so on. To make matters worse those people didn't have any place to live in other than hastily made cellars which were basically holes in the ground that were hard for Russians to detect that were really cold meanwhile the Russians burned down every single place where they saw smoke coming from (during cold times smoke gave off people's hideouts) except the place of their (russians') residue. I have been doing metal detecting in Kajaani (Kajana) near the last bastion of Swedish control in Finland Cajaneborg (Kajaanin linna). The one and only house from that era stands in Paltaniemi and around that house I've found a lot of coins from Charles XI (silver and copper alike) but very few from Charles XII and no more Swedish silver until Gustav III's monetary reform. I have found Russian hammered wired money (silver) which I think might be from 1500-1700 but I am pretty sure they have gotten themselves there by Russian troops either in Isoviha (1714-1721) or earlier such as vanha viha or pitkä viha (pitkä viha 1570-1595). It can also be the case that some of those are from earlier and some are from the Great Northern War. Nevertheless, great video and I wanted to give you insight of what I have been doing to uncover more great history. Oh and one coin from Charles XII (Wett och wapen nödmynt 1717) has been deliberately cut in half and I wonder why... Maybe something superstitious? But I know that nödmynt came to Finland only after the war except Lapland which wasn't completely controlled by Russians. Nödmynt is also called "Görtz's money" since it is said to have been Görtz who came up with the idea and he was ultimately blamed for it and executed even though he might have not been the one coming up with that. I have a 1718 Flink och färdig in stellar condition, 1717 wett och wapen (half) and 1715 "the crown". Well they were ultimately made worth 1 öre kopparmynt during Ulrika Eleonora's and his husband's Fredrik I's reigns. Ultimately being 1/12 skilling during Gustavian era. For us Finns Carl Gustaf Armfelt is only remembered because he was effectively a Finn and commanded the defense of Finland during Russian invasion which started about 1711 but as previously mentioned for example Kajana stood firm until 1716-17 and after that Finland was practically conquered castle-wise.
Wow, thanks for sharing such incredible insights and personal discoveries! It’s fascinating (and sobering) to hear about the brutal reality people endured during those times, especially in Finland. The depth of suffering-living in underground cellars, hiding from marauding forces, and watching entire towns burn-is hard to fathom. Your metal detecting finds add such a tangible connection to that history, and the story behind the nödmynt and its link to Görtz really adds another layer to the complexity of that era. The cut coin is such an intriguing mystery. Either way, it’s amazing how much the land still holds these hidden fragments of the past. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge-it really enriches the conversation!
Interesting video, in the summer I was walking in the mountains where this took place and I can only imagine the suffering those poor souls had to endure during the march back to Sweden…
That sounds like an incredible experience! It really puts the brutal conditions into perspective. Hard to imagine the endurance it took to survive. Thanks for sharing!
Interesting that, supposedly, Charles XII would care about Norwegian civilians. I'm referring to the supply depos he had built along the border. According to how the story is told in the video, the Swedish soldiers seemed to initially not plunder the Norwegian farms in their path, but instead tried to barter with them. I understand that the Caroleans had enough supplies and as such did not need to plunder, but as you pointed out in the video - plunder was usually the norm during war. Even if you had food, soldiers would usually take anything of value from civilians that crossed their path. Later, the Caroleans were desperate and plundered anyway, but that is beside the point. Based on the information above, could it this be some kind of early recognition of kinship between Swedes and Norwegians? In the modern day, all of the Nordic countries consider our neigbors to be our brothers, but could this extend even to so long ago when our peoples were enemies? It is possible that since our languages are so similar (especially back then), that invading Norway would have seemed to the common Swedish soldier like invading another region of Sweden, rather than a truly foreign land - like for example Poland or Russia. Assuming this, it is possible that Swedish soldiers would feel less inclined to steal from Norwegian farmers even while at war (as this would be highly illegal to do to Swedish farmers if they were to be in Sweden). I mean, Swedish soldiers were by far mostly farmers, so it would not be hard for them to relate to the Norwegian farmers at the time. Just some thoughts, let me know what you think.
That’s a really interesting point, and I think you’re onto something. There could definitely be a mix of practical and cultural reasons behind the initial restraint shown by the Caroleans. On the practical side, keeping local populations calm and cooperative would make it much easier to move through and control the area without constant uprisings or disruptions. A peaceful populace is less likely to sabotage supply lines or resist, which would have been crucial for maintaining order during a long campaign. The cultural aspect is just as compelling. Many recruits in the Swedish army, especially those from regions like Jämtland, had deep ties to Norway through trade and shared heritage. These soldiers likely knew the land well and may have even known local families personally. For them, crossing the border might not have felt like entering enemy territory in the same way marching into Poland or Russia would. The close linguistic and cultural similarities could have fostered a sense of kinship, making the idea of plundering feel more like stealing from neighbors than from a foreign foe. Interestingly, we actually had a section in the original script that touched on this - specifically how soldiers from Jämtland had long-standing ties across the border. In the end, we decided to cut it during editing to keep the focus tighter, but it’s great to see others picking up on that same idea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it’s always great to dig into these layers of history!
_"Based on the information above, could it this be some kind of early recognition of kinship between Swedes and Norwegians? In the modern day, all of the Nordic countries consider our neigbors to be our brothers, but could this extend even to so long ago when our peoples were enemies?"_ No, you're extrapolating too much from too little and too loose an anecdote. It is true, as Whitetree has already written, that populations living just along the border often had shared ties. However, the Norwegian population as a whole was very anti-Swedish. This goes for even large sections of the border population, like the inhabitants of Frederikshald, who happily scorched their own town just to stop the Swedish advance in 1716. Recommendations given for jobs or posts in Norway at the time sometimes include sentences like "He is a good, honest hater of Swedes, like all good Norwegians".
It is not hard to imagine an army of the dead, like in The Lord of the Rings, bound to that mountain, forever wandering it and searching for the way home. It is rather haunting to know that they are still up there, even if their bones have been scattered since the 300 years ago they died.
That’s such a haunting and vivid image. The idea of ghostly Caroleans still wandering the mountains, searching for a way home, is both chilling and fascinating. Imagine sitting around a campfire and catching a glimpse of them through the mist - it’s the kind of thought that sticks with you. History and legend have a way of blending in places like that, and it’s easy to feel like the past is never too far away. Thanks for watching!
An excellent video as usual! What a terrible situation for Sweden and the people. One can wonder how the Great Nordic War would have gone if Karl XII had not died in Norway
Thanks for sharing - Sabaton’s way of turning history into music is incredible. It’s amazing how a song can make these events feel even more alive and impactful!
Most of those Finnish soldiers who were disbanded from their regiment did not now any Swedish at all. They were left on mercy of local people without any economic support. Ostrobothnia Regiment paid a very hefty price for this irrational adventure.
That’s a tragic detail that really highlights how harsh the aftermath was, not just for the soldiers but for their families and communities. The price they paid feels even heavier knowing how vulnerable they were once the campaign ended. Thank's for watching!
We didn’t know that - it’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made. Storvallen truly stands as a silent witness to the loss in those mountains. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the comment! 'Skåne skans' is actually the name of the specific redoubt in this case. But you're absolutely right - there were many skansar built during that time!
Does anyone else feel like this whole campaign was doomed fromm the start? Honestly, was this bravery or just pure stupidity? Marching through freezing mountains with starving men. What did they think would happend?
It’s easy to call it stupidity from where we sit now, but imagine being one of those soldiers - freezing, starving, but still following orders because turning back meant death anyway. I think that kind of perseverance, even in a hopeless situation, says more about their resilience than poor planning.
That’s a interesting way to look at it. I suppose in the end, it wasn’t really about winning or losing for those soldiers - it was survival, step by step. Makes you appreciate their perseverance, even if the whole campaign feels like a tragic mistake in hindsight.
One of my forefathers' brother, Halvar Rönnberg, was one of the soldiers who perished in the snowstorm. He was 19 years old. Of the 14 soldiers from my village, only 8 came back. Two of them had severe frostbites and had their legs cut off.
Thank you for sharing - having a personal connection to this history makes it even more powerful. We appreciate you bringing that perspective to the story!
What a great video. It captured me instantly! Keep on doing these videos. I've been in Duved, Ånn and Handöl. There I got told briefly about the death march of the Caroleans and we got to walk around the area were they had also been. I've seen some monuments in Handöl where the soldiers were buried which was really breathtaking knowing the story.
Thank you for sharing! Visiting those places must have been an incredible and moving experience. Seeing the monuments and walking where they marched really brings the history to life. Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@whitetreehistory It was really something. I think I found my new favourite history channel!
I once walked their route in the jämtland mountains in summertime and I think I saw fragmented human bones
The music and the narrators summary of this tragedy brought tears to my eyes. 😢
We're glad the video resonated with you - history like this carries such emotional weight. Thank you for the continued support!
Excellent video, from across the border in Norway
Well told, scored and illustrated. Astounding quality
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it!
Mother nature is an exceptionally unforgiving foe. I have a feeling it is a pitiful story many failed invaders could tell about such regions. To die slowly in the bitter cold, starving and struggling so far from home. To instead be quickly cut down in battle would be a blessing, in comparison anyhow.
Absolutely! Mother nature can be the most unforgiving enemy . There’s something haunting about armies falling to cold and hunger rather than battle. A quick end in combat almost seems merciful by comparison. Although freezing to death is more like falling asleep. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - we love exploring these powerful moments in history!
It is also a horrible time in history for, at the time a large chunk of Sweden, Finland, which had to endure all the rape, torture, killing, famine, disease, burning of houses and so on. To make matters worse those people didn't have any place to live in other than hastily made cellars which were basically holes in the ground that were hard for Russians to detect that were really cold meanwhile the Russians burned down every single place where they saw smoke coming from (during cold times smoke gave off people's hideouts) except the place of their (russians') residue. I have been doing metal detecting in Kajaani (Kajana) near the last bastion of Swedish control in Finland Cajaneborg (Kajaanin linna). The one and only house from that era stands in Paltaniemi and around that house I've found a lot of coins from Charles XI (silver and copper alike) but very few from Charles XII and no more Swedish silver until Gustav III's monetary reform. I have found Russian hammered wired money (silver) which I think might be from 1500-1700 but I am pretty sure they have gotten themselves there by Russian troops either in Isoviha (1714-1721) or earlier such as vanha viha or pitkä viha (pitkä viha 1570-1595). It can also be the case that some of those are from earlier and some are from the Great Northern War. Nevertheless, great video and I wanted to give you insight of what I have been doing to uncover more great history. Oh and one coin from Charles XII (Wett och wapen nödmynt 1717) has been deliberately cut in half and I wonder why... Maybe something superstitious? But I know that nödmynt came to Finland only after the war except Lapland which wasn't completely controlled by Russians.
Nödmynt is also called "Görtz's money" since it is said to have been Görtz who came up with the idea and he was ultimately blamed for it and executed even though he might have not been the one coming up with that.
I have a 1718 Flink och färdig in stellar condition, 1717 wett och wapen (half) and 1715 "the crown". Well they were ultimately made worth 1 öre kopparmynt during Ulrika Eleonora's and his husband's Fredrik I's reigns. Ultimately being 1/12 skilling during Gustavian era.
For us Finns Carl Gustaf Armfelt is only remembered because he was effectively a Finn and commanded the defense of Finland during Russian invasion which started about 1711 but as previously mentioned for example Kajana stood firm until 1716-17 and after that Finland was practically conquered castle-wise.
Wow, thanks for sharing such incredible insights and personal discoveries! It’s fascinating (and sobering) to hear about the brutal reality people endured during those times, especially in Finland. The depth of suffering-living in underground cellars, hiding from marauding forces, and watching entire towns burn-is hard to fathom. Your metal detecting finds add such a tangible connection to that history, and the story behind the nödmynt and its link to Görtz really adds another layer to the complexity of that era. The cut coin is such an intriguing mystery. Either way, it’s amazing how much the land still holds these hidden fragments of the past. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge-it really enriches the conversation!
Great video! An absolutely brutal and relentless struggle-survival against nature itself!
Such an underrated part of history.
Agreed! It's one of those stories that deserves way more attention. Glad you appreciate it and thank's for watching!
Interesting video, in the summer I was walking in the mountains where this took place and I can only imagine the suffering those poor souls had to endure during the march back to Sweden…
That sounds like an incredible experience! It really puts the brutal conditions into perspective. Hard to imagine the endurance it took to survive. Thanks for sharing!
@@whitetreehistory and thank you for making such good quality content. Keep it up and never give up🙏🏻
Interesting that, supposedly, Charles XII would care about Norwegian civilians. I'm referring to the supply depos he had built along the border. According to how the story is told in the video, the Swedish soldiers seemed to initially not plunder the Norwegian farms in their path, but instead tried to barter with them. I understand that the Caroleans had enough supplies and as such did not need to plunder, but as you pointed out in the video - plunder was usually the norm during war. Even if you had food, soldiers would usually take anything of value from civilians that crossed their path. Later, the Caroleans were desperate and plundered anyway, but that is beside the point.
Based on the information above, could it this be some kind of early recognition of kinship between Swedes and Norwegians? In the modern day, all of the Nordic countries consider our neigbors to be our brothers, but could this extend even to so long ago when our peoples were enemies? It is possible that since our languages are so similar (especially back then), that invading Norway would have seemed to the common Swedish soldier like invading another region of Sweden, rather than a truly foreign land - like for example Poland or Russia. Assuming this, it is possible that Swedish soldiers would feel less inclined to steal from Norwegian farmers even while at war (as this would be highly illegal to do to Swedish farmers if they were to be in Sweden). I mean, Swedish soldiers were by far mostly farmers, so it would not be hard for them to relate to the Norwegian farmers at the time.
Just some thoughts, let me know what you think.
That’s a really interesting point, and I think you’re onto something. There could definitely be a mix of practical and cultural reasons behind the initial restraint shown by the Caroleans. On the practical side, keeping local populations calm and cooperative would make it much easier to move through and control the area without constant uprisings or disruptions. A peaceful populace is less likely to sabotage supply lines or resist, which would have been crucial for maintaining order during a long campaign.
The cultural aspect is just as compelling. Many recruits in the Swedish army, especially those from regions like Jämtland, had deep ties to Norway through trade and shared heritage. These soldiers likely knew the land well and may have even known local families personally. For them, crossing the border might not have felt like entering enemy territory in the same way marching into Poland or Russia would. The close linguistic and cultural similarities could have fostered a sense of kinship, making the idea of plundering feel more like stealing from neighbors than from a foreign foe.
Interestingly, we actually had a section in the original script that touched on this - specifically how soldiers from Jämtland had long-standing ties across the border. In the end, we decided to cut it during editing to keep the focus tighter, but it’s great to see others picking up on that same idea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it’s always great to dig into these layers of history!
_"Based on the information above, could it this be some kind of early recognition of kinship between Swedes and Norwegians? In the modern day, all of the Nordic countries consider our neigbors to be our brothers, but could this extend even to so long ago when our peoples were enemies?"_
No, you're extrapolating too much from too little and too loose an anecdote. It is true, as Whitetree has already written, that populations living just along the border often had shared ties. However, the Norwegian population as a whole was very anti-Swedish. This goes for even large sections of the border population, like the inhabitants of Frederikshald, who happily scorched their own town just to stop the Swedish advance in 1716. Recommendations given for jobs or posts in Norway at the time sometimes include sentences like "He is a good, honest hater of Swedes, like all good Norwegians".
An harrowing story, but excellently told as usual!
It is not hard to imagine an army of the dead, like in The Lord of the Rings, bound to that mountain, forever wandering it and searching for the way home. It is rather haunting to know that they are still up there, even if their bones have been scattered since the 300 years ago they died.
That’s such a haunting and vivid image. The idea of ghostly Caroleans still wandering the mountains, searching for a way home, is both chilling and fascinating. Imagine sitting around a campfire and catching a glimpse of them through the mist - it’s the kind of thought that sticks with you. History and legend have a way of blending in places like that, and it’s easy to feel like the past is never too far away. Thanks for watching!
An excellent video as usual! What a terrible situation for Sweden and the people. One can wonder how the Great Nordic War would have gone if Karl XII had not died in Norway
Thank you so much for the support! The Great Northern War could have taken a very different turn.
älskar denna video mannen, är svensk och har väntat efter sånt här content i åratal.
Thank you so much! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. We've got more coming, so stay tuned!
Sabaton - Ruina Emperii (my favourite Sabaton song) is about these events.
Thanks for sharing - Sabaton’s way of turning history into music is incredible. It’s amazing how a song can make these events feel even more alive and impactful!
Most of those Finnish soldiers who were disbanded from their regiment did not now any Swedish at all. They were left on mercy of local people without any economic support. Ostrobothnia Regiment paid a very hefty price for this irrational adventure.
That’s a tragic detail that really highlights how harsh the aftermath was, not just for the soldiers but for their families and communities. The price they paid feels even heavier knowing how vulnerable they were once the campaign ended. Thank's for watching!
Excellent!!
Finally a new video!!🎉🎉
Hope you will enjoy it and that it was worth the wait!
As if fighting half of europe wasnt enough, Sweden had to fight the unforgiven winter too.
Where is world’s largest military cemetary of native 🇫🇮? .. Storvallen 🇳🇴/🇸🇪
Total loss at the mountains 5000 stupade/KIA ”ostland”❤🇫🇮 trooper’s❤
We didn’t know that - it’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made. Storvallen truly stands as a silent witness to the loss in those mountains. Thanks for watching!
Very interesting! 😮
Glad you enjoyed it!
Älska Sverige
Great video except that the music is too loud and adds nothing to the video. Very hard to hear the narration
HELL YEAH!
Thanks. The Name is skans, and not Skåne. You have had a lot of them, in the old Time.
Thanks for the comment! 'Skåne skans' is actually the name of the specific redoubt in this case. But you're absolutely right - there were many skansar built during that time!
@whitetreehistory no, Stene skans, thats according to the map. Hej då. Åsa
Ja, ja. Svensker...
Does anyone else feel like this whole campaign was doomed fromm the start? Honestly, was this bravery or just pure stupidity? Marching through freezing mountains with starving men. What did they think would happend?
It’s easy to call it stupidity from where we sit now, but imagine being one of those soldiers - freezing, starving, but still following orders because turning back meant death anyway. I think that kind of perseverance, even in a hopeless situation, says more about their resilience than poor planning.
That’s a interesting way to look at it. I suppose in the end, it wasn’t really about winning or losing for those soldiers - it was survival, step by step. Makes you appreciate their perseverance, even if the whole campaign feels like a tragic mistake in hindsight.
I couldnt stand the 'singing', had to stop listening