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However, others were ransomed, and some of the common soldiers were enslaved.
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Tacitus wrote that many officers were sacrificed by the Germans as part of their indigenous religious ceremonies, cooked in pots and their bones used for rituals. Īround 15,000–20,000 Roman soldiers must have died not only Varus, but also many of his officers are said to have taken their own lives by falling on their swords in the approved manner. The Germanic warriors then stormed the field and slaughtered the Romans Varus committed suicide. The Romans made a desperate attempt to storm the wall, but failed. This let the tribesmen to attack the Romans from cover. The road was blocked by a trench, and, towards the forest, an earthen wall had been built along the roadside. There was a gap of only about 100 m between the woods and the swampland at the edge of the Great Bog. There, the sandy, open strip on which the Romans could march easily narrowed at the bottom of the hill. The Romans then began a night march to escape, but marched into another trap that Arminius had set, at the foot of a hill near Osnabrück. The rain stopped them from using their bows because sinew strings become slack when wet, and left them virtually defenseless as their shields also became waterlogged. The break-out cost them heavy losses, as did a further attempt to escape by marching through another forest area, with heavy rains continuing. The Romans were able to set up a fortified night camp, and the next morning broke out into open country, near the modern town of Ostercappeln. The Germanic warriors surrounded the entire Roman army and rained down javelins on the intruders. It was then suddenly attacked by Germanic warriors who were carrying some light swords, large lances and spears that came with short and narrow blades, so sharp and warrior friendly that they could be used as required. The line of march was dangerously stretched out – estimates are that it was more than 15 km (9 miles), and was perhaps as long as 20 km (12 miles). He also writes that Varus neglected to send out advance reconnaissance parties. As they entered the forest they found the track narrow and muddy according to Dio Cassius a violent storm had also arisen. The Roman forces were not marching in combat formation, and there were also large numbers of camp-followers. Many of them had little combat experience with Germanic fighters under local conditions. Varus's forces included three legions, six cohorts of auxiliary troops (non-citizens or allied troops) and three squadrons of cavalry. The Romans must at this time have been marching northwestward from the area that is now the city of Detmold, passing east of Osnabrück they must then have camped in this area before being attacked. Recent archaeological finds place the battle at Kalkriese Hill in Osnabrück County, Lower Saxony. ".This was represented to Varus as an occasion which required his prompt attendance at the spot but he was kept in studied ignorance of its being part of a concerted national rising and he still looked on Arminius as his submissive vassal." Edward Shepherd Creasy While Varus was on his way from his summer camp, west of the Weser river, to the winter headquarters near the Rhine, he heard reports of a local rebellion. ".Stratagem was, therefore, indispensable and it was necessary to blind Varus to their schemes until a favorable opportunity should arrive for striking a decisive blow." British historian Edward Shepherd Creasy (1812–1878) He was helped to do this by the anger over Varus' insolence and cruelty to the people he defeated. In secret, he forged an alliance of Germanic tribes that had traditionally been enemies. Later, Arminius returned to Germania with Varus, and became his trusted advisor. Therefore, he knew Roman military methods: this knowledge was to be crucial. He had spent his youth in Rome as a hostage. The German commander was Arminius, who had been given a Roman military education. It is certain this was known to the Germans, and may have helped the tribes come together to resist him. He was known and feared because of his ruthless actions and his crucifixion of defeated enemies. The Roman commander, Varus, was about the fourth most important man in Rome.