Mass Grave of Soldiers from 1745 Battle Unearthed During D11 Highway Construction Near Trutnov
Trutnov, Czech Republic – A remarkably preserved mass grave containing the remains of nine soldiers from the Battle of Žďár in 1745 has been discovered during archaeological excavations along the route of the future D11 motorway near Trutnov. The finding, described by archaeologists as unprecedented in the Czech Republic, offers a rare glimpse into the brutal realities of 18th-century warfare. Construction of the highway is proceeding without delay,with the archaeological work integrated into the project timeline.
The Battle of Žďár, fought on September 30, 1745, during the Second Silesian War, pitted a Prussian army of 22,000 soldiers led by Frederick II against a larger Austro-saxon force of 40,000 commanded by Charles of Lorraine. The conflict unfolded across an area encompassing the villages of Hajnice, Horní Žďár, Staré Buky, Střítež, New Rokytník, Studenec, and Radeč. the village of Střítež,then known as Burkersdorf,bore the brunt of the fighting,while particularly fierce struggles occurred on the nearby Wagon Hill.
Archaeological research, conducted in advance of the D11 expansion between Jaroměř and trutnov, has already yielded hundreds of artifacts. The mass grave represents a important and poignant revelation, providing direct physical evidence of the battle’s human cost. The 280th anniversary of the Battle of Žďár will occur in two weeks. Despite its ancient importance as one of the major battles of the Prussian-Austrian wars, the conflict has largely been overshadowed by the later Prussian-Austrian War of 1866, wich took place in the same region.
