Sack of Magdeburg 1631

During the Thiry Years War the mainly protestant city of Magdeburg, in Germany, was under siege from the forces of the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic League. The city fell on the 20th of May 1631, when it was attacked by Count Pappenheim and Count Tilly. Count Pappenheim wrote afterwards:

I believe that over twenty thousand souls were lost. It is certain that no more terrible work and divine punishment has been seen since the Destruction of Jerusalem. All of our soldiers became rich. God with us.

In the aftermath the Protestant forces became more closely aligned leading to the eventual defeat of the imperial army.