8. Military preparation

All across Poland and Lithuania that winter of 1409, preparations were made for a big and final war. New swords, battle-axes, shields and pikes were produced. Old weapons were sharpened, pikes were given new shafts, and armor was closely fitted. The same happened in the lands occupied by the Teutonic Knights as well as in Western Europe. Both sides understood that a titanic battle would follow.

The Teutonic Knights were aware of the Polish-Lithuanian build-up. To counter any threat of attack towards Danzig (Gdańsk) and/or Samogitia, Ulrich von Jungingen concentrated part of his forces in Schwetz (Świecie) while leaving the large part of his army in the eastern castles of Ragnit (Ragainė), Rhein (Ryn) near Lötzen (Giżycko), and Memel (Klaipeda). Poles and Lithuanians continued to hide their intentions by organizing several raids deep into enemy territory.

[Image from http://www.grunwald1410.pl/]