The Emperor had received requests from Denmark-Norway for help, as well as assurance that the Swedish forces were worn down and therefore a fairly easy target.

[5] Gallas had his troops build and stay behind abatises and entrenchments south of the river Eider in Holstein in an attempt to trap the Swedish forces on Jutland.

As huge numbers of people and animals died, Gallas saw no other solution but to abandon many of the sick, most of his artillery as well as the baggage, and search protection for his troops in Magdeburg itself, a fortress of his Saxon allies.

[6] The rear guard of the Imperial cavalry under Adrian von Enkevort was caught close to the town of Jüterbog.

[8] While he was himself sick and stayed with the ill soldiers, his subordinate Hunolstein led the remaining 1,400 infantry able to march, together with a few horsemen and 12 field guns, via Wittenberg to Bohemia in early January 1645.

As a result of the severe fiasco the campaign turned out to be, and the tactical mistakes he made, Gallas was relieved from his duty as Imperial commander.