Ofensywa Holenderskiej Kompanii Zachodnioindyjskiej w Brazylii w latach 1634-1636
The offensive of the Dutch West India Company in Brazil (1634–1636)

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the offensive of the Dutch West India Company conducted in Brazil in 1634–1636. The conquest by Sigismund von Schkoppe and Krzysztof Arciszewski of one of the biggest cities of the New World – Paraíba and the fortress Arraial Velho do Bom Jesus, as well as the battle carried on 17th and 18th January 1636 were described. The Dutch successes during the war were mostly the result of military reforms carried out by Krzysztof Arciszewski in cooperation with Schkoppe. The Colonel mainly adjusted the organization of the army to the unusual terrain which was Brazil. At first, huge areas were controlled by a small army of several thousand. For this reason, and because of the landform, he reduced the number of companies and introduced military units of 40 or 50 people. He also gave up pikemen formations and increased the number of musketeers instead. Furthemore, the Colonel tried to unite actions of the navy and infantry.

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