In the year 9 AD, Varus left the fortified Roman camps near Haltern with three legions and moved into the area between the Rhine and Elbe to explore the territory, negotiate treaties, intimidate the tribes, and levy taxes – to put it bluntly, to assert the Roman Empire's power in the region. During this time, Arminius must have had close contact with the Teutons in the region, in order to forge an alliance against the Romans and prepare an ambush.
In the fall, just as the legions were on their way back to the winter camps, a message about an uprising in the north reached Varus, causing him to make a fatal decision. He sent his supply retinue with the siege equipment and supporting units ahead to the winter camps, while he marched north-west with his legions, just as the Teutonic scouts suggested. This led him directly into the trap Arminius had prepared for him.
Where did they fight?
Based on artifacts found, the region around Kalkriese is today seen as the most likely place where the Battle of Teutoburg Forest took place.
It is still not clear where exactly this battle took place. Clear traces have been found in Kalkriese near the German city of Osnabrück. There, pits filled with bones, weapon parts, and Roman coins were found, with the most recently minted coins from the year 9 AD. So it is quite certain that the Romans fought there and that the battle took place in 9 AD or later. However, the bones that have been discovered can only be attributed to 17 individuals – too few for the ultimate battle of the legions. It therefore remains unclear whether a skirmish in the downfall of Varus' three legions or a battle during a later expedition took place here.
The legions' path led through difficult territory. Thick forests and swamps with many narrow points meant the soldiers had to give up on their marching formation. The convoy of soldiers extended over multiple kilometers and the dense forest prevented the convoy from protecting its flanks. Heavy rainfall also slowed them down.
Attacks lasting for days
Then the attacks began. Teutons attacked different parts of the column from the protection of the forests, only to then quickly pull back. The Romans had no time to set up their battle formation and use their tactical advantage. The heavy weaponry and armor even proved to be a disadvantage in this adverse weather and territory, as they restricted the soldiers' movement. Yet, the Romans managed to reach fortified night camps in the first days of the attacks and escape at least briefly.
For days, the legions were kept busy by repeat guerrilla attacks without being able to put up an effective defense. In these conditions, the legions were not even able to fortify their night camps towards the end. The Teutons even diverted streams, dug ditches, and prepared simple fortifications with clay and wood to impede the legions' march.
It's believed that the deciding battle took place near Kalkriese after three days of constant attacks.
Findings of bones, tools, and weapon parts near the Kalkriese Hill near Bramsche suggest that combat outside the main battle might have taken place here. Besides Roman sword fittings and sling stones, a metal face mask that was part of a Roman cavalry helmet was also found. Remains of fortifications that could have been erected for the battles were also discovered here. Despite all the information available, a detailed reconstruction of the fighting is no longer possible today.
Trapped between forests, fortifications, and a large swamp to the north, the Romans had almost no chance to flee. After three days, the legions must have been worn down and dispersed, and that is when the final battle must have taken place. To avoid the disgrace of being captured, Varus committed suicide. Three legions, three cavalry divisions, and three infantry cohorts, around 20,000 soldiers altogether, were wiped out and killed. Hardly a single Roman was able to escape the massacre.
A Roman historian said that,
with his suicide, Varus showed more courage to die than to fight.
– Velleius Paterculus: Historia Romana II 117–119
The Teutons mercilessly slaughtered the soldiers. Captives were executed and thrown into murder pits. Their officers, often together with their weapons and animals, were sacrificed to the Teutonic gods. Even years after the battle, Roman soldiers found scattered debris of former carts, destroyed equipment, and many corpses, which they buried in mass graves.