On July 9, 1386, an Austrian garrison from Hapsburg lined up to do battle with a band of Swiss confederates just outside of the lake town, Sempach. This patched-up, Swiss outfit, made up of highlanders and farmers, were fighting for all that was dear to them in the world. Marching north, they encountered the enemy midday and that would begin the Battle of Sempach.
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The Swiss mountain men were outmanned and had inferior weapons. The Austrian spears (known as a pike or pole weapon) were significantly longer than the Swiss’ short spears. This made it impossible to effectively attack the Austrians and break their formations.
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The Austrian soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, each grasping a long spear whose point projected far in front of him. Needless to say, the Swiss were not faring well and the outlook was bleak. For a while, their cause looked hopeless.
One particular Swiss farmer by the name of Arnold von Winkelried, recognized all hope was gone unless action was taken. As he looked upon the bristling points of the Austrian spears, he saw that his comrades had no chance to win unless an opening could be made in the Austrians' defenses. He determined to make such an opening, even at the cost of his life.
While there was a break in the fight, the Swiss regrouped in the shadows of the trees near the battlefield. The wounded exchanged defective weapons, and their leaders assembled to decide on their next action. One of the commanders addressed the men, hoping to rally the countrymen,
"Our best men have fallen, and yet we have not succeeded in breaking into the ranks of the enemy: with the short halves, we do not come to the Austrians. We need a force of violence, heavy and heavy, and the cool courage of the bravest among us, and we must change the order of the battle: we attack in the square, the enemy is not so easily encircled in the broad slaughter- Which we place as leaders in the front row!"
All eyes were on a young man, who stood close but had not spoken a word, it was Arnold von Winkelried. At first, hesitantly, then resolutely, he stepped forward and said, "Give me an arm full of spears, I will tie them to the force of violence, and strike you an alley into the enemy." After these concise words, he called the band of men all to himself, and asked them with a bitter tone: "My friends, when you come home from the victory, take care of my wife and my dear children."
"Make way for liberty!" he cried--
Then ran, with arms extended wide,
As if his dearest friend to clasp;
Ten spears he swept within his grasp.
"Make way for liberty!" he cried--
Their keen points met from side to side.
He bowed among them like a tree,
And thus made way for liberty.
After the heroic charge and the ensuing battle, 1500 Austrians, including 400 of their noble knights, plus 200 Swiss, covered the ground. The Swiss brought their dead to Lucerne, where they buried their loyal comrades.
This one act of heroism has been mentioned for centuries afterward. Conquerors such as Napoleon found inspiration in Winkelried’s selfless act. Writers, poets, kings have written of it for generations. Today, monuments in streets and town squares all across Switzerland pay tribute to this selfless act of heroism that saved a nation. Nearly 700 years after Arnold von Winkelried’s heroic charge, God’s prophet paid this tribute to the Swiss hero, and, to another Hero that surpasses them all:
And he screamed, threw up his weapon, and said, "Make way for liberty." And he started towards that army. And he went right towards the thickest of the spears. And when he got right down to where they was—hundred gleaming spears to catch him as he come; he threw up his hands and said, "Make way for liberty." And he grabbed big armfuls of those spears and threw them into his chest. And each one of those Swiss soldiers followed behind him. He broke the ranks of the enemy, and they won a victory like has never been won before.
And today you can mention his name in Switzerland, and their eyes will color with tears, and their cheeks will flush for their hero. That was one of the greatest heroes to my opinion, that's been in army life. But that's just a minor thing, just a minor thing. One day the sons of Adam was standing defeated; law, prophets and everything had failed. Every approach we had made had totally failed. And yonder in glory there was One stepped out called the Son of God. And the Angels said, "What will You do?"
He said, "I'll go down and give My life. And this day I will redeem the fallen sons of Adam."
And He came to Calvary. He went to the thickest of the spears. He went through the valley of the shadow of death and caught every dart of the devil, and pulled it into His own bosom, and called for the Church to take what you've got and do the best you can. Praise God, on the day of Pentecost a rushing mighty wind fell out of the heavens above and armed every man with a weapon.