bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. It was celebrated in the 19th century Swiss patriotism, finding explicit mention in Rufst du, mein Vaterland, the Swiss national anthem from the 1850s to 1961. The first monument at the battle site was erected in 1824, the current monument by Ferdinand Schlöth dates to 1872. Memorial ceremonies at the site were held from 1824, from 1860 to 1894 yearly, and afterward every five years (discontinued after 1994). The death of knight Burkhard VII. Münch, according to the chroniclers at the hands of a dying Swiss fighter, became symbolic of the outcome of the battle and the strategy of deterring powers of superior military strength from invading Switzerland by the threat of inflicting disproportionate casualties even in defeat, pursued by Swiss high command during the World Wars. See also Battles of the Old Swiss Confederacy References Additional sources Werner Meyer, "Also griffen die Eidgenossen das Volk an. Die Schlacht bei St. Jakob an der Birs – Hintergründe, Verlauf und Bedeutung" in: Meyer/Geiser (eds.), Ereignis, Mythos, Deutung. 1444–1994 St. Jakob an der Birs, Basel 1994, pp. 9–57. Hans Georg Wackernagel, "Die Schlacht bei St. Jakob an der Birs", in: Gedenkbuch zur Fünfhundertjahrfeier der Schlacht bei St. Jakob an der Birs vom 26. August 1444, Historische und Antiquarische Gesellschaft zu Basel (1944), pp. 1–72. Marco Tomaszewski, "Zwischen Stadt- und Nationalgedächtnis: die Schlacht bei Sankt Jakob an der Birs von 1444 und ihre Erinnerung vom 15. bis zum 21. Jahrhundert", Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde 111 (2011), . Miller, Douglas & Embleton G.A. The Swiss at War 1300–1500. London: Osprey Publishing, 1981. Peter Keller, "Vom Siegen ermüdet", Weltwoche'' 16/2012. 1444 in Europe 1440s in France Jakob an der Birs Jakob an der Birs Jakob an der Birs Münchenstein History of Basel Conflicts in 1444 15th century in the Old Swiss Confederacy