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"My lord, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed. Com-scan has detected an energy field protecting an area of the sixth planet of the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment." "The Rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel came out of lightspeed too close to the system." "He...He felt surprise was wiser—" "He is as clumsy as he is stupid. General, prepare your troops for a surface attack." "Yes, my Lord."
TheBattle of Hoth, also known as thedefense of Echo Base, was a major battle fought in3 ABY and was, often times, considered a major victory for theGalactic Empire and the single worst battlefield defeat suffered by theRebel Alliance during theGalactic Civil War. The battle was an Imperial invasion led byDarth Vader, aimed at destroying the Rebel Alliance'sEcho Base hidden on the remoteiceworldHoth and capturingLuke Skywalker. The base's location was discovered when aViper probe droid, deployed by Darth Vader'sDeath Squadron, landed on the planet - prompting the Rebels to begin anevacuation of Hoth.
The Imperial attack force consisted of primarilyAT-AT walkers, commanded byGeneralMaximilian Veers. His army was tasked with destroying Echo Base's mainpower generator to allow orbital bombardment of the planet and for Darth Vader to arrive and lead ground forces into the base. Spearheading the defense of the generator were theT-47 airspeeders ofRogue Squadron,commanded by Luke Skywalker, the pilot renowned for destroying thefirst Death Star. However, the snowspeeders did not have the necessary firepower to bring down the walkers, so Skywalker suggested an alternative tactic to trip the walkers with thetow cables issued to every snowspeeder.
Despite the efforts by Rogue Squadron, the power generator was eventually destroyed by Veers'main AT-AT. The remaining base personnel proceeded to evacuate, as the501st Legion, led by Darth Vader, entered the base. The overwhelming Imperial invasion forced the Rebellion to scatter theirfleet across the galaxy, leading to a multitude of scattered skirmishes across the galaxy before the Empire's sudden and crushing defeat at theBattle of Endor.
Following theRebel Alliance'smajor victory atYavin, the Rebellionabandoned itsbase onYavin 4 and began searching the galaxy for new possible bases of operation, considering worlds, such asDaxan Beta andInsk.[38] They also attempted to set upbase atCrait.[39] In the subsequent three and a half years of conflict,GeneralJan Dodonna ordered a mission to find a base for the High Command,[25] drawing up a list of potential planets, which included Hoth.[40] During that mission, anRebel Alliance Special Forces soldier namedPurpruff traveled to the planet ofHoth in theAnoat sector and filed a report on it.[19] Subsequently, theCorps of Engineers constructed the base over the course of two standard years,[10] hoping to claim it as their new base of operations while avoiding the watchful eyes of the Empire.[41] The base was inhabited for less than a month before the battle took place.[18]
Following the defeat of the Empire three and a half years earlier at the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Alliance suffered from relentless Imperial attacks during theMid Rim Retreat. Rumors of a Rebel base, circulated throughout the Rebellion, though only a few in the Alliance actually knew concrete details of its existence.Rebel troopers at Echo Base, far-distanced from the disastrous Rebel tactical situation in the Mid and Outer Rim Territories, actually had access to better equipment and training than Rebel soldiers throughout the rest of the galaxy.[18][1] The Empire began to intensify its search for the Rebel base after theambush of a rebel convoy at Derra.[36] As part ofProject Swarm, the Empire sentViper probe droids to search for the rebel base throughoutthe galaxy.[42]DoctorChelli Lona Aphra heavily set back the Empire's efforts to find Echo Base when, by hacking into Vader's armor while the Sith Lord was weakened in theMartyrium of Frozen Tears, she had numerous probe droid records deleted or altered. By her own estimate,[43] as well as that of the Empire when it set out to untangle the mess she left them with, it would take weeks to recover the project's lost ground.[44]
Shortly before the battle, a strategy conference was held at the base after the arrival of several transports arrived, which were rumored to carryPrincess Leia Organa, GeneralCarlist Rieekan,CommanderChiffonage, aBothan spy, and several other members ofAlliance Command. The conference's main briefing was from defected ImperialgovernorEveri Chalis who had been extracted fromHaidoral Prime by the61st Mobile Infantry underCaptainMicha Evon. Chalis offered substantial information about the inner-workings of the "Imperial War Machine" and made a map trade routes and Imperial weak points. The meeting ended shortly before the battle, which meant that Leia and the other attendees were forced to run the Imperial blockade in order to leave the system.[1]
ViperprobeXJ9-CS14[45] was deployed from the[36]Imperial II-class Star Destroyer[3]Stalker[36] and eventually located the Rebel base. On the ground, CommanderLuke Skywalker spotted the probe droid crash while on a reconnaissance mission on histauntaun—indigenous snow-lizards utilized by Alliance personnel as mounts—and believing it to be a meteorite, went closer to investigate. On his way, Skywalker was attacked by a nativewampa and dragged off into a cave before he could get a closer look.Han Solo eventually went off to rescue Skywalker during a harsh snowstorm, in spite of the concern from his comrades.[3]
Later, Solo andChewbacca were tasked with investigating the lead that Skywalker came across, leading to their discovery of the existence of the probe droid. Upon being spotted by it, Han attempted to destroy it, only to have droid activate its self-destruct mechanism. Receiving new intelligence from the probe, the crew of theExecutor-class Star DreadnoughtExecutor initially dismissed the findings. In spite ofAdmiralKendal Ozzel's concern that pictures of the Rebelshield generator merely belonged to smugglers,Darth Vader instructed the ImperialDeath Squadron to invade the planet. With their location revealed, the wrath of the Empire would soon be unleashed upon the Rebellion.[3]
The battle[]
Plan Kay One Zero[]
"Make ready to land our troops beyond their energy field, then deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off the system. You are in command now,Admiral Piett."
Upon dissemination of Han Solo's report on the probe, base commander General Rieekan correctly concluded that the mysterious probe had been sent from the Empire. Rieekan ordered the immediate evacuation of Echo Base,[3] usingcode K-one-zero.[1] The general then ordered Rebel technicians to raise the base's shields to maximum power in order to minimize damage fromorbital bombardment. By dumping energy directly into the planet's interior, the Rebel's planet-based shield allowed protection from bombardments that would normally overwhelm ship shields.[10]
Simultaneously, Princess Leia Organa instructed Rebel pilots withinHangar 7 to escape in groups in order to avoid the Imperial blockade. The Rebel plan was to have all ships meet at a pre-specified rendezvous point. Immediately, the rebel base fluttered with activity, and boarding began on thirtyGR-75 medium transports,[10] which had assembled at the base'snorth entrance.[46]Deck officers, includingSerenity Meeks, were tasked with directing evacuees onto the transports.[47] Noncombat personnel were loaded first, while the tauntauns utilized by the rebels were set loose onto the frozen plains. A noisy alarm immediately indicated the Empire's arrival, while a subspace alert was sent out to the transports of new recruits heading for the world to avoid the system.[3][18] ThejournalistCorwi Selgrothe was one of the non-combatants in the base; when the Empire arrived, she initially attempted to record Organa's actions before bumping into the rebel soldierL'cayo Llem, who led her to a GR-75.[46]
WhenDarth Vader's fleet arrived in theHoth system, he quickly discovered that the Rebels were fully aware of the ambush that he had planned, which was not helped by Ozzel'sStar Destroyer appearing out oflightspeed too close to the system. Vader promptlyForce-choked Ozzel to death for poorly handling the situation and immediately promoted CaptainFirmus Piett to admiral, leaving him in charge of the invasion.[3]
Imperial offensive[]
"What's going on?" "Command says snowspeeders have engaged the walkers. No damage yet, but they're slowing down. The bad news, sir, is that the Empire's sent recon forces fanning out. Troops are heading this way." "Get ready, then."
Planet-side, decorated GeneralMaximilian Veers was placed in command of the ground assault, and led the contingent of AT-ATs and AT-STs under the unilateral command ofBlizzard Force.[10]Blizzard Force's 12 AT-ATs,[36] led by Veers'Blizzard 1, were specifically designed to function incold environments like that on Hoth.[48] Veers informed Lord Vader that he could land once Veers had destroyed the generator.[35]
Wary that Rebel starfighters would swarm theExecutor's IncomY-85 Titan dropships, Veers called upon Death Squadron's more versatileGozanti-class cruisers, which could carry only two AT-ATs at a time, unlike the Titan's four. The barges and troop carriers ofBlizzard Force, escorted byTIE fighters, converged at theMoorsh Moraine glacial feature, well north of the heavily fortified mountain base. Unable to unleash an orbital bombardment on the base due to the shield, which utilized projector modules scattered throughout Rebel territory, Veers was ordered to destroy the central power generator, which would knock out any of its subsidiary projector modules. Veers also received orders to capture rather than kill surviving Rebel forces from his assault.[10]
In an attempt to impress Vader,Blizzard 4 attempted to cross a direct but treacherous route into theKerane Valley, only to lose three walkers to crevices in the eastern ice flow. Blizzard 4's AT-AT group then retreated to a more manageable westerly route. The main group of AT-ATs soon emerged from the fog atop theNorth Ridge.[10]
The ImperialGozanti-class cruisers were first spotted by 61st Mobile Infantry soldierRoja atPerimeter Outpost Delta. Another soldier,Beak, deduced that they were carrying walkers, so his commanding officer,First SergeantHazram Namir, prompted him to report it in to Echo Base.[1] While in space theImperial-class Star DestroyerTyrant was disabled by Echo Base'sion cannon, allowing the first GR-75 medium transportQuantum Storm and its fighter escort to safely escape.[23] Nonetheless, it wouldn't be long until the Imperial forces on the ground would be reported in byOutpost Beta, confirming Beak's suspicions. Outpost Beta was subsequently the first sentry post destroyed with half a dozen laser blasts from Imperial AT-ST walkers.[1] Blizzard Force then defeated the Rebel scouts atEcho Station 3-T-8, allowing them to continue their march towards Echo Base.[49]
Snowtroopers march to the planetary ion cannon of Echo Base
Rebel ground forces attempted to hold the line against the Imperial walkers in recently dug trenches dotted with numerousDF.9 turrets and the concentrated blasts of1.4 FD P-Tower laser cannons, but were met with little success due to the near-imperviousarmor that was utilized by the AT-ATs.[1] In one trench, Imperial fire went overPrivateEmon Kref, finding its impact at a rebelturret. When its metal shards fell upon the heads of Kref and his squad, it reminded the troops how weak their efforts were compared to the AT-ATs. AlliancesergeantTrey Callum urged his troops to continue fighting and focus all of their fire on the walkers. The troops did so, though to no effect. A wave ofsnowtroopers also attacked the squad, though it was defeated.[11] Theproximity mines planted by Outpost Beta personnel failed to damage the advancing AT-ST walkers, so the official order for the rebel ground troops was to protect the shield generator. Its destruction would allow Imperial forces to easily destroy Echo base.[1]
Outpost Delta soon fell under attack by a force of several snowtroopers on twofloating gunnery platforms and an AT-ST walker due to their flanking position on the western edge of the Imperial advance. Despite heavy resistance and the destruction of a gunnery platform, the walker was not distracted by blaster fire from ground troops in the trenches and proceeded to destroy several rebel artillery emplacements before being brought down by afemale rebel soldier. With the outpost no longer a threat, the remaining Imperial ground support fell back to join the main assault on Echo Base, forcing the survivors of the encounter to proceed back to base on a abandoned Imperial wheeled combat transport.[1]
AT-AT assault[]
"Most of the transports made it out, but that shield's going down any second. Last from the command center was to fall back and finish evac—all troops, all positions." "What do you mean,last word?" "Walker took a few shots at the base. We think command got hit."
WithT-47 airspeeders flying out of Echo Base's hangar to meet the approaching army, they soon realized that the AT-AT's armor was impervious to their blasters, while a single shot from an AT-AT destroyed one of the rebel airspeeders. Despite this, pilotsThane Kyrell andYendor managed to badly damage a walker's leg by shooting at its joints, ultimately detaching its foot and disabling the behemoth.[18] Meanwhile the kitchen staffLieutenantHarlize Dana and her workerChase Wilsorr soon arrived to board the transports as well. However,DoctorTristan Melthabi and three medtechs were unable to evacuate due to a cave in at the medical facility's access corridor. HearingMajorBren Derlin and Deck Officer Meeks discuss the doctor's compromization, Wilsorr chose to go after Melthabi and the medtechs. The kitchen worker reached the medical facility and helped the trapped occupants out, giving them directions to the GR-75s.[47]
Shortly afterwards,Rogue Squadron, led by Luke Skywalker andWedge Antilles, were able to utilize T-47 airspeeders to slow the Imperial advance. Initially, the Rogues attempted to useAttack Pattern Delta against the walkers, but found that their cannons were ineffective. Realizing that they needed to change tactics, Antilles and his gunnerWes Janson followed Skywalker's suggestion and used their T-47's tow cables to topple an AT-AT before blowing it to smithereens in its weakened state. However, Skywalker's own snowspeeder was blasted by an AT-AT, killing his co-pilotDak Ralter. Skywalker initially kept his speeder in the air, but it eventually crashed and was subsequently crushed underfoot by a walker. Skywalker was able to attach himself to the nearby AT-AT with his hoist cable, allowing him to usehislightsaber to cut through the walker's armor. The commander threw athermal detonator in the hole he'd cut, and another AT-AT was brought to a screeching halt.[3] The rebels' moderate success against the AT-ATs led General Veers to grudgingly admit that his opponents were smart and to regret the number of casualties thatBlizzard Force was taking.[48]
The Rebel defenses were overwhelmed by the Imperial forces.
Despite their valiant efforts, the Rebels were unable to hold the Imperials back. Simultaneously, Blizzards6,9, and8 fired on retreating remnants of hangar defense trenches.[10] With many of the Rebel defense turrets destroyed, the Rebel troops were forced to retreat back to Echo Base. With the Empire now deploying ground troops in an effort to force the Rebellion out of their last line of defense, survivors of Outpost Delta smashed through the Imperial front into friendly territory only to discover that Rebel command's last order was one of total evacuation. With confusion in the field owing to a sudden communications blackout from Echo Base, which some attributed to a walker firing at it, the demoralized rebel forces hastily made way for their escape. First Sergeant Namir, Roja, and Beak made for the command, which had been hit by AT-AT fire, in search of Captain Evon.[1]
Upon reaching firing range of Echo Base's shield generator, Veers informed Vader that it was safe for him to land and ordered the troops within his walkers to disembark. Just before firing on the generator, the AT-AT targeted earlier by Luke Skywalker exploded. Though Veers was temporarily distracted,[48] his walker managed to annihilate the generator,[3] horrifying the weary rebels across the battlefield and leaving Echo Base vulnerable to a full invasion[50] and orbital bombardment. With the shield down, Vader's[3]Lambda-class T-4a shuttle[35] landed on Hoth[3] in the midst of the battle. Joined by a team[35] of 501st[16] snowtroopers, Vader departed the shuttle after it landed between two of the AT-AT walkers. As the troops began to engage with the enemy, Vader ordered his commander to push past the defending rebel soldiers and locate an entry to Echo Base's commander center.[35] The destruction of the base's shields caused chaos on the ground, as huge numbers of rebel troops retreated, knowing that they no longer had any chance of winning. Many were shot before making it back to the base.[11]
Rebel forces primarily evacuated Echo Base utilizing the south entrances on theClabburn Range, from where they headed east to the rebel transport evacuation site behind theSouth Ridge.[10] Private Kref and his comrade,Andry Ked, followed suit, evading pursuing snowtroopers who injured Ked.[11] Onerebel soldier involved in the battle lost his leg during the fighting.[30] While the troopers were escaping, SergeantMaxim rode his tauntaun mountReebak to subdue an E-web team threatening a GR-75. The sergeant then demanded they evacuate the tauntaun as well.[12] As the retreat continued, Blizzard 1 approached the position of Kref and Ked. That was when a burning rebel snowspeeder[11] flown byDerek Klivian, which had been crippled by AT-AT fire,[26] crashed into Blizzard 1's cockpit, destroying the walker and severely injuring Veers.[48]
Infiltration of Echo Base[]
"Imperial troops have entered the base! Imperial troops have ent—"
―A rebel soldier reporting Imperial forces entering the base[3]
Darth Vader leads Imperial snowtroopers into Echo Base.
Han Solo, asmuggler who worked with the Rebellion, reached the command to assist Organa, who still remained at the damaged area[3] withCommunications officerToryn Farr and CommanderChiffonage.[27] At that time,[3] Darth Vader's forces smashed into the Echo Base by punching a hole in the mountain's eastern face,[10] with one gate being ripped open by Vader's Force powers. Witnessed by rebel troopers, includingone soldier who issued a warning about the Imperial breach[35] that was transmitted to the command center,[3] Vader's snowtroopers pressed their attack on the Dark Lord's order, with one firing a rocket launcher into the rebel lines as their fellows opened fire.[35] Committing to a full invasion,[50] snowtroopers began pouring into Echo Base,[27] signaling that the rebel defenses had failed.[51] Vader himself slaid the rebel who warned the base about their entrance before growing distracted by theEcho Base medical center, where he sensed his son had recently been and was reminded of his own past injuries.[35]
While she initially wanted all troopers in sector twelve be dispatched to the southern slope and protect the fighters there, Organa relented at Solo's urging[3] and had Chiffonage send the signal for full evacuation before advising the commander and Farr to get to an evacuation transport.[27] With Chiffonage ordering all troops to disengage,[35] rebel soldiers outside fled from their trenches and the incoming Imperial assault, although Skywalker took the chance to take out[3] AT-ATBlizzard 4[10] with a grenade by grappling up its middle. While the fleeing rebels were easy pickings for Veers's AT-ATs,[3] with numerous TIE/LN starfighters also entering the planet's atmosphere and making escape more difficult, many of the survivors were able to escape in the transports unharmed.[18]
With the interior of the base in chaos, remaining rebels hastily made their way to their respective starships while firefights between Imperial and rebel forces erupted in the corridors, echoing across the crumbling base. Owing to occasional wampas infiltrating Echo Base, several snowtroopers were slain after entering a room where vicious native wampas were kept, ignoring a sign clearly marked warning in the process.[25] First Sergeant Namir, Roja, and Beak made it to command to find their captain, Micha Evon unconscious and Everi Chalis, who had refused to leave him for dead. Namir scouted the corridors to find a route to the hangar and returned to lead them back to a shuttle. Roja and Beak picked up Evon and they advanced down the corridors.[1]
In the meantime, Wilsorr had checked more rooms for other stragglers, finding some soldiers, communications officers and a group of refugees fromHabassa II. He led the group of stragglers back to the evacuation transports, and then chose to make for the tauntaun pens to rescue his crush, the handlerJordan Smythe, with only threeminutes until the final GR-75, theBright Hope, was scheduled to leave. Wilsorr found Smythe with his tauntaunSunshine and encouraged the handler to evacuate, the pair riding on Smythe's tauntaun.[47]
Snowtroopers invade Echo Base.
Vader and six of his snowtroopers soon encountered Namir and the first sergeant's comrades as they headed towards a hangar. Namir, Roja and Beak open fired on Vader and his troops, but the Sith Lord swiftly leapt in front of Beak, dispatching the rebel with his lightsaber. Roja then threw afragmentation grenade at Vader, which was deflected by the Sith and knocked out Namir. With Roja being shot dead and Evon dying of his injuries, Chalis, thinking Sith Lord had come for her, surrendered and accepted imminent death. Vader, though, asked of Skywalker's whereabouts, and was then informed by a snowtrooper of the newly discovered location of the[1]YT-1300 light freighter[52]Millennium Falcon. Throwing Chalis into the wall, the Sith made for theFalcon's location in search of his true target.[1]
Solo, Organa, and their droidsC-3PO andR2-D2 were cut off from theBright Hope by a hallway collapse, so the former most contacted the transport and so made their way to Solo'sMillennium Falcon instead. With troopers arriving in the hangar where theFalcon was kept, thelight freighter was not able to start up immediately due to damage it had sustained earlier, but nonetheless held off approaching snowtroopers by utilizing the ship's weapons systems. Just as Vader arrived, theMillennium Falcon managed to escape to hangar and subsequently, the Hoth system, carrying Solo and his associates.[3]
Rebel escape[]
"Anything?" "No. No signs of Rebels." "All right, let's keep moving." "Yeah, at least walking will help keep us a bit warmer."
―Imperial snowtrooper chatter while flushing out rebel stragglers in Echo Base[53]
GR-75 transports evacuate the remaining rebel troops off Hoth.
Luke Skywalker was able to make his way back to Echo Base before the Empire destroyed it and took off in anX-Wing, escorting the GR-75 medium transportDutyfree with the aid of Wedge Antilles off the planet. Luke then chose not to go to therendezvous point in order to find Jedi MasterYoda per the request of theforce ghost of the late JediObi-Wan Kenobi. Meanwhile, Solo and his group were unable to go to lightspeed due to engine trouble, and were forced to flee from the Imperial fleet by other means.[3] With First Sergeant Namir and Everi Chalis having barely survived their previous encounter with Vader, the two managed to escape in a rebel transport by sending false codes to a Star Destroyer in orbit owing to Chalis' former Imperial employment. Before the Destroyer could confirm their suspicions, the two blasted off into hyperspace, unknowing of the role they would play in future events.[1] Selgrothe's transport also escaped the blockade, despite being shot at by Imperial forces.[46]
Farr soon made it to theBright Hope,[27] along with Kref and Ked.[11] Other passengers included Doctor Melthabi, OfficerSendak, Deck Officer Meeks, and the rebelRainn Poras. Wilsorr and Smythe joined the passengers as the transport prepared to take off, riding onto the GR-75 on Sunshine. TheBright Hope then departed,[47] escorted by Antilles,Tarrin, and Wes Janson. Of the 30 GR-75 transports utilized by the Rebels, 17 were destroyed.[10]Rebel pilotAdon Fox made it off Hoth escorting one of the transports in an X-wing. However, thetransport carrying hiswife was destroyed when attempting to escape Hoth.[24]BiologistKell Tolkani was unwilling to leave the mysteries of Hoth behind and stayed on the planet. In his message to his family, he assured them that the Empire and wampas would be unable to find him and asked for someone to be sent for him after the war was over.[54] Despite most of the remnants of the Rebellion's troops on Hoth managing to escape, theAlliance Fleet and Alliance High Command was scattered, leaving many of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance separated from their forces and without orders.[1]
Aftermath[]
Immediate aftermath[]
"We are being hunted. It's nothing new. The Empire has hunted the Rebellion since Bail Organa's first steps to create it so many years ago. But it's different this time."
Shortly after leaving Hoth Han Solo and company were still aboard the Millennium still trying to evade Vader's forces. Solo used the ship's uncanny maneuverability and his piloting skills to elude an Imperial Star Destroyer chasing them, and two more emerging from hyperspace. Solo's maneuvers in theFalcon caused the two Star Destroyers approaching and the one pursuing to nearly collide with each other. TheFalcon then attempted to make the jump into lightspeed, but was stopped short by an equipment malfunction; forced to take drastic measures to avoid capture, Solo made the decision to pilot theFalcon into a nearbyasteroid field in an attempt to lose the Imperial pursuers.[3]
TheMillennium Falcon being pursued by TIE Fighters into the Hoth asteroid field
However, his repairs were cut short as he had unknowingly landed inside aspace slug. Escaping just in time as the beast's huge mouth was closing, the Falcon was discovered by the Star DestroyerAvenger. They attempted to jump to lightspeed but once again, the hyperdrive was not fully repaired. Solo then had Chewbacca change course and fly directly at theAvenger's bridge in an apparent suicidal attack run. The ship disappeared from sight and became undetectable toAvenger. It had not gone far: Solo had attached theFalcon to a blind spot on the conning tower of the Star Destroyer. Adhering to standard Imperial procedure, the Star Destroyers of Death Squadron ejected all scrap and garbage before entering hyperspace. Solo then signaled Chewbacca to release the ship's landing claws, allowing theFalcon to "float away with the rest of the garbage." The bounty hunterBoba Fett, however, saw through this ruse, and waited behind in theSlave I, following theFalcon as it left the system.[3]
The battle was a costly blow to the Rebel Alliance, scattering the surviving forces and lowering overall morale to the cause,[1] with CommanderHill Purpura in specific losing all hope in the cause.[56] When the Rebel fleet scattered after the battle, the rally points were top secret, to prevent the Empire from tracking it down.[8] For the weeks following the Battle of Hoth, Alliance High Command would remain scattered and various rebel elements left fragmented across the Outer Rim, while Imperial battle groups from theCore Worlds would be dispatched to pursue the scattered rebel fleet.[1] Furthermore, CommanderEllian Zahra was able to track Rebel communications between fleet groups that tried to contact each other; her efforts isolated the Rebels anddestroyed theEighth Division.[8] Despite the communications breakdown, the Rebels would continue to persist in their effort to battle against the Empire in spite of this crushing defeat.[1]
The battle in hindsight[]
"You have heard of Hoth, I assume?" "Snowball the Rebels were hiding on, right?" "Before the Imperials struck a year ago, yes. Now the battleground is littered with wreckage."
Imperial tacticians would study the rebel's ability to escape with so few casualties yet inflict so many, while the Rebels were forced to abandon tons of material and snowspeeders following their hasty retreat from Echo Base. While rebel weapons were at par with the Empire's, poor body armor for foot soldiers plagued the rebel forces despite troopers at Echo Base possessing better equipment than many rebel forces during the Mid Rim Retreat. Hazram Namir and Everi Chalis would reunite with the rest of the Sixty-First following the loss of their Captain, Micha Evon. Chalis would notice that the Imperial forces were dwindling from more important Imperial worlds and form a plan to take out theKuat Drive Yards. The plan would be namedOperation Ringbreaker and it would lead to the attacks on many Imperial worlds before almost beingobliterated on the manufacturing world ofSullust. The planned mission would never be completed.[1]
Although Solo would eventually be taken prisoner by Boba Fett, Skywalker, Organa, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca would eventually reunite with the Rebel fleet, joined by a newfound ally,Lando Calrissian.[3] Ultimately, despite suffering heavy losses at Hoth, the courage that the rebels showed at the battle was an effective recruiting tool for the cause. It also caused them to redouble their vigilance during the war.[40] Chewbacca, Calrissian, Organa, and Skywalker would eventually return to Echo Base in order torescue personnel left behind from the battle. They would meet Imperial resistance but were able to rescue the rebels.[58] Several months after the Battle of Hoth,[59] after Zahra's hunt for the Rebel fleet was finally put to its end in theBattle of Panisia,[60] the Alliance made its public return through theUnity Day attack.[59] The rebellion would ultimately establish a new base on the even more remote world of5251977, while theGalactic Civil War would continue to rage across the galaxy.[18] TheDefense of Hoth medal was given to any rebel who took part in the battle at Hoth.[61]
ISB director,Sliro Barsha, was heavily critical of the Imperial Army's "mindless show of force" that allowed the rebel fleet to escape. Thus, he invested his efforts inZerek Besh, an ISB division posing as a syndicate, believing that infiltrating the galactic underworld would be more efficient in rooting out the rebels.[62] Indeed, later historianBeaumont Kin would question if the Battle of Hoth was really a victory for the Empire, pointing to toll it took on Imperial morale; instead of achieving a total victory over the rebels, the prolonged struggle was only continued with the Alliance's successful escape. With Vader indeed having been more focused on finding Skywalker than the rest of the Alliance, a growing fear also took hold over the Imperial Military that their Supreme Commander, and possibly the Emperor along with him, was waging a different war than the one focused on by their followers.[7]
Alliance High Command discuses an attack on the Death Star II.
Close to a year after Hoth,[63] the Alliance would not only destroy theDS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station and with it the Imperial head of state after the highly successfulBattle of Endor, but also kill his right hand man, Lord Vader, ultimately ushering in the formation of theNew Republic in its continuing effort to restore freedom to the galaxy.[64] Future Civil War historians would point out that if not for the painful rout at Hoth, the Alliance might never had risked everything at Endor a year later, where they inflicted a crippling blow on the Empire from which it never recovered.[10]
In the year after the battle, the world remained a treasure trove of wreckage, which was desired by theUprising during theIron Blockade. As such, asecond battle of Hoth was fought after the Battle of Endor over whether the Uprising could get hold over those resources.[57] TheAftermath arena in theGrand Arena ofVespaara was based on the battlefields of Hoth and Endor,[65] with the Hoth-half depicting of the aftermath of its iconic battle with real, salvaged Imperial equipment.[66] TheHoth Frontline was another playing field used by theHunters of the Outer Rim and modeled after the Battle of Hoth.[67]
The battle was also featured in theStar Wars Galaxy of Adventures shortDarth Vader vs. Hoth Rebels - Crushing the Rebellion,[69] though these shorts are not supposed to be seen as literalcanon fact.[70] Within the short, Darth Vader, having traveled to Echo Base upon the shield generators destruction seeking his son, Luke Skywalker, marched throughout the base to see personally to the rebels defeat. Leading the Imperial ground assault forces to the gates of Echo Base, he used the Force to tear them down.[69]
Several rebel troopers, having formed a defensive barrier with crates, opened fire on the Imperials. Vader easily deflected their blasts with his lightsaber and cut down several rebels. Snowtroopers proceeded to mount an E-Web heavy repeating blaster cannon and annihilate more defenders. Other snowtroopers attacked and killed rebel troopers with grenades. As the stockade burned, Vader surveyed the destruction while snowtroopers fanned out across the base.[69]
Battlefront II[]
The Battle of Hoth is featured in the 2017 video game,Star Wars Battlefront II, as one of the Galactic Assault battle scenarios. In it, ImperialColonelBrenna and herbrigade fight against Rebel MajorShin and his forces. After General Veers destroys the Rebels' power generator, Brenna begins landing her troops and launches an assault against Echo Base's east and west hangars in order to stop the Rebel transports from taking off. In Phase One, the Imperial players are required to protect two AT-AT as they advance on the base's hangars. Phase Two requires the Imperials to take command posts in said hangars. Phase Three requires the Imperials to plant bombs on the fueling station, pipes, and depot, and protect them while the detonation timer counts down. Throughout the game, the Rebel players are tasked with defending the objectives and stopping the Imperials.[71]
"One Battle... Two Sides!" —LEGO Club Magazine September/October 2014
