Previous Battle of Derra IV Concurrent Battle of Hypori Next Occupation of Bespin[1] Duel on Cloud City[1] Battle of Hoth Conflict Galactic Civil War[1] Date 3 ABY (38:6:6[2]) Place Echo Base, Hoth[1] Outcome Imperial tactical victory/strategic failure[1] Echo Base destroyed[1] Rebel Alliance suffers heavy casualties[1] Combatants Galactic Empire[1] Alliance to Restore the Republic[1] Commanders Darth Vader[1] Admiral Kendal Ozzel†[1] Admiral Firmus Piett[1] Major General Maximilian Veers[1] General Brenn Tantor[3] X1[4] General Carlist Rieekan[1] Commander Luke Skywalker[1] Princess Leia Organa[1] General Crix Madine[5] Major Bren Derlin[1] Colonel Ledick Firest Commander X2[4] Strength Death Squadron[1] 1 Executor-class Star Dreadnought[1] Executor[1] Imperial I-class Star Destroyers Devastator Tyrant[1] Imperial II-class Star Destroyers Accuser Avarice[4] Avenger Stalker 1 Victory I-class Star Destroyer Firewind Blizzard Force Thundering Herd 501st Legion[1] Snowtroopers[1] Snow shock troopers Imperial officers Imperial engineers Snow scouts Phase Zero dark troopers[6] E-Web heavy repeating blasters[1] Wheel droids[7] AC1 surveillance droids Viper probe droids[1] Imperial spider droids[7] 74-Z speeder bikes[8] Echo speeder bikes[7] Thermal detonator troopers[8] Anti-Air troopers[8] Dewback cavalry[8] MTV-7 Multi-Terrain Vehicles Combat Attack Transports CAP-2 Captivators AT-PT walkers[9][8] AT-ST walkers[8] AT-AR walkers[9] AT-AT walkers[1] AT-AA walkers[8] Pummels[8] Heavy artillery platforms[8] Heavy Assault Vehicle/wheeled A5 Juggernauts TIE/ln starfighters[10] TIE/sa bombers[11][8] TIE/In interceptors[10] 181st Imperial Fighter Wing[source?] Sentinel-class landing craft[11] Imperial loader shuttles[3] Y-85 Titan dropships[9] Kuat dropships[12] Echo Base[1] Echo Station 3-T-8[8] Echo Station 5-7[8] Outpost Beta[11] Rebel troopers[1] Wilderness Fighters 4th Squad Renegade Squadron[13] Some wampas Dozens of repeating blasters Laser ice-cutters[9] MLC-3 Mobile Laser Cannons Rebel personnel carriers 1.4 FD P-Tower laser cannons[1] DF.9/B anti-infantry laser batteries[1] 1 KDY v-150 anti-orbital ion cannon[1] Theater shield[1] At least 12 T-47 airspeeders[1] T-65 X-wing starfighters[1] Rogue Squadron[1] Green Squadron[14] BTL Y-wing starfighters 30 GR-75 medium transports Dutyfree Thon's Orchard Bright Hope Quantum Storm Treasure Trove 6+ Kleeque-class transports Tauntaun Mounts Civilian/mercenary freighters Outrider[15] Otana[14] Casualties Medium Snowtrooper casualties[1] A few AT-ATs[1] Several AT-STs[11] 1 Imperial-class Star Destroyer heavily damaged[10] 1 Imperial II-class Star Destroyer (disabled)[14] At least 1 Imperial I-class Star Destroyer (disabled)[1] Tyrant[1] 2 Imperial II-class Star Destroyers destroyed[4] Avarice[4] Unidentified Star Destroyer (asteroid collision)</small [1] Some AT-ARs AT-PTs Many TIE Bombers[11] Some probe droids[11] Some shuttles[11] 17 of 30 GR-75 Transports Bright Hope All six Kleeque-class transports Otana damaged[14] Heavy infantry losses[1] Some starfighters Much of Echo Base personnel Most or all of the Base Defense Turrets[11] Hosh Hune[16] Maren Kelsome Jobin[12] Vigrat Pomoner[16] Jek Pugilio[16] Dack Ralter[1] Zev Senesca[11] Kit Valent K-3PO[11] Dice Ibegon [Source]

The Battle of Hoth was a major victory for the Galactic Empire and the single worst battlefield defeat suffered by the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War.^[17] The battle was an Imperial invasion aimed at destroying the Rebel Alliance's Echo Base hidden on the remote ice world Hoth. The base's location was compromised when a viper probe droid deployed by Darth Vader landed on Hoth. When the fleet commanded by Admiral Kendal Ozzel entered the Hoth system, the Admiral inadvertently alerted the Alliance of the Imperial's presence, giving the Rebels time to prepare for the necessary evacuation and raise the planetary shield.

The Imperial attack force consisted of primarily AT-AT walkers, commanded by Major General Maximillian Veers. His army was tasked with destroying Echo Base's main power generator to allow orbital bombardment of the planet. Spearheading the defense of the generator was the elite Rogue Squadron, manning snowspeeders, commanded by Luke Skywalker, renowned for being the pilot who destroyed the first Death Star. The snowspeeders did not have the necessary firepower to bring down the walkers, so Skywalker suggested an alternative tactic to trip up the walkers with the tow cables issued to every snowspeeder.

Despite the efforts by Rogue Squadron, the power generator was eventually destroyed by Veers. The remaining base personnel proceeded to evacuate, as the 501st Legion, led by Darth Vader, entered the base. It would prove a major victory for the Galactic Empire, and would heavily stymie the Rebels. The Alliance's loss was so great at the time, at least one member of the 501st Legion considered the Battle of Hoth to be the end of the rebel movement.

Contents 1 Prelude 2 The battle 2.1 Preparations 2.2 Imperial offensive 2.3 Infiltration of Echo Base 2.4 Rebel retreat 3 Rogue Group 4 Aftermath 5 Behind the scenes 5.1 Alternate Timeline I 5.2 Alternate Timeline II 5.3 Non-canonical history 6 Appearances 6.1 Non-canon appearances 7 Sources 8 Notes and references 9 External links 9.1 In other languages

PreludeEdit

Following the Rebel Alliance's major victory at Yavin, Imperial forces struck back, and forced the Rebellion to abandon their base on Yavin 4.^[6] A holocron created by Bail Organa, one of the founders of the Rebel Alliance, contained a list of possible hideouts in the event that the Yavin 4 base was lost. This list led the Rebellion to the "graveyard world" Boz Pity, but the Empire quickly discovered this base and forced the Rebellion to abandon Boz Pity as well.^[13]

Despite the loss of both the Yavin 4 and Boz Pity bases, around 1 ABY, Hoth was chosen by Luke Skywalker as the Rebellion's new main base after being stranded on the planet for a period of time.^[source?] During an assault on Zaloriis City to punish the Zaloran separatists, Lord Darth Vader and General Maximilian Veers discovered archives of the library which showed the new location to be somewhere near the Elrood system.^[8]

The battleEdit

PreparationsEdit

Vader's personal Death Squadron fleet reached the Hoth system, following a chance discovery made by a Viper probe droid that was sent to the planet. The landing of the Viper droid was briefly witnessed by Luke Skywalker during one of his patrols, believing it to be a meteorite, although he was unable to investigate the issue further before he and his Tauntaun were ambushed by a Wampa. The Viper was later discovered and destroyed by Han Solo, although not before it transmitted evidence of their shield generator. Their discovery turned out to be the main base of the Rebel Alliance, located on the sixth planet of the system.^[1] To oversee the vital assault on the heart of the Rebellion, Grand General Malcor Brashin and his talented second-in-command General Brenn Tantor were summoned to the Hoth system.^[3]

Lord Vader and many of his top officers had planned a sneak attack, jumping out of hyperspace at some distance from the planet and taking advantage of the fact that the meteor activity made it difficult for the Rebels to spot approaching ships. They would then initiate limited long-range orbital bombardment to destroy any spacecraft and defenses, followed by a sweeping ground assault to capture any survivors.

The plan would have likely allowed the Imperials to easily take the planet with few casualties. However, Admiral Kendal Ozzel made his own assault plan, and exited hyperspace too close to the star system planning for a saturated bombardment. This tactical blunder allowed the Rebel's early-warning sensors to detect the fleet. The theater shield protecting Echo Base was activated, which precluded any undesirable bombardment. An angry Darth Vader executed the Admiral with Force Choke for his incompetence and promoted Firmus Piett, then chief fleet captain of the Star Dreadnought Executor, to Admiral.^[1]

Having assessed the situation, Vader ordered General Veers to land beyond the range of the energy shield and begin a surface assault aimed at knocking out the Rebels' power generator and thus bringing down the shield, while Death Squadron took up a blockade formation in an effort to prevent any fleeing Rebel starships from escaping.^[1] Veers would command the situation on the ground while Tantor oversaw the entire engagement and issued Veers's orders from orbit via the Battlefield Holographic Control Interface.^[3]

Various landing craft deposited the Imperial landing force at the Moorsh Moraine.^[9] The Imperial landing force, dubbed Blizzard Force, consisted of several battalions of cold-weather equipped 501st Legion Stormtroopers (known as Snowtroopers), some squads equipped with heavy repeating blasters. This infantry force was carried aboard AT-AT and A5 Juggernaut transports, which in turn were supported by AT-PT,^[9] AT-ST and AT-AR walkers,^[9] and with Viper probe droids providing extra sensory-support. This mechanized force was deployed by several Y-85 Titan dropships,^[9] and larger landing assault craft.^[12]

The Alliance employed T-47 snowspeeders, light aircraft modified for arctic combat conditions led by the elite Rogue Squadron. Ground troops were armed with A280 blaster rifles and several types of artillery emplacements, including DF.9/B anti-infantry laser batteries and the Clone Wars-era P-Tower anti-vehicle laser cannons.^[1]

A large ion cannon, the v-150 Planet Defender, provided fire support for the leaving transports, successfully disabling the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Tyrant long enough for the first evacuating Rebel Transport, Quantum Storm, to successfully escape. Like all their defenses, the Rebels' ion cannon was remotely hooked up to the stolen reactor equipment of a Praetor-class Star Battlecruiser, feeding more power to Echo Base's defenses than the previous stolen Star Destroyer reactor had done to their Massassi Base. This enabled the Rebel forces to withstand bombardment from even a top-of-the-line Star Dreadnought like the Executor. To protect the interior of the base, Rebel troops employed small repulsorsleds, each armed with a blaster cannon, to form the last line of defense against the Empire's troops.^[9] The ion cannon also disabled the a Star Destroyer, allowing the civilian freighter Otana and its escorts to escape, although Otana sustained damage.^[14]

Imperial offensiveEdit

The Imperial assault was primarily aimed at destroying the Rebel's main power generators. This would shut down the theater shield protecting the base from orbital bombardment. General Veers led the assault personally, commanding his AT-AT walker Blizzard 1, and crushed the Rebel defenses.

The Imperials suffered casualties before the battle even begun. Blizzard 4 had attempted to make its way through the Kerane Valley in an attempt to impress Vader. Veers lost three walkers to crevasses of ice flow. This prompted the force to retreat to the safer western route.^[9]

The Imperial troops first attacked Echo Station 3-T-8 and then Echo Station 5-7, that contained some of the evacuation transports. Both bases along with the six ships were soon destroyed by the overwhelming Imperial forces.^[8] AT-ST walkers moved toward the Outpost Beta ion cannon to prevent any Star Destroyer casualties in the space battle. Snowspeeders flew in and destroyed the attackers before they reached the cannon. Blizzard Force came under harassing fire from the Alliance emplacements, but the walkers' armor plating was too strong for Rebel lasers. Only Rogue Squadron succeeded in toppling one assault transport,^[11] using an unorthodox tactic imagined by Luke Skywalker and Alliance tactician Beryl Chiffonage, which relied on magnetic harpoons and tow cables to entangle the walker's feet.

Unfortunately, the tactic's success was minimal, and the AT-ATs downed many snowspeeders with deadly volleys from their blaster cannons. The rebels dove into the trenches, seeking cover. Luke was then shot down by walker fire, killing his gunner Dack Ralter instantly. He then barely managed to get out of his wrecked craft before it was crushed by a walker, with Ralter's body still inside.^[1] Because of this, Wedge Antilles was granted command of Rogue Squadron for the duration of the mission.^[11] In an act that seemed to give Palpatine's concern about Luke's burgeoning power of a potential Jedi credibility, the young pilot decided to attempt to bring down two AT-ATs (one of which being the Blizzard 4) on his own. Using only a grappling hook, his father's lightsaber, and a concussion grenade, Luke managed to do precisely that, before heading off to rejoin the rebels. Afterwards, he managed to mount a Tauntaun upon being pointed to one by Wedge Antilles, and, along with Derlin, rode them towards the south part of the base, cutting a swath through the Snowtroopers along the way. Likewise, Rogue Squadron, under the command of Wedge Antilles, managed to down three more AT-ATs.^[10]

Most of the rebels in the trenches were wounded, dying or dead, or scared, captured, or demoralized by the unstoppable Imperial attack. The rebel gun emplacements fired on the walkers, to little avail. Many rebels met their deaths to the walkers' ripping rays. AT-STs and snowtroopers body-mopped up what they could.

As the armored assault force reached the trenches, the Alliance soldiers, with most of their laser cannon emplacements destroyed, came under heavy fire, and the order to retreat was issued. With the other AT-ATs providing cover fire, Veers in Blizzard 1 broke through the defensive lines and proceeded to annihilate the shield power generators.^[1] After the decisive victory move, the blockade in orbit began a piecemeal bombardment of the battlefield, taking out defensive emplacements and fleeing ships.^[source?] Imperial forces then used airmobile tactics to deploy snowtroopers onto the surface. Because of this, Rogue Squadron was also redirected to aid the transports and stop the bombing runs from various TIE Bombers until they are ready for liftoff.^[11]

Arriving too late, Luke and Derlin arrived at what was originally the power generator. Derlin, feeling that was as far as he could go, had Luke go aid a remaining rebel squad that was currently fighting against some snowtroopers, and advised him to take out the snowtrooper manning the tripod gun, use it against the Imperials. Shortly afterwards, Imperial reinforcements in the form of two snowtrooper companies and three AT-STs arrived via dropship, but Luke managed to eliminate the AT-STs.^[10]

Infiltration of Echo BaseEdit

Lord Vader personally led troopers of the 501st Legion into Echo Base, cutting down any who stood in his way, and, in one case, choking a soldier to death.^[6][13] Alliance troops attempted to delay Imperial progress, but were swiftly overwhelmed by the mechanized assault. As the snowtroopers breached the icy bunker walls of Echo Base and entered close range combat with the defenders, Rebel personnel were forced to flee. However, members of Renegade Squadron, who were defending the ion cannon team, put up a determined defense. They inflicted moderate casualties on the 501st Legion and engaged Darth Vader, managing to force him back, at least temporarily.^[13] After the route to the rebel transports was blocked by a collapsing ceiling brought about by Imperial bombardment, Han Solo managed to escape in the Millennium Falcon with Princess Leia Organa, after a close encounter with an advance group of snowtroopers.^[1]

The 501st moved through the base and into the back hangar and landing area. There, the last of the Rebel troops were loading onto a last transport. The elite shock troops led by Vader pushed them back, but took several casualties at the hands of DF.9/B anti-infantry laser batteries and E-Web heavy repeating blaster encampments. As the Rebel and Imperial forces were engaged in a firefight, an orbital strike beacon that had been placed in the hangar was positioned under the transport ship by the Imperials. The 501st managed to protect the beacon from the Rebels long enough for an orbiting Star Destroyer to lock in the co-ordinates of the beacon. The 501st and Vader then vacated the area as the Star Destroyer descended into the atmosphere and bombarded the ship from above. Most of the Rebel infantry were killed, though stragglers remained.^[6]

One other Rebel, Dash Rendar, was trapped inside Echo Base in the hangar bays. His YT-2400 light freighter, the Outrider, was on the other side of the base, where the power was out. He used the station's supply of captive Wampas as an advantage, setting them free to help his slaughter of the Imperial infantry. After restoring the power allowing the rest of the Rebels to escape, his troubles got worse; a lone AT-ST walker managed to slip behind the base's defenses and penetrated the base. Rendar nevertheless managed to destroy it and he escaped in the Outrider.^[15]

Rogue Squadron and Luke Skywalker pushed into the atmosphere and defended the three remaining fleeing transports. As TIE/sa bombers moved in, the X-wings swooped and pushed back the attackers.^[10] The remaining transports fled, but the battle was not yet over. Clone X2 was about to confront his brother, X1.^[4]

Rebel retreatEdit

X2 landed on the Avarice, and killed all of the stormtroopers in his path. X1 was waiting for him, and he had Falon Grey's lightsaber, as well as some skill with the dark side. They shortly fought, but as the ship exploded, both of them withdrew in their starfighters.^[4]

Approximately thirty Rebel GR-75 medium transports managed to take off along with six Kleeque-class transports and a number of other lighter craft. Despite the cover provided by the KDY v-150 Planet Defender and starfighter escorts, the Imperial naval squadron blockading the planet managed to disable or destroy seventeen Rebel GR-75 Transports and all six Kleeque-class transports. The ion cannon crew, made up of Alliance troops from Alderaan, were among the last to leave, blowing up the cannon to mask the sensor reading of their escape.^[source?] In addition, Renegade Squadron was the last squadron off Hoth.^[13] Despite the escape of most senior personnel, the loss in material and men proved a disaster for the Rebel Alliance, and was a terrible blow to its war effort.

Renegade Squadron was called into orbit to help escort the last of the transports out of the system, and were forced to engage with Darth Vader, piloting his TIE Advanced x1 starfighter, and forced him to retreat. The resistance of Renegade Squadron forced the Empire to test its new line of TIE fighters, the highly advanced TIE Defender. After fighting off some of these TIE defenders, commandos part of Renegade Squadron managed to infiltrate the hangar bay of the TIE Defender's Star Destroyer and hijack one of them, returning it to their Mon Calamari Star Cruiser to await further analysis by Alliance technicians.^[13]

Likewise, the Millenium Falcon managed to escape orbit, as well as causing a near-collision between three Star Destroyers.^[1] Their escape route was cut off, however, so they ended up having to disable a Star Destroyer that was already damaged from the battle (having its left shield generater destroyed) before they had enough of an opening to escape.^[10] However, due to a hyperdrive malfunction, they weren't able to escape through hyperspace and were instead forced to enter the asteroid field to elude the Imperial forces. At least four TIE fighters pursuing them and an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer ended up destroyed from the asteroids. Death Squadron continued to pursue them into the asteroid field, as well as sending the TIE Bombers to force them out of hiding, only briefly disengaging when Palpatine wanted to contact Vader regarding Luke Skywalker's growing threat to him. After the Millenium Falcon escaped from a space slug's jaws that they unknowingly hid inside, the Millenium Falcon managed to hide behind the Avenger by exploiting a blind spot in its sensors and then powering down and landing behind the conning tower.^[1]

The battle was not without loss for the Empire: at least one Star Destroyer was temporarily placed out of commission by the orbital-range ion cannon and several AT-ATs were destroyed by Rebel defenders, with more lost when the treacherous ice floes gave way. Despite forcing the Rebels to flee, the Imperial forces were unable to destroy all of the transports, while Lord Vader failed in what he considered a primary objective, namely capturing Luke Skywalker.^[1]

Rogue GroupEdit

Pieced together by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles from members of Rogue Flight, Blue Squadron and Green Squadron, the Rebel snowspeeder group was manned by a pilot and gunner, with the exception of one speeder operated by smuggler Dash Rendar.

(Call sign - Pilot / Gunner)

• Rogue Leader - Luke Skywalker / Dack Ralter†
• Rogue Two - Zev Senesca† / Kit Valent†
• Rogue Three - Wedge Antilles / Wes Janson
• Rogue Four - Derek "Hobbie" Klivian / Kesin Ommis
• Rogue Five - Tycho Celchu / Tarn Mison
• Rogue Six - Samoc Farr / Vigrat Pomoner†
• Rogue Seven - Nala Hetsime / Cinda Tarheel
• Rogue Eight - Zev Kabir† / Stax Mullawny†
• Rogue Nine - Stevan Makintay / Barlon Hightower
• Rogue Ten - Tarrin Datch / Hosh Hune†
• Rogue Eleven - Tenk Lenso† / Jek Pugilio†
• Rogue Twelve - Dash Rendar

AftermathEdit

The Battle of Hoth was a major disaster for the Rebel Alliance. The Rebels lost thousands of soldiers and pilots who either died during the defense or were killed when the ships transporting them off Hoth were destroyed. The loss of the base itself put the Rebels on the run once again, struggling to reorganize its battered forces. Of the thirty medium transports that fled the planet, seventeen were destroyed, resulting in massive material and personnel losses. The sheer loss of men and materials severely weakened the Alliance's combat capabilities in the war, giving the Empire an edge over the Rebels for some time as they pursued their fleet.^[source?] Likewise, those personnel that did survive the battle but weren't able to evacuate the planet, such as Karie Neth, were found by the Imperials, placed under arrest for their loyalty to the Rebel Alliance, and sent to various Imperial prisons around the Galaxy, including facilities at the Maw^[11] and Bakura.^[10] Some Imperials went as far to call the war over.^[6]

Despite the failure of the battle, the Rebels were not defeated. Most of their leadership was able to escape the planet, which ultimately secured the Alliance's survival for some time more. Also, Darth Vader failed in his ultimate goal to capture Luke Skywalker, forcing him to pursue his allies on the Millennium Falcon in order to lure Luke out into the open.^[1]

After the Alliance was reorganized into the New Republic, the Battle of Hoth served as the basis for a historical training simulation designed to test New Republic officer cadets.^[18]

Behind the scenesEdit

The Battle of Hoth and the events leading up to and following it formed the first half of The Empire Strikes Back. Since then, the battle has been expanded in many Expanded Universe works. It has appeared as a campaign mission in the Star Wars: Battlefront series and was also featured in the non-canon games LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. In the 2004 entry into the series, Battlefront, the Battle of Hoth has its own mission, although the Rebels win the battle, although Leland Chee, the keeper of Lucasfilm Ltd. Holocron continuity database, refers to the game's events as s-canon. The 2001 video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds features two separate versions of the Battle of Hoth, one during the Darth Vader (Imperial) campaign and the other during the Leia Organa (Rebel/New Republic) campaign. This article incorporates the mission from the Imperial campaign.

The cross-section of Echo Base seen in Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy shows 15 T-47 airspeeders, 9 in Hangar 7 and the rest in the transports hangar. Whether or not all of these participated in the battle is not known.

Alternate Timeline IEdit

The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition features two non-canon events that followed the dark side ending of the game. The second of the two events takes place on the planet Hoth. In an effort to eradicate the Rebel Alliance, the Galactic Empire searched much of the galaxy for the Rebels' hidden base. After discovering said base to be located on Hoth, the Imperial Navy was dispatched in full force to annihilate the Rebel forces and bring an end to the Rebellion once and for all. But unlike the Battle of Hoth in the original timeline, the Sith Lord Darth Vader was not involved in the alternate battle. In his place, leading Imperial troops on Hoth, was his successor Lord Starkiller. Rather than spare Vader's life as he had done in the canon timeline, Galen Marek submitted once more to the power of the dark side by slaying his former master in cold blood. In doing so, Marek replaced Vader at Emperor Palpatine's side and became known as Lord Starkiller.^[19]

Unlike his predecessor, Lord Starkiller chose to partake in the Battle of Hoth, rather than watch from the orbiting Executor as the fighting unfolded. The Sith Lord personally aided his soldiers by infiltrating the Rebel Base as the Imperials' pushed towards the shield generator, eventually destroying it by the time Starkiller entered deep inside the base. After killing many Rebel soldiers and Wampas that stood in his way, Lord Starkiller finally met Luke Skywalker, the son of his former master, for the first time. Skywalker refused to believe that he was Darth Vader's son and asserted the lie that was told to him, leading him to think that Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader were literally two separate individuals. But as the Sith Lord and the pseudo-Jedi fought, Skywalker quickly discovered that he was utterly outmatched by the more powerful and experienced Starkiller, and thus chose to break off from the duel and retreat to the Rebel hangar.^[19]

Lord Starkiller pursued his target objective all the way to the Rebel hangar where he fought against Skywalker for a second time while the Millennium Falcon prepared to evacuate Princess Leia Organa before the battle was lost. Once again, Starkiller effortlessly dodged and countered against Skywalker's sloppy and unrefined attacks. When Starkiller threatened to kill Skywalker just as he had killed his father, Skywalker finally lost control of his anger and succumbed to the Dark side of the Force. With the dark side enhancing his strength and abilities, Skywalker launched a frenzied assault on the Sith Lord, driving Starkiller back with a combination of powerful lightsaber strikes and Force lightning.^[19]

But even under the influence of the dark side, Skywalker still failed to kill his enemy and lost his right hand as a result. It was at that moment when Starkiller forced Skywalker to choose between the lives of his friends or staying true to the Jedi way. Desperate and angry, Skywalker gave in to his hatred once more, creating a window of opportunity for the Millennium Falcon to escape from the hangar. But in doing so, he had fulfilled his journey down the path of the dark side, just as Starkiller intended. Standing above the fallen Jedi, Lord Starkiller congratulated Luke Skywalker on his descent into darkness and chose to take Vader's son as his own Sith apprentice.^[19]

Thus, the alternate Battle of Hoth resulted in a far worse outcome for the Rebel Alliance than its canon counterpart. The Rebels still lost and suffered severe casualties and loss of vital supplies, such as weapons and ships. Even though Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 were able to escape from Hoth on the Millennium Falcon as they had done so in the original timeline, it was a calculated risk that Starkiller was willing to make. Ultimately, the greatest difference between the original and the alternate Battle of Hoth was the fall of Luke Skywalker, an accomplishment that both Palpatine and Vader failed at achieving in the other timeline.^[19]

Alternate Timeline IIEdit

The Force Unleashed II featured its own alternate timeline that was based on the game's dark side ending, just as the first game had done so. Although only mentioned, another alternate Battle of Hoth took place. But unlike the battle in the canon timeline, in which Luke Skywalker escaped from Hoth, and the battle in the first alternate timeline, in which Skywalker fell to the dark side and became Lord Starkiller's apprentice, Skywalker never lived to realize his destiny as a Jedi. His untimely death saw his destiny placed on the galaxy's last hope, his twin sister Leia Organa. When the Battle of Endor took place in the second alternate timeline, Organa was already well trained in the Jedi arts.^[20]

During the construction of the second Death Star, Darth Vader dispatched his Dark Apprentice, the only perfect clone of the original Starkiller, to Endor in order to prevent the Rebels from destroying the Endor shield generator bunker. After killing hordes of Rebels and Imperials alike, including Han Solo and Chewbacca, the dark clone finally encountered his master's daughter, Princess Leia Organa. Before the two fought, Organa told the clone about how Luke Skywalker died during the Battle of Hoth and how that unexpected setback forced her to become a trained Jedi in order to fight against the Sith. Despite her exceptional skills, which even impressed the Dark Apprentice, Leia Organa was ultimately outmatched and overpowered by the clone's superior power and fighting prowess. Just as her twin brother had died on Hoth, Organa fell on Endor, effectively ending any hope of restoring the Old Republic.^[20]

Non-canonical historyEdit

The Battle of Hoth was referenced a few times in skits from the Star Wars specials of Robot Chicken. In one skit, Luke manages to use a cable, a lightsaber, and a concussion grenade to down an AT-AT similar to the movie, only unlike the movie, he threw the grenade inside an occupied lavatory. Later, it was referenced as Empire on Ice. Another skit had the Imperial attack on Hoth failing before it could even begin due to the drivers of two AT-ATs deciding to go into a race that greatly resembled freeway races frequently done by teenagers, complete with recklessness expected by the drivers and causing one of the AT-ATs to end up crashing and burning due to attempting to avoid a crossing Wampa family, causing the other AT-AT to win and celebrate, and leaving a dumbfounded Major General Veers to do nothing but express inaudible, gaping shock at what happened, as well as placing a plastic cup on Vader's holoprojection when the latter wanted to know how things were progressing with the invasion, being unable to even give Vader the results.

AppearancesEdit

Star Wars: Battlefront Star Wars: Battlefront II Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron Star Wars: Force Commander Star Wars: Empire at War Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron The Empire Strikes Back radio Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back junior novel Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back novel (First appearance) Star Wars 40: The Empire Strikes Back: Battleground Hoth Entrenched Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Light Side and Dark Side scenario campaigns) Star Wars 41: The Empire Strikes Back: Imperial Pursuit One Step Ahead Of Possible Futures: The Tale of Zuckuss and 4-LOM Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (video game)  Star Wars Galaxies: Chapter 11: Battle of Echo Base Murder on the Executor Firepower (Indirect mention only) "Slaying Dragons"—Star Wars Adventure Journal 9 (Indirect mention only) Star Wars 45: Death Probe (Indirect mention only) Star Wars 47: Droid World (Indirect mention only) Star Wars 50: The Crimson Forever (Mentioned only) Star Wars 51: Resurrection of Evil (Mentioned only) Child of Light (Mentioned only) The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Mentioned only) Shadows of the Empire novel (Mentioned only) The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader (Appears in flashback(s)) Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi junior novel (Indirect mention only) One Last Night in the Mos Eisley Cantina: The Tale of the Wolfman and the Lamproid (Appears in flashback(s)) X-wing: Rogue Leader 1 (Mentioned only) X-wing Rogue Squadron: Apple Jacks Special Bonus Story (Appears in flashback(s)) X-wing Rogue Squadron: In the Empire's Service (Appears in flashback(s)) Lucky (Mentioned only) A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker (Mentioned only) X-wing: Rogue Squadron (Mentioned only) X-wing: Wedge's Gamble (Mentioned only) X-wing: The Bacta War (Mentioned only) Tall Tales (Ambiguously canonical source) (Mentioned only) Heir to the Empire (Indirect mention only) X-wing: Isard's Revenge (Mentioned only) Dark Apprentice (Mentioned only) Children of the Jedi (Mentioned only) Darksaber (Mentioned only) Before the Storm (Mentioned only) Shield of Lies (Mentioned only) Tyrant's Test (Mentioned only) Specter of the Past (Mentioned only) Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur (Mentioned only) Star Wars: Invasion 1: Refugees, Part 1 (Mentioned only) Dark Tide I: Onslaught (Mentioned only) Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream (Mentioned only) Destiny's Way (Mentioned only) The Unifying Force (Mentioned only) Conviction (Mentioned only)

Non-canon appearancesEdit

• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back
• Choose Your Own Star Wars Adventure: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game — Ultimate Sith Edition
• Perfect Evil
• Star Wars 78: Hoth Stuff! (Ambiguously canonical source)

SourcesEdit

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire toy line Star Wars: Power of the Jedi The Empire Strikes Back: The National Public Radio Dramatization Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, First Edition Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, Second Edition Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire trading cards (Card: Dash Battles AT-ATs on Hoth) Star Wars Encyclopedia The Essential Guide to Characters The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Hoth Limited (Card: Zev Senesca) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Hoth Limited (Card: Derek "Hobbie" Klivian) The Art of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays  "Meet Wedge!"—Star Wars Kids 4 Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook - Special Edition Star Wars Encyclopedia The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons Star Wars: Behind the Magic Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Special Edition Limited (Card: Sergeant Major Bursk) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Special Edition Limited (Card: Sergeant Narthax) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Endor Limited (Card: Corporal Delevar) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Endor Limited (Card: Corporal Kensaric) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Endor Limited (Card: Commander Igar) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Endor Limited (Card: Lieutenant Arnet) The Essential Chronology  "The Battle of Hoth"—Star Wars Gamer 6 Rebellion Era Sourcebook The Official Star Wars Fact File 4 "Who's Who in the New Jedi Order"—Star Wars Insider 57 The New Essential Guide to Characters "Who's Who in Rogue Squadron"—Star Wars Insider 59 Coruscant and the Core Worlds Ultimate Adversaries The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels  Hoth: Under the Ice on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)  Aargau: For All Your Banking Needs on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org) "Who's Who in Echo Base"—Star Wars Insider 74 Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy The Complete Star Wars Trilogy Scrapbook Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide Star Wars: Complete Locations The New Essential Chronology Starships of the Galaxy 2007 Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995) Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive "A Long Time Ago...."—Star Wars Insider 103 (Indirect mention only) Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 10 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia Rebellion Era Campaign Guide The Essential Atlas The Forgotten War: The Nagai and the Tofs on Hyperspace (article) (content now obsolete; backup links 1 2 on Archive.org)  Star Wars Galaxy Series 5 (Card: The Battle of Hoth)  Arbra: Sanctuary In the Storm, Part 2 on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links 1 2 on Archive.org) Star Wars: Visions Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Nightsister's Revenge (Card: Blizzard Force) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Nightsister's Revenge (Card: Walker Assault) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Nightsister's Revenge (Card: Snowtrooper Assault) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Nightsister's Revenge (Card: Snowtrooper Captain) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Nightsister's Revenge (Card: Hamstring) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Nightsister's Revenge (Card: Outpost Guardians) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Rogue Pilot) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Attack Pattern Delta) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Blizzard 1) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Blizzard AT-AT) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Deflector Shield) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Cross Fire) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Wedge Antilles) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: I'm With You) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Ground Assault) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Ion Blast) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Secure the Data) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: GR-75 Medium Transport) (Picture only) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory (Card: Press the Advantage) (Picture only) "A Blue Hope!"—Star Wars Insider 128 Millennium Falcon Owners' Workshop Manual "Mini Magic!"—Star Wars Insider 130 (Picture only)  2-1B (Too-Onebee) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  4-LOM in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Admiral Ackbar in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Arbra in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  anti-infantry laser battery in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Wedge Antilles in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  anti-vehicle laser cannon in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  ascension gun in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  AT-AT drivers in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  C-3PO (See-Threepio) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Lando Calrissian in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  clone turbo tank in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Cloud City in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Dengar in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Major Bren Derlin in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Echo Base in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  The Empire in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  deflector shield generator in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Toryn Farr in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Boba Fett in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  heavy repeating blaster in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Hoth in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Hoth asteroid field in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  IG-88 in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Lieutenant Wes Janson in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  K-3PO (Kay-Threepio) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Derek "Hobbie" (Rogue Four) Klivian in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Lumiya in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Millennium Falcon in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Mon Calamari Star Cruiser in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Captain Lorth Needa in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Princess Leia Organa Solo in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Outrider in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Admiral Kendal Ozzel in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Palpatine in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Admiral Piett in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Dack Ralter in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Rebel Alliance in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Rebel Medium Transport in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Rebel Troopers in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Dash Rendar in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  General Carlist Rieekan in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Zev (Rogue Two) Senesca in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Luke Skywalker in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Slave I in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Snowspeeder in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Snowtroopers in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Han Solo in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Ugnaught in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Darth Vader in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  General Maximilian Veers in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  wampa ice creature in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Prince Xizor in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)  Zuckuss in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org) Star Wars: Beware the Sith The Essential Guide to Warfare Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide: Updated and Expanded

Notes and referencesEdit

↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back ↑ The Essential Atlas ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Star Wars: Force Commander ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron ↑ Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Price of Victory ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Star Wars: Battlefront II ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 Star Wars: Complete Locations ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Entrenched ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Star Wars: X-wing Alliance ↑ 15.0 15.1 Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (video game) ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 The Essential Guide to Warfare ↑ The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 62 ("Hoth, Battle of") ↑  "The Battle of Hoth"—Star Wars Gamer 6 ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition ↑ 20.0 20.1 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II DLC

External linksEdit

• Battle of Echo Base on SWG Wiki

Major Campaigns of the Galactic Civil War
Fresian Campaign · Nembus Sector campaign · Kwymar Suppressions · Operation Strike Fear · Operation: Skyhook Seerdon Campaign · Circarpous Crisis · Hoth Campaign · Spreading the Rebellion · Endor Campaign · Operation Earplug Nagai–Tof War · Stenax Massacres · Shadowspawn Campaign · Coruscant Campaign · Bacta War · Thrawn campaign · Operation Shadow Hand Empire Reborn campaign · Orinda campaign · Crisis of the Disciples of Ragnos · Black Fleet Crisis · Final Imperial Push Caamas Document Crisis · Hand of Thrawn crisis
[edit]