1815 : The Waterloo Campaign-the German Victory

by Hofschroer, Peter

• ISBN13: 9781853675782
• ISBN10: 1853675784
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl

Summary

In this masterly study of 1815, Peter Hofschroer challenges the accepted version of events at the battle of Waterloo. He demonstrates convincingly that Allied victory hinged on the contribution of German soldiers. In this masterly study of 1815, Peter Hofschroer challenges the accepted version of events at the battle of Waterloo. He demonstrates convincingly that Allied victory hinged on the contribution of German soldiers. Drawing on previously unpublished accounts, Hofschroer gives not only the Prussian perspective of their march to Waterloo and decisive attack on Napoleon's flank, but also details of the actions fought by some of the 25,000 Germans in Wellington's British' army v more than a third of the Duke's force. A gripping narrative of astonishing detail captures such key episodes of Waterloo as La Haye Sainte, Papelotte, Hougoumont and the Prussian struggle with the Imperial Guard for Plancenoit. In addition, Hofschrer examines the battle at Wavre, the Allied offensive into France, the taking of Paris and the sieges across northern France.

Table of Contents

Illustrations, Maps and Tables	7	(2)
Acknowledgements	9	(2)
Quotations and Sources	11	(2)
Comparative Table of Ranks	13	(1)
Abbreviations and Conventions	13	(2)
Preface	15	(115)
1 The Confusion of Battle	19	(24)
2 Napoleon Follows Up	43	(5)
3 The Prussians Start for Waterloo	48	(11)
4 The Field of Waterloo	59	(11)
5 The Battle Begins	70	(11)
6 Attack and Counter-attack	81	(12)
7 The Prussians Approach	93	(9)
8 The Great Cavalry Attacks	102	(14)
9 The Prussians Tip the Balance	116	(14)
10 The Defeat of Napoleon	130	(24)
11 Grouchy and Thielemann	154	(19)
12 The North German Federal Army Corps	173	(11)
13 The Race to Paris	184	(30)
14 Grouchy and Vandamme	214	(6)
15 The Fate of France	220	(3)
16 The Advance to the Gates of Paris	223	(15)
17 The March South of Paris	238	(28)
18 The Fall of Paris	266	(13)
19 The Fortress War	279	(42)
20 Wellington and the Prussians	321	(15)
21 Waterloo - A German Victory	336	(3)
Appendices	339	(4)
Losses of the Allied Forces, 15-19 June 1815	339	(1)
Who Marched Furthest and Fought Hardest, 15-19 June 1815?	340	(1)
The Race to Paris - Places and Distances, 19 June-4 July 1815	341	(2)
Orders of Battle	343	(24)
Glossary of Siege Warfare Terms	367	(3)
Bibliography	370	(6)
Index	376