The Napoleonic Wars [1999]

Customer Reviews:

From Austerlitz to Waterloo: an excellent overview.......2007-12-17

Sweeping away the ancient regime, the French Revolution removed the existing military structures. This allowed for the rise of a brilliant albeit megalomaniac Napoleon with his almost pathological hatred of Britain.

Napoleon's ill-fated campaign against the British in Egypt in 1797 is not covered by this DVD although it rates a mention. In contrast the defeat of the French fleet by Horatio Nelson near Cadiz known as the Battle of Trafalgar does not even get mentioned.

Instead this DVD covers within its 50 minutes the other battles which defined Napoleon's military career viz Austerlitz, the Russian campaign culminating in their ignominious retreat in the depths of winter from Moscow & finally Waterloo.

Undoubtedly Napoleon's military genius resides in his creation of the Army Corp. This was a balanced force which was in effect a miniature army. Comprising not only infantry not also its supporting elements such as artillery, it was more flexible & responsive. Today this would be akin to a battle group such as a division.

Napoleon also relied on bluff & was not averse to tackling larger formations than his own. This was amply demonstrated in the battle which defined his military prowess viz Austerlitz near the modern day town of Ulm. Napoleon's decision not to occupy a prominent piece of ground indicated to the Austrians that he was not in a position to engage in battle. Interestingly the reason for the non appearance of the Russian forces in the field of battle was confusion over the calendar: the Russian still used the ancient Julian calendar as opposed to the more accurate & modern Gregorian one.

The Russian campaign of 1812 is covered in some depth. It was never Napoleon's intention to invade Russia per se but rather to defeat their forces in a decisive battle in Poland. Against Napoleon's desires, the Russian forces withdrew without engaging in battle with all its forces. This resulted in Napoleon's nemesis - an attritional battle which did not suit his temperament or plan of a battle of maneuver. Instead he was drawn ever deeper into Russia itself. Finally he managed to defeat the Russians at Borodino & eventually just before the onset of winter, occupy Moscow itself. In their determination to deprive the enemy of warmth & sustenance, the Russians freed their prisoners with the express purpose to set Moscow ablaze. The arsonists performed their job so well that Napoleon found his position untenable. It had been a Pyrrhic victory. Napoleon's forces numbering some 600,000 were now required to retreat across Russia without sufficient supplies in the heart of winter. The remnants of the once formidable Grand Armee now numbering some 13,000 stumbled as a demoralized disintegrating mass back across the frozen steppes. Napoleon escaped back to France disguised.

This disastrous campaign resulted in Napoleon being forced to abdicate. He was offered a sinecure - the governorship of the tiny island of Elba. Napoleon unwisely decided against a quiet retirement. With the small band of veterans, he advanced on Paris gathering old comrades as he went.

This resulted in the third of the campaigns covered in the DVD viz the final defeat of Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo. Confronted by the combined forces of Belgium, Holland & Prussia which all feared Napoleon's revolutionary fervour, the so-called Battle of 100 Days culminated in Napoleon's ultimate defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.