Following the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, Napoleon found himself facing a new coalition of his old enemies. This fully illustrated, detailed account explores two key battles of strategic importance for the emperor.
With incredible speed he raised an army of 200,000 men and marched to join the remnants of the old Grande Armee in Germany. However, he no longer faced the brittle enemies of 1805 and 1806 and at Lützen on 2 May the inexperience of his new army began to show. Faulty reconnaissance by raw cavalry allowed Ney's Corps to be surprised by Wittgenstein's Russians.
This book describes the last realistic chance Napoleon had to regain his empire by defeating the allies in Germany before Austria stirred and the tide turned even more against him.
Peter Hofschroer is a recognised expert on the German campaigns of the Napoleonic wars and the Prussian army in particular.
Chronology
Opposing commanders
Opposing forces
Opposing plans
The campaign
Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index