Napoleon and the Struggle for Germany: The Franco-Prussian War of 1813

Description

The first comprehensive history of the decisive Fall Campaign of 1813, which determined control of Central Europe following Napoleon's catastrophic defeat in Russia the previous year. Using German, French, British, Russian, Austrian and Swedish sources, Michael V. Leggiere provides a panoramic history which covers the full sweep of the struggle in Germany. He shows how Prussia, the weakest of the Great Powers, led the struggle against Napoleon and his empire. By reconstructing the principal campaigns and operations in Germany, the book reveals how the defeat of Napoleon in Germany was made possible by Prussian victories. In particular, it features detailed analysis of the strategy, military operations, and battles in Germany that culminated with the epic four-day Battle of Nations at Leipzig and Napoleon's retreat to France. This study not only highlights the breakdown of Napoleon's strategy in 1813, but constitutes a fascinating study in coalition warfare, international relations, and civil-military relations.

Dr Michael V. Leggiere earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 1997 after completing work at FSU's Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution. His first book, Napoleon and Berlin: The Franco-Prussian War in North Germany, 1813 (2002) inaugurated that Press's 'Campaigns and Commanders' series and won the La Societe Napoleonienne Internationale 2002 Literary Award. His article, 'From Berlin to Leipzig: Napoleon's Gamble in North Germany, 1813', which appeared in the January 2003 volume of the Journal of Military History, won the Society for Military History's 2004 Moncado Prize for excellence in military history. Dr Leggiere's second book, The Fall of Napoleon: The Allied Invasion of France, 1813-1814 (Cambridge, 2007) won the La Societe Napoleonienne Internationale 2008 Literary Award. Dr Leggiere's third book, Blucher: Scourge of Napoleon, was published in February 2014. Dr Leggiere has conducted extensive archival research in Paris, Vienna, and Berlin in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2009, and topographic research in Germany, France, and Poland in 1998, 2002 and 2013. Dr Leggiere is an active member of the Society for Military History, serving on the Board of Directors of the Consortium on the Revolutionary Era. In 2005 he received La Societe Napoleonienne Internationale Legion of Merit Award for Outstanding Contributions to Napoleonic Studies.

'Leggiere does an outstanding job of describing the interactions of a complex, internally-divided alliance whose armies nevertheless repeatedly managed to outmaneuver and outfight Napoleon! The operational analysis, particularly of Leipzig, is also unusually clear. This volume will - indeed must - be consulted by anyone seeking to understand the nature of war in the Napoleonic era.' Dennis E. Showalter, author of Frederick the Great: A Military History 'Michael V. Leggiere offers a fascinating dissection of the 1813 campaign, both military and diplomatic, that culminated in Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig. He emphasizes the role played by Prussia, still eager to avenge the humiliation of Jena, and military historians will especially relish his mastery of strategy, tactics and operational art.' Alan Forrest, author of Napoleon: Life, Legacy, and Image: A Biography 'Professor Leggiere has contributed immeasurably to the English-language scholarship on the Napoleonic 1813 campaign in Germany with this balanced sequel to his excellent operational and political study. The climatic fall 1813 campaign has long been ready for a reassessment and Leggiere has answered this need with a comprehensive operational-political history of Napoleon's great defeat from the perspective of the victors.' John T. Kuehn, author of A Military History of Japan: From the Age of the Samurai to the 21st Century