Napoleon

[Catotheyounger]

 

 

Thought id get the ball rolling by posting this fantastic clip from a PBS series "Napoleon".

 

It captures the imagination.

[Greg]

It is a brilliant series, I have always enjoyed the works of PBS and the Napoleon series is one of their best, I even have it on DVD

 

Welcome to the forum

[Kenny Andrew]

great clip, I have always been fascinated by Napoleon, in fact when ever I watch Waterloo I never know whither to support the British or Napoleon,even although I know the outcome

 

welcome to the forum

[Catotheyounger]

To me at least, Napoleon will always be histories first modern General. Speed, suprise and boldness.. The hallarks of military genius.

 

You can see these doctrines take flesh in men like Patton, Rommel or Von Manstein.

[Helen]

Napoleon has always fascinated me since I was very young.

I wish you a warm welcome to the forum!

[Kenny Andrew]

Napoleon's abdication speech

 

 

 

[Greg]

Frederick the Great probably beat Napoleon by a few decades in creating the concept of a modern army and command structure but it would be Napoleont that could demonstrate how that would change warfare for the future.

 

Frederick is the basis for most modern military structures. Von Stueben took his lessons to the American's during the Revolution and through it published the Blue Book which formed the basis of American military command till today. The German High Staff was the same through all the wars they fought due to the influence of Frederick's command models.

 

Napoleon on the other hand demonstrated to take the strong command with capabale commanders and allow them to push the boundaries of set piece battles increabile results were possible. It did of course help to be matched against armies with commanders pretending to be Frederick but without the real ability to think like him.

 

The biggest contributor to Napoleon being famous and Frederick not as much in the English world is the battles fought. Napoelon took on Britain and so would be forever attributed as one fo the greatest threats to Britain and in all the history books. Frederick - not so much, he was concerned with continental warfare not Britain. Further, Napoleon landed at just the right time for mass production of booklet printing to ensure Clausewitz and a host of others printed massive quantities of booklets on the conflict.