Waterloo: Napoleon was undone by complacency

The Times ^ | 4/24/2008 | Duncan Anderson: Analysis

[Jimmy Valentine]

Well, Wellington always said that Waterloo was won by British Gin is a little tough. It is well to remember that the British Army was spread prety thin and that discipline was responsible for the victory not the native toughness of the troops.

At the end of the day Wellington played a weak hand of cards very well indeed.

[bruinbirdman]

"Actually Berthier died just a few days before Waterloo, watching allied troops from a window in his home in Germany.

Fell? Pushed? Jumped? No one knows. "

The French know. What do their archives say?

yitbos

[Cheburashka]

Go ahead and ask them.

[Cyropaedia]

Marshal Louis Davout. If he had actually been the guy in charge, Western history probably would have turned out very differently.

[tet68]

The French Calvary never broke the English Square but
Wellington’s concealment of his forces behind that ridge
and their exposure at the critical moment meant the end of
French elan.

“Le Guarde Recule!”
“Le Guarde Recule!”

[nkycincinnatikid]

“What do the french archives say” No one knows, Sandy Berger signed them out.

[LS]

I thought it was longer before. Yes, the jury is out on how he died. But it was more than Berthier. Napoleon had already lost his best marshalls to death, defection, or fatigue.

[LS]

I don’t think even he could have saved Waterloo. IF Blucher had actually been crushed earlier, instead of just bloodied, yes, Wellington might have lost. But there was still a massive Russian army out there, and the rest of Europe could mobilize again. Moreover, Davout as a general might have been terrific, but as a charismatic leader, Napoleon had everyone beat.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Ah Oui!

Interestingly when asked to surrender the French Commander (in history books) was supposed to have said, "The Old Guard dies but does not surrender".

It is my understanding that the actual word was "Merde!".

Under great quotes, in the Franco-Prussian war, when Mar shal Bazaine was bottled up in the fortress of Metz, and was asked the situation, he said, "Nous somme dans un pot de chambre, et nous serons emerdee/"

[SunkenCiv]

This topic was posted 4/25/2008, thanks bruinbirdman.