by
The 1813 campaign in Germany is
probably my favorite campaign to read about or wargame. I am also a
big fan of the author George Nafziger. This is the second of a three
volume series by him about the 1813 campaign. The first book is 'Lutzen and
Bautzen: Napoleon's Spring Campaign of 1813'. You can see my review of
the first book here:
The
book goes through four major battles of Dennewitz, Gross-Beeren,
Dresden, and the Battle of the Katzbach. The smaller, but incredibly
important Battle of Kulm is also described. Dr. Nafziger shows us how the Allies
completely changed their strategy after the armistice that divided the
two parts of the campaign. The Allies decided to swallow their pride and
retreat if Napoleon himself was in command of the French troops in front
of them. The Allies would then attack the other French Armies under one
of Napoleon's Marshals. They neglected to follow this strategy at
Dresden, and came close to losing the war along with that battle.
The
author has added a large amount of paintings, portraits, and a plethora
of maps. There are nineteen colored maps alone. There are two
appendices, and the Order of Battle breakdown is a full sixty-six pages! The book itself is 258 pages long. The information inside is invaluable for a student of the campaign.
The 1813 Campaign in Germany is full of missed chances on both sides, but especially on the French side. Dr. Nafziger fills his books with facts, figures, and deep insights into the moment of history he is describing. If you are looking for a book that is filled with personal accounts of the campaign, then look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you want a sweeping view of the campaign from strategic to tactical, this is your book. Thank you, Casemate Publishers, for letting me review this excellent book.
Robert
Author: George Nafziger
Publisher: Helion&Company
Distributor: Casemate Publishers
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