Osprey Campaign 20 : Jena 1806 : Napoleon Destroys Prussia

Forewarned of Prussia's intention to declare war on France, Napoleon decided to strike first with a bold advance from Wurzburg into Saxony on 8 October 1806. He crossed the difficult Thuringian Forest in three columns and brushed aside small Prussian forces near two exits from the passes, advancing north expecting a battle on the Elbe near Leipzig. On 11 October intelligence revealed the Prussians to be further west around Erfurt and Napoleon's 180,000 strong army turned towards the Saale. On 14 October the double battle was fought: Napoleon with 96,000 men and 120 guns engaged and heavily defeated Prince Hohenlohe and General Ruchel with 53,000 men and 120 guns. The decisive engagement was fought further north where Marshal Davout with 27,000 men and 40 guns routed the main Prussian army under Frederick William IV and the Duke of Brunswick who commanded 63,500 men and 230 guns. This book examines these two battles, Jena and Auerstadt in detail, showing clearly the swiftness with which Napoleon dealt Prussia's military machine a severe blow. The author, David Chandler is head of the Department of War Studies at RMA Sandhurst and is widely acclaimed for his work on Napoleon's battles.

Contents

• Descent to War - 1806
• Plans and Preparations
• 'The Battalion Square' in Action
• The Opposing Commanders
• The Opposing Armies
• The Battle of Jena
• Auerstadt
• Aftermath and an Accounting
• The Battlefields Today
• Chronology
• A Guide to Further Reading
• Wargaming Jena-Auerstadt