Название: The Battle of Znaim: Napoleon, the Habsburgs and the end of the War of 1809
Автор: John H. Gill
Издательство: Greenhill Books/Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Год: 2020
Страниц: 496
Язык: английский
Формат: epub
Размер: 10.1 MB

The acclaimed Napoleonic historian sheds new light on a fascinating yet little-known battle in the Franco-Austrian War.

The Battle of Znaim is almost unknown. Fought on 10 and 11 July 1809, it was one of the major encounters of the Napoleonic epoch with more than 100,000 soldiers engaged at its height, but it is routinely subsumed in the aftermath of the even larger Battle of Wagram (5–6 July). The usual narrative runs thus: Napoleon won a costly victory in the colossal struggle at Wagram; a brief pursuit ensued; and an armistice was concluded after an action near Znaim in Moravia. This hasty treatment is unfortunate as Znaim is interesting in its own right for several reasons. First, from a purely military perspective, it rewards study as an unplanned meeting engagement between two largely veteran armies in the wake of the second-greatest battle of the entire era. The ferocity of the fighting, the sizes of the forces involved and its two-day duration alone suffice to commend it to our attention. Add to these factors the imbalance in numbers (the numerically inferior French attacking the defending Austrians), the drama of a stunning thunderstorm, instant reversals of fortune, military ruses and a sudden ceasefire and it is surprising that the battle has not drawn more detailed examination. Moreover, the period of the pursuit is not without its instructive aspects: gruelling marches, misunderstood orders, sharp rearguard clashes, mass inebriation and, most of all, the challenge of coping with uncertainty about the enemy.

The battle began as a result of the Austrian decision to stage a rearguard action near Znaim, prompting the Bavarians to unsuccessfully storm a nearby town. As the battle progressed over the course of the two days, the village changed hands a number of times.

Historian John H. Gill delves into the tactics of both sides as the two armies continually changed positions and strategies. His account dissects and investigates the dual aspects of the Battle of Znaim and explains the diplomatic decisions that resulted in the peace treaty which was signed at Schonbrunn Palace on October 14th, 1809.

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