Napoleon in Germany

From Jena to Leipzig

Whilst Prussia hovered indecisively during the campaign of 1805, Napoleon successfully took Austria out of the war, leaving a smarting Russia who eventually succeeded in convincing Prussia to side with the Allies in 1806. The result was catastrophic. In a lightning campaign in October 1806, Napoleon split her armies and decisively defeated her at the battle of Jena and battle of Auerstadt, and relentlessly pursued her to the shores of the Baltic. Although it was to take further campaigning in Poland to finally bring Prussia to heel, Napoleon's victories of 1806 smashed the myth of Prussian military invincibility created by Frederick the Great.

Six years of French intimidation followed, during which time Prussia steadily reformed her armies, despite the limitations put upon her. After breaking away from an unnatural alliance into which she was coerced, she once again sided with the Allies in what was to be Napoleon's last campaign in Germany in 1813, culminating in the massive battle of Leipzig, the so-called "Battle of the Nations", fought on 16-18 October 1813, which cost the contending armies some 100,000 casualties between them.

Our seven-day battlefield tour to Germany visits many of the well-known Napoleonic battles fought during 1806 and 1813. It is impossible to avoid others such as the battles of Hochkirch and Rossbach fought by Frederick the Great or Lutzen and Breitenfeld fought by the great Gustavus Adolphus. Neither should we, as both commanders were admired by Napoleon and influenced his brand of warfare.

"As to the Prussian Army, it is animated by the best spirit. With courage and ability nothing is wanting".

Gerhard von Scharnhorst

Day 1.

Fly London - Berlin. Drive to our hotel in Jena and check in for two nights.

Day 2.

We spend the morning exploring the battlefield of Jena. We climb above the Landgrafenberg and walk the Windknollen, from where Napoleon began his move against the Prussians. We also visit the villages of Cospeda, Closewitz, Vierzehnheiligen and Isserstedt. This afternoon we tour the battlefield of Auerstadt, fought on the same day as Jena.

Day 3.

Drive to Rossbach to study Frederick the Great's masterpiece against the French and Austrians during the 7 Years War. Continue to Lutzen (or Gross Gorchen), the site of Napoleon's victory over a combined Prussian and Russian army on 2 May 1813. It was also the scene, in 1632, of the battle in which the great Swedish commander, Gustavus Adolphus, lost his life. We study both battles and visit the museum to the memory of Gustavus Adolphus. Drive to Dresden and check into our hotel for three nights.

Day 4.

This morning we visit the battle of Dresden, fought on 26/27 August 1813 before visiting Dresden's superb military museum, full of weapons, armour, uniforms, dioramas, artillery and tanks. In the afternoon you have an opportunity to explore this famous historic city on your own.

Day 5.

Drive to the Saxon fortress and artillery museum of Koenigstein, set spectacularly on the rim of the Elbe gorge, where Frederick the Great captured the entire Saxon army in 1756. During the afternoon we visit the battlefield of Bautzen where, on 20 & 21 May 1813, Napoleon got the better of 100,000 Russians and Prussians. It was also here where an impetuous Frederick the Great received a bloody nose during the battle of Hochkirch.

Day 6.

The massive battle of Leipzig, fought over three days between 16 and 18 October 1813, is the subject of our last full day in Germany. The "Battle of the Nations", as the battle of Leipzig is known, was fought on a huge scale and cost over 100,000 casualties in total. We explore the southern and northern parts of the Leipzig battlefield, the latter part encompassing the field of Breitenfeld. Check in to our hotel for one night.

Day 7.

On our route northwards to Berlin for our return flight to London, we take the opportunity to look at some of the lesser actions during the 1813 campaign – that of Wartenburg, Dennewitz and Gross Beeren.