What do you think?
Rate this book
Osprey Campaign #25
Leipzig 1813: The Battle of the Nations
The battle of Leipzig was, in terms of the number of combatants involved, the largest engagement of the entire Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). It was the only battle of the wars in which all Allied armies (including even the Swedes) fielded troops against Napoleon. Peter Hofschroer looks at the run-up to this crucial encounter as well as the battle itself. A wealth of background information is chronicled, including the strategies of both sides and detailed information on each of the combatant forces. The numerous battles leading up to Leipzig are also discussed, providing a fascinating and illuminating overview of the whole campaign.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 1993
5 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 15, 2020
This volume is one of the weakest I have read in Osprey Campaign series. With limited space of just below 100 pages, it would be almost impossible to present more than superficial narrative of this battle. It is therefore inexplicable to me why the author also chooses to give a lot of space not only to massive order of battle for all involved participants (a list that takes about 10 percent of the volume), but also decided to provide rather detailed descriptions for all major clashes leading to Leipzig, including battle of Dresden, which easily deserves an Osprey Campaign volume of its own! The fact that the author misjudged the space available for his narrative is made apparent by the fact that the events during third and final day of the battle are covered by a single page. The only saving grace of this book is, as is always the case with Osprey Campaign volumes, excellent graphic material and especially the maps (even though also these could have been of greater detail).
October 22, 2022
the significance of history
The author manages to keep a tight grip on all the information he needs to convey about the battles swirling around Leipzig in October 1813 (the 200th anniversary was in 2013). Nevertheless it still is confusing. So many unit names and numbers, so many commanders.
You read about these things to understand European history and the significance of Napoleon’s role in shaping it. The loss of life makes a person cringe, including the destruction of animals and land and crops and people’s homes. I never get the sense that the deaths of hundreds of thousands ever really mattered to Napoleon unless he lost a commanding officer he loved. Other than that, I don’t get the feeling he lost any sleep over it all even though, tbh, all the deaths from battles he planned can be laid at his feet.
It’s important to learn, it’s important to remember. History repeats itself when nations and their leaders forget and not in a good way.
The author manages to keep a tight grip on all the information he needs to convey about the battles swirling around Leipzig in October 1813 (the 200th anniversary was in 2013). Nevertheless it still is confusing. So many unit names and numbers, so many commanders.
You read about these things to understand European history and the significance of Napoleon’s role in shaping it. The loss of life makes a person cringe, including the destruction of animals and land and crops and people’s homes. I never get the sense that the deaths of hundreds of thousands ever really mattered to Napoleon unless he lost a commanding officer he loved. Other than that, I don’t get the feeling he lost any sleep over it all even though, tbh, all the deaths from battles he planned can be laid at his feet.
It’s important to learn, it’s important to remember. History repeats itself when nations and their leaders forget and not in a good way.
September 12, 2023
Leipzig 1813: The Battle Of The Nations, by Peter Hofshroer
The Leipzig campaign of 1813 marks a decisive turning point in Napoleon's fortunes as a general. While the invasion of Russia in 1812 was a disaster and French recruits were being pushed heavily into an army to change the fortunes of the French army afterwards, in 1813 there was still hope that Napoleon could through victory against his rising and somewhat opportunistic enemies maintain hold over much of Europe, even if Russia and England were now beyond the reach of his armies. After 1813, Napoleon was firmly on the defensive and limited to fighting in the immediate area of Paris against overwhelming numbers. What was it about Leipzig that brought Napoleon down? This book is not about the larger aims of the Napoleonic wars, although it does talk about the goals of each power and the way that those goals--particularly for the Austrian Empire--put them in an ambivalent position. Leipzig is an example of the difficulty of keeping coalitions together and an example of how this can be done successfully even if not always very efficiently or gloriously.
This book is a bit less than 100 pages and it consists of varied contents, though the sort one ought to expect from Osprey Publishing. After a short introduction the first part of the book looks at the various armies that were involved in the Leipzig Campaign, starting with the French and their difficulties in training, then the Russians, Austrians, Prussians, Swedes, Anglo-German forces, and the Mecklenburg contingent. The second part of the book deals with the campaign that led up to the battle of Leipzig, which includes the French and allied strategies for the campaign, which are ably described, and a more detailed account of various battles, such as Grossbeeren, Dresden, the Katzbach, Kulm, Dennewitz, and Wartenberg, and what led the armies to converge on Leipzig. The next part of the book discusses the five day battle of Leipzig, including several separate engagements that are part of the overall battle as a whole, as each side sought to gain an advantage in what was widely viewed as a decisive conflict. After this is discussed, closing with the battle for the city itself as Napoleon retreated on October 19, 1813, the author discusses the battlefield today, gives a chronology and suggestions for further reading, and provides some discussion on wargaming the battle as well as an index. Throughout the book, it should be noted, there are bountiful maps as well as images of various leaders and common soldiers in their uniforms.
What one gains in looking at Leipzig not only as a massive battle--which it was--but as a campaign as a whole, is the complexity of getting people to work together. The coalition that rose up in the aftermath of the failed invasion of Russia, which ended up being the victorious coalition of the Napoleonic Wars as a whole, was composed of a variety of nations with different goals and aims. Russia was determined to crush France. Prussia was seeking revenge for the humiliation of 1806. Austria and England wished to preserve a balance of power that allowed them room to operate. Sweden sought to maintain its own influence within Europe despite the losses it had suffered in 1809. Various petty German states sought to retain the royal titles they had received from Napoleon in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. The end result of all of these complexities and machinations was a lot of bloodshed and ultimately defeat for Napoleon, who found himself failed by his marshals in that no one besides himself seemed capable of leading French armies to victory, as other French marshals found themselves defeated by the spirited resistance of the Russians, Prussians, Swedes, and Austrians, or in one case found their corps to be completely annihilated. The end result was a battered French army retreating from Saxony while everyone else scrambled to be on the right side of history, as is often the case.
The Leipzig campaign of 1813 marks a decisive turning point in Napoleon's fortunes as a general. While the invasion of Russia in 1812 was a disaster and French recruits were being pushed heavily into an army to change the fortunes of the French army afterwards, in 1813 there was still hope that Napoleon could through victory against his rising and somewhat opportunistic enemies maintain hold over much of Europe, even if Russia and England were now beyond the reach of his armies. After 1813, Napoleon was firmly on the defensive and limited to fighting in the immediate area of Paris against overwhelming numbers. What was it about Leipzig that brought Napoleon down? This book is not about the larger aims of the Napoleonic wars, although it does talk about the goals of each power and the way that those goals--particularly for the Austrian Empire--put them in an ambivalent position. Leipzig is an example of the difficulty of keeping coalitions together and an example of how this can be done successfully even if not always very efficiently or gloriously.
This book is a bit less than 100 pages and it consists of varied contents, though the sort one ought to expect from Osprey Publishing. After a short introduction the first part of the book looks at the various armies that were involved in the Leipzig Campaign, starting with the French and their difficulties in training, then the Russians, Austrians, Prussians, Swedes, Anglo-German forces, and the Mecklenburg contingent. The second part of the book deals with the campaign that led up to the battle of Leipzig, which includes the French and allied strategies for the campaign, which are ably described, and a more detailed account of various battles, such as Grossbeeren, Dresden, the Katzbach, Kulm, Dennewitz, and Wartenberg, and what led the armies to converge on Leipzig. The next part of the book discusses the five day battle of Leipzig, including several separate engagements that are part of the overall battle as a whole, as each side sought to gain an advantage in what was widely viewed as a decisive conflict. After this is discussed, closing with the battle for the city itself as Napoleon retreated on October 19, 1813, the author discusses the battlefield today, gives a chronology and suggestions for further reading, and provides some discussion on wargaming the battle as well as an index. Throughout the book, it should be noted, there are bountiful maps as well as images of various leaders and common soldiers in their uniforms.
What one gains in looking at Leipzig not only as a massive battle--which it was--but as a campaign as a whole, is the complexity of getting people to work together. The coalition that rose up in the aftermath of the failed invasion of Russia, which ended up being the victorious coalition of the Napoleonic Wars as a whole, was composed of a variety of nations with different goals and aims. Russia was determined to crush France. Prussia was seeking revenge for the humiliation of 1806. Austria and England wished to preserve a balance of power that allowed them room to operate. Sweden sought to maintain its own influence within Europe despite the losses it had suffered in 1809. Various petty German states sought to retain the royal titles they had received from Napoleon in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. The end result of all of these complexities and machinations was a lot of bloodshed and ultimately defeat for Napoleon, who found himself failed by his marshals in that no one besides himself seemed capable of leading French armies to victory, as other French marshals found themselves defeated by the spirited resistance of the Russians, Prussians, Swedes, and Austrians, or in one case found their corps to be completely annihilated. The end result was a battered French army retreating from Saxony while everyone else scrambled to be on the right side of history, as is often the case.
November 2, 2013
The denouement to the disastrous Russian campaign and the harbinger of Waterloo. Leipzig was a victory by an Allied army against a rapidly recreated French army. Napoleon has lost a huge percentage of the army that entered Russia--as well as priceless horseflesh. His lack of cavalry at Leipzig was an issue.
First, it is almost incomprehensible how Napoleon created a new army so swiftly after the catastrophic invasion of Russia. But he did it. One problem? Not enough horses to maintain the cavalry as needed. This would be a factor in the Leipzig campaign. In 1813, the French Army under Napoleon had at its disposal about 440,000 troops in the field army. The opponents of the French included Russian troops (184,000 troops in the field army), Austrians ((127,000 troops), Prussian forces (162,000 in the field army), Sweden (23,000 troops--under the command of one of Napoleon's former corps commanders--Bernadotte), Ad up these and odds and ends of other allies? About 512,000 troops (page 27). A huge number of soldiers awaiting battle. The order of battle (listing all troops involved--and their units) is almost stupefying--from pages 28 to 36.
Second, the campaign is pretty well depicted, from its origins to the conclusion at Leipzig, in which Napoleon's fate was sealed (the book argues that it was Leipzig--and not Waterloo--that doomed Napoleon). The first map on the campaign is on pages 38-39, outlining the starting point of the maneuvering. Pages 41-63 discuss the series of battles leading up to Leipzig. Overall, the French did poorer than better i n the preliminary combat.
Then, the titanic battle itself. The text describes the different aspects of the combat. Sometimes, one gets lost in the welter of which unit did what. The maps--on occasion--are not as illuminating as desired. But, overall, the text does give a sense of the struggle at Leipzig.
The volume ends with a look at the battlefield as it exists today, a chronology, a guide to further reading, and wargaming Leipzig.
This volume in Osprey's "Campaign" series is rather brief, but it provides an entree to one of the more important battles of the early 19th century--which doomed Napleon and the French to ultimate defeat.
First, it is almost incomprehensible how Napoleon created a new army so swiftly after the catastrophic invasion of Russia. But he did it. One problem? Not enough horses to maintain the cavalry as needed. This would be a factor in the Leipzig campaign. In 1813, the French Army under Napoleon had at its disposal about 440,000 troops in the field army. The opponents of the French included Russian troops (184,000 troops in the field army), Austrians ((127,000 troops), Prussian forces (162,000 in the field army), Sweden (23,000 troops--under the command of one of Napoleon's former corps commanders--Bernadotte), Ad up these and odds and ends of other allies? About 512,000 troops (page 27). A huge number of soldiers awaiting battle. The order of battle (listing all troops involved--and their units) is almost stupefying--from pages 28 to 36.
Second, the campaign is pretty well depicted, from its origins to the conclusion at Leipzig, in which Napoleon's fate was sealed (the book argues that it was Leipzig--and not Waterloo--that doomed Napoleon). The first map on the campaign is on pages 38-39, outlining the starting point of the maneuvering. Pages 41-63 discuss the series of battles leading up to Leipzig. Overall, the French did poorer than better i n the preliminary combat.
Then, the titanic battle itself. The text describes the different aspects of the combat. Sometimes, one gets lost in the welter of which unit did what. The maps--on occasion--are not as illuminating as desired. But, overall, the text does give a sense of the struggle at Leipzig.
The volume ends with a look at the battlefield as it exists today, a chronology, a guide to further reading, and wargaming Leipzig.
This volume in Osprey's "Campaign" series is rather brief, but it provides an entree to one of the more important battles of the early 19th century--which doomed Napleon and the French to ultimate defeat.
September 30, 2015
Much listing of names and units and very limited analysis and context
December 28, 2023
Makes a heroic effort at giving an overview of what was a somewhat confusing battle to keep track of (technically a series of smaller interconnected battles). Does a good job providing the historical context & how the situation in Europe factored as well of the truly colossal scale of troops involved but doesn’t quite capture the story of the battle the way the relatively contemporary (& admittedly much smaller) Fontenoy or even (still fairly epic in scope) Austerlitz did. In the end it does provide a good sense of how general events played & the significance going forward. Not my favourite of these books but still does it’s job.
January 21, 2019
The book is pretty good, as are pretty much all the Campaign books I have read. The introductory information and the description of the 1813 campaign prior to Leipzig almost as detailed as that of the Battle of Nations itself. That is good, since there is not a Campaign book for Dresden; and bad, because Leipzig itself does probably not get all the detail it deserves. Oh, if Osprey wrote the books I wanted, rather than those that make sense, what a terrible business they would have.
November 16, 2023
A lavishly illustrated overview of perhaps the decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars. Hofshroer is particularly strong in integrating the various clashes that surrounded Leipzig into a coherent account of the full campaign.
March 7, 2020
Good and brie
A bit technical for amateurs like myself, but it gives a good idea of how this most important war was fought
A bit technical for amateurs like myself, but it gives a good idea of how this most important war was fought
January 28, 2022
Felt like I was reading just the 90-page appendix to a much better book.
June 2, 2015
Not a hugely detailed book on the Leipzig campaign but I felt, even with it being somewhat lacking in detail, it was worth reading for all but the most knowledgeable of Napoleonic students. Good maps and use information abound, as usual.
August 12, 2011
Could have used more detail. The other Napoleonic books in the series are much better.
March 15, 2013
Tedious, didn't finish it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews