The Battle of Znaim: Napoleon, The Habsburgs and the End of the 1809 War

by John H. Gill

The little known Battle of Znaim (10th-11th July 1809) was the last battle to be fought on the main front of the Franco-Austrian War. Cut short to make way for an armistice it effectively ended hostilities between France and Austria and is now uniquely considered to be an episode both of conflict and simultaneously of diplomacy. 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. Battle ensued with the village changing hands a number of times over the course of the two days. Jack Gill delves deep into the respective 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 14th October 1809\. Gill's book is an unrivalled analysis of the Battle of Znaim. Accessible, highly detailed and expertly crafted, it sheds new light on this fascinating moment in Napoleonic history.

512 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2020

About the author

A retired U.S. army colonel and an associate professor at the Near East-South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, DC, he has also published on military history and contemporary security issues relating to India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of the Battle of Znaim before seeing this book, but the synopsis intrigued me. I wasn't disappointed. The book is superbly written in a clear and easy to read way and is very informative. The portraits of some of the historical figures are a wonderful addition. I'm very grateful to authors such as John H. Gill for bringing these "little" pieces of history to the front, for making people aware that history isn't just what you are taught in school - there is so much more that gets lost in the grand scheme of things. Brilliant!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Martin Mostek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being born a living in Znojmo (Znaim) all my life I had some general idea about this battle, so I find this very well written account really interesting. I learned a lot about whole 1809 campaign and also of battle itself.