Napoleon and the Struggle for Germany The Franco-Prussian War of 1813 Napoleon and the Struggle for Germany 2 Volume Set Series

The first comprehensive history of the decisive Fall Campaign of 1813, which determined control of Central Europe following Napoleon's catastrophic defeat in Russia the previous year. Using German, French, British, Russian, Austrian and Swedish sources, Michael V. Leggiere provides a panoramic history which covers the full sweep of the struggle in Germany. He shows how Prussia, the weakest of the Great Powers, led the struggle against Napoleon and his empire. By reconstructing the principal campaigns and operations in Germany, the book reveals how the defeat of Napoleon in Germany was made possible by Prussian victories. In particular, it features detailed analysis of the strategy, military operations, and battles in Germany that culminated with the epic four-day Battle of Nations at Leipzig and Napoleon's retreat to France. This study not only highlights the breakdown of Napoleon's strategy in 1813, but constitutes a fascinating study in coalition warfare, international relations, and civil-military relations.

Introduction; 1. Trachenberg and Reichenbach; 2. The Silesian army; 3. 'The infamous conduct of the Prussians'; 4. Löwenberg; 5. Goldberg; 6. The Katzbach; 7. Blücher's hare hunt; 8. 'Nothing more remains than to have them shot dead'; 9. Lusatia; 10. The Middle Elbe; 11. The Mulde; 12. Hide and seek; 13. Opening round; 14. 'A battle of the most obstinate and sanguinary class'; 15. The battle of Leipzig; 16. Race to the Rhine; Assessment; Bibliography; Index.

Dr Michael V. Leggiere earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 1997 after completing work at FSU's Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution. His first book, Napoleon and Berlin: The Franco-Prussian War in North Germany, 1813 (2002) inaugurated that Press's 'Campaigns and Commanders' series and won the La Société Napoléonienne Internationale 2002 Literary Award. His article, 'From Berlin to Leipzig: Napoleon's Gamble in North Germany, 1813', which appeared in the January 2003 volume of the Journal of Military History, won the Society for Military History's 2004 Moncado Prize for excellence in military history. Dr Leggiere's second book, The Fall of Napoleon: The Allied Invasion of France, 1813–1814 (Cambridge, 2007) won the La Société Napoléonienne Internationale 2008 Literary Award. Dr Leggiere's third book, Blücher: Scourge of Napoleon, was published in February 2014. Dr Leggiere has conducted extensive archival research in Paris, Vienna, and Berlin in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2009, and topographic research in Germany, France, and Poland in 1998, 2002 and 2013. Dr Leggiere is an active member of the Society for Military History, serving on the Board of Directors of the Consortium on the Revolutionary Era. In 2005 he received La Société Napoléonienne Internationale Legion of Merit Award for Outstanding Contributions to Napoleonic Studies.