Jena 1806: Napoleon Destroys Prussia (Campaign) [Paperback]

David Chandler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 28, 1993 | Series: Campaign (Book 20)

Osprey's examination of the battles of Jena and Auerstadt of the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). Forewarned of Prussia's intention to declare war on France, Napoleon decided to strike first with a bold advance from Wurzburg into Saxony. On 14 October the double battle was fought: Napoleon with 96,000 men and 120 guns engaged and heavily defeated Prince Hohenlohe and General Ruchel. The decisive engagement was fought further north where Marshal Davout with 27,000 men and 40 guns routed the main Prussian army under Frederick William IV and the Duke of Brunswick. This title examines these two battles, Jena and Auerstadt in detail, showing clearly the swiftness with which Napoleon dealt Prussia's military machine a severe blow.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today.

About the Author

David Chandler is the former head of the Department of War Studies at Sandhurst, Britain's Royal Military Academy, and a military historian of international renown.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (January 28, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855322854
• ISBN-13: 978-1855322851
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Good starting point for this particular campaign.", December 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Jena 1806: Napoleon Destroys Prussia (Campaign) (Paperback)

This book on Jena-Auerstadt does a pretty good job of introducing the reader to the complex Franco-Prussian campaign of 1806. I thought that the work seemed to be put together rather quickly, and that the battlefield photos were not labeled well enough for easy orientation. Nonetheless, the battlefield photos were a great extra for the price, and the book was a great introduction to anyone interesting in this fascinating, and my personal favorite, Napoleonic campaign.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Le Grande Carre, December 7, 2007

By 

Roger Kennedy (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jena 1806: Napoleon Destroys Prussia (Campaign) (Paperback)

David Chandler goes through the motions here rehashing a lot of the same material that was used in his CAMPAIGNS OF NAPOLEAN. Since the great man is no more I shall not be too harsh on him. Osprey has put together its standard study on one of the most lop-sided battles of the Napoleonic period. What chance could Prussia have had even with a more rational strategy. The likely course would have been to withdrawal and link up with the Russians who were marching to assist them. This did not suit the arrogant and stifled Hohenzollerns, who could not imagine that France under Napolean could be their equal.

Chandler gives a nice standard background of events leading up to the conflict. Nothing new here, and as stated above it comes largely from his larger book on the period. We get his usual admiration for Napolean's corps d'armee system, and the supposed perfection it has over the haphazzard Prussian oragniaztion. As usual fully half of the book is over before we get to the battles. Some good tactical descriptions of the early fighting at Jena before the Prussians are overwhelmed is provided. Had Ruchel formed a crditable reguard something more might have been saved of Prince Hohenloe's army.

The narrative rushes on to the events just a few miles away at Auerstadt where fortuitous circumstances almost provide Prussia with a counter for their loss at Jena. But the situation rapidly gets out of control with the death of Brunswick, and Davout snatches victory with his battered III corps. Chandler gives credit to the fighting prowess of the Prussian army, which despite popular notions was not as antique as many think. Poor srategic judgement was as much if not more responsible for their twin defeats at Jena-Auerstadt than old worn out tactical doctrines.

For Chandler this is all Napolean at his best. We can feel his admiration for the emperor in nearly every sentence! Even with Chandlers hero complex on Napolean there is little denying that he fought a near flawless campaign. His superior concentration of force by means of the Grande Batalion Carre allowed him to respond to the erratic movements of his adversaries with care. Had the Prussian army stayed united at Jena things might have been harder for the French, but the end result would likely have been the same.

The Osprey books are good as limited studies. They are enhanced usually by nice maps and prints, and the usual uniforms spread, but their text is almost always limited. These books are good for general introductions of a period or battle, and can provide wargamers a good synopsis without requiring a lengthy read. In this respect Chandler's blurb about how to wargame the 1806 campaign strikes one as hopelessly dated and absurd. His concept of a wargame is more like a Strategic Centers Study with teams of people moving around to different rooms providing the fog of war. This has very little relationship to the standard board wargame or miniatures recreation of the battles. Again, a good starting point for a famous campaign, still studied today for its classic lessons.

5.0 out of 5 stars NAPOLEON DESTROYS PRUSSIA, January 31, 2012

By 

Vincenzo L. Falcone - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Jena 1806: Napoleon Destroys Prussia (Campaign) (Paperback)

A revamping of the original print that came out in the early 90s, but not too far removed from its origins, this book comes with a flashier cover, and more dramatic jacket than the original 'standing at attention' templates we have so come to know and love. Osprey Military Books has been putting out amazing, reliable, and entertaining line of material for more years than I can remember. The books are well-researched and written, with wonderful coloured templates, original etchings, and pictures of relics and historical sites and places of import.

JENA 1806 is one of the CAMPAIGN Series in the Osprey collection, and it is in a word - Amazing! There are 96 pages covering everything from: The Origins of the Campaign, The Opposing Commanders & their forces, their battle plans, and then coverage of the Campaign itself. It goes on to discuss the Aftermath of the battle and, as well as what the battlefield looks like today. It provides information for 'Further Reading', and for the die-hards out there, it also furnishes how to Play Jena as a War-Game. It even recaps with a list of the Chronology of the battle in bold, crisp print.

The text is well written, easy and enjoyable to follow. The book is ripe with illustrations, both historical and contemporary, as well as maps, three dimensional diagrams of the battlefields, and illustrations all throughout.
There are contemporary templates of the soldiers uniforms, as well as colored maps and charts with troop movement and battle locales.

This book is perfect for both the experienced and well-versed, and the interested first timer approaching the subject. JENA 1806: NAPOLEON DESTROYS PRUSSIA is just one more superior piece of military literature that Osprey can claim as their own - and should - with pride.

A side note: as a Painter of Napoleonic Miniatures, and interested historian, this book is an excellent source of information that can be used in tandem with many of the OSPREY Men-At-Arms books on the Napoleon uniforms.