Leipzig 1813: The Battle of the Nations (Campaign) [Paperback]

Peter Hofschröer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1993 | Series: Campaign (Book 25)

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.

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

Peter Hofschroer is a recognised expert on the German campaigns of the Napoleonic wars and the Prussian army in particular.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (September 30, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855323540
• ISBN-13: 978-1855323544
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,768,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent survey of Napoleon's Real Waterloo, April 2, 2009

By 

Yoda (Hadera, Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leipzig 1813: The Battle of the Nations (Campaign) (Paperback)

This book starts off by giving an excellent perspective, in a few pages, of the what the diplomatic and military picture in Europe was just before this battle. Hence the necessary perspective for the battle is provided.

The book then goes on to discuss the many aspects of the armies involved including their leadership (both at the highest level and the quality of lower ranking officers), political and command structure strengths and problems (for Napoleon, for example, the lack of subordinate quality field marshals, considering the size of the battle, probably led to the loss of this battle), troops, and logistical problems and strenghts and weaknesses in various arms (i.e., Napoleon's lack of cavalry in terms of both quality and quantity caused seriuos intelligence problems that played important role in his defeat). The book also illustrates well how troops from each national army looked and different aspects/geography of battle, along with maps.

The one weakness of the book (and hence 4 instead of 5 stars) is that it is a little difficult to follow the battle because the author makes too extensive a use of the various field marshals movements and actions without mentioning which side they were on. Not much of an oversight but one, unless the reader is very knowledgeable regarding these commanders, that is enough to cause some confusion. This problem is such a shame considering how easily it could have been rectified.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, June 13, 2007

By 

Brownbox - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leipzig 1813: The Battle of the Nations (Campaign) (Paperback)

Not much of a review really but a good read with good ilistrations.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BATTLE OF THE NATIONS, January 31, 2012

By 

Vincenzo L. Falcone - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Leipzig 1813: The Battle of the Nations (Campaign) (Paperback)

A revamping of the original print that came out in the early 90s, but not too far removed from its origins so as to be a different book; while this book does come with a flashier cover, and more dramatic jacket art than the original 'standing at attention' templates we have so come to know and love, it is after all a 'retelling' of the same exact text of its original.

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.

Leipzig 1813 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 Leipzig 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. LEIPZIG 1813: THE BATTLE OF THREE NATIONS 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.