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2009, Uniforms, Organisation and Equipment
NOW OUT OF PRINT Title: Prussian Napoleonic Landwehr Infantry and Cavalry 1813-15: Landsturm, Volunteer Cavalry and Streifkorps Publisher: Partizan Press Pages: 224 pages and over 380 colour illustrations. This is the companion volume to the successful two volumes on the Prussian Infantry 1808-1840. The Landwehr and volunteers were essential in the success of the Prussian Army during the Wars of Liberation (1813-1815) against Napoleon. Their participation permitted the army to quadruple in size by August 1813 and become the cutting edge of the Allied Armies. This unique work is the companion to the author’s two volume reference on the Prussian Infantry 1808-1840. It documents the campaign history, organisation, uniforms, horse furniture and their commanders, whether Landwehr (infantry and cavalry), Landsturm, Civil Guard, National Cavalry or Volunteers (Freiwilliger Jäger, Freikorps, and Streifkorps). For the first time in one volume the great diversity of their uniforms are lavishly illustrated and explored in detail, not previously attempted even in German. The work draws upon all the essential sources on Prussian uniforms, including the contemporary works of Elberfeld and Genty. The 380+ colour illustrations include 331 of uniforms after Hans, Brauer, Woldemar Friedrich, Herbert Knötel, Richard Knötel, Bob Marrion, Carl Röchling and Moritz Ruhl plus 18 tables, 12 order of battles, 110 uniform details, saddlecloths and lance pennants.
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2018, Ken Trotman Publishing
312 pages, 60 maps, 54 tables, 41 OOBs This book contains 28 maps by Archibald Frank Becke (1871-1947) that have come from these papers and his three books (1907, 1914 and 1936) dealing with the Waterloo Campaign that have been described as “A must for the specialist, but equally of value for the general reader seeking reputable military history.” These have been supplemented by 31 maps from Ferraris (1777) that were used by both sides, W. B. Craan (1816), Cotton (1846), Prussian Maps of Rothenburg (1848), Woer (1857), Siborne (Hooper (1862), Major-General C. W. Robinson (1906), W. Hyde Kelly (1906), James (1908), and Fortescue (1910). In addition, David Wright gave his permission to reproduce his map from his fine article in (2012) Waterloo Artillery: British French and Prussian, Smoothbore Ordnance Journal SOJ-5 on the use of the Royal Horse Artillery as a tactical reserve. Chapter 2 outlines the situation from Napoleon’s return to France. Chapter 3 is Becke’s translation of Napoleon’s lucid reasoning dictated on St Helana of the situation that faced him in 1815 from the chapter entitled “Plan de Campaign de 1815” given in his (1867) Commentaires. The importance and topography of the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands (Chapters 4 and 5). In order to enhance the theme of logistics, the editor has written chapters on the supplying of the armies greatly influenced how they were deployed, the complex story of supply to the British Army, the Board of Ordnance, water, rations, British camp equipment and infantry loads in Chapter 6. The Tricks of the Trade (Chapter 22) explains the time and space required for troops, visibility and what could be seen at sunrise and sunset times during the Waterloo Campaign. Archibald Becke gives an appreciation of the situation from the point of view of a French staff officer before the campaign started on 1 June 1815 (Chapter 7). The organisations and the initial orders for the Armée du Nord (Chapter 8), the Anglo-Dutch Army of Wellington and the Prussian Army of Blücher (Chapter 9) are described. Becke’s notes upon the re-equipping of the Royal Horse Artillery with 9-pdrs and their final positions at 7pm on 18 June 1815 is incorporated in Chapter 10. Becke demonstrated his eye for the battlefields in Quatre Bras and Ligny (Chapter 11), the application of the strategic advanced guard for the 14-17 June (Chapter 12) and then the Prussian Movements on 17 June 1815 the movements in the night of 18 June 1815 (Chapter 13) and Prussian Plans for 18 June 1815 (Chapter 14). Becke expertly examines in Chapter 15, the battlefield of Waterloo, the reason for Wellington’s Detachment at Hal and Tubize, claimants for the first shot from Wellington’s Position, Wellington’s Position, opening fire of the Grande Batterie and Napoleon’s position. Chapter 16 on the Battle of Waterloo is succinctly explained from the initial dispositions, and the Prussian attacks upon Plancenoit. Chapters 17-20 follows the fortunes of Marshal Grouchy to and from Wavre. Chapter 21 is a Becke’s masterful summary of the incidents, features and causes of Napoleon’s ultimate defeat.
2017, Napoleon Series
This paper combines a very short history of the Anhalt Principalities and 29 biographies of the Dukes, Princes and other officers from the territories who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1789-1815.
Memoirs of the Russian General Eduard von Löwenstern (1790-1837) Translated by Translated by Victoria Joan Moessner with Stephen Summerfield
"A memoir of a Russian Hussar Officer who fought 1806-15 taking part in many of the important cavalry enagements against Napoleon. These memoirs of the Russian Hussar Officer, Eduard von Löwenstern, give a wonderful insight into the Russian light cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars 1806-15. Eduard had the typical Hussar appetites for gambling, women, duelling and fighting combined with an ability to express himself with honesty in his writings. His position as Adjutant from 1810 to the talented light cavalry commander, Count Peter von der Pahlen the Younger, who was also the Chef of Eduard’s Sumy Hussar Regiment, and his adventures with Colonel Alexander Figner raiding French communications make him an important eyewitness to the 1812-15 campaigns. This is an English translation of Baron Georges von Wrangell’s 1910 edited version of Eduard von Löwenstern’s memoirs entitled Mit Graf Pahlens Reiterei gegen Napoleon: Denkwürdigkeiten des russischen Generals Eduard von Löwenstern (1790-1837). He seems to have had no fear of contracting syphilis that was spreading rapidly at the time. When his older brother Hermann Ludwig travelled to Paris and spent several months there in 1802-1803 before going on the voyage around the world, he avoided prostitutes because of the dangers of contracting syphilis."
The Cossacks earned an impressive reputation during the Napoleonic Wars. They were loathed for their "barbarism" and feared as fierce warriors. This book enlightens the reader about the fascinating history of these troops, the uniforms, armament and the Cossacks hosts. The second book called (2007) The Brazen Cross: Russian Opolchenie, Partizans and Freikorps during the Napoleonic Wars, completes the story on the Irregular forces of Russia. Dr Alexander Mikerberidze said in his review on the Napoleon Series "The book is lavishly illustrated - all 80 pages are printed on a gloss paper and the book contains 27 B&W illustrations and 11 color plates by Patrice Courcelle! [of Cossack Uniforms]" "… Among the strongest features of the book are the numerous tables covering almost every aspect of the Cossack organization and armament." "… It reads very easily and author's special drop-out boxes with quotes from various memoirs and little known facts only enhance the experience. …. This book is recommended to anyone interested in the Napoleonic Wars and especially to wargamers, who would certainly welcome its concise and informative style." The Introduction describes swiftly the history of Cossacks and their initial conflict with the expanding Russian state. A small section reconciles the Cossack table of ranks of Cossack Khorunzhii, Uriadnik or Esaul with those of the regular army. The Cossack military organization, tactics and involvement in the Napoleonic Wars. The 'Armament and Uniforms' section also discusses the much overlooked Cossack horse. The 'Cossack Hosts' chapter deals with seven major Cossack hosts that existed [Black Sea Cossacks, Bug Cossacks, Don Cossacks, Orenburg Cossacks, Siberian Cossacks, Ukrainian Cossacks Ural Cossacks]. Each host is dealt in 2-3 paragraphs and the Don Host is covered in far more detail. In addition the minor Cossack hosts of the Danube Mouth, Ekaterinoslavl, Terek and Volga are discussed. The 'Regular Cossacks' provides information on establishment and military service of Leib Garde Cossack, Black Sea Leib-Garde Sotnia, Chuguev Cossack and Teptiar Cossacks. The 'Other Irregular Cavalry' details the overlooked Kalmyks, Bashkyrs, and Mesheriaks. A detailed chronology which covers the Cossack history between late 14th century and 1917. Appendices 'A' and 'C' contain Cossack and general Russian military terms and explanation. Appendix 'B' serves as a reference list for various hosts and nations while Appendix 'D' deals with the uniform and armament terms. Available from Caliver Books in UK www.caliverbooks.com
Introduction 15th April 1945 The Leader's Order. Order Of The Day. 15th April, 1945. Last Proclamation: Soldiers Of The German Eastern Front! For the last time our deadly enemies the Jewish Bolsheviks have launched their massive forces to the attack. Their aim is to reduce Germany to ruins and to exterminate our Folk. Many of you soldiers in the east already know the fate which threatens, above all, German women, girls, and children. While the old men and children will be murdered, the women and girls will be reduced to barrackroom whores. The remainder will be marched off to Siberia. We have foreseen this thrust, and since last January have done everything possible to construct a strong Front. The enemy will be greeted by massive artillery fire. Gaps in our infantry have been made good by countless new units. Our Front is being strengthened by emergency units, newly raised units, and by the Germanic Folk Militia. This time the Bolshevik will meet the ancient fate of Asia -- he must and shall bleed to death before the capital of the German Reich. Whoever fails in his duty at this moment behaves as a traitor to our Folk. The Regiment or Division which abandons its position acts so disgracefully that it must be ashamed before the women and children who are withstanding the terror of bombing in our cities. Above all, be on your guard against the few treacherous Officers and soldiers who, in order to preserve their pitiful lives, fight against us in Russian pay, perhaps even wearing German uniform. Anyone ordering you to retreat will, unless you know him well personally, be immediately arrested and, if necessary, killed on the spot, no matter what rank he may hold. If every soldier on the Eastern Front does his duty in the days and weeks which lie ahead, the last assault of Asia will crumple, just as the invasion by our enemies in the west will finally fail, in spite of everything. Berlin remains German, Vienna will be German again, and Europe will never be Russian. Form yourselves into a sworn brotherhood, to defend, not the empty conception of a Fatherland, but your homes, your wives, your children, and, with them, our future. In these hours, the whole German Folk looks to you, my fighters in the east, and only hopes that, thanks to your resolution and fanaticism, thanks to your weapons, and under your leadership, the Bolshevik assault will be choked in a bath of blood. At this moment, when Fate has removed from the Earth the greatest war criminal of all time, the turning point of this war will be decided. Adolf Hitler.
2018, Napoleonic Scholarship. The Journal of The International Napoleonic Society, No. 9
The Napoleonic Wars are still reflected by works of art and products of arts and crafts, or any imprints of human creativity called Napoleonic memorabilia (or Napoleonics). Regarding the rich iconography of these objects we can create an idea of the events and personalities that at the turn of the 18th century and the 19th century were stirring the fate of Europe. It is a specific category of cultural heritage which functions as a mediator of historical memory with a clear reference to the contradictory character of Napoleon Bonaparte. His dizzying life story, which surprised and shocked the society at the same time, has been presented in numerous collections of castles and other manor residences for many centuries. Among the major historical events that influenced the collecting of these artefacts in the historical lands of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, besides military successes of Coalition in the Battle of Aspern and other battles in recent years of the Napoleonic wars, was also the marriage of the Emperor Napoleon I with the Austrian Archduchess Marie Louise, the factual alliance of the Austrian and French Imperial Houses. These events, their main actors and other participants, whether standing alongside or against France, provided artists with a variety of themes for their artistic interpretation. The birth of the successor of the French throne, the legitimate descendant of the Habsburg and Bonaparte dynasty, with the newly established title of the Roman King, meant one of the decisive inspirational impulses for the world of art and period iconography. Renowned events attended by the members of both Imperial Houses and the Czech nobility are still commemorated in iconography on a number of objects in château collections currently managed by the National Heritage Institute in the Czech Republic. These collections also preserved items from Napoleon's inheritance which were perceived by their former owners and noble collectors as relics or curiosities and, at the same time, a trace of great history, reminded in their ancestral memory.
2012
"TITLE: Saxon Army of the Austrian War of Succession and Seven Years War: SUB-TITLE: Uniforms Organisation and Equipment PUBLISHED: January 2012 AUTHOR: Dr Stephen Summerfield PUBLISHER: Ken Trotman Publishing ISBN No.: 978-1-907417-26-9 "This is the first detailed record of the uniforms, equipment, flags, horse furniture and campaign history for the Saxon Army 1740-63. Drawing from a multitude of sources, Stephen Summerfield has created the most complete study ever attempted, making this a valuable companion to his best selling volumes on the Austrian Army of the Seven Years War and his Saxon Artillery 1733-1827. The Saxons enjoyed a fascinating but checkered career in the War of the Austrian Succession, disastrously changing sides from Prussia to Austria. Despite most of the army being captured in Pirna at the start of the Seven Years War (1756-63), the Saxons raised an Auxiliary Corps of 10,000 infantry that fought bravely under French pay and their magnificent light cavalry (Chevauleger and Ulan) that fought with the Austrians. As with his Austrian volumes, Stephen deals with the army unit by unit: Guard, Infantry, Grenadier, Cuirassier, Chevauleger, Dragoon, Hussar and Polish Ulan regiments including a record of their Colonels-in-Chief. The work draws upon most of the major sources on Saxon uniforms of the Seven Years War. The 450+ colour illustrations include 215 of uniforms after Brauer, Knötel, Eichhorn, and Trache plus 66 flags/standards, 65 uniform/equipment details, 15 OOBs and 30 Tables. In addition, this new volume provides a detailed study and plans of the advanced Saxon Geschwindstück [quick fire guns.]""
Pages: 192 including 10 colour plates by Gerry Embleton and 4 colour maps ISBN: 978-0-9563393-3-1 Price £20 for Paperback This is the second of a series of “Correspondence” books produced by “1815 Limited” to present translated transcripts exclusively from contemporary manuscripts so are distinct from other publications in that there are no footnotes. These are supplemented by an on-line subscription archive that over the next 5 years will encompass all participants in the Waterloo campaign. The first of two volumes on the Hanoverian and Kings German Legion (KGL) has been taken from 49 original manuscripts held in the Niedersächsisches Hauptstaatarchiv in Hanover. The second volume on the Hanoverians will be taken from printed sources and should be out in April 2011. The KGL was formed after Hanover had been overrun by the French in 1803. In 1814, the Hanoverian Army was reformed from selected cadres from the veteran KGL, new drafts and former soldiers that had fought for Napoleon. In 1815, there was not enough time to reintegrate the KGL that had fought so well in the Peninsular. Most of the KGL infantry battalions were less than 300 men strong and had 6 rather than 10 companies. According to Captain Adolphus Hesse 2nd KGL Line Battalion had 21 officers, 25 sergeants and 302 other ranks. [p46] The 5th KGL Line Battalion was reduced to only 5 companies with 24 officers, 17 sergeants and 291 other ranks after detachments according to Adjutant Wilhelm Wilhelm Walther. [p76] There are 22 KGL and 27 Hanoverian manuscripts presented in this high quality paperback. A quarter of the accounts in the book (12) are after action reports, half of which were by the brigade commanders and a further one by the commander of the 5th British Division. Two thirds (22 plus another 10 with no date give) relate to the general order dated 28 October 1824 that requested reports from officers still serving in the Hanoverian Army upon the Waterloo campaign. In 1835, Commander in Chief of the British Army, Lord Hill, requested information on the role of the KGL and Hanoverian Battalions to assist the construction of the Waterloo Model being made by Lieutenant Siborne. He was assisted by Major and Assistant Quartermaster-General Carl Jacobi who had served as a Captain in the Lüneberg Light Infantry Battalion. The report is given in full and is a very clear account of the campaign involving the Hanoverians and KGL by brigade and even by unit [see pp9-33]. The translator gives reference to the 8 maps that were submitted with the report which alas were not reproduced. [p33] This report for its clarity is probably worth buying the book alone. Another three accounts were written about 1840 and the final one in 1854. Many of the letters and reports in edited form had been published in German by Dr. Julius von Pflugk-Harttung in his 1915 book entitled Belle-Alliance (Verbündetes Heer): Berichte und Angaben über die Beteiligung deutscher Truppen der Armee Wellingtons an dem Gefechte bei Quatre Bras und der Schlacht bei Belle-Alliance. This important book has become a standard work among German speaking historians though almost unknown elsewhere. John Franklin by accessing the original papers in the Niedersächsisches Hauptstaatarchiv in Hanover was able to correct the errors and misidentification that Pflugk-Hartung had made in 1915 in his German edition. About half of the KGL and Hanoverian letters were left unidentified. John Franklin has for the first time attributed to each report or letter to a person. Many of the documents were not reproduced in full and according to John Franklin, the most important were the omissions in the Carl Jacobi manuscript that he has reproduced in full. Closing comments The attached appendix has been compiled by the reviewer to give the reader a full outline of the book contents by unit type rather than order of battle as used in the “Correspondence” Series. The reviewer has proposed approximate dates to those that are not dated and the ranks have been added as they were on the day of the battle. There are a few places that the layouts seem a little confused and it is unclear why they are in a larger font and not indented as I assume they are part of the report [see pp39-40, pp82-83, p86 etc..] and the captions of the illustrations are at the top rather than the academic convention of being below. These are very minor issues that I would expect with further books will be remedied. The book is an important addition to literature on Waterloo as it shows the undigested accounts that are the important raw material for the historian or enthusiast to understand the role of the Hanoverians and KGL at Waterloo especially the much neglected artillery where only Mercer RA seems to be the only allied artilleryman quoted by modern historians. This is shown by the extract examples that I have taken with my explanatory notes. The simple transcript style may not suite everybody but the serious researcher will enjoy this blank canvass approach as being the next best thing to visiting the archives themselves. This book is recommended to the historian, re-enactor and wargamer who will enjoy the fascinating accounts especially the overview report by Carl Jacobi. Reviewed by Dr Stephen Summerfield, Loughborough University 5 November 2010
2001, Chemistry-a European Journal
2016, Uniforms of Russian army during the Napoleonic war Vol. 1 The Infantry Fusiliers, Grenadiers and Musketeers
This volume is related to the Russian Army during the zar Paul I era, and are about infantry: fusiliers, grenadiers and muskeeter regiments. Compiled at Saint Petersburg during the year from 1837 and 1851, the Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army has had an enormous impact and great importance for the study on the history of Russian costume and uniformology development over the past centuries .There are various ancient editions of the work but Mark Conrad’s translation is the first one and the best, remaining true to the original structure and essential style of the text. Conrad’s comprehensive translation is an indispensable resource for today’s historian, strategists, and scholars. The Viskovatov’s enormous work is based on a great quantity of archival documents and contains four thousand colored and b/w illustrations. It is composed by 30 or 34 volumes (1st edition 1-30, St. Petersburg, 1841-62, and 2nd edition Vols. 1-34, St. Petersburg - Novosibirsk - Leningrad, 1899-1948). The topics discussed start from the early czars until the late nineteenth century. Our new edition has enriched the book with the plates: we revised and colored many of the images so far available just in black and white, as well we found some rare color plates with the collaboration of private collectors. These, together with the first ever English translation, make our collection exclusive and of great value.
Sir John Moore is considered the father of the modern British Army and the creator of the elite universal soldier that would later become the famous Light Division of the 43rd, 52nd and 95th Rifles. His reform of the British Army was enabled by the support of the Duke of York, Sir David Dundas and William Pitt. His brilliant legacy is clearly shown by the Epilogue by General Sir Nick Parker on “The Characteristics of the 21st Century Rifleman.” This third book in the successful Shorncliffe Lecture Series sets out to put into context Moore’s moral compass, principals and experiences that created his philosophy and internal discipline that was key to the “Shorncliffe System of Training.” Moore’s own diary entries, letters, recollections of his family, friends, newspapers, and those who served with him have been used. It also includes, Moore’s Instructions to the Battalions of Irish Militia Light Infantry of 1798 and a discussion of contemporary light infantry manuals. Probably the most neglected developments of British light infantry connections are Corsica, West Indies, Ireland, and Egypt. The chronology shows the global reach of the British Army and the large number of theatres in which Sir John Moore served . The Index has been divided into a General, Name and Regimental Index. There are over 90 mostly contemporary illustrations including 24 Maps and 20 portraits as well as 14 OOBs and 25 Tables. Volume 2, will explore Sir John Moore’s expeditions to the Mediterranean, Sweden and the Peninsular (1806-09).
The Battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War, which took place on August 2, 216 BC near the town of Cannae in Apulia in southeast Italy. The army of Carthage under Hannibal decisively defeated a numerically superior army of the Roman Republic under command of the consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro. It is regarded as one of the greatest tactical feats in military history and, in numbers killed, the second greatest defeat of Rome (second to the Battle of Arausio). Having recovered from their previous losses at Trebia (218 BC) and Trasimene (217 BC), the Romans decided to engage Hannibal at Cannae, with roughly 86,000 Roman and Allied troops. The Romans massed their heavy infantry in a deeper formation than usual while Hannibal utilized the double-envelopment tactic. This was so successful that the Roman army was effectively destroyed as a fighting force. Following the Battle of Cannae, Capua and several other Italian city-states defected from the Roman Republic to Carthage.
In 1812, the Russians raised in excess of 300,000 provincial militia (Opolchenie) and volunteers in addition to the Cossacks and Irregular Cavalry (see Cossack Hurrah!!( These acted as a reserve, replacements and forming flying columns of the Grande Armee. This book gives their forgotten story with an insight into the organisation, weapons, equipment and colourful uniforms of the Opolchenie, volunteers and Russo-German Legion. 120pp, 16 colour plates and over 80 BW illustrations. Available from Caliver Books in UK www.caliverbooks.com Extract see http://lboro.academia.edu/StephenSummerfield/papers
2006, Thesis, Florida State University Department of History
The way in which Napoleon used cavalry to shape the battlefield and to support his infantry attacks made cavalry operations play a unique role in Napoleonic warfare. Studying the cavalry operations during the decline of the Empire from 1813 through 1815 enabled an analysis not only of the capabilities of the soldiers and leadership of the French cavalry, but also a better understanding of the changes that occurred in Napoleon's operational and strategic art of warfare. This study required an analysis of cavalry operations in all of the major campaigns of the period. The operations of General Francois-Etienne Kellermann from 1813 through 1815 provided an excellent case study of cavalry operations to analyze the changes in Napoleonic warfare. This detailed analysis presented different conclusions than many historians and questions much of the traditional interpretation of the capabilities and operations of Napoleon and his armies.
2012
See Review by Robert Burnham http://napoleon-series.org/reviews/military/c_GermanDivision.html 262 pages. 17 color uniform plates. 11 color maps. 11 black and white maps.
2014, Napoleon’s German Division in Spain Volume II: The Germans in Catalonia 1808 – 1813
The unfortunate Germans who were thrown into the mincing machine of Catalonia and, in particular, the worst-managed operations of the entire Peninsular War: the French sieges of Girona. This city became the grave of almost the entire German contingent and many others besides. Extracts from the diaries of participants in this grim fiasco give a totally chilling glimpse into the horrors of siege warfare. This is contrasted with reports of the mobile raids by Spanish regiments supported by the Royal Navy on the eastern coast of Spain. These operations into the French lines of communications helped tie down thousands of French troops, who should have been conquering the remaining free areas of southern and eastern Spain. The negative effects of Napoleon`s ill-founded operational dabbling in French military affairs in Spain from his ivory tower in Paris, hundreds of miles away from the reality on the ground is also examined. The 11 colour plates by Bob Marion are based on Ludwig Scharf’s interpretations from on the spot sketches made in Spain during the period 1808 - 1814.In addition there are over 50 B&W illustrations of uniforms, flags and details, 7 maps, 12 OOBs and 6 Tables.
2009, Journal of Conflict Archaeology
2018
This paper focuses on the life and military activity of the Imperial-Royal Lieutenant General Baron Joseph Meskó de Felsőkubin. The paper is mainly based on archive resources, partly on documents of the Austrian State Archives, partly on Meskó’s handwritten memoir written in German, which has never been worked up before. Meskó was born in 1762 in an old hungarian noble family, and he had been one of the most outstanding Hussar officers in the history of the Austrian Imperial army. He served well not just as a troop officer, but excelled in higher commanding ranks, too. Meskó covered himself with glory several times during the French Wars. For example, on April 30th 1792 Meskó while fighting in the vanguard of the Imperial-Royal Army at Quiévrain (today in Belgium) reached the French rearguard and captured 11 cannon and more than 1000 men. The booty included reasonable amount of supply food. On April 6th 1799, on the second day of the Magnano victory, serving as a second major in the 7th Hussar regiment he defeated the enemy’s rearguard at Isola della Scala. Furthermore, he captured their hospital and its resources and a wounded French general. On May 17th 1799 Meskó forced the garrison of Casale Monferrato in Piedmont to surrender and he occupied the town and the citadel. In April 1800 he captured the French positions with a commando. The French positions were at 2000 metres high in the Alps at the Mont Cénis. Owing to his valour Meskó was awarded with the Knight’s Cross of Military Order of Maria Theresa in 1801. In 1809 after the battle of Győr Meskó fought his way out of the French encirclement with his division. After that, while completing a long march and fighting continuous advance- and rearguard actions, he defeated all his attackers. For this he received later on the Commander’s Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa. The closing of the general’s active career was in the battle of Dresden in 1813 when he was captured with some imperial-royal troops. I describe the exact circumstances of this event which was very famous of that age and later on as well. In my opinion the prisoner-taking was not really Meskó’s fault, but was caused rather by the unexperienced high command, by the unfortunate course of events and by the cumbersome maneuverability of the huge army.
2001, unpublished Ph. D. thesis, Cranfield University
PhD Thesis Supervisor: Professor Richard Holmes Second advisor: Chris Bellamy
2019, Ken Trotman Publishing
SHORNCLIFFE LECTURES BOOK 5 Book 5 of the Shorncliffe Lectures series explores the development of the Baker Rifle and the Experimental Corps of Riflemen of Colonel Coote-Manningham that became the 95th Rifles. This was the first permanent light infantry and completely rifle armed regiment in the British Army. There are 20 Maps, 27 Orders of Battle (OOBs), 93 Tables and over 110 illustrations including 56 of rifles, sword bayonets and bayonets. The themes of the book are:- 1. The origins (Chapter 1) and formation (Chapter 8) of the 95th Rifles as the Experimental Corps of Riflemen under Colonel Coote Manningham. 2. The development of the Baker Rifle and its use (Chapters 2-6), 3. The barracks (Chapter 7), the training in Essex, Kent and Sussex (Chapter 8, 10, 14-15), their drilling of the Volunteer Riflemen (Chapter 16) and the formation of the 2/95th in Canterbury on 1805 (Chapter 17). 4. The early campaigns over the first seven years of their existence (Chapters 9, 11-12 and 18-20), and their campaign medals (Chapter 21). 5. Selected articles from the Regulations for the Rifle Corps (Chapter 22) and the Shorncliffe Lectures of 1803 are printed in full (Chapter 23).
The US publishing house McFarland has commissioned me to prepare a comprehensive history of the Irish Legion. An outline and preview details are here. I would welcome comments and suggestions
Uniforms, Organisation and Equipment
Although soundly defeated in the War of Austrian Succession by the brilliance of Frederick the Great and his Prussian Army, the army of Austria was the most significant of his opponents. Their campaign history has been expertly documented in recent times, but very little has been written on their uniforms. This new volume is a companion to the author’s AUSTRIAN SEVEN YEARS WAR INFANTRY AND ENGINEERS. It documents the campaign history, uniforms, flags, horse furniture as well as a complete record of its Inhaber [colonel-in-chief] for each Austrian cavalry regiment, whether Cuirassier, Chevauleger, Dragoons, Grenz Hussars or Hussars. The work draws upon most of the major sources on Austrian uniforms of the Seven Years War including the contemporary works of Albertini, the Bautzen Manuscript and Raspe which influenced all later artists. The 340+ colour illustrations include 191 of uniforms after Albertini, Brauer, Donath, Knötel, Neucetz and Teuber-Wekersdorf plus 43 flags / standards, 102 uniform / equipment details, 10 line drawings from Die Österreichische Armee 1700-1867 by Ottenfeld & Teuber and 10 Tables. In addition this new volume provides a detailed study of Austrian artillery pieces and organization for the period. The chapter is illustrated with 15 photos of extent guns tubes, 9 plans and 6 Tables. In addition there are 46 short biographies of generals and designers of the Liechtenstein artillery system with 12 portraits."
56pp., 4to, fully illus.in colour, stiff card covers. 2016. Second volume in our magnificent new Military Colours series. Everything you could want to know about Prussian Grenadier uniforms, regiment by regiment. Amazing illustrations.
The defeat of italy’s forces in North Africa over the winter of 1940/41 threatened Germany's 'Fortress Europe'. For his own security, Hitler felt that he had no option but to intervene on behalf of his ally. By the middle of February 1941, the first contingent of German support had reached Tripoli. It was not very large - in fact, it consisted of one general and two staff officers; but the general was a man called Rommel. As the commanding officer of the 'Ghost' Division in France, Major-General Erwin Rommel had won a reputation as a brilliant commander. His orders were to stabilize the situation. Rommel's force initially included only the Fifth Light Division. For the moment, he was simply expected to stiffen Italian resistance.
TO EVALUATE the military strength of a country one examines its military system in time of peace and takes account of the potential power which it can command in time of war. In looking at Germany today, however, I shall confine myself to the purely military factors, while admitting the importance of two elements which really cannot be overlooked -- the demographic factor and industrial power. Military Provisions of the Versailles Treaty The military statute of the Versailles Treaty (which contained no time limit) was intended to reduce the possibility of German aggression, to facilitate the eventual application of the sanctions which were provided for in order to compel Germany to observe the Treaty, and to render possible the preparation of a general limitation of armaments by all nations. Its aims were not punitive, but merely to stabilize Europe as it was in 1919. And it marked the first step of a desired evolution in the direction of disarmament.
2018, Napoleon Series
This paper is a brief history of the Duchy of Arenberg and the three family members who fought or held officer rank rank during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1789-1792. It was published on the Napoleon Series website between December 2017 and February 2018.
Born in Rathcoffey, County Kildare, in 1776, Hugh Ware was a land surveyor by profession, his work bringing him into contact with some of the radicals of North Kildare, including landowners such as Archibald Hamilton Rowan of Rathcoffey Castle, and artisans such as Michael Quigley. He was a leading member of the Society of United Irishmen in the barony and deputy commander of the north Kildare rebel army in 1798. Among other leaders, military and civilian, his surrender was demanded by the government, and, after a successful military campaign, he surrendered alongside William Aylmer. Imprisoned for four years, he was exiled in France in 1802, and joined the Irish Legion, in which he led a very successful military career, becoming the regiment's last commander in 1815. Ware was an exceptional individual who won the admiration of the Kildare rebels, the officers and soldiers of the Irish Legion, the French military hierarchy and even Napoleon. As the final commander, his even handedness was remarkable, and it was probably due to him that the unit stayed out of the conflict during the 100 Days. However, he was a Bonapartist at heart, and was never recalled to the army after the Second Restoration. His colonelcy, stripped from him by the Bourbons, was restored by Louis Phiippe in 1832. An officer of outstanding courage, he led the regiment in two assaults on the Heights of Wolfsberg in 1813, was wounded several times during the campaign, and had three horses killed under him. Having saved the Imperial Eagle in the Bober disaster, he led the debris of the regiment the 900 km back to its base. La Légion Irlandaise: Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander. The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans. Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos. Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River. In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits. First published in Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society (JKAS) Volume XX, (Part 2) 2010-11, 99-141, Edited by Prof. Raymond Gillespie, Department of History, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
2003, Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress Body & Culture 7.1: 3-37.
This article reintroduces the French soldier into the fashionable landscape of the nineteenth century. Using the Second Empire cavalry officer as a case study, it takes issue with John Flugel's theory of the Great Masculine Renunciation by exploring the officer's sexualized image in caricatures, photographs and literature. It then addresses the constant dialogue between military uniforms and women's fashions. In the section “Fashioning Uniformity,” the uniform embodies the tension between standardizing nationalist projects and the struggle for individual identity. Finally, it explores how the French Army tried to use fashion to rehabilitate its public image after losing the Franco-Prussian War.
2019
This doctoral thesis bears a misleading title. A better title - one that I have set aside for a revised version of the work - would be: "Form, Fit, and Function: The Armies of the Western Front, 1900-1915."
Illustrated by Stanislav Lyulin
2005, Article published in the journal: "Bibliographie Internationale d'Histoire Militaire", tome 26, Centre Général Guisan (Pully, Suisse) et Editions Thesis (Zurich, Suisse), 2005, p. 187-225.
This published article aims to be an accurate and detailed tool for the researchers who want to study the subject of the “petite guerre” and the light troops (update 2005). Since the historian André Martel published in 1971 his article in the “Revue Historique” (France), the military historians in France regularly underscored until nowadays the renewal of military history – with updated approaches. The interest for the “petite guerre” is part of this movement. Additionally, the interest for the “petite guerre” has been supported by the reality of many conflicts today, which are told “low intensity conflicts”. The tactic of light troops of olden times, which filled the theatre of operations between the battles, finds here its contemporary transformation. The present article draws attention first upon the use of the terms of “petite guerre” in the French, German and British historiography, and its relevance, or not. Second, the article details the history of the study of the “petite guerre” of the early modern times (16th – 18th centuries) in France, in Germany and in the Anglo-Saxon world. Finally, it points out the problem of the compartmentalisation of the researchers’ works, both between the historical periods and between the different countries.
Sir Henry Clinton was appointed second in command to the small British-Hanoverian army that served as a defence force for the newly liberated Netherlands under the command of the hereditary Prince of Orange in August 1814. He performed the role of Inspecting Officer for all the troops in Belgium including the fledgling Belgian and Dutch units and is a vital witness to the quality and training of all of these troops and to the massive repair programme to the main border fortresses in the run up to the Waterloo campaign. With Napoleon’s return to power and the mobilisation of the army for war once again, Henry Clinton was then appointed by the Duke of Wellington to command the Second Division, consisting of Adam’s British Light Infantry Brigade, Du Plat’s Brigade of King’s German Legion troops and Halkett’s Brigade of Hanoverian troops, a very diverse group with varying degrees of experience, equipment and training. His correspondence most importantly is written contemporaneously and gives honest assessments regarding the strengths and weaknesses of all of these troops and is both enlightening and often surprising.
2013, Natascha Mehler (Ed.), Historical Archaeology in Central Europe. Society for Historical Archaeology 2013. (SHA Special Publication Nr. 10)
The declaration of Napoleon's Minister for War, Henry Clarke, Duc de Feltre, that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander. The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, but several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republican. Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos. Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River. In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits. Published in Franco-Irish Military Connections 1590-1945, David Murphy and Nathalie Genet-Rouffiac eds. (Dublin, 2009) 189-219
Two chapters from Part 2 of my book Soldier of Misfortune: A Military Biography of Miles Byrne, still seeking a publisher.
2005, Article published in the journal: "Bibliographie Internationale d'Histoire Militaire", tome 26, Centre Général Guisan (Pully, Suisse) et Editions Thesis (Zurich, Suisse), 2005, p. 178-186 et p. 195-225.
Cet article se veut un outil précis et fouillé à l’usage des chercheurs souhaitant approfondir le domaine de la petite guerre et des troupes légères (mise à jour, 2005). Depuis un article d’André Martel paru dans la « Revue Historique » en 1971, la communauté des historiens militaires en France n’a cessé périodiquement de souligner jusqu’à nos jours – avec des approches actualisées – le renouveau de cette histoire militaire. L’intérêt pour la petite guerre s’inscrit dans ce mouvement. Il a été porté aussi par la réalité de beaucoup des conflits d’aujourd’hui, dits « de basse intensité », dans lesquels la tactique des troupes légères d’autrefois, alternative à la bataille, trouve son avatar contemporain. L’article attire d’abord l’attention sur la plus ou moins grande pertinence de l’emploi de l’expression de « petite guerre » dans l’historiographie, en français, en allemand et en anglais. Il procède ensuite à la généalogie de l’étude de la petite guerre à l’époque moderne (XVIe - XVIIIe siècles), en France et dans les mondes anglo-saxon et germanique. Il pointe enfin le problème du cloisonnement des travaux, entre les périodes historiques comme d’un pays à l’autre.
On the afternoon of the 29 August 1813, his 17th Division of the Army of the Bober pinned against the raging flood by 30,000 Russians, French General Baron Puthod, was astonished when an Irish officer volunteered to swim the flooded river to gain information. Later that day, another officer accomplished the same feat, swimming the river in both directions. Later that evening, the entire 17th Division was all but annihilated in the flood.
2015
The translation of my German book is now available in English. The 188-page soft-cover book discusses the wartime circumstances that resulted in the forming of the Alpenkorps to bolster Germany's Austrian ally in Tyrol on the Italian Front in 1915. Immanuel's research has unearthed fascinating and previously unpublished information about the Corps' formation, its early struggles, its performance in combat and life in the rear echelon. It represents the first book in English that makes the Alpenkorps a subject of discussion. If you want to buy a copy, feel free to write me a PM or write me an e-mail to my adress: immanuel_voigt at yahoo.de
Mission Tactics and the British & German Army's 1914-15 " To Army Headquarters and to G.H.Q. In some ways it was like the debate of a group of savages as to how to extract a screw from a piece of wood. Accustomed only to nails, they had made one effort to pull the screw by main force, and now that it had failed they were devising methods of applying more force still. "