The Battle of Waterloo - Leadership and Strategy
The Battle of Waterloo (1815)
Famous for...
1. Napoleon's
defeat
The British, Dutch and Prussian (German) victory over the French (led by Napoleon Bonaparte, pictured right) on 18th June
1815
2. Wellington's victory
The victorious British army was led by the Duke of
Wellington.
3. Abba
Abba had a number one hit, Waterloo, about the battle which won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976 (pictured
right after winning).
Why is the battle important?
It ended the Napoleonic Wars.
These were caused by the French leader, Napoleon
Bonaparte’s invasions of other European countries like Austria and Russia.
Why was it called Waterloo?
Waterloo is a village in Belgium near to the battlefield.
The opposing armies – leaders and troop numbers
Napoleon Bonaparte (French) – 123,000
troops, who fought against:
- Duke of Wellington, pictured right (British and Dutch-Belgian) – 112,000.
- Gebhard von Blücher (Prussian) – 130,000.
Why did Wellington win?
1. His leadership
Why was he a great leader?
a) strict discipline
(his nickname was the Iron Duke).
His discipline was essential because many of the German and Dutch-Belgians in his army were inexperienced and
unreliable.
b) strategy
Wellington chose a defensive battle because it would have been difficult to attack with
his multi-national army.
c) character and visibility
He earned his men's trust and respect through his
- support and encouragement.
Wellington bravely rode 20 miles during the battle directing his troops and led them from the
front.
d) information
Wellington got great information about the enemy from:
e) empowerment
He closely controlled his army (to make sure it kept to his battle plan).
But his officers were allowed to act on their own initiative (as Sir John
Colbourne, pictured right, did leading the successful Oxfordshire Regiment infantry attack).
f) self-confidence
This allowed Wellington to:
g) administrative efficiency
Wellington transformed:
- logistics (providing his army with adequate supplies of food,
clothes and weapons).
- his officers’ management skills (his staff procedures are still used today).
2. Napoleon’s mistakes and problems
a) his army
This was too small to cope with both the British and Prussian armies
His best troops also died in his Russian invasion of 1812.
b) the wrong battle
A defensive battle in France would have been more successful
for Napoleon.
c) the Prussians
33,000 of Napoleon’s troops:
- failed in their mission to stop the Prussians helping
Wellington.
- didn’t take part in the battle.
Napoleon:
- should have recalled these troops earlier.
- gave the Prussians more time to join Wellington (by
delaying the start of the battle until 11.30 am so that the rain affected ground was firm
enough for his big guns).
d) poor control
Napoleon allowed his deputies to make important mistakes:
- Marshal Ney, (who made a series of unsuccessful cavalry attacks).
- Marshal d’Erlon, pictured right, (who attacked in massive divisional infantry columns, 200
men wide, which were easy targets).
3. Prussian support
The Prussian attacks on the French eastern flank:
- made victory certain.
- diverted 33,000 French troops who would otherwise have fought Wellington.
The Prussian leader, Gebhard von Blücher, pictured right, inspired his troops with his:
- support and understanding of their needs.
If they were short of food, he would eat only boiled potatoes!
4. The battlefield
Wellington chose a small (around two square miles, over 5 million square metres) battlefield, which :
- was ideal for the defensive battle he wanted.
- made it impossible for Napoleon to attack his flanks.
5. Luck
Wellington was also helped by pre-battle rain which slowed down the enemy and delayed
Napoleon's initial attack.
The battle’s key
moments
11.30 am
French attack the chateau of Hougoumont which the British successfully defend.
Napoleon’s delayed attack gives the Prussians more time to help Wellington.
1.30 pm
French unsuccessful infantry attack (led by Marshal d’Erlon).
Wellington counter-attacks with:
- General Thomas Picton’s (pictured right above) infantry and
- two cavalry charges (one at 2 pm, led by William Ponsonby, pictured
right, who was killed).
Around 4 pm
Marshal Ney, pictured right, (without Napoleon’s approval) makes a series of unsuccessful
cavalry attacks against the British and Dutch-Belgian troops .
Around 4.30 pm
The Prussian army attacks the French right
flank.
About 6 pm
The French infantry capture the farmhouse of La Haie Sainte
But they can’t exploit this vital strategic position due to shortage of troops (caused by the Prussian
attack).
Late evening
Final victory after Napoleon’s Imperial Guard is defeated
This is helped by the Oxfordshire Regiment’s successful infantry attack (led by Sir John
Colbourne).
Results of the battle
1. Thousands
killed
Estimates are:
- British and Dutch-Belgian (15,000).
2. Rule Britannia
Britain became the dominant world power, helped by:
3. Peace in Europe until 1914
Peace encouraged:
- scientific and technological progress.
4.Wonderful Wellington
In Britain he became:
- famous for his wellington boot!
5. Napoleon’s nemesis
Napoleon was:
- exiled to the southern Atlantic island of St. Helena.
He died there in 1821.
Key quotes
Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
- Duke of Wellington (reflecting on the casualties after the battle)
In all my life I have never experienced such anxiety, for I must confess I have never been so close before to
defeat.
- Duke of Wellington.
It was a damn close run thing,
- Duke of Wellington (after the battle).
The art of war is a simple act; everything is in the performance.
- Napoleon Bonaparte.
Note
Wellington probably didn’t say the famous quote:
The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.
|