Napoleonic Basics The Prussian Army Part 4 - The Battle of Ligny

Welcome to part 4 of our deep dive into the Prussian army of the Napoleonic Wars!
In this episode we're looking at, and analysing the army's performance during the battle of Ligny, fought at the same time as Quatre Bra in the run up to Waterloo.
Link to the Mount Tambora video: • Mount Tambora: The Yea...
The pics aren't mine as I don't own any painted Prussians! If they're yours please let me know and I'll give you a credit!
The awesome battle pics are the work of Chris Dodson, I for one am going to look for more of his work and see if theres a book of them I can buy (hint...hint!)
Don't forget we are affiliated! Use this link to get up to 20% off and support the channel at no extra cost! www.the-outpost.co.uk/aff/93/
Speaking of which, if you want to join the channel there are different tiers, so why not take a look?!

[@SNP-1999]

I liked the remark that the "Pommerarians" were not meant to be the "fluffy white dogs" but the hard men from Pommerania in the east of Prussia ! Nice one there! As a matter of interest, I am an expat Englishman living in Hamburg, Germany, since 1970 and an old, dear friend of mine was Ronald von Pirch, whose direct ancestors played a substantial part in both battles of Ligny and Waterloo in the Prussian army, always refered to as "von Pirch I" and "von Pirch II" commanding the Prussian II Corps and a Brigade in Ziethen's I Corps respectively. Since an ancestor of mine fought in the Peninsular War as a Lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards, it is peculiar that we should have met and become great friends, both having ancestors that had fought as allies in the Napoleonic Wars in the Prussian and British armies!

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

This blow-by-blow of the developments, combined with your 32,000-foot analysis, as well as the dramatic readings of the eyewitnesses, reminds me of Dan Carlin. Please know that this is meant as a compliment.

[@osea5000]

Well said!

[@historypunkwargames4760]

Indeed no argument here!!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's high praise indeed, thank you! I think the best description I read about Hardcore History was 'I'm listened to the new HH about Japan in WW2' 'How's it going?' 'Im three and a half hours in and we're up to 1250' 😂

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

@@NapoleonicWargaming He certainly enjoys laying the groundwork so there won't be misunderstandings when the real meat of the series comes up. Keep up the great work!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@eldorados_lost_searcher he does! When his episodes drop it's a red letter day indeed! I had a job once walking around a science facility in London inspecting the taps every day for a month. Basically spent it listening to HH 😂

[@osea5000]

Excellent, excellent work. You are the most prolific and densly-packed Napoleonic KZbinr. Well done

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks buddy! And first! 😂

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Storm of steel

[@osea5000]

@@NapoleonicWargaming NP! Keep it up!

[@user-hi5ul3ff6k]

How concise

[@jamesdixon35]

The way you blend your artwork with the narrative it’s Almost like you’re really there

[@darrenashton2485]

Prussian Infantry 1808-1840 by Dr. Stephen Summerfield is a brilliant piece of work on the formations/units..... if you can get it....includes the Grenadiers and Guards....

[@darrenashton2485]

Love this channel but there seems to be an omission regarding the independent Prussian Grenadier battalions that were formed and involved in heavy fighting during 1813 campaign and of course the Prussian King’s Foot Guards. Both these troops in my considerable experience are often overlooked in written works etc. Would be fantastic to see a video/article on these. Thanks again for everything you have done....

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

The reason for the omission is I've never heard of them! 😂 Tha ks for the heads up, I'll have a look!

[@darrenashton2485]

@@NapoleonicWargaming OMG.... really??? On December 1808 six grenadier battalions were created from the individual grenadier companies of each of the infantry Regts numbered 1-7 & 9-12. Creating the following battalions: 1st East Prussian Grenadier Battalion (1&3) figures in brackets are parent regts . 2nd East Prussian Grenadier Battalion (4&5) Leib Grenadier Battalion (9) Pommeranian Grenadier Battalion (2&10) Silesian Grenadier Battalion (11&12) West Prussian Grenadier Battalion (6&7)

[@darrenashton2485]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Prussian brigades contained one Grenadier battalion each when they went to war in 1813 and at some point they were brigaded together individually and with the two Foot Guard Regts. The Guardsmen would later be part of a grand reserve with Prussian/Russian Guardsmen operating in conjunction with each other. During the 100 days the elite units remained at home billeted close to the Austrian border.... no need for me to explain why..... given the history of the two nations..... lol

[@andrewrobinson9198]

That's the best account of this battle I have ever heard or read. Thank you

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man!

[@BaronsHistoryTimes]

Very good fast paced narrative you're famed for - . Nice wit sprinkled in as usual too.... Pommy dogs go to war. 11:00 - The actual reality is that Wellington and Blucher had been confident they could rally their full armies together within 24 hours if either of them were attacked. Wellington's controversy on this issue revolves around the fact that he was uncertain if the French invasion was real or a feint attack and lost half a day in not starting his army on the move. The subsequent Anglo-*Allied* army's movement to Quatre-Bras to assist the German Nassauers, and Dutch Belgians holding the crossroad link to Blucher open, was a shambles in the Nivelles town sector, via which Allied several divisions were summoned upon first. 14:00 - When Wellington arrived at Ligny to meet Blucher, he gave zero indication that his army had started to move off to the front far too late by his own orders, and that barely half of his army could arrive at Quatre-Bras, even if they weren't attacked and could arrive to help the Prussians. At that point, Wellington could only perceive a few French infantry and cavalry brigades heading to his own sector - there was uncertainty if he'd be fully attacked by a larger force. The Prussians initially lightly defended the villages - they fed in troops from packed reserve positions behind the villages. As you mention, Wellington attempted to advise the Prussians against such reckless exposure, but Gneisenau made a smart-aleck reply which he would later regret. The French artillery absolutely smashed these exposed Prussian units caught on the forward slopes. 24:40 - "Vorwarts!!!" - Nice :D 35:00 - At Borodino; I believe both sides infantry in some non-threatened places lay down during bombardments. Several British cavalry at Waterloo -in the center, dismounted when the French cannonade started; they noticed the Cumberland Hussars lacked the experience to wisely copy them; not long after those Hussars fled the battlefield.

[@davidoxley8855]

Thanks for a great video. Looking forward to more from the 100 days.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thank you for watching! You'll want to tune in tomo, I've got quite a cool quote for the midweek vid

[@nickhindley4295]

Another brilliant production. You read like I read a good book, slightly breathless and eager to get to the next page. I think you showed several examples of how much more effective the French were at combined arms in this episode. Using Cavalry and artillery with infantry and the contrast with the new improved and more dynamic Prussians who whilst fighting in a new and more aggressive way seemed to fail to combine as well as the French at key times during the battle. Ligny is a battle I have not studied in detail and this episode provided so much insight it inspires me to read more. Your comments about the landwher units fighting well suggests there were examples of these troops doing really well in battle. Maybe an opportunity to add an additional test to see how they fight - true to type or "this is our day", great stuff.

[@SNP-1999]

When one reads the reports by Prussian and French soldiers who fought at Ligny, they report a surprisingly brutal hatred towards their enemies, as if the men were meeting personal mortal enemies and not men that they had never met before, as it was described by some who were there. This personal animosity could be explained by the fact that until recently, for some at least, men serving in the Prussian army had been fighting for Napoleon and the French considered them to be lousy turncoats and traitors, while the Prussians and other Germans resented the French devastation of their father land, leaving desolation behind them. This hatred was shown clearly during the battle where wounded enemies were slaughtered by both sides and all kind of atrocities occured that were not generally common in Napoleonic Wars battles. Only the atrocities carried out by Spanish geurillas and the French army in Spain come near to the horror of Ligny in this aspect. However, it was not just at Ligny that this unusual murderous bloodlust took place between the French and Prussians, the same happened at Waterloo during the final phase of the battle for Plancenoit where wounded Frenchmen were thrown from upper stories to their deaths and all others, including helpless wounded, were bayonetted or even throttled to death ! Compare now the difference between the French and the British, which can be shown in one episode that happened at during the battle of Quatre Bras, where the French under Marshall Ney fought Wellington's Anglo- Dutch army on the 16th June. Withdrawning through high crops, a French unit found a wounded comrade of theirs lying on the ground- his wounds had been dressed by the British and water and food had been left at his side. This really impressed the Frenchmen and some veterans from the Peninsular would have recalled similar humane acts at times carried out between British and French during that long campaign. When one compares that single humane act to the "no quarters asked or given" attitude between Prussians and French and the butchering and mutilations of helpless wounded enemies by both sides, one can begin to comprehend the deep hatred and animosity between the French and Germans that lasted for the next 130 years until 1945. P.S. I must however add that the French at Waterloo were not inclined to spare British Dragoons or Riflemen, many cases of the killing of these men even after they had surrendered and were defenceless were seen and reported. Whether a British soldier was killed in this way or not obviously depended entirely on the character of the capturer, and the killing an enemy after capture was not only restricted to the French, although the French Lancers seemed to be particularly murderous!

[@rhysnichols8608]

Great comment it was FUCKING interesting

[@richiehall3042]

Excellent work Tim

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

Excellent presentation! Thank you!

[@jonathanowen9917]

Great video on the Battle of Ligny.

[@SNP-1999]

Excellent video and narrative, far better than many other socalled documentaries on the subject here on KZbin. Well researched and presented, I immediately subscribed and look forward to future videos from this truly excellent channel.

[@maxchillin5425]

Great video, really enjoyed it 😎

[@MrCheese4cake]

"Rather cheesed off" my favourite part 😂

[@ruffels444]

Awesome episode!! Ligny is one of my favorite battles and although I've read quite a bit about it, this really clarified it for me. Love this channel and paint to it all the time. Well done!

[@historypunkwargames4760]

One hour! Wow good effort mate now I have something to listen to while painting my lanwhier!!

[@jamesdixon35]

I always listen all the way through 🤯

[@christopherhorner7570]

Once again spectacular video. You have got me thinking about a Prussian army . This is a problem for me as I am working on a french division ( 7 battalion s) as well as 3 battalions of British 2 of Austrian. Focus ,focus, focus. Totally love it though.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Haha. I feel your pain! I've never been interested in Prussians, but now I can see me getting a cheeky brigade 😂

[@theenigmaticgamer]

Fantastic video! Superb account of a battle often overshadowed by Quatre Bras and Waterloo. Having visited Ligny a couple of times your video helped bring the battle to life again.for me.Well done. Since I am in the process of building a Prussian army, I will certainly be checking out your other videos. Thanks again.

[@ChaplainHaladriel]

Brilliant video!! Thank you for the great content!!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thank you for watching!

[@PPM902]

I absoultey loved this video and can't WAIT for the next one, the way you do the over view of battles is unique and most passionate. Always fantastic

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man! That's lovely to hear

[@justinskol597]

Masterful work! I love the history and the passion behind it all!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juhall]

Another great job!

[@historypunkwargames4760]

Great video excellent presentation and beutiful miniatures!!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

The minis arent mine I'm afraid, they're pulled off the interwebs. Anyone knows who's they are and I'll give you credit!

[@keepitflowyartem3973]

I have been trying to build a Prussian army since about the time you uploaded the first part of the series about the Prussians. The goal is to make 3 line battalions, 3 landwehr battalions as well as squadrons of dragoons, hussars and landwehr cavalry. I have only managed to build 2 landwehr battalions and 2 line infantry ones. Now you reminded me that I have like 3 boxes I haven’t even started yet. Great vid btw

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hahaha. Thanks. Good luck!

[@scabbarae]

Love these videos man-- keep 'em coming! I've been listening both at work during mundane tasks, and at home while painting my minis. Any plans of doing a video on the Bavarians?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Absolutely! I fact I've spent the last year painting them! They will absolutely get a deep dive

[@williamballangarry2995]

Goddamn that was good. Planned on listening while I work, ended up paying attention the entire time 😂 Next time you do a battle report, you should voice over it in the same manner you did this. You have a habit of creating a feeling of grandeur when you recount battles like this.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it!

[@rangerminiaturesandgaming3647]

This was really good.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man,glad you enjoyed it!

[@Robin-fp6sx]

Epic! Thanks!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

No, thank you! My first subscriber, I'll be listing you first in my new credits sequence at the end of the videos from now on out! Thank you so much.

[@pfcsantiago8852]

Good stuff !

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

NAILED TO CHURCH DOOR ......WOOO WEEE WE FRENCH WILL HAVE TO GET EVEN....WELL DONE ...THIS ONE IS ONE OF YOUR BEST....

[@lyseloriau2749]

qui a été cloué à la porte de l'église? (je suis de ce village)

[@YukonJack88]

I've been fascinated with this battle since I was introduced to it and the whole, 100 days Theater and Campaign, via John Tillers computer Game back in the day. I'm wondering how a well crafted huge map board of the area, at the scale and simulation via SPI's Wellington's Victory, would allow a Battalion level simulation to explore the situations.... I'm tempted to load up Tillers computer game and use it to make a map and then load it into Vassal to..... and then make the units...... and.... Bloody Hell see what you've done here with this quality video.....

[@OW...]

nice one..

[@rfitzy612]

Excellent - you really sounded like you enjoyed doing this one!!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I did! The Prussians were an army I was never interested in before starting this series, but yeah, they've grown on me a lot!

[@davidcollins2648]

Have you heard about the new Waterloo diorama to be shown in the Military museum? would be cool if you interviewed James Cowan who is the main architect of the project being done in association with the waterloo uncovered project. You should see the pictures of parts that are already built, it's incredible.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I haven't no. Thanks for the heads up, I'll check it out!

[@davidcollins2648]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I can send you some pics and James email if you have an email address as a web search probably won't produce anything (it's not on the Waterloo Uncovered website either). It's a huge project with 50+ volunteers painting units and donating figures, some their entire collections.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@davidcollins2648 please do! My email is [e-mail]

[@rickrussell8382]

The Battle of Ligny has always been a bit of cluster of confusion to me. So many strong points taken and lost. Having you read it aloud seem to give it some clarity. Thanks

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It was super confusing for me too!

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

THINK THIS IS MY FAV THAT YOU HAVE DONE...WELL DONE BUDDY ...WILL SPONSOR SOON K.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks dude! I always love your enthusiasm!

[@raka522]

I think you have to understand the Prussian and the many thousands of German soldiers under Wellington's command, such as the KGL or the Hanoverian Army, for what motives and with what motivation they fought against the French. Since the 16th century, the French repeatedly attacked German countries. The Sun-King had entire cities laid to rubble and ashes, and then Napoleon came and plundered the lands and forced the men into his army. The common German soldier did not need the order of a king to fight against the French, to a large extent they wanted that of their own accord. When the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. turned to his citizens on March 17th, 1813 with the appeal “To my people” to call them to fight against Napoleon, the people were ready since a long time! There is the story at a Berlin academy, where old professors and teachers were preparing for battle, with ancient sabers and muskets, just to be able to take part in this liberation struggle. The Lützow Corps is made up of volunteer Germans. Not just Prussia, but even volunteers from Switzerland and Tyrol. They gathered together what uniforms they could get, and the only way to get them look similar was to dye them black. With red applications and golden buttons, the German national colors black, red and gold were later developed from it.

[@rhysnichols8608]

What you say is partly true, but remember under Napoleon it was Prussia who declared war on France with a silly pretext. Also Austria started 4 wars with France in this period. Both sides have blame

[@christopherhorner7570]

Would you possibly do a video on solitaire black powder game. It was mentioned on another channel that this rule set would be good for us out here in the black powder desert 🏜 thanks

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'll have a think!

[@davidcollins2648]

Very enjoyable sir! Did I see some of Mr Dodson's work pictured in the video?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Quite possibly, which images were those? (I got these off the internet so would like to give credits!)

[@davidcollins2648]

@@NapoleonicWargaming The 2 shots of dioramas with Prussian cavalry shown from behind at 5:00 and 5:50 (Uhlans and Hussars I believe). Chris Dodson creates battle scene dioramas and shoots pictures making scenes that look almost real. He's a very skilled artist.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@davidcollins2648 they were certainly very striking! Thanks man, I'll update the description

[@khankrum1]

I am doing a game using my Saxon Division in 1812 Russia and have a question. Did they retain their Prussian organisation, or where they reorganised upon the French model? I am retired and live in Bulgaria, and my recourses are limited.

[@frog6581]

that is disgustingh that they execured the people who threw stones at Bluchers window.

[@waynelee4749]

Absolutely amazing content detail, however unfortunately let down by woefully inadequate graphics. Seriously, do yourself a favour and team up with someone who can do graphics.

[@clive3490]

I only come here to hear you butcher the French and German languages :P

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hey man, if theyd git gud in 1805 or 1940 respectively maybe I'd speak their languages more fluently... 😂

[@rhysnichols8608]

What’s all this bayoneting the wounded business?? it seems the germanics and the French had more a hatred for each other than the other nations, which really wasn’t settled until 1940 😂 I understand it’s a hazard to leave potentially dangerous enemy soldiers alive while you’re fighting through a village, but usually it’s easy enough to hound them to the rear at bayonet point where reserves can keep sketch on them. And if you treat them poorly, it means they will fight all the harder to not get captured and also treat your own guys brutally when the chance for revenge comes. Maybe some wounded men who were shown mercy attempted some sneak attacks so paranoia kicked in and all wounded were killed off. Personally I would feel terrible seeing a wounded soldier getting stabbed while he’s helpless, but I do understand it may have been necessary for ones own security.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I dunno man. But the Prussians were certainly not big fans of the French!

[@jamesdixon35]

Where do you get all this fantastic artwork

[@jamesdixon35]

I hope you are a history, teacher or something if you’re not, you really missed your calling

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man! I'm not sure kids are that really interested in history these days, certainly the curriculum doesn't seem to be! Thank you for the very kind words though!