1815 Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon's last battle, how it happened

Using new archaeological findings, first hand accounts of the battle, expert interviews and CGI and 3D animations this program helps us understand the dynamic elements of strategy and weather that led to Napoleon's historic defeat by the Duke of Wellington on the fields of Waterloo.
Directors: Marianne Cramer and Guillain Depardieu

[@Ap-cm7mx]

Bones are rare. After Waterloo, more than 27K tons of human/animal bones from Napoleonic battlefields were imported through the port of Hull to be processed into fertilizer. The young soldiers still had good teeth and these were used to make dentures, they were called "Waterloo teeth" at the time. The British were called the vampires of Europe when all this happened.

[@francoiselicker4775]

Ce sont les guerres financées par L'Angleterre et non celles de Napoléon comme la propagande anglaise le répétait inlassablement.

[@soultraveller5027]

Just, wanted to correct something in this documentary, there were no ''English only''in duke of wellington's army, they were british soldiers , meaning collectively all nations in the united kingdom fought as one, under the union jack flag,🇬🇧 What, you got to remember after the battle which was as gruesome, as the battle itself, and typical of the Napoleonic era of warfare, There ,was no organized retrieval or system to collect the wounded from the battlefield, they were Litter Bearers, but was still a ad hoc, affair, the scale of casualties overwhelmed the litter bears task ,they were so many casualties, thousands of dead, dying, and wounded on both sides, that they were unable to be removed for days after, The lucky ones, if you can describe it as lucky ones , were stretchered off or walked off,, but what awaited them when they got to the field hospital , was another matter, Army surgeons, had to work quicky, bearing in mind there was no pain- relief drugs ,when amputations were performed, the speed and efficiency of the surgeon of cutting the limb off, and trimming the bone,and creating a flap to cover the stump was the best the unfortunate soldier could hope for. The rest, out there had to wait in the cold ,wet conditions , they were left for days, there thousands perished in agony, At night, came the locals from around the area, the ''scavengers'' they got amongst them, and picked clean the dead and wounded, the horrors didn't stop, the teeth were hacked out and the prized teeth were from the young soldiers because they had a full set ,even the wounded were not spared, even killed, theses teeth were worth a lot of money because they were used to make dentures for the wealthy , this is never mentioned in the aftermath of warfare, it's all about glory .

[@Lee.Enfield-303]

I accept some of your points but there was a very great effort on the French side at least to deal with casualties, one of Napoleon's personal doctor's Larrey devised improved methods of recovering and treating casualties using purpose made ambulances. Plus, the "British" had surgeons working non stop at the field hospital at La Haie. So it wasn't as primitive as you suggest. Teeth weren't just obtained directly after the battle, although this is one of the horrors I often imagine about for those poor souls laying out in the fields once darkness fell. The burial pits were exhumed to use the bones in the fertiliser process years after the battle and thus teeth would have been easily obtained. So let's just say, these programs are entertaining and somewhat informative, but not always complete or accurate.

[@soultraveller5027]

@@Lee.Enfield-303 That's quite true that the french made great efforts looking after their wounded soldiers and sought to improve the french soldiers misery in better after care then the British did ,l believe the french organised a ambulance service of a kind to carry off the wounded too. In fact the British military medical services were no different all the way to the Crimean war 1853/56 38 years later. However, let's not paint a too brighter picture here, we are talking about the early 19th century still ,they were no drugs to relieve the soldiers pain . The experience was unimaginable .they suffered and endure having the limbs amputated , simple because there was no alternative. you or I cannot even comprehend the suffering back then, they endure because they had no choice , disease like Typhus was endemic, serious bacteria infection killed many, all was prevellant in abundance, the mortality rate after surgery was low 5% for a forearm to 35% for a thigh removed bacteria that lead to disease was not understood, in the context of war bacteria and disease was not proven untill 1884, by a German bacteriologist Robert Koch, , stomach wounds were untreatable and the soldier was left to die in agony. What am saying is I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy enduring the suffering

[@Lee.Enfield-303]

@@soultraveller5027 I aint painting any bright picture, I simply stated it wasn't as primitive as your initial comment stated. They, no matter what side or what era were discussing will always struggle with the numbers of casualties in a large scale operation or action. And we can comprehend some aspects of the suffering ! Have you never hurt yourself, seriously hurt yourself ? I recently broke my shoulder and went without any pain killers the night I did it and only mild painkillers for few days after. And I've been stabbed in the leg, didn't know I had until someone pointed out the blood. So I can imagine to a certain extent. But sock is one of the biggest killers on the battlefield. let's not forget the poor animals too, I've rad accounts that almost traumatised me. But I aint here for a ding dong 😀 I accept your points and after completely watching the documentary, I feel safe in advising others to look elsewhere, this one just skims the surface and doesn't stand up to scrutiny Cheers

[@soultraveller5027]

@@Lee.Enfield-303 Fair enough I wasn't implying anything that didmished your comment,I was ultimately at the end of the day looking at it from a historical perspective, in that yes medical care was sorta improving a little from past decades centuries of course but by no means great strides certainly not in my opinion. Yes ,of course I have been injured in my younger days, broken my femur due to a road accident a car knocking me off my bicycle, luckily for me it was a clean break no compilations like a compound break. The pain was noticeable ,after the endorphins released by my body wore off, apparently, I was a excellent patient and surprised I wasn't screaming and shouting while the Nurse was cutting of my brand new jeans. I ,must have a high pain threshold ,I didn't receive any pain relief until I was laid on a hospital trolley awaiting to be rolled into Theater, least from what I can recolate It was bad, but tolerable, the worst part was post opp, the intermittent muscle spasms occuring, a few days after surgery, was something I wasn't expecting, that was uncomfortable,which is a normal side effects apparently, after breaking a leg ,while surrounded by a steel cage and attached to pulleys wire and weights called a traction contraption. It was considered a serious injury even back in the 1950s so I was informed by a nurse due to infection specially compound fracture where the bone comes through the skin

[@AlexanderJScheu]

Later - Wellington want say - His Victory.. NO - it was German Prussia, Fürst Blücher, Commander, brought the Victory - with His Strategy and Tactic with His Brave.. Heroes Troops...

[@kriserauw5970]

As a Belgian I can say my country always has been a battlefield crushed between the great powers France, Germany and England. Napoleon was defeated in 1815 at Waterloo in a decisive battle witch led Europe in almost 100 years of peace until WW1 broke out in 1914 with millions of death on the western front especially around the Ypres salliant with 5 battles and the big offensive at Passchendale in 1917. Now 100 years later they still dig up tons of shells each year in Flanders fields. Then came WW2 with Germany occupying Belgium untill they had to retreat after the landings at Normandy and they had their last counteroffensive at the battle of the bulge in the Ardennes with many casualties again. In a way my country is a graveyard and we have many war cemeteries . We have peace now for many years but with NATO stationed in Brussels we are a target once again. Let’s pray it never comes to a big war again ✌️

[@ougentrost]

I pray with you my fellow European friend! Let’s protect our countries from this shit called war!

[@johnmassoud930]

Well said.

[@douglasprewer7913]

Napoleon fielded 72,000 troops against Wellington's 68,000. It may not sound much of an advantage but he had 250 cannons and Wellington only had about 140 cannons if accounts are to be believed. If I was Wellington I too would have fought a defensive battle of attrition.

[@cmourat1]

Correct. I agree. Also, Wellington had less cannons, but more Prussians 😄

[@J.B.29]

Face facts. Wellington did not win Waterloo, Blucher and the Prussians did.

[@phildavies7666]

Thats a bit like saying the Russians won WW2, ignoring the other allies. Wellington won the battle with Blucher as a team. Wellington fought a defensive battle against superior forces assuming Blucher would join. Wellington did not deny Bluchers impact on the battle

[@iammattc1]

@@J.B.29 Wellington fought the battle he wanted to fight. Napoleon fought the battle Wellington wanted to fight.

[@J.B.29]

@@iammattc1 and was losing until Blucher saved him.

[@willvermeer7500]

The British only had some 25,000 men at Waterloo, the rest of the 80,000 odd of Wellington's troops, where Dutch, Belgium and German troops.

[@stephenhill545]

The British provided the only professional army of the era, supplemented by levies.

[@elbailadorrojo8775]

Quite a good documentary from France without the usual incorrect claim of most British documentaries that Wellington was victorious by purposefully omitting that Wellington would have lost without the Prussians. Some corrections though: There was no Russian "Masterplan" to withdraw as very good described in the last researches of Historian Alexander Mikaberidze. And unfortunately, the filmmakers seemingly never served in the military. Boredom and inactivity is spread widely until today in every army and living conditions in campaign still are often unhealthy...living conditions in 18th century in general were bad for regular people and even much worse in the Royal Navy.

[@user-pb4gl5dh4p]

What is rather sordid is that the mass graves where the soldiers who died during the battle were buried were desecrated. After the looting of personal belongings, the teeth of the dead were used to supply the market for dentures of the time. Around 1820 several articles in English newspapers refer to the trade of bones from the battlefield, in order to be transformed into agricultural fertilizer. Besides, some isolated bones, like this skeleton of which the video speaks, were found, there are no common graves on the battlefield.

[@smartbomb7202]

gotta make a buck some how...don't panic it's organic

[@TheRealSlimshadyyyyyy]

Outstanding job my god sir, mhm yess indeed.. But that armor that was pierced by a cannonball was not that of a Rifleman, but that of a French cavalryman. A Cuirassier. Helpful tip mate!

[@__sirena__]

I visited Waterloo battlefield, and I had a very bad feeling about the place. It was completely overwhelming, I felt sick, and I just had to leave after a short while. I'm clairsentient so I expect I was feeling something from what had happened there all those years ago ^^

[@jaredfleagle6126]

Just because the archeological remains of the fallen soldier suggest he was "small" and had a birth defect, does not mean he was frail lol. Those dudes would March miles with their gear as foot soldiers. Dude was probably more hard-core than 80% of males now

[@desmondstewart3552]

An italian man fighting as Emperor of the French fighting an Irishman, the Leader of a British Army in a Flemish area of Belgium

[@francoiselicker4775]

Pendant ce temps,les banques anglaises se remplissaient...

[@fessorjespersen5437]

Explaining the loading process: "With the stick, he mixed it all together" 😂😂 Nice try though 😉

[@DonAbrams-hq7ln]

Not all ramrods were iron, wood prevailed for pistols.

[@mikepotter5718]

“They have ruined my battlefield.”

[@nickstevens3139]

Please use metric values.

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Thankyou sir for showing this great Emperor documentary

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Sir in India mysour emperor Tippu sultans also got this type of gun Tippu sultan received guns by napoleon Bonaparte

[@antoniomoreira5921]

I strongly recommend Schwerpunkt's Napoleonic warfare series as a complement

[@valentinius62]

His output is phenomenal.

[@samkohen4589]

What is usually ignored is before Nappy took over France, France had the largest population of any country in Europe. However the losses France incurred, especially with Nappys Russian adventure resulted in a demographic disaster from which France never recovered, even today.

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Sir please show us biryani and Paris military schools that napoleon started his military education

[@Lee.Enfield-303]

43:29 A Rifleman wore that breast plate did he ? Good grief 😵‍💫

[@loyalpiper]

No, he was a cavalryman.

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

Thank you for this work..

[@BobBlarneystone]

i read an article that stated that the bones of the dead soldiers were ground up for fertilizer. Is that so?

[@lynnedelacy2841]

Yes I believe so

[@robinfereday6562]

Yes it’s true that’s why their are very few skeletons from Waterloo

[@user-ft8ej3nj2i]

Это какой же "дробилкой" в 19 веке можно было раздробить кости нескольких десятков тысяч павших воинов ?! А мясо на колбасу пускали ?! И свозить их надо было со всего поля в одно место ?! После всякой битвы всегда старались трупы захоронить, чтобы избежать эпидемии ! Для этого использовали всё, что только возможно : овраги, различные ямы и углубления, колодцы и т.д. Костедробилку придумали гораздо позже : западная "цивилизация" во главе с гитлером !

[@markgrootendorst8688]

No, they were merely used in the sugarindustry, and some as fertiliser.

[@RIcklacantina]

why do you use pictures of another era and country in this clip (the execution scene at the beginning around minute 1.10)

[@GavTatu]

quick stock pics i guess ?

[@RIcklacantina]

@@GavTatu I think so too, but it lowers the quality of the vid so much, and it is such an interesting subject

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Allied ( Scottish, Kings German legion , Hanoverian , Dutch, Belgian , Nassau , Brunswicks Troops ) plus Prussians verses the French ( Some Dutch, Polish Swiss )

[@user-id1qw5fv1h]

Какие 10 лет непрерывных побед?!

[@pakoutac]

1815 battle at Ulm?!?

[@galapagos4154]

Türkçe alt yazı desteği olmaması üzücü 😢

[@Youtubechannel-po8cz]

Wellington commanded an allied army, British, German and Dutch.

[@daniellastuart3145]

they was no German in the early 1800's they were Germanic independent stats yes

[@Youtubechannel-po8cz]

@@daniellastuart3145 King's German Legion fought at Waterloo.

[@raymondfitzgerald-kuhl5976]

Not German, Prussian. Germany was not a nation until 1872.

[@Youtubechannel-po8cz]

@@raymondfitzgerald-kuhl5976 The Kings German Legion fought at Waterloo under Wellington.

[@markgrootendorst8688]

And Nassau, Brunswick and Hanoverian…..

[@MegaRebel100]

Holland a alie of Napolein ?? we were condered ,people were pressed in the army of napoleon ..so no allie

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Sir does franch archaeologist found napoleon Bonapartes naval fleet in bottom of ocean

[@PeterOConnell-pq6io]

Wooden ships of that era tended to burn on the surface or explode rather than sink intact. Metal and non-wooden artifacts have been recovered, but nothing recognizable as a ship wreck.

[@LordUhtred1]

Yes, Trafalgar quietly ignored.

[@iomarsilvalima969]

❤❤

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Napoleon Bonapartes is lion of 100 wars

[@reluctantheist5224]

But it's the last ones that count.

[@francoiselicker4775]

Qu'on a faites contre lui..!

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

I stopped watching at 3:50 in because this was not talking about Waterloo as the title suggested.

[@kevinmurphy7218]

Good visuals. That script needed editing. Nothing built on Waterloo since 1815 in the same breath as the Lion Mound, an artificial hill. "Months of fighting" to describe without anything further the yearlong long War of Liberation in Germany 1813 that sealed N's fate. Also "Blewher" for Bluecher. Yikes.

[@iammattc1]

And "King Lewis"

[@iammattc1]

"The Russians decided to side with the British" - no mention of the Continental System? The British largely just financed and supplied armies that were fighting against Napoleon rather than having their own armies in the field (there were exceptions including the long Peninsula Campaign in Spain and Portugal) So Napoleon decided to cut that source of funding from his enemies by isolating Britain from trade with Europe. Some countries ignored this (such as Portugal), Russia agreed to it then re-started open trade when their own economy was badly affected, and everyone else took part in smuggling. Russia going back to trading with Britain was why Napoleon invaded, the Russians didn't just randomly change sides!

[@stephenhill545]

I thought the Russians were at war with the collective west.

[@davidcollins2648]

Not to nitpick but it was Marshal Blue-sure, not "bluer"

[@timber750]

More like "blue-xher".

[@robnewman6101]

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. Prussian Army Field Marshal.

[@mwovlog]

Nice ❤❤❤

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Sir please show us napoleon Bonapartes pyramid wars

[@scottleft3672]

Not "Blue-er"....but BLOOKER......(BLÜCHER)...."BLOOKER...followed by horse neighing.

[@trevor5213]

Accents are not so important, einfach los quatschen, just keep talking.....

[@iammattc1]

And "King Lewis"

[@monalizoelgrande2579]

20🇨🇵24 AP🌹RIL ...°°°... ❤️* ^❤️ ^❤️*

[@romakaverin7467]

Поэтому они сходились

[@GOINGNOMAD]

Loud terrible music under the narration spoiled it.

[@trevor5213]

Stop nit picking 😅

[@narayankulkarni5378]

Sir napoleon Bonapartes he is my inspiration role model for every soldier sir please show us napoleon Bonapartes artifacts and his museum

[@magnusmcgraw]

Without Blücher and his "tall fellows," Wellington would have been defeated. By the way, the British have always managed to gain the support of other countries against their own declared enemies. "History is always written by the victor" Napoleon Bonaparte.

[@soultraveller5027]

Hey muppet, we get it your not a big fan of the british yes well done sir, Wellington knew that you too, he knew more than half of his army were europeans including some his staff were inexperienced untried in battle, while a percentage of his best soldiers were sent to the north america during the 1812 war ,with the y anks , the british having set fire to the White House, while a Yank eeee army at the same time crossed into canada torching the place up cheers matey 😁🤣

[@kylefrank9186]

So true! The single truth that the British gets everyone on there side is because we’re right and just!👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️

[@ommsterlitz1805]

gained support ??? They paid the equivalent of thousands of billions worth of gold to the coalitions countries to wage war against France for 30 years and all this gold was pillaged from India.

[@soultraveller5027]

Well done captain obvious yes Wellington know what he had to fight with and made the best of it. Yes over half his army were Europeans inexperienced unproven in battle ,as were half his staff his best troops were scattered around the world special north America defending Canada after the war of 1812 when an American army marched into Canada and torched the place while the British touched the white house good and proper b ellend 🤣

[@daniellastuart3145]

i think you find it the other way round if it was not for the Wellington the Blucher would got he butt kicked, remember they lost both the battels ay Lingey and Wave and by the time Blucher army arrived at Waterloo in force the French army was all ready 80% defeated by Wellington

[@franckschuman8931]

la France ....seul contre tous

[@robertwalker951]

Whats with the music in these kind of things ITS REVOLTING

[@s1nb4d59]

Bad narration and cheesy music to say the least,not a good doco about the battle of waterloo at all,most of the senseless comments below honestly seem to be bot generated.

[@francoiselicker4775]

Les Français n'avaient ni flotte ,ni argent après le Directoire.Avec une flotte de taille,il aurait battu l'Angleterre maitresse des mers grâce au roi grand amateur de femmes jetées après usage..Henry huit ?

[@romakaverin7467]

Самопал

[@airstripone2419]

Napoleon's biggest mistake was making enemies of the British. He was doomed from that moment. What a fool.

[@georgevongabain3802]

Exept for the Navy they played a minor part

[@senolhakan9255]

@@georgevongabain3802 but dont forget the money they sent to the anti-napoleon coalition...

[@robertwalker951]

It’s the horses i feel sorry for not the humans

[@thewhitedoncheadle8345]

who is bluer?

[@iammattc1]

Ask King Lewis, he might know.

[@chriss.9060]

as mentioned 3 weeks ago : Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Prussian Army Field Marshal (needs correct pronunciation)

[@davidfowler4741]

This wasn't Napoleon's last battle.

[@earthdate3495]

The battle of Waterloo was me looking for another job so I could get the funk out of Iowa.

[@lisaschuster686]

Men who are short are not often “frail,” an conclusion he claims twice.

[@romakaverin7467]

Ю

[@steveforster9764]

Switching between the English and the Uk/British they are not the same nor are they interchangeable

[@narayankulkarni5378]

I pray Jesus give the child for every franch parents like Emperor napoleon Bonaparte Amen

[@raymondfitzgerald-kuhl5976]

What do you mean?

[@victorpulis5113]

the Prussians under Blucher saved the day. if they had not arrived Napoleon would have won but history gives the victory to Wellington.

[@user-ft8ej3nj2i]

Жаль, что Императору не удалось добраться до острова и не уничтожить наглосаксов, как государство-вампир ! История пошла бы совсем по другому пути развития. Многие последующие войны на состоялись бы вовсе ! Смешно слушать про "агрессивного" Наполеона, если учесть, что все коалиции, созданные кознями и золотом наглосаксов, были направлены на уничтожение главного конкурента на континенте - Франции.

[@trevor5213]

Putin is arrogant

[@DmitryKudlaenko-cz6px]

Сочувствую

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

OOPS ! WRONG VIDEO ................. I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT ABBA. 😂 🤣 😂

[@terryfletcher2886]

😂😂😂😂at least you learn something 😂😂

[@petethefeet1461]

less of the history lesson and more about the soldiers as in the title ...

[@michaelhiggs8657]

It's British, not English! The Irish, Scot's & Welsh also played a major part. Typical American mistake!!.............

[@robnewman6101]

BOOOO Bonaparte! 😡😠👎

[@bradleydass3075]

From time to time there’s a leader the world needs to be rid of. Napoleon is a classic case of this. Better to nip it in the bud early!

[@stephanemouton7250]

not sure, Napoleon wasn't a bad leader, at that time he became what English made him become, for defense of France against all European Kingdom who wasn't found of French Revolution era and the end of monarch, so who knows, he have to fight for sure but what if English and others didn't attack him ?

[@garymoore2535]

Napolean wasn't a bad leader 🙈 A vain dictator that declared himself Emporer and crowned himself Emporer because, in his own opinion there was nobody else good enough ! In Napoleans own words "When we started the whole of Europe was with us, now the whole of Europe is against us". The explanation is Napolean himself ......his maniacal self belief, constant threats of war unless his neighbours complied with his demands, coercion alienated every single one of his Allies. 🤮

[@cmourat1]

@@stephanemouton7250 Well, it's a little bit complicated, but he certainly wasn't THE MONSTER. Napoleon the Monster is a british invention

[@hedgehopper9055]

Very annoing flickering images through this video, I lost interest after two minutes. Why doing this on purpose? Seems rather stupid..

[@corfmatm7313]

On s'en fout, on vous a battu au foot !

[@SpunkmeyerSnr]

So many mistakes in this video. Worse than the History Channel.

[@estrellagamo9659]

bonaparte was not really a brilliant strategist. He lacked calculations. He was only ambitious.

[@swiftymorgan3001]

Yes and half of wellingtons army were Dutch Belgium and once fought for the french

[@romakaverin7467]

Самопал