Book details
  • Thunder on the Danube: Napoleon's Defeat of the Habsburgs See large image

    Thunder on the Danube: Napoleon's Defeat of the Habsburgs (Hardback) By (author) John H. Gill

    Free worldwide delivery

    Currently unavailable

    We can notify you when this item is back in stock and you don't have to register

    | Add to wishlist

    OR try AbeBooks who may have this title (opens in new window).

    Try AbeBooks

    Short Description for Thunder on the DanubeThe Franco-Austrian War of 1809 was Napoleon's last victorious war. This title presents the history of Napoleon's last victorious war. It includes accounts of major and minor combat actions from Italy to Holland, Germany to Poland. It analyzes the intersection of political goals and military operations.
    Full description

Other books

Other people who viewed this bought | Other books in this category
Showing items 1 to 10 of 10

 

Full description | Reviews | Bibliographic data

Full description for Thunder on the Danube

  • The Franco-Austrian War of 1809 was Napoleon's last victorious war. He would win many battles in his future campaigns, but never again would one of Europe's great powers lie broken at his feet...In this respect 1809 represents a high point of the First Empire as well as a watershed, for Napoleon's armies were declining in quality and he was beginning to display the corrosive flaws that contributed to his downfall five years later. His opponents, on the other hand, were improving. In 1809, he faced the Archduke Charles, the best of the Habsburg commanders, and are formed Austrian Army that was arguably the best ever fielded by the Danubian Monarchy. The French ultimately triumphed but the margin of superiority was decreasing and all of Napoleon's skill and determination was required to achieve a victorious outcome.Gill tackles the political background to the war, especially the motivations that prompted Austria to launch an offensive against France while Napoleon and many of his veterans were distracted in Spain. Though surprised by the timing of the Austrian attack on the 10th April, the French Emperor completely reversed a dire strategic situation with stunning blows that he called his 'most brilliant and most skillful manoeuvres'. Following a breathless pursuit down the Danube valley, Napoleon occupied the palaces of the Habsburgs for the second time in four years...The Austrians recovered, however, and Napoleon suffered his first unequivocal repulse at the Battle of Aspern-Essling on the shores of the Danube opposite Vienna.