By this time years of campaigning, poor food, stress, and various ailment had taken a terrible toll on Napoleon. At times his ailments were so serious that he would need to rest in the middle of battle and pass command to his subordinates. At the Battle of Jena his guard had to form a protective square while he napped. The same thing happened at Borodino. Having an actor that's twenty years too old at this point doesn't bother me. If this guy played him during Napoleon's first Italian campaign then I'd be pissed.
The war had aged all these guys much faster. Look at a later portrait of Marshall Lannes. He wasn’t an old man by a long shot, yet ALL of his hair had turned Snow White. All the years Napoleon wages war... That’s a long time to be stressed out to the extreme.
@@malachimatcho7583 I agree the stress must have been immense. In fact, I wonder how not all of these men looked like they were in their 70's, including Napoleon and Ney.
@@jaskiers8951 Yes true! I remember running into a few dudes from high school who were studs. They were athletic, blonde haired, had every girl chasing them, etc. When I ran into these guys after college, they looked like they aged 15 years. Most of them lost hair, got fat, etc, and that was from too much partying, drinking and books. These guys didn't have to walk from New Jersey to the UK and back, or witness tons of their friends being decapitated by canon balls, eating terrible food or not eating at all, walking around in your wool suit in mid summer, etc, etc. I think 90% of all people glorifying Napoleon, Alexander, etc, would drop out after a week of being in their armies. What those guys went through, I don't even think we can truly wrap our head around.
There is only one Davout. If Davout can be at Paris suppressing opposition, AND lead the detachment chasing the Prussians, AND lead the vanguard at Quatre Bras, AND be Napoleon's wingman on the field, OR even earlier, be in Spain to fight Wellington.... but there is only one Davout.
Napoléon and Davout weren't in good terms after Napoleon started to make basic attacks in battlefield. In Russia (Borodino), Davout wanted to attack to the left flank as he used to in Wagram, Austerlitz and Heylau. Napoleon prefered attacked straight in front. They were often in contest with each other so Napoleon takes him away as often as he could. Napoleon said in his memorial : Murat (for cavalry), Berthier (Soult didn't do well replacing him) and Bessiere (for imperial gards) were missing at Waterloo. But despite that, a lot of good generals were also missing for the 100 jours.
@@freewal He wasn't jealouse because he trust him giving command of Eckmül thrown and always gave him important post. I think they had not the same vision of politics and tactics so they were trying to work separetly.
I find Bertier to be fascinating because he served in the American Revolution as a junior officer during the Battle of Yorktown. He was known as Napoleon's best staff officer and if that is him speaking he certainly is showing his talent. He didn't seem to have much luck as a field commander, but I think Napoleon missed him during his attempt to take back power. He was killed or accidentally fell from a balcony before he could join Napoleon during the Hundred Days.
chief of staffs job is logistics, analyzing topography and terrains whether it is suitable for our army to cross or send messages to different commanders for troop movements and destinations
schizoidboy Our logical effort was very successful we built massive supply bases around the country that supplied our troops wherever they were, even in the most remote parts of the country. Our Strategic bombing campaign intended to sap NVA/VC supply and unit movements was a frustratingly inefficient. Our ground strategy to rack up a “body count” and to destroy the main NVA/VC (Battalion, Regimental,Brigade, and Division sized) units was a failure due to the enemies uncanny ability to vanish into the mountain, jungles, and swamps typically they would also cross the neutral borders of Laos or Cambodia. One of our biggest failures of the war was the Chu Hoi program which would relocate peasant farmers to massive plots to better concentrate their populations so they wouldn’t be within communist influences created even more mistrust and overall worsened our relationship with the local communities and people. A corrupt South Vietnamese government was a constant issue that complicated relations as well. 2 Men I believe are to be blamed for our military effort failures they also in a certain capacity are to blame for our political failures in Vietnam to. They are William Westmoreland and Robert McNamara, but saying that from the benefit of hindsight isn’t necessarily a good argument. Anyhow the War in Vietnam was unnecessary and very very unfortunate, and even today as far as strategy we are still making the same mistakes. That is my short take on the war.
"Let us, for God's sake, move out for military reasons or stay for military reasons! And let us FORGET ABOUT ALEXANDER and concentrate on SUPPLIES" -Marshal Berthier. Napoleon's Greatest Chief of Staff.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I only took that because at 3:22, Napoleon said "There's truth in that, Davout" after 'Berthier' inserted about being away from Paris for six months.
@@Rumpelstyltskin Didn't it was that he fell on the stairs and broke his neck? I could be wrong on this one. It was a long time since I read about his death.
@@justinian-the-great a murky episode, but "official accounts" cite a window as his last known position ante mortem. I would very much like to have a look at this series in its entirety as I tend to find English speaking tv/movies are rather limited and kinda biased in the anti French opposition's favour. Throughout the Consulate and Empire periods, France rarely was first to declare war and primarily fought wars of defence. This "second polish" campaign which culminated in the capture of Moscow was just an extension of previous wars; the only way to defeat GB (later UK) was to introduce a restriction on imports from that country. Britain had the raw materials (eminating from its colonies) and the manufacturing capability (made in GB), what it needed was markets. Napoleon sought to curtail this with the introduction of the continental system, Russia through dire economic necessity broke this and openly traded with GB. Napoleon needed to rectify and invaded in 1812...the rest is history.
One odd thing about the scene at the end is when Napoleon says they will march to Kaluga because Kutuzov is there. That is not why he marched the army in that direction. He did it because the route the Grand Armee had taken to Moscow had been picked clean and they needed fresh lands on which they could forage on their way back west. For his part, Kutuzov would have wanted battle with Napoleon, because time was running short before winter began and any significant delay for Napoleon reaching winter quarters would prove fatal.
Napoleon said he would not make the same mistake as Charles ll did 100 years before, that of seeing his limits and turning south to supply the army and reach Moscow from a Southerly route but rather Napoleon would PRESS ON into a waiste land only to capture a burning warehouse. Napoleon found himself in the same situation in Moscow as Charles Xll at Smolensk, a hungry army with no supplies and winter comming on. Horse meet would not last long and with no bread death was certain. A General who has won several victories but only lost a few can see he has done well. But when he has not feed his army for even a week he faces disastor for hunger does not go over and the army soon melts into the ground from starvation. Napoleon had no choice but to retreat if he was to save any part of The Grand Army. Perhapes he thought he could beat the winter and reach Smolensk in time.
I dont understand how communication was possible between armed forces in these days. it was like 90 years more before the radio was even invented. always boggled my mind how they could plan so intricately with no way to communicate over long distances.
There were a few methods; the French had an interesting advantage with their novel telegraph system - a series of towers relaying coded messages - developed by Claude Chappé as far back as 1793. Napoléon expanded it and a message that would normally take a rider days could be delivered in *hours* . Other nations tried to copy it with varying success. In Russia, it became a difficult setting up a mobile version across the Russian plains. So the French had a way to deliver *simple* messages over long distances. There were of course hand-delivered written messages that had a clever safeguard against enemy interception; soldiers could eat it or carry it in the barrel of a loaded pistol, firing and destroying it if they encountered an enemy. Often two copies of important messages were sent. Napoléon was also demanding on forms and paperwork; precision was key. Even the Marshals of France - the most powerful men of France - could have their pay docked for filling out a form incorrectly.
Davout and Berthier are relatively well portraied. But Napoleon look like he is older than 60. Why are so many movies about the Napoeonic age but so few actors who gave a good performance as the Emperor.
Apart from the grey hair, it's not a bad Napoleon. I think Berthier was more round-faced than the actor playing him but otherwise not bad either. The other two officers, on the other hand have facial hair that makes them look as if they were borrowed from the Crimean war.
@@fransbuijs808 You'd need to find French actors, or there's a chance they'd sound like the French soldier on the battlements in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". "I fart in your general direction", "Fecher la vache!"
David Chandler, Tony Brett James and Chis Duffy were the military advisors. It shows here very clearly. This scene isn't in the book or any other film of it. Just in what they discuss here can be used for an excellent study about the dangers of strategic over extension and/or the fatal flaw of Napoleoinic warfare, I.e. the reliance of seeking and getting decisive battles - until you don't get them.
he’d beaten their army in battle, occupied a major city which was practically a joint capital with petersberg, and could not expect Russians to burn down their own city. By the rules of war of that era, he should have won. Russia acted above and beyond in this war, so you can’t blame napoleon for doing the obvious thing, beating Russia’s army and then occupying their historic capital. By rights that was victory, but the Russians played a new game.
@@rhysnichols8608 When we (Americans) poke the Russian bear today, your words "...but the Russians...." at the end should be graven in everyone's memory.
Alright but you didn't control Russia from Saint Petersburg, you did from Moscow which was in the middle of their heartland. That's why Napoleon went to it. Not to mention some of the most important Russian cities were on that route.
lollllllllll, would be funny if that was the reason he lost Napoleon: "how can you be defeated if you occupy the capital of your enemy" Bertier: "............ St petersburg is the actual capital sire" Napoleon: "............... ........ ............ O SHIT FUCK" LOL
It seems Napoleon rarely has been portrayed accurately in film treatments over the years, in terms of physical appearance. Usually too tall and/or too old. Even worse, probably, as an outright caricature. And often as a maniacal warmonger, which, in truth, I don't believe he was. It's been several years ago now but I've seen this version of "W & P" & think I recall being relatively pleased with the Little Corporal's portrayal in it, at least in terms of his basic personality. I haven't yet watched this particular video-clip.
The value I find in Napoleon's campaign in Russia is that the war is an unpredictable beast. Once it is awakened it does not guarantee victory for those who started it.
Actually it does on occasion Napoleon would hesitate. Lets not forget he is 1,764 miles from Paris as well he is losing thousand of men to desertion every day. If he leaves Moscow he knows he probably wont ever be able to return. He needs to win now not next year.
Troops started deserting the moment Napoleon crossed the Russian border. Many of the German recruits deserted on the way to Moscow so his army was considerably less than 600,000 when he fought at Borodino.
God, what a genius this man was! Yes, invading Russia was a tragic mistake of immense proportions but in this one scene alone, Napoleon's brilliance shines. The important thing is, he's willing to accept the situation & retreat. The fact he hesitates, not only is incredibly suspenseful, but highlights the Corsican's thought processes & fighting-spirit. One really feels for this Emperor. Great scene, great man, clearly one of the greatest, possibly THE greatest, in all of human history!
Napoleon's plan for the invasion of Russia was pretty brainless. Obviously, his intent was not to conquer it but to force Alexander t keep to the Continental System, but in a scenario like this, you either go all in or not at all. Nappy should have made an alliance with the Finns and the Ottomans, enemies of Imperial Russia, and only invaded to Smolensk that year. Then he should have rebuilt his logistics and invaded the rest the next year. Or gone right for Saint Petersburg instead, not...Moscow? What? Chasing Kutuzov forever into the interior when it should have been obvious to him to stop pursuing the dude. And his battle plan for Borodino was bizarre. And so he lost most of his army before he even got to Moscow. But this Napoleon had fallen victim to his own legend. He was no the same commander of five or ten years earlier. He still had it in him, however, as the astonishing Six Days' Campaign of 1814 demonstrated.
@@geert574 the historical image's of makeshift hospitals Windows and doorways filled with amputated limbs to block the wind is about as surreal as even Jackson could conjure.
hunter371 you’re an imbecile. Napoleon didn’t speak English with a French accent either... These are English actors and it is a drama, not a reconstruction.
@@nickrad6966 A poor one that has a bunch of Frenchman speaking with English accents. Watch John Adams to get an idea of how you should have people from other lands speak.
@@hunter371 Yes but they're playing English people speaking in English. If we're going to be totally accurate by your exacting standards, no one should play a character in a foreign language as it isn't an accurate representation. An accent is even more laughable. The only solution is to ban people from playing Napoleon, Stalin, any historical figure etc. from the entire English speaking world, unless they're fluent in French or Russian and are also excellent at the respective dialects too...
Napoleon he won that that's war between France and Russia!!! Waterloo battle he lost and the reason why, because he was betrayed!!! But I'm still like his he is genius and he's talent!!!🗼🎆🎊🥃
He lost because Prussians learned from him after he learned from them (Frederick The Great). They fucked Marechal Grouchy and came to Waterloo to stop the english defeat.
Dojocho freemasonry was the major influencing power before 1960s... nowadays it’s nothing... the world now is controlled by Russians versus American power cartels
@@Caesar88888 unfortunately not. The china was decided between USA and Russia in late 70s where the Russian took the government and military infrastructure of China and USA took the commercial sector because work force was so cheap and suitable for American greed. Now Russia install and removes officials in the Chinese gov and communist party ... Russia has the private life folder and sex videos for every high rank official in the Chinese government in case if they don't obey Russian rules they get eliminated immediately. I recommend read the life of Xi Jinpin hand his connection to Russia
Which napoleon film is this? Brando's? But that is Desiree (1954) and Brando is young in that film (someone mentioned this is Brando but I can't tell).
Con otros jefes habría ganado en Waterloo? Hipótesis cuando menos temeraria. Ligny fue ganado por Ney pero no explotó el triunfo; Quattre Bra fue un empate táctico; Wellington cuando niño se dice que conoció Waterloo; Napoleón no tenía idea de cómo era el terreno. Siempre que un contrincante escoge el terreno para pelear lleva la ventaja. Siempre el que defiende, si tiene buenos jefes lleva la ventaja. El que ataca a otro que defiende debe tener suficiente superioridad de fuerzas y de medios para asegurar el triunfo. Napoleón tenía más caballería pero menos infantería que Wellington. Napoleón siempre se caracterizó por ser un buen administrador de la artillería, pero en Waterloo, disparando en elevación y en un terreno todavía encharcado, llevaba las de perder. Finalmente, aún suponiendo un triunfo de Napoleón, no se debe olvidar que dos ejércitos austríaco y uno ruso se aproximaban a lo lejos (uno de los de Austria venía subiendo por Italia). Lejos el peor error de Napoleón fue invadir la Rusia de Aleksander (extraño en un hombre que sabía mucho de geografía y de historia universal).
They're not wearing epaulettes on their shoulders, and they don't speak. So, maybe they're Davout & Berthier's staff officers who were asked to attend the meeting? Just a guess.
They had a long, brutal, exhausting march to even get to moscow. Supplies were already extremely strained. Supply wagons often got stuck in the mud, constantly harassed by kossak guerillas. Supplies was a nightmare
The biggest mistake ever that Napoleon made the invasion of Russia in 1812 basically the beginning of the end too big to occupy making it impossible to protect his supply lines and the winters of Russia are terrible. Napoleon would have been better off occupying a significant part of the Russian empire then got someone to run that occupied area and left it at that.Its the only way to get a edge over the Russians they knew then as now how to use the geography of their huge country and the terrible winters to their own advantage against a invader and a hundred and thirty odd years later Hitler made the similar mistakes that lead to Napoleon's defeat.
The problem wasn’t supplies in 1941, it was a doggered Russian counter attack and then freezing conditions. He was on track to take Moscow until this unexpected set back. Stopping would have lost the momentum of the offensive, by rights he should have taken Moscow, but an early winter froze the tanks.