Jena to Eylau: the Disgrace and Redemption of the Old-Prussian Army

The Prussian army at war against Napoleon

The author of this book has chosen as his subject the campaigns of the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically between the humiliating defeat of his countrymen at the Battle of Jena in October of 1806 and the next major conflict at the Battle of Eylau in February of 1807. The author has an understandably partisan motivation, but nevertheless this is an in-depth, serious and thorough historical analysis of a time and conflict that is rarely covered in books available in the English language and it will therefore be a welcome addition to the libraries of those interested in the Napoleonic Wars as they touched the continental European powers. Goltz is clear in his condemnation of the performance of the Prussian Army in 1806, but asserts that it redeemed itself in early 1807 by its performance at Eylau and his books tracks the performance of the Prussian forces from their darkest hour to, perhaps, the first glimmer of light from potential success against the hitherto invincible French under Napoleon. Certainly the consequences of the defeat at Jena were more far reaching for Prussia than could be remedied by the outcome at Eylau. Indeed, whilst L'Estocq's corps acquitted itself well at Eylau within a principally Russian force, that alone was insufficient to claim a victory of Prussian arms in a bloody stalemate of a battle that ultimately benefited none of its protagonists to any degree strategically. So this is the account of an army finding its worth after defeat and gathering itself at the beginning of the long road that would ultimately lead to the rout and vengeance at Waterloo. Available in softback and hardcover with dust jacket for collectors.