Osprey Men-at-Arms 90 : Napoleon's German Allies (3) : Saxony 1806-1815

In the twin battles of Jena and Auerstädt, on 14 October 1806, the forces of Prussia and Saxony were defeated by Napoleon's army. In a report of the last stages of the battle of Jena, the Prussian Oberst von Höpfner observed: 'Those [Prussian] troops withdrawing on Weimar were in full flight; only one unit remained steady - it was the Saxon Grenadier Battalion Winkel with whom the Prince [Hohenlohe] was and who commanded it personally for a time. In this terrible moment, when defeat and confusion was everywhere, this battalion stood like a rock. Surrounded by fleeing allies who had thrown away their weapons and who no longer heeded their officers' commands, continuously attacked by the enemy, these men withdrew in full control, with regular pace and with band playing. The battalion had formed an open square and whenever the enemy came too close they halted to give battle. Neither the French cavalry, constantly charging them, or the relentless fire of the tirailleurs could shake them. As soon as they had won themselves a respite, they beat 'columns of platoons' and marched off with band playing as if they had been on the parade ground.'. Needless to say, Napoleon recognised the martial value of the Saxon troops, and swiftly took steps to assure a military alliance. Otto von Pivka explores the organisation, campaign history and uniforms of Napoleon's formidable Saxon allies, with numerous illustrations and eight full page colour plates by Richard Hook.

Contents

• 1806-1809
• The 1807 Campaign against Prussia and Russia
• The 1809 Campaign
• Reorganization 1810-1812
• Russia 1812
• The 1813 Campaigns
  The 1813 Autumn Campaign
  
• In Allied Service
• The Uniforms
  Infantry Uniforms 1806
  Cavalry Uniforms 1806
  Infantry Uniforms 1810-1812
  Rank Insignia
  Cavalry Uniforms 1810-1813
  Trumpeters 1810-1813
  
• Saxon Flags and Standards
• The Plates