The Battle of Austerlitz: Napoleon's Greatest Victory
The night was freezing cold. The hard ground shrouded in mist. By dawn the soldiers were on the move. It was 2 December 1805 and just outside what is now Brno, 3 mighty armies were about to fight one of the greatest battles in history. By the time the sun set, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had achieved a stunning victory, a victory so decisive that it would set the course of European history for a decade. It was the Battle of Austerlitz.
Did Napoleon really fire cannonballs onto frozen ponds? Watch this video to find out!
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsely, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, and iOs & Android.
We're offering a special discount to History Hit for our subscribers, get 50% off your first 3 months with code KZhead: www.access.historyhit.com/
#napoleon #austerlitz #battleofausterlitz
It’s a shame we’re getting more history lesson on KZhead than the actual History Channel.
Well, except for "Ancient Aliens", of course! 😅
Why is it a shame? We're getting fantastic history lessons from enthusiastic, passionate people with actual expertise in actual history for free. This is arguably better. Plus, good old school History Channel content is still available on KZhead. The History Channel is dead, long live History Hit.
I think they moved all that to Military Channel, I agree HC has no more content matching its name.
History Channel used to be great at military shows ..now sadly it caved in to "reality" t.v. trash.
There is a channel called History that has a lot of their old content such as Dogfights on KZhead. However, I agree that there are several channels that have far more suprior content than the History Channel ever did. That is why I do not have a TV.
I wonder what Dan Snow was thinking during his interview with Ridley Scott, whilst Scott proudly boasted about belittling his historical advisers on the set of ‘Napoleon’, by asking them, “How do you know? We’re YOU there?” It seems that movie directors are now our historians?
Scott is an ass. Tired of his wannabe un-historical movies.
Scott is an arrogant twat. I'm disappointed that Snow had originally posted a rather negative critique of the film (and Napoleon) pre-release, but for some reason, he changed his tune after that interview. Scott has always played roughshod over historical facts
Did he really do and say that? What a fool.
Apparently Scott took his ‘history’ from the self serving and greatly embellished dispatches Napoleon would send back to Paris in order impress Josephine. God help a generation that gets its history from movies.
That “interview” was pathetic. Quite disappointed in Dan Snow.
Napoleonic videos will never get old
While Austerlitz is famous because of it's scale, some of Napoleons victories in Italy are no less incredible. He was able to turn the tables on opponents that had him flanked, out numbered and surrounded by making pivotal decision at exactly the right time. By comparison, what made Austerlitz work was all the little things Napoleon did leading UP to the battle to cast the illusion of disorder, weakness, confusion, lack of supplies, ragged, demoralized and ill prepared. Surrendering the high ground, the Pratzen heights, was the cherry on the illusion cake that caused the Russian's to swell with confidence and take the bait.
But with napoleon you never know, when losing he will give a story about his generals losing the battle., surrendering the high ground was maybe just that.
Agreed on all counts.
Hear me out, Suvorov's siege of Ismail is a masterpiece. You could say that this man was single-handedly responsible for the Russian Tzardom surviving Napoleon.
But the film said it was all about the allied army fallen down a frozen lake, what is this Dan Snow??
The film is just a fictional part. It was Napoleon's strategy but they depicted him as a simp and loser.@@lotennaokeke3414
The use of terrain is top notch. The setup at the meeting highlighting the “best possible approach” for the opposition is brilliant. There’s definitely something to be said about Napoleon’s tactical thinking. Too bad bravado encroached upon that a little too much… or maybe lucky it did.
Oh, I really appreciate that this video came out on a snowy winters day. 😊
It was really masterful, giving up the heights as bait and luring the enemy off the Pratzen heights with the thinly held village of Solkonitz. Timed it with the mist/smoke perfectly. Total genius stuff. I would *never* have even considered that, given the risk...
I wouldn't wanna sit across Napoleon at a poker table.
California, dreaming.
@@kkidcruz6118Baccarat, more likely.
There is nothing like a Napoleonic video it never gets old
Heh heh. Thanks for the chuckle. =)
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is defeating himself.” --------- ― Napoleon Bonaparte
he should have have thought of that when invading Russia.
@@tomhirons7475 "One must never ask of fortune more than she can grant" -Napoleon Bonaparte
@@tomhirons7475 The invasion itself was a good move. The Russian Empire was Napoleon's last great Continental enemy and defeating it would have made him master of Europe. The interesting conundrum is whether he should have pushed on to Moscow after Borodino or Wintered around Smolensk. Militarily this would have made for a sound strategy but politically it might have made him appear weak and indecisive. The alliance with Prussia was shaky and the peace with Austria was uneasy at best. Imho it was the invasion of Spain that doomed Napoleon. It sapped French strength and confidence whilst giving the British public, particularly the urban middle-classes, the impression that their taxes were achieving something other than subsidising foreign armies that Napoleon kept defeating. No Peninsular War, Britain makes peace after the defeat of the Austrians at Wagram and the 5th Coalition collapses, Napoleon has no need for his 'Continental System', and a Polish 'buffer state' is established as Russia turns its attention towards The Ottoman Empire. As a bonus Wellesley commands the British forces during the war of 1812 and the United States of America is returned to The Empire as he is granted the title of 'Duke of New York'. * *I may have gotten a little carried away there. 🤣🤣
Personally I like it because I find it funny: “You can do anything with a bayonet, except sit on it”.
When he’s making a mistake*
Thanks to Tristan Tate who shared this video to me and now i see Napoleon"s battle was much more interesting than the movie which i didn't and wouldn't see
Talisman video guide 👍🏻
That’s why I’m here too.
Absolutly, thank you
Fr
Aw my brothers….. Get of YT and get to F’ing work!!! 2024 is OUR YEAR!! TODAY IS OUR DAY!!
I wish the Napoleon movie had centered around Austerlitz instead of whatever it was Scott released.
It takes up 25% of the movie, pretty accurately too
@@murkysebit’s a tiny scene in the film and the most inaccurate depiction humanly possible. Literally the worst recreation of any battle on film I’ve ever seen.
@@pauls064 as a historian I can say it's an accurate depiction of the battle
@@murkyseb as an actual, working, real historian, I can tell you you’re full of shit. No “historian” would ever make such a claim. I’ve been twice to pratzen heights and Telnice in the last 5 years and the geography is comedically bad in the film, the movie portrays the battle in a tiny valley when the line was 12km long, when the Satchan ponds were emptied after the battle, they found only 3 bodies and 150 horses (the “drowning” was an inconsequential part of the real battle), there was no snow and the day was sunny and bright after the morning fog, etc etc etc etc The whole battle scene was so bizarrely bad, myself and several peers (also historians) who were reviewing it nearly gave up…. I had the displeasure of working on a Randall Wallace film as a researcher and never thought anyone would direct battles so badly, but scott is the master of screwing up every possible fact in a historical battle.
@@murkyseb It's about as accurate as the battle of sterling bridge scene in braveheart and had the strategic grace of a multiplayer round. Sure a number of allied troops died from some ponds, but misses the whole heights portion of the fight.
I don´t know much hosts presenting history like Dan Snow does. I watched many documentaries presented by him and he still has that passion that makes me to watch him so eagerly.
6:42 Napoleon's soldiers are so dedicated to guide him they're still shining lights to this day.
So badly depicted in the movie
They literally only show the end of the battle as if that was the whole battle.
I don't know why this channel is shilling this movie so hard. It's bad.
Did enjoy it but it was soooo so clueless....
@taylorarnold5311 So how long would it be if they showed all of it? 😅 A tad bit more than 5 minutes me thinks!
@@cleverusername9369 Practicality
Incredible! This low cost network documentary can present combat scenes (using the ubiquitous napoleonic reenactors) more dramatic and genuine than a Hollywood production of several million dollars!
There is a reenactment every year at Austerlitz, so even Napoleonic soldiers fighting at the location in the proper season, that's something anyone can film on a smartphone these days.
Cool of that Austrian soldier at around 8:30 to recount for us his experience of the day. He’s lucky to be alive after this battle.
Great video and also very nice to see you visit the actual battlefield! Loved it! Thank you
Great video on this battle, as it's a huge part of the early chapters of War and Peace.
Finally someone who knows the plural of canon is canon. Respect Mr Snow
It's a shame you can't even spell cannon... And you're still wrong anyway. Cannon and cannons are both acceptable as the plural form of cannon. You're trying to look smart but it's not working very well when you can't even spell correctly. And you're wrong on top of that.
Thank you tristan tate for giving me this link
Just found this channel and hearind Dans voice is so nostalgic. Loved 20th century battlefields as a kid! Everytime you paused i always expect to hear your dad picking up the narration. Well done, love many of the videos ove seen on this channel with Dan and really appreciate his delivery and appreciation of history.
This is great! Can I make a suggestion? In films like this, when shots of maps are used, can you leave them on a bit longer and enlarge the relevant bits a bit more? Some of us are a bit aged, I fear. Nice one Dan and team. ⭐👍
❤
This is insane thank you for sharing this history
This is better than the new movie.
The whole Sharpe opening riff was a great addition❤️
I was hoping you'd do a video on this! Thanks!
thank you guys for doing this. its awesome. truly.
Well explained and pointing out the terrain there on the site of the battle helped it come alive. Well done.
Fantastic work. Thank you. Bless 👊
Shoutout to the talisman for recommending this, fascinating stuff.
Really enjoyed this, very well presented concise assessment of the battle, great selection of appropriate paintings, scenes and graphics.
Tristan Tate sent me here, great video!
Nicely done! Definitely my favorite battle to study of the Napoleonic Era.
What a treasure this channel and Dan are
awsome as always Mr Snow
A dramatic retelling of the battle of Austerlitz, of Napoleon comprehensively destroying the Allies as Dan Snow walks around the battlefield. He really brings the battle alive, (for all the death that was wrought on that day !! )
Thanks to Tristan Tate I was able to get such an education about "The Battle of Austerlitz"! This was so much more entertaining to watch & engaging imagery compared to school history education! Thank you for the video!
Awesome video about Napoleon very interesting!
I went to Austerlitz on the anniversary back in 2015 and watched the re-enactment. It was fascinating to be immersed in history
@6:44 I just love the little farm tractor/JCB in the background with it's wee flashing orange light when the advancing allied armies are being discussed....
As an 1812 reenactor I love this time period in history. Such a great period of power struggles. both in Europe and North America
Tristan Tate a G for bringing this to everyone’s attention 💪🏽
Thanks for the link, Tristan!
Very good video. Thank You Sir.
The central strategic masterstroke can be more clearly explained than here. The occupation of the Pratzen Heights was the key to commanding the battlefield. Napoleon abandoned them, inviting the allies to occupy the high ground, which they did. He left his right (southern) flank conspicuously weak, inviting the allies to leave the plateau and attack his right. But unbeknownst to the allies, Davout's III Corps had arrived overnight in a spectacular 110 km forced march from Vienna to the south. Shrouded in fog, his disciplined corps had arrived just in time to shore up Napoleon's southern flank. When the allies abandoned the heights to attack what they thought was the weak spot in the French line, they ran into Davout's disciplined and battle-hardened Corps. Exactly at that point, Soult led his IV Corps through the mist to occupy the now abandoned heights, trapping the Russians from above and cutting off their retreat. It became like shooting Russian fish in a barrel. Omitting the action to the north, this was the battle's strategic masterstroke.
Davout's III Corps (nicknamed Napoleon's 'X Legion') forced marched for two days to the battlefield, which is a fantastic feat in itself. Considering going straight into action on the right flank, afterwards, holding the flank in a stalemate until Marshal Soult's attack on the centre. Marshal Davout Napoleon's finest Corps commander by far.
Thank you Brilliant video, brilliantly narrated highly factual as I studied this battle-and even with my amateur in depth studies the video filled MANY GAPS-But I want MORE!
Tristan's recommendation 💪
Thank you Tristan this was refreshing a news real view
Very bad Napoleon movie by scott, I regret watching it.
This is insane thank you for sharing this history. “Never interrupt your enemy when he is defeating himself.” --------- ― Napoleon Bonaparte.
That would be rude😃
Hey HH. Love your work 👍
To Tristan, speaker of truth. Leader of young men everywhere. HUZZAR! ;)
I haven't seen the movie, but this is amazing military tactics and sheer courage
Awesome video thank you
Great video, I’m now ready to jump back down the napoleon rabbit hole
I would like to extend thanks to Tristan for recommending this great piece of historical media, portrayed wonderfully unlike in the recent Napoleon movie.
THE TALISMAN TATE 💪
its amazing how brave people can be
Excellent, finally some serious attention for this famous battle!
this battle has evaded attention?
@@soloar2007 yes, in napoleonics, it’s always Waterloo, Waterloo, and some more Waterloo just in case.
Wow just imagine if this battle was portrayed in a blockbuster *angry french noises*
Waterloo was even more of a joke in that movie.
Wait you're saying this isn't in the movie?
@@bine35It is but it just consists of people charging into each other and firing artillery into ice
@@JayvH Ah yes with the legendary charge of Napoleon at the head of its cavalry under the threat of a british sniper
@@ToonStory-fh4gnIt surely went down in history
Thanks tristan
Thank you T
Great video!
Dan is the man!
Very informative
Great video! I really appreciate that it has been filmed here on the actual battlefield! I just want to add something to the story of thousands of men drowning in freezing ponds (as it might be interesting for people who are into the battle). The ponds were actually drained just days after the battle and just a few horses and some canon were found there - no drowned soldiers, except for one or two who were pulled out immediately after the battle. Napoleon himself created the story to make his great victory go down in history as even greater. We have protocols from the draining of the ponds - and they just do not support this story.
Correct! 2-3 bodies and ~150 horses. The “lake” was just shallow polder and many of the men in the water were pulled out by the French themselves or simply waded out and surrendered.
unlike what they show in the movie right? :D
@@Raguel1984 The movie made the whole battle about that one thing implying that Napoleon tricked the entire Austrian army to cross the lake while retreating so he can destroy them by drowning. Just idiotic Hollywood stupidity
Well good lot of actual info coming out …
Here because of tristan
I know a bit about Napoleons journey across europe, fun fact he was actually first a officer of the Artillary battalion (dont know exact which one) and he became commander of a small army after stopping the French Revolution, when he got his army france went to war with Europe and he had to fight the Swiz and the austrians. This battle was a massive victory since his army was made of low trained troops and people who were really hungry. He's military skill saved this battle and he was only 20 - 28 years old! And this was the beginning of he's power...
My 3x great grandfather was a sergeant in the Royal Scots in the Pennisular wars and at Waterloo so I am always interested to know more about this period and Dan is a great narrator. I was so dissapointed with the Ridley Scott movie.
Excellent
Thank you for the recommendation Tristan
Excellent Episode of History as always!!! 😁
Thanks Tristan ❤
To think that such beautiful terrain could the scene of so much slaughter.
Thanks Tristan
Thanks to Tristan for sharing this video
Napoleon even earned Czar Nicholas' respect with that battle.
You mean tsar Alexander?
@@jabm344 yes my bad.
Good program to see right after I saw a movie trailer on this battle.
The Talisman sent me here
Even after 200 years ,napoleon are quiet popular in french peoples heart....a real leader in world
The thick accented French and Russian narrating voices were a nice touch lol.
Ridley Scott made a mockery of this battle in his silly movie
Well said Marc!
Strange how in a long documentary like that about Austerlitz you have not once mentioned the Mamluks who were the elite cavalry in Napoleon’s army and who were the ones breaking the Russian imperial guard in that battle.
Thank you Tristan for sharing this
The poor farmer who had to go back the next day
I’d still rather be him than one of the soldiers 😉 it’s better to have to bury the dead than be one of them!
dan snow is the man !
Tristan tweeted this video
Top T, brought me here 🔥
That movie made me lose my lunch with frustration.....I'll never understand these film makers THE TRUTH IS SPECTACULAR ENOUGH!.✌️
I watched it Tristian thx
The Battle of the Three Emperors. With Napoleon the soldier victorious ⚔
I still think the best part of the battle was that despite Napoleon’s brilliant planning, the battle still needed his improvisation and effective leadership to be fully won No plan ever survives contact with the enemy, the Russian imperial guard’s near suicidal charges stalled the French advances and inflicted brutal casualties. It was napoleon and his staff’s quick thinking and organisation that turned the situation from a costly won hill into a decisive checkmate
Up next - his retreat from Moscow... Probably the most savage exodus of any army, hounded and hunted by merciless Cossacks.
Thanks for this, as a Brit we don't truly understand history that doesn't involve Britain & this battle would put Britain & France at each other's throats yet again. Influencing many citizens ( Our ancestors) lives in a great struggle yet again..... For the benefit of the few
wonder what Dan's actual thoughts are on the historical inaccuracies within Ridley's film
There were very few inaccuracies
@@murkyseb There were several but other commentators have explained them better. 1) Napoleon's army did not shoot the tops of the pyramids off. 2) Josephine died an entire year before Napoleon wanted to return to France for the 100 days. 3) Napoleon was not present at Marie Antionette's execution as he was already in the south of France fighting the British. 4) Napoleon did not lead a cavalry charge at Borodino as he was unwell that day, possibly with a urinary infection. 5) Brunswickers, Nassau, King's German Legion, and Belgian troops are absent from Ripley's depiction of Waterloo, even though they compromised a large chunk of Wellington's army.
@@celston516. Napoleon did nothing in Waterloo due to hemorrhoid, let alone leading a final charge
@@murkyseb you sure bro? lol
Awesome movie I just seen it last night thanks for sharing you did a great job with this video 👍
The movie was fckn terrible u doofus!
the new movie sucks
You missed the bit where they fought on an ice lake! 🤪😉
Ha ha, guess someone had to say it, congrats (I did want to thank him for sparing us Joséphine's spread (btw, her name like mine, José but it was him who extended it, a few queens were named Josephine,,,,
That was alluded to.
That only happened in propaganda stories and in that atrocity of a movie. Although I guess 2-3 Russians drowning in a small pond 2 meters deep wouldn't look so epic on the big screen.
Tristan, thank you for what you do & for the recommendation. I just wanted you to know that I made a donation over Christmas as a gift to you & your brother to the British Heart Foundation. I hope your mum is doing better. God bless.
"I am little tired" sounds like quite understatement.
I'm really excited about the movie " Napoleon "
It was a great explanation and introducing of that decisive battle ( Austerlitz), which was a first Napoleon Bonaparte victory ✌️ on correlation forces .thant you (🙏 history Hit) channel for sharing.
Tristan is my fav human being