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Titled 1805: Austerlitz, this book is essentially an in-depth history of the War of the Third Coalition. Goetz sets the scene well, describing both sides and why the conflict erupted.
This book excels at its highly detailed descriptions of strategy and tactics. Goetz tracks the movements of the armies through the initial Ulm campaign where the French encircled Mack's Austrians and forced the surrender of his entire army.
The main focus of the book is on the battle itself. The battle is related in ...more
This book excels at its highly detailed descriptions of strategy and tactics. Goetz tracks the movements of the armies through the initial Ulm campaign where the French encircled Mack's Austrians and forced the surrender of his entire army.
The main focus of the book is on the battle itself. The battle is related in ...more

Sep 01, 2012
'Aussie Rick'
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
military-history,
french-revolution-napoleonic
1805: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Destruction of the Third Coalition is a detailed military analysis of one of Napoleon's most famous battles. It may not be an easy to read book with a free-flowing narrative but it is a well-researched and well-presented military study of a famous campaign.
The author has provided numerous footnotes through the book along with some decent maps to follow the action. He has also presented a number of points of views from previous books on the subject, highlighting ...more
The author has provided numerous footnotes through the book along with some decent maps to follow the action. He has also presented a number of points of views from previous books on the subject, highlighting ...more

This was an okay account of Austerlitz, if tediously one-dimensional. I was especially disappointed that the commanders involved (including Napoleon) were basically cardboard cutouts with names. If the author would have fleshed out the individual commanders even a bit, it would have added some much needed depth to the book. If you want to know which unit was where at a specific time and what it did while it was there, then this is the book for you. If you're looking for a gripping battle narrati
...more

Superb account to napoleons great battle
I had always thought the Austrian and Russian armies were far behind at the tactical level but this book shows they fought well and with skill at brigade level but were let down by a bad plan and were fighting the grand armee at its military peak of efficiency
I had always thought the Austrian and Russian armies were far behind at the tactical level but this book shows they fought well and with skill at brigade level but were let down by a bad plan and were fighting the grand armee at its military peak of efficiency

Feb 25, 2010
Scott Vizcarra
marked it as to-read

Jul 06, 2012
Jerome Otte
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Jul 10, 2012
London SE4
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Aug 15, 2012
Kenneth Kwame Welsh
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May 18, 2013
Jacek
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Jul 11, 2021
Creighton
marked it as to-read

Feb 24, 2022
René Ahlgren
marked it as to-read

Mar 27, 2023
Matthew
marked it as napoleon-napoleonic-books