Wellington's Hidden Heroes: The Dutch and the Belgians at Waterloo
by Veronica Baker-Smith
On This Page
Description
" A n excellent account of the contribution of the newly formed (and short-lived) United Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Allied victory" ( HistoryO fW ar.org ). The Dutch-Belgians have been variously described as inexperienced, incompetent, and cowardly, a rogue element in the otherwise disciplined Allied Army. It is only now being tentatively acknowledged that they alone saved Wellington from disaster at Quatre Bras. He had committed a strategic error in that, as Napoleon advanced, his show more own troops were scattered over a hundred kilometers of southern Belgium. Outnumbered three to one, the Netherlanders gave him time to concentrate his forces and save Brussels from French occupation. At Waterloo itself, on at least three occasions when the fate of the battle "hung upon the cusp, " their engagement with the enemy aided British recovery. Their commander-the Prince of Orange-has been viciously described as an arrogant fool, "a disaster waiting to happen, " and even a dangerous lunatic. According to the assessment of Wellington himself, he was a reliable and courageous subordinate. This book reveals a new dimension of the famous campaign and includes many unseen illustrations. For the first time, a full assessment is made of the challenge which Willem I faced as king of a country hastily cobbled together by the Congress of Vienna, and of his achievement in assembling, equipping, and training 30, 000 men from scratch in eighteen months. "An extraordinary and impressively researched, written, organized and presented history that sheds considerable new light on one of the most influential battles of 19th century Europe." - Midwest Book Review "A fascinating read." - Military Heritage show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
Op 18 juni 1815 bestond een derde van het geallieerde leger, onder leiding van de Hertog van Wellington, uit Belgisch-Nederlandse troepen. In dit werk beschrijft de auteur hoe belangrijk, misschien wel onontbeerlijk, hun bijdrage was tot de overwinning op Napoleon. Initieel vergeten, genegeerd en zelfs verguisd in de Britse geschiedschrijving, krijgen ze hun verdiende plaats in de herinnering.
Jul 13, 2020Dutch
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Best Military History Books
123 works; 21 members
Author Information
2 Works 33 Members
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Wellington's Hidden Heroes: The Dutch and the Belgians at Waterloo
- Original publication date
- 2015
- People/Characters*
- Napoleon Bonaparte; Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; Willem II, King of The Netherlands
- Important events*
- Battle of Quatre Bras; Battle of Waterloo
- Dedication
- For Susannah
- First words
- Introduction: The Duke of Wellington described the Battle of Waterloo as 'the most desperate business I ever was in ... I never was so near being beat'.
Chapter 1: Nederland - literally 'low country' - refers in 1815 ... (show all)to the newly created monarchy that emerged from the Congress of Vienna, combining Belgium with the formerly titled United Provinces (of which Holland was only one) and incorporating modern day Luxembourg. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Perhaps the reasons for that are now irrelevant if justice can at least be done - after all, it was the Duke of Wellington himself who said, 'there should be enough glory for all'.
- Original language
- English UK
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 940.2742 — History & geography History of Europe History of Europe 1453-1913 Napoleonic period 1789-1815
- LCC
- DC242 .B35 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania France – Andorra – Monaco History of France Modern, 1515- Revolutionary and Napoleonic period, 1789-1815
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 19
- Popularity
- 1,327,065
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.40)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
