Marshall Gebhard von Blücher
Napoleon's Nemesis
Gebhard von Blücher is best known for his military clashes with the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Contemporaries described him as a rough and uneducated man that was full of common sense, courage and loyalty. Yet, few realize that Blücher's military career began as a prisoner of war.
Blücher's Early Military Career
Gebhard von Blücher was born on December 16, 1742 at Rostock, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He joined the military at the age of 14 when he enlisted in a Swedish cavalry regiment, despite his family's objection. However, Blücher's career with the Swedish cavalry ended abruptly when he was taken prisoner by the Prussian army during his first campaign. His captivity resulted in a deep loyalty to Prussia. He soon joined the Prussian army and served in the Seven Years' War with the same hussar regiment that originally captured him.
After serving for a number of years in the Prussian army, Blücher became disgruntled after being passed over for a promotion and resigned in 1773. He moved to Silesia and became a successful farmer.
Blücher's Return to the Prussian Army
When Frederick William II ascended the throne, Blücher rejoined his regiment as a major. He was recognized for distinguished service in the campaign of 1793-1794. As a result, he was promoted in 1794 to major general and given a command in the lower Rhine area. By 1802, he was a lieutenant general.
It was in 1806, that Blücher fought the French at Jena-Auerstadt. The French defeated the Prussian army, took 25,000 prisoners and forced Blücher to surrender at Ratkau.
He didn’t have to remain a prisoner long. Blücher was quickly exchanged for the French Marshal Claude-Victor Perrin. After the peace of Tilsit, he worked in the war department and eventually commanded troops in Pomerania. Yet, Napoleon felt so threatened by Blücher that Napoleon forced him into retirement in 1812.
When war between Prussia and France broke out again in 1813, Blücher returned to command Prussian forces at 71 years old. He went on to distinguish himself in the battles at Lutzen and Bautzen. He then went onto defeat the French Marshal Etienne Macdonald and captured 18,000 prisoners and 100 guns at Katzbach. He became a field marshall for heroism at the Battle of Leipzig.
Blücher led troops across the Rhine and fought with allied troops against the French in Paris in 1814. He retired once again when it appeared that Napoleon was contained at Elba.
When Napoleon escaped from Elba, Blücher returned to active service and took command of Prussian troops in Belgium. While in Belgium, he and his chief of staff, August Neidhardt von Gneisenau, began coordinating forces with British and other allied forces under Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington's, command.
Blücher Leads Prussian Troops in the Battle of Waterloo
Blücher began coordinating battle strategies with the British in the fight against Napoleon. Sometimes this arrangement came at a cost. At Ligny, on June 16,1815, Napoleon defeated Blücher, forcing him to withdraw his troops. He headed to Wavre in order to coordinate with Wellington. Withdrawing to Wavre was dangerous to Blücher and his troops but it was crucial to helping Wellington at Waterloo.
Blücher and his troops arrived at a critical point during the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. The Prussians surprised the French and reinforced the British troops, ensuring Napoleon's defeat.
The British allied forces honored Blücher for his exemplary military service. The Prussian king gave him the title Prince of Wahlstadt. He retired to his chateau in Silesia and died in 1819.
Source:
Holmes, Richard (Editor), The Oxford Companion to Military History, Oxford University Press 2001
Battle of Waterloo
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