The Turning Point
Following the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, Napoleon faced a new coalition of his old enemies. This title examines the campaign at Lutzen that led to the climactic battle of Leipzig, one of the key battles of the Napoleonic wars.
Following the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, Napoleon faced a new coalition of his old enemies. With incredible speed he raised an army of 200,000 men and marched to join the remnants of the old Grand Army in Germany, where he planned to comprehensively defeat them. However the inexperience of his new army began to show, At Lutzen on 2 May Ney was surprised by Wittgenstein, Napoleon galloped to the scene and with his old brilliance turned defeat into victory. Crossing the Elbe he brought the allies to battle at Bautzen, but Ney's hesitancy allowed them to escape and victory slipped from his grasp.