To the English Speaking crowd, it's known as Blendheim. After walking the battlefield and looking at monuments, I was appalled not to find the French represented. I especially was looking for a monument that might have mentioned the 5 brave French "green" battalions that died in formation in the center…never running.
Now I don't care what side you are rooting for, such stoic resolve and bravery from green troops deserves recognition of thier deed! When asked, the curator of the museum in the Hochstadt castle when asked about the lack of monuments on the French, simply explained that they do not get many visitors nor interest about the French involved there.
The museum has an innovative new display (new as of December 2011, IIRC) that shows the ebb and flow of battle and if asked, they will play the english version. I was amazed to see just how big the musketballs recovered were! Reminded me of playing marbkles as a kid but using only the "boulders"!
The uniforms on display were also an inspiration. The Bavarians (the place IS in Bavaria), French and British were not paradeground nice! There is a large collection of smallarms on display and one can jus imagine the horrible wounds that must have been suffered by being hit by such a large mass of a round.
Outside of Gettysburg, THIS was THE battlefield I always wanted to visit. The main battle was fought on gently rolling terrain, quite a contrast to the surrounding area. My thanks eternal to Chris von Fahnenstock and his cousin, for the trip there and a bonus of a same day visit to the (still) walled city of Nordlingen (30 Years War fame).
v/r
Tom Dye
is a big fan of the Age of Sail, and these ships really speak to him - he loves transitional eras, and the Anglo-Dutch Wars was one of those.
