"The Crossing of the Rhin in 1814." Topic

This is an excelent article from Napoleon Series about the Crossing of the Rhine by Marshal Blücher in the Winter of 1814.

Apart from the so interesting details and data, I had to ask why Marmont with 16.000 men at hand (and some reinforcements near) performed so bad against the 50.000 men under Blücher.

Anybody had seen the Rhin?.

It wasn't easy on WW2, so imagin in 1814?

I cannot avoid to think what would happen there if instead of a Marmont at charge of the french they were under the command of a Ney or Davout?.

See here and enjoy.
link

Amicalement
Armand

Well, it's an interesting "what-if" about Marmont, but the weight of numbers (1:4) it's more interesting too. Don't you think?

I prefer Davout (100%) for this task: he performed brilliantly at Auerstadt (as ever) with inferior numbers. On the contrary Ney sometimes made more mistakes in the battefield (Jena, Waterloo…)
I prefer Ney for the Russian retreats ;)

For the purists:

Well, it's an interesting "what-if" about Marmont, but the weight of numbers (1:3) it's more interesting too. Don't you think?

Bad numbers… :)

Yes my friend, but you have to cross the Rhin and if you move your troops well (not static performance) you can made it very difficult and save a precious time for France.

Amicalement
Armand

Tango01,

I think the matter it's time and armies numbers. If you see all the allied armies involved (and their numbers I repeat) in the French borders in 1814 the final result is made before it started.

Of course to cross the Rhine it's a problem, but with Davout for example in charge he delays the crossing 15 days? 1 month? 2 months? But there are another fronts: south, southeast, north, ecc.

A precious time for France is the possibility to win the campaign or make a honorable peace with the Allies with honorable conditions. The Rhine crossing as the Napoleon's Nieman crossing was inevitable, 1 month before or after.

Sincerely yours,

I agree with you my friend.
But a month in that stage of war could change many things.
Blücher did well and Marmont failed.
It was not the first or the last time in that year.
I guess with Davout or Ney at command, for sure Blücher could think more the crossing.

Amicalement
Armand

Sure, Davout and Ney better than Marmont. And Davout better than Ney.
I recommend you on this subject a very good reading: "Napoleon against great odds – The emperor and the defenders of France, 1811" from Ralph Ashby. The book analyzes deeply the reasons for the french defeat.

My God, numbers and I are in a trouble!! :)))

"I recommend you on this subject a very good reading: "Napoleon against great odds – The emperor and the defenders of France, 1814" from Ralph Ashby"

Many thanks for your guidance my friend.

Amicalement
Armand