A Soldier Is Not a Soldier Without Training
Abstract
By the time Napoleons second Grande Armee fell at Waterloo, estimated French casualties totaled more than 2,500,000 from over ten years of near-continuous fighting. Napoleon commanded some of the largest armies ever assembled on the modern battlefield, ultimately changing the face of warfare through a heavy reliance on mass, speed and superior firepower. This new style of warfare demanded much from his men, sometimes pushing them beyond the limits of their training. Hasty training, which could be as short as a week for the average infantryman and two months for an officer, subtly contributed to the decline of Napoleons Grande Armee. Poor training affected everything from organization to tactics. Ultimately, an increase in mass could not make up for a steady decrease in the quality of training, especially since immense casualties drained much of the armys wealth of experience. The poor quality of training slowly diminished Napoleons army from within, something not even experience nor bravery could overcome.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 07, 2011
- Accession Number
- AD1019052
Entities
People
- Michael Cornelius
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College