Battle of Waterloo

Question 1

Wellingtons Positioning

Answer 1

• Reverse side of a ridge so French artillery could have less of an impact
• Also had two positions of his most trusted troops to break the French line; one at the chateau of Hougoumont and one at the farmhouse at la Haye Sainte

Question 2

Leaders of France army

Answer 2

Napoleon led the French army but he had Marshal Ney controlling the left flank and Marshal Grouchy controlling the right.

Question 3

Who were the armies against the French and their leaders

Answer 3

British army; Duke of Wellington led them
Prussian army led by Field Marshal Blücher
A few Germanic city states such as Brunswick and Hannover

Question 4

Size of Armies

Answer 4

The French army had around 100,000 men
The English army was made up of 50,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and 5,000 gunners
The Prussian army was made up of about 70,000 troops

Question 5

Outcome

Answer 5

The English defensive positioning was able to hold off the French advance for long enough to allow the Prussian troops to return and outnumber the French to drive them away.

Question 6

Reasons for French loss

Answer 6

Napoleon was suffering from piles so he was very bad tempered with generals and he could not survey the battlefield on his horse beforehand.
He sent 33,000 troops to pursue the Prussians. This was a mistake as Blücher was able to hold these troops off with ease and still have 70,000 troops.