The Destruction of the Imperial Army Volume 4: Catastrophe: Sedan, Strasbourg and Metz

The fourth and concluding volume in this series - The Destruction of the Imperial Army - takes an in-depth look at events between the humiliating French surrender at Sedan and the ignominious submission of Bazaine and the Army of the Rhine at Metz as, seemingly, a succession of disasters befell Napoleon’s once proud and invincible forces.

French fortunes appeared to be at their nadir following the raising of the white flag over the walls of Sedan, but the worst was yet to come. The unsavory infighting between the French generals at Sedan seeking to apportion blame for their defeat in battle and Napoleon’s equally humiliating interview with Bismarck and the Prussian King was partially offset by General Uhrich’s courageous, albeit ultimately futile, defense of Strasbourg. However, such sacrifice could not compensate for Bazaine’s frankly incomprehensible behavior at Metz. His inexplicable failure to break through the besieging German lines at the two day battle of Servigny/Noisseville and his equally underhand behavior during ensuing negotiations with the German commander, Prince Charles, le friends and adversaries - and the marshal had many antagonists amongst the French ranks - simply bewildered.

As with previous volumes, the narrative draws heavily on the French official history and Lehautcourt’s exhaustive studies, enlivened by quotes from all the major participants and eyewitnesses which provide fresh insights into the final days of this momentous campaign, which resulted in the downfall of the Second Empire and the birth of the third Republic.

The book concludes with chapters on French and German tactics, weapons and warfighting, and as with previous volumes in the series, includes extensive orders of battle, casualty lists and appendices, the extensive text being complemented by numerous photographs and illustrations, period maps and copies of tactical plates taken from contemporary French and German training manuals.