The Prussians in 1806
Dispelling the Myths

Part III: Logistics and Organization

Introduction

by James Gaite, UK

In conjunction with the apparent ineptitude of the Prussian leadership to agree upon a satisfactory strategy for the forthcoming campaign, historians have also cited their archaic and inefficient logistical capabilities and the paucity and poor quality of their military higher organization as reasons for their catastrophic downfall in 1806. Unfortunately, few historical commentators have dealt with these subjects at all, and of those who have, few go into any great detail. Therefore, this section is mainly composed using only the specialist works on the period and, as they appear to agree on many of the major points, it will read, out of necessity, as more of a monologue than a bantering of diverse opinions. The Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part III [FE63] Introduction Supply Reconnaissance Higher Organization Logistical Conclusion Other Parts Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part Vb: Jena [FE68] Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part Va: Tactics [FE66] The Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part IV [FE65] Introduction Infantry Cavalry Artillery The Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part II [FE61] Strategy and Prussian Leadership The Duke of Peace Prussian Despair French Superiority Strategic Summary The Prussians in 1806 Dispelling the Myths Part I [FE60] Prologue Introduction A Discussion on Strategy The Traditional Theories The Prussian Commanders Footnotes and Bibliographical Notes Related 1806: A Precis [FE59] Introduction The Collapse of the Third Coalition Napoleon, France and the Building of an Empire The Turning of the Tide The Lightning Campaign Prussian Defiance at the End of the Year Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #63 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com