A military stratagem from 1805
Abstract
The best-known event of the War of the Third Coalition in 1805 is the Battle of Austerlitz. In addition to the genius of Emperor Napoleon, the outcome of the battle was greatly influenced by several preceding events. One such decisive event was that the French army was able to cross the Danube almost unhindered. Despite the firm order of General of the Infantry Kutuzov, Lieutenant General Auersperg, the imperial-royal commander covering the bridge, allowed the French to take possession of the mighty Taborbrücke, thereby putting the Russian army in immediate danger. An imperial-royal corps, including the Székely border guard regiments, watched this event idly. This event is a good example of the indecision and indecisiveness of the Austrian emperor and the imperial command, which contributed decisively to the loss of the war.
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