Waterloo and Borodino

After visiting the Waterloo battlefield, I decided it is high time to fill a gaping hole in my education and watch the 1970 Waterloo movie. I can't believe I've missed it until now! It definitely climbs to the undefined top 5 of my favourite war movies of all time. Apart from a few cheesy moments the movie is a real treat. Christopher Plummer does an excellent portrayal as Wellington and Rod Steiger's Napoleon alternates interestingly (and overactingly) between despondency and inspiring enthusiasm, just as I imagine the Emperor did at that point. The battle scenes are simply epic with about 20 000 Soviet extras bulking up the scenes. There's a lot going on in the background and the fact that none of it is in CGI is humbling. The movie has aged very well and I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone else who's missed it.

The next day I had an opportunity to end my two month long wargame-less season and with the battle of Borodino, no less! We sat down to play Columbia Games' treatment of the battle. The scenario was set up for the initial engagements at the Shevardino redoubt instead of the full battle. The French are only just arriving on the field and must capture as much ground and inflict as much damage to the Russians as possible, while maintaining cohesion. I got the role of Napoleon and set out to do just that.

The French columns advance towards Borodino, making sure to grab as much ground on the right as possible.

The French move into contact with Shevardino redoubt from two directions. Wait, did someone forget to secure the road on the French left?

Yep, Cossacks exploit the vulnerability by making a rush for the French supply area. The French have to make a desperate realignment to counter. In the center, there is an envelopment developing around Shevardino and the defenders are in the danger of being cut off. The French imperial guard reinforce the right.

The cossacks reach the supply point and block it. Against all odds, they repel all attempts to chase them off for three whole turns. Napoleon facepalms me from beyond the grave.

The noose tightens in the center, but both Russian block groups manage to repel attackers for one round before being destroyed. The French guard moves ahead on the right, but the French left is dangerously thin. The Russians exploit the situation and beat the French back.

The Russians, seeing they're one VP behind the French, make a push in the last turn. On the French right, the Russians send their Guard units to attack what they think is the Polish division. Instead they encounter the French Imperial Guard with a grand battery of guns and the Old Guard coming in from reserve. The result is bloody, spectacular and decisive.

The game ended in a three VP win for the French. In the center, I was pretty pleased with my envelopment around the redoubt where most of the Russian blocks were captured. On the right, the Imperial Guard was in a good position to defend the flank. On the left, however, I made that terrible tactical blunder with the cossacks and as a result, the flank was left in a poor state. The Russians were in a good position to punch through the thin line and managed to capture three blocks. In the end, nightfall saved the French left.

All in all, a good game with plenty of maneuvering and and bluffing. A good offering from Columbia games!

Lousy cossacks.. *grumble*

Waterloo Battlefield visit

I was on a working trip to Brussels this week, and had a few hours of spare time on Friday. I knew exactly how to pass the time. I took a local train from Brussels and made the 20 kilometer or so trip to the Waterloo battlefield. 

The map of the battle from Wikipedia.

From the train station of Braine-l'Alleud it was just a 3 kilometer walk to "butte du lion", the huge observation mound / monument they built on the site of battle in 1820. It's interesting that the place started to attract tourists right after the battle and there's been a steady stream of people wanting to see the fields and the ridge themselves for nearly two hundred years now. 

The mound from the east.

View from the mound towards La Haye Sainte.

Apart from the nearly 50 meter high observation mound, there's a visitors center complete with a shop selling the kind of garbage you'd expect. You can view a short documentary on the battle there, as well as some scenes from the 1970 Waterloo film. There's a miniatures diorama of the battle which looked uninspiring. Also there's a small wax cabinet. 

The emperor seems glum.

Blücher.

Wellington's plumage is a bit droopy.

Bonaparte's death mask.

The best attraction built there is a panorama built in 1912. It's like an early 20th century action movie. There's a very detailed 360 degree painting of the battle with lots and lots of details complete with sound effects (added during renovation, I assume). Too bad there is some water damage on the painting, but the place is still in a remarably good condition.

The panorama building

Ney's cavalry charge in the panorama

The battlefield itself is quite well preserved compared to some I've seen. There's asphalt roads with plenty of cars on them, but they are on their historical lines. Other than that, the place is mostly just open field. The ridge line that was so crucial to the success of the Allies is easily seen, even though a good portion of it was used to make the observation mound. This was seen as tampering of the battlefield even in the old days and is said to have pissed off even Wellington himself. Still, you can just imagine British troops waiting nervously in cover as the French artillery shells whistle over their heads.

The field between the mound and La Haye Sainte. Ney and his cavalry charged right through here.

La Haye Sainte.

Facing east from La Haye Sainte. Uxbridge's cavalry charged through here.

A view from La Haye Sainte towards the French artillery position.

I looked at the field from the observation mound and walked from there to La Haye Sainte stepping on my way on the same ground which trembled under the hooves of both Frencg and British cavalry charges. I didn't have enough time to visit Hougoumont (which I think is closed for renovation anyway) or the French side of the field, but I think this was plenty. The battle had a profound impact on the European political map for more than a century to come, and I was pleased I had time to visit.

They're digging and building something over there. Maybe an underground parking lot for the anniversary?

During the trip I had plenty of opportunities to toast the men of Waterloo with some excellent Belgian beers.