Wellington pointed out one flaw: Napoleon relied on the countries he invaded to feed and support his troops and to economically support the war. When he invaded two countries that couldn't or wouldn't do it- Spain and Russia- the cost was too great. His whole system relied on coninuous invasions and conquest: "You can do anything with a bayonet except sit on it." he said, so when he was under pressure all the countries he had beaten before came back against him. It was as much- perhaps more- a war against him as against France
Also he did not general his troops in the vital, and draining war in Spain. That gave Wellington his first real experiance with the French. Which would prove valuable in Waterloo.
He lost alot of men retreating from Russia and became power hungry. And also went through Spain trying to invade Portugal
It was a matter of economics really. His attempt to crash the British economy with the continental system failed, and the Brits could contiune of outproduce the French, and provide juicy subsidies to all of their allies. Spain was a colassal drain of French manpower. Russia gets all the credit, but it was merely the straw that broke the camel's back. Id blame Spain for Napoleon's defeat, Russia was just the opening that allowed the Prussians and Austrians to turn against him.
First laugh today. Anyway, it is easy to point out his powerhunger as his downfall becuase the general practice is to frown on tyranny. This was not his undoing per se-the Turks were viscious and their empire lasted centuries as did the Mongols, the Romans...... His undoing was carelessness, the sloppyness in his technique is what Wellington capatlized on in much the way Houston capitalized on Santa Anna's. If we could summarize it, think of Wellington running across Europe to make Napoleno think him a coward. He keeps pursuing and Wellington keeps running. What Bonaperte does not know is that this is a strategy being used as bait if only to get his (Napoleone's ) troops so far inland that he becomes seperated from his army sectors. This is when Wellington turns around and cuts the man's throat- when he is helpless. Kind of like milking the Waterloo out of your opponent by making him think you are weak and running away from him.
Arkon: I suggest you people hold seminars to practice thanking all the Gendankens in the world. They are usually too busy frowing with headnoise that a small thanks rings like a bloody ray of sunshine. De nada.
