North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
July 20, 2013
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO – LESSONS FOR TODAY FROM 198 YEARS AGO
“From the Cockpit”
Phil Breedlove
General, USAF
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander, U.S. European Command
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The key lesson of our visit to Waterloo was confirming this was neither a British victory nor a Prussian victory, but an Allied victory. Individually these two armies would most likely have been defeated by Napoleon. Together they completely destroyed his army and ushered in a long period of peace for Europe. [The Holy Alliance - RR]
History teaches us that as we train and equip our teams to take on future threats in this very unpredictable world that we must do so as allies and partners. We take this lesson to heart as we continue to secure our future together.
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This week, I walked the Waterloo battlefield together with the members of the NATO Military Committee. With their Chairman, General Knud Bartels, we embarked on a fascinating tour led by my deputy, General Sir Richard Shirreff.
We visited important sites such as the French lines near Belle Alliance inn, the location of Napoleon’s 80 cannon “Grand Battery”, and the lines held by the Duke of Wellington’s multinational army against fierce French infantry and cavalry attacks. At the most evocative place on the battlefield, the remains of the chateau and farm of Hougoumont, SHAPE historian, Greg Pedlow, explained the use of Napoleonic muskets, rifles, pistols and swords, using actual weapons from the time of Waterloo.
Afterward Sir Richard led us along the path of the French Imperial Guard’s final assault. We climbed the many steps of the famous Lion Mound for a field grade view of the battlefield. And finally, we followed the route of Prussian Field Marshal Blücher’s army which was hurrying to come to Wellington’s assistance despite having been defeated by Napoleon just two days earlier.
We learned about key decisions, lost opportunities, and heard many examples of extreme valor on both sides. But the most important lesson from this battle almost two centuries ago was clearly the value of a strong alliance.
Over the years there have been many books declaring the British as the true victors of Waterloo. Others have sought to give the Prussians credit for defeating Napoleon. The key lesson of our visit to Waterloo was confirming this was neither a British victory nor a Prussian victory, but an Allied victory. Individually these two armies would most likely have been defeated by Napoleon. Together they completely destroyed his army and ushered in a long period of peace for Europe. [The Holy Alliance - RR]
We continue to value our lasting alliances and partnerships across EUCOM and Allied Command Operations today. History teaches us that as we train and equip our teams to take on future threats in this very unpredictable world that we must do so as allies and partners. We take this lesson to heart as we continue to secure our future together.
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