Aurelian
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quote:
ORIGINAL: warspite1
Alchenar, you have said this article is ridiculous. I think that in using the word ridiculous you are being incredibly kind to this piece of garbage.
In fairness the historian does say it should be taken with a pinch of salt, but then numerous other historians are quoted and as far as we know they are stating what they do with a straight face.
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“Within years his empire will stretch as far as China”
So after years of defeats, with the French nation assailed from all sides, he wins one battle in the north, and suddenly what? The Austrians, British, Prussians and Russians simply evaporate?
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“Within years…..French will be spoken across the continent”
Wow, that’s impressive…..
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“and in the 20th century a global war between the great powers will be avoided because of the stability his rule created”.
Slight problem here… its total sloblocks. Even if we suspend disbelief for a moment and entertain the idea that France in 1815 is in any position to defeat the Empires ranged against it, why does the author think the conquered peoples of Europe would be delighted to be under French rule and not rebel – like every other time a country has taken another by force?
What so Napoleon’s rule is soooo enlightened that your average Prussian or Austrian will be gagging to dismiss their own culture, way of life, language and history and learn the wonders of the French language and embrace the impossibly perfect society that is Napoleonic Europe? Ooooohh I’m gagging with disappointment at missing out….
At least the Belgian historian does not appear to be living in cloud cuckoo land and recognises that the coalition ranged against Napoleon would actually do something about it.
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"If Napoleon followed his original plans for 1810, he would have invaded Russia again and potentially extended his empire as far as China," Helmut Stubbe da Luz said
Yes, that is right. And if Army Detachment Steiner had beaten the Soviets during the Battle for Berlin, Hitler would have extended his empire to China too…… Funny that the historian who said this, didn’t wonder why Napoleon couldn’t beat the Russians in 1812?
Then the best bits…
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“But what would an all-powerful Napoleon have been like to live under?”
"The dictatorship that Napoleon exported to the countries under his domination was a regression compared to the progress of the French Revolution, but it wasn't bad for his new subjects in Germany, Holland, Italy and Spain," he said.
He cited the "equality of rights for religious minorities and rural populations, the right to vote for men, a new judicial system and an expanded economic area".
Well we all like living under a dictatorship right?
Oh yes, and I recall reading about how delighted the Spanish populace were in 1808 when “humanitarian of the year” Napoleon Bonaparte stabbed his ally in the back and sought to take over the country and install French rule on the Spanish people – how they laughed at this spiffing wheeze….
In fact I recall reading that people all over the continent were equally delighted to have members of Napoleon’s family and close friends ruling over them…. No nepotism there then - how enlightened...
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Cautiously looking further into the future, the historian imagines a "continental Europe dominated by France" throughout the 19th century.
Had that happened Germany would not have become so strong during that period, he says.
"Germany would therefore probably not have been in a position to provoke a First and Second World War," he said.
So now we know, if we had let Germany dominate Europe in the 1940’s we would never have had the cold war, Korea, Vietnam blah blah blah.
What a load of old toss.
Back in the day when Simulations Publications Inc was in business, this came up. The answer, more or less. "Now add 200 Austrian 4-4 pieces and have at it."
Winning Waterloo, or Mont St Jean if he had won. would of really been meaningless. Beating the Anglo-Prussian armies wouldn't be enough. He'd have to destroy the two armies. And that would not only of been costly, but moving on France we had the Army of the Upper Rhine (264,000) and the First Russian Army (164,000)
The Napoleon of 1815 was not the Napoleon of 1805 or even 1809.
< Message edited by Aurelian -- 6/8/2015 6:45:18 PM >
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If Napoleon had won his "Waterloo" .... - 
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