After 200 years, Napoleon again defeated in Leipzig

Agencies Published October 21, 2013
French actor Franck Samson in the role of Napoleon, third left, gestures during the reconstruction of the Battle of the Nations. - Photo by AP
French actor Franck Samson in the role of Napoleon, third left, gestures during the reconstruction of the Battle of the Nations. - Photo by AP
The mock battle opened with a line of French troops dressed in brilliant green, red, light blue and grey uniforms, bayonets raised, marching toward villagers in period costumes huddled around a cluster of thatched-roof cottages. - Photo by Reuters
The mock battle opened with a line of French troops dressed in brilliant green, red, light blue and grey uniforms, bayonets raised, marching toward villagers in period costumes huddled around a cluster of thatched-roof cottages. - Photo by Reuters
Troops are shooting with cannons during the reconstruction of the Battle of the Nations at the 200th anniversary near Leipzig, central Germany. - Photo by AP
Troops are shooting with cannons during the reconstruction of the Battle of the Nations at the 200th anniversary near Leipzig, central Germany. - Photo by AP
Performers wearing 19th century Allied forces and French military uniforms “attack” one another during a re-enactment of the Battle of the Nations in a field in the village of Markkleeberg near Leipzig October 20, 2013. - Photo by Reuters
Performers wearing 19th century Allied forces and French military uniforms “attack” one another during a re-enactment of the Battle of the Nations in a field in the village of Markkleeberg near Leipzig October 20, 2013. - Photo by Reuters
Fifes and drums played in the background as some of Napoleon’s forces tended to their muskets, and cannon boomed once again in the rolling green fields outside the eastern German city. - Photo by AP
Fifes and drums played in the background as some of Napoleon’s forces tended to their muskets, and cannon boomed once again in the rolling green fields outside the eastern German city. - Photo by AP
“I want to show the history for our young people,” said re-enactor Peter Bach, 59. “Otherwise they could only read about it in the history books." - Photo by AP
“I want to show the history for our young people,” said re-enactor Peter Bach, 59. “Otherwise they could only read about it in the history books." - Photo by AP
A French soldier fires his weapon during a re-enactement of the Battle of the Nations (Voelkerschlacht) in Leipzig. - Photo by AFP
A French soldier fires his weapon during a re-enactement of the Battle of the Nations (Voelkerschlacht) in Leipzig. - Photo by AFP
Ahead of the re-enactment, however, he had no idea where his unit would be moving. “We want it to be like reality, so I wait to get my orders from the big chief,” Bach said, happy to be kept in the dark. - Photo by Reuters
Ahead of the re-enactment, however, he had no idea where his unit would be moving. “We want it to be like reality, so I wait to get my orders from the big chief,” Bach said, happy to be kept in the dark. - Photo by Reuters
Performers wearing 19th century Allied forces (Left, bottom) and French military uniforms attack one another during a reenactment of the Battle of the Nations. - Photo by Reuters
Performers wearing 19th century Allied forces (Left, bottom) and French military uniforms attack one another during a reenactment of the Battle of the Nations. - Photo by Reuters
“It changed the Australian landscape,” Koens said. “Areas are named after battles: towns, streets, pubs (such as) Lord Nelson, Hero of Waterloo.”Both Koens and Bach say the best part of such an event is spending time with a veritable United Nations of re-enactors in the evenings leading up to battle. - Photo by Reuters
“It changed the Australian landscape,” Koens said. “Areas are named after battles: towns, streets, pubs (such as) Lord Nelson, Hero of Waterloo.”Both Koens and Bach say the best part of such an event is spending time with a veritable United Nations of re-enactors in the evenings leading up to battle. - Photo by Reuters
Performers wearing 19th century Allied forces military uniforms fire their cannon to attack French forces during a reenactment of the Battle of the Nations. - Photo by Reuters
Performers wearing 19th century Allied forces military uniforms fire their cannon to attack French forces during a reenactment of the Battle of the Nations. - Photo by Reuters
Troops march in front of a burning house during the reconstruction of the Battle of the Nations at the 200th anniversary near Leipzig. - Photo by AP
Troops march in front of a burning house during the reconstruction of the Battle of the Nations at the 200th anniversary near Leipzig. - Photo by AP
A historical commission spent years perfecting the scenario for the bicentennial re-enactment, and some 6,000 enthusiasts turned out to stage the mock battle, also known as the Battle of Leipzig. - Photo by AP
A historical commission spent years perfecting the scenario for the bicentennial re-enactment, and some 6,000 enthusiasts turned out to stage the mock battle, also known as the Battle of Leipzig. - Photo by AP
The battle is known as the bloodiest in Europe before World War I, claiming one in six of the 600,000 troops who were mobilised. - Photo by AP
The battle is known as the bloodiest in Europe before World War I, claiming one in six of the 600,000 troops who were mobilised. - Photo by AP
Performers wearing 19th century Allied military uniforms ride their horses as they attack French forces during a reenactment of the Battle of the Nations, in a field in the village of Markkleeberg near Leipzig. - Photo by Reuters
Performers wearing 19th century Allied military uniforms ride their horses as they attack French forces during a reenactment of the Battle of the Nations, in a field in the village of Markkleeberg near Leipzig. - Photo by Reuters
Koens, 43, travelled from faraway Sydney with a handful of other Australians. He was drawn to re-creating the Napoleonic wars because so many veterans emigrated to Australia after the fighting, settling there and shaping the infant land. - Photo by Reuters
Koens, 43, travelled from faraway Sydney with a handful of other Australians. He was drawn to re-creating the Napoleonic wars because so many veterans emigrated to Australia after the fighting, settling there and shaping the infant land. - Photo by Reuters
A little girl walks past performers wearing 19th century French military uniform at a bivouac camp for the reenactment of the Battle of the Nations in the village of Markkleeberg. - Photo by Reuters
A little girl walks past performers wearing 19th century French military uniform at a bivouac camp for the reenactment of the Battle of the Nations in the village of Markkleeberg. - Photo by Reuters

The east German city of Leipzig is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars on Sunday by reenacting the Battle of Nations, with 6,000 military-historic association enthusiasts from all over Europe. Some 185,000 French troops and 320,000 allied troops from Austria, Prussia, Russia and Sweden, entered into the decisive battle just outside Leipzig on October 16, 1813.

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