NAPOLEON'S GERMAN DIVISION IN SPAIN VOLUME TWO: The Germans in Catalonia 1808-1813

1-197922

18 color plates, over 50 b/w illustrations of uniforms, flags etc., 7 maps, 12 orders of battle, 6 tables. Available late 2013 or possibly early 2014.

This second volume of the woes of the Germans in Spain concentrates on those unfortunate enough to have been thrown into the mincing machine of Catalonia and, in particular, the worst-managed operations of the entire peninsular war: the French sieges of Girona. This city was to become the grave of almost the entire German contingent and many others besides.

Extracts from the diaries of participants in this grim fiasco give a totally chilling glimpse into the horrors of siege warfare. In contrast, reports of the operations of Spanish regiments, who acted together with Royal Naval support of the eastern coast of Spain open a window onto the world of highly mobile raids into the French lines of communication there, which helped tie down many thousands of French troops, who should have been conquering the remaining free areas of southern and eastern Spain.

Includes 11 color plates by Bob Marrion of uniforms, based on Ludwig Scharf's interpretations from on-the-spot sketches.