Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

During the Nap Wars Napoleon stayed a staunch supporter of Poland. What if he had wheeled and dealed them to the Russians lets say and abandoned them. What diplomatic loss with the other duchies and nations would this have produced let alone issues at home?

There was plenty of influence in France by Polish refugees and diplomats, etc. To what degree could they have influenced French politics against Nap?

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

Let's say that he traded them away in 1807, he would have lost some of the best fighting Regt in the French Armee. I can not say any thing else but it was Poland that kept the Bear from his door.

Now you talk about a game 1806 to 1808 Nap in Poland that would be a awesome game or (From Jena to Eylau to Danzig to Heilsburg to Friedland The Polish wars of 1807)

A tricky problem!

Well, as long as we talk about Napoleon and Poland it's worth remembering that he nevar was actually touched with the Independace ideas and dreams of Great Poland (from seabank to seabank). And even more he always traded them away when a need rase. In 1807 the Dutchy was created as a means to create persisten chaos in the Eastern europe with rebel sentiments etc. going on for ever and ever. The setting allowed to damage all the three powers in the region (Austria, Prussia and Russia) during the peace time. In wartime with all the three united and acting together Poland couldn't be defended and even fought at (recall 1813). Hence "No Poland" scenario is possible only if there is no peace in 1807. But if there is no peace Russia and Prussia would be allied against France and it's german allies. In this situation it would be plausible for Napoleon to try to break Saxony off the allience with Prussia AND to keep Austria out of the war. A point of importance then would be Silesia. Austria fought with Prussia for it's posession several times in XVIII century. So a promise of Silesia for neutrality or little assistance is at least probable. On the other hand Silesia could be offered to Saxony, which would increase its teritory, strength and authority enormously. Kind of Saxony was happy to the Napoleons ally for much more humble compensation - the Ducthy. So the outline is briefly as follows. In 101806 Prussian army escapes disaster in Saxony. It unites with Russian army somewhere around Berlin. Campaign stops for winter. Napoleon Offers Silesia to both Austria and Saxony in return for neutrality or participation on his side. Polish question is not raised.

Since it's fiction one more assumption is made - Suvorov survived after the Swiss campaign. By 1807 he recovered from severe illness. So a campaign of 1807 ends in Paris and Boney concludes his life polishing bars of cage standing on the Red Square in Moscow. Guarded by four drunk bears.

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Mon ami what you said is ok but still the fighting force that Poland gave Nap kept some of his worst Regt. off the front lines and sent to Spain with his Armee of 1805 down in strength he calls up the class of 07 the worst recruits that France had. Yes it's going to be a good game when ever it comes out the War in Poland will be better then that 1805 game!

Poland also was a valuable ally in 1809.

By 1810 or 1811 letting Russia have Poland may have been the best realpolitik option, but I doubt Alexander would have adhered to the Continental System for any great length of time afterwards, and Napoleon was under the common delusion that he could successfully invade Russia.

I felt that the end of Suvarov's life was very tragic. From hero in Italy to unsupported in Switzerland. Christopher Duffy's book on the Italian-Swiss campaign is a very nice read and one of my favorite sets of campaigns. Very little in English on this subject. His book had great maps and OBs. Why one could use them for a game ....

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

Well if somone Bill would do the 1807 Campaign we would know. Tsk, tsk

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Field Marshal Sir Edward Blackburn, 1st Duke of Aberdeen K.G.
85th (Buck's Light Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
16th British Brigade
7th Division
III (Peninsular) Corps
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards