How much do you know about Waterloo? | Quiz

Answer: 73%

153,971 German soldiers took part in the actions against Napoleons forces in 1815, along with 32,418 British soldiers (15%) and 24,501 Dutch/Belgian soldiers(12%).

Answer: 36,299

Wellington's Anglo-German-Dutch army consisted of 24,501 Dutch (and Belgian) soldiers, 32,418 British soldiers and 36,299 German soldiers from Nassau, Hanover, Brunswick and the famous King's German Legion (KGL).

Answer: Kellermann

Kellermann was commander of the French 3rd Cavalry Corps. Major-General Count Kielmannsegge was commander of the 1st Hanoverian Brigade supporting four British Guards companies in the defence of Hougoumont. The Prince of Orange was commander of the 1st Corps and was in charge of the Allied centre during the battle. Bijlandt was a Dutch brigade commander.

Answer: false

Hougoumont was never taken by the French. It was defended by four companies of British guards supported by 1st Hanoverian Brigade and the 1st/2nd Nassau Regiment. The farmhouse of La Haye Sainte was taken by the French at around 6.30 p.m when the defenders of the KGL finally had to withdraw as they had run out of ammunition completely.

Answer: Hougoumont

At around 11.25 the French batteries of d'Erlon's Corps opened fire on the Allied positions. Simultaneously, Jerome Bonaparte launchend a diversionary attack against Hougoumont.

Answer: Gneisenau

August Neidhardt von Gneisenau was the Chief of Staff of Blücher's Prussian army. He was a very famous Prussian field marshal, known as a great reformer and reconstructor of the Prussian army after their crushing defeat at Jena and Auerstedt in 1806.

Answer: 1st Royal Dragoons, 2nd North British Dragoons (Scots Greys), 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

The 1st and 2nd Royal Life Guards, the 1st Dragoon Guards and the Royal Horse Guards belonged to Somerset's cavalry brigade knwon as the Household Brigade, which also took part in the charge. First the British charge against the French infantry was very successful, but elements of the British cavalry got out of hand, failed to rally behind the reserve squadrons and took their charge to the French Grand Battery.

Here they were intercepted and pushed back with heavy losses by fresh French cuirassiers and lancers. Only the supporting attack of Vandeleur's light cavalry allowed them to the cover they needed in their escape.

Answer: IV Corps (Bülow)

Bülow's IV Prussian Corps was the first to arrive at the battlefield and attack the French extreme right flank at the village of Plancenoit and Frichermont wood. Zieten's I Corps moved to support Wellington's crumbling left flank at the small village of Papelotte. Thielemann's III Corps didnt take part in the Battle of Waterloo itself.

It fought a successful rearguard action at Wavre against Grouchy's army corps to prevent them from supporting Napoleon at Waterloo. Pirch's II Corps was the last to arrive at Waterloo and support the attack of the IV Corps on Plancenoit.

Answer: Uxbridge

The Earl of Uxbridge was the commander of the cavalry and also the second in command of Wellington's army. It is interesting to note that Wellington and Uxbrigde were not on the best of personal terms with each other. There was one incident at the start of the battle which shows the icy atmosphere between the two commanders: Uxbridge asked Wellington what his planes were in case anything would happen to Wellington, and all he received was the icy reply: "My plans, sir, are to beat the French."

Answer: false

Actually the battle took place near the village of Mont St. Jean! Waterloo was a few miles to the north. Wellington set up his headquarters there the night before and therefore the battle is known as the Battle of Waterloo.

Answer: 18th June 1815

The Battle of Waterloo took place on the 18th June 1815.
The Battle of Quatre Bras and Ligny took place on the 16th June 1815.
The Battle of Wavre took place on the 18th/19th June 1815.

Answer: Picton

Sir Thomas Picton was one of the best British commanders. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Quatre Bras two days earlier but he hid his wound to retain command of his troops. He was shot at Waterloo while leading a counter-attack of his 5th Division against the French center.

Answer: true

When Napoleon noticed that Plancenoit had been captured by the Prussians he ordered his Old Guard to recapture the village and stabilise his right flank. They threw the Prussians out of Plancenoit and encouraged the Young Guard and remaining troops of Lobau's corps to push forward again.

After Plancenoit was retaken he ordered the Imperial Guard to make the final assault against Wellington's center. The Prussians soon recaptured Plancenoit. Also, this attack of the Old Guard gave Wellington invaluable time to reinforce weakened parts of his center with troops from the right flank and from the left flank, which was now secured by Zieten's I Prussian corps.

It also weakened the Old Guard as some formations were ordered to stay in position an defend Plancenoit against future Prussian attacks.

Answer: H. Halkett

It was Colonel H. Halkett, commander of the 3rd Hanoverian Brigade, who called on Cambronne to surrender, which he finally did.

Answer: 50,797

The Prussian army lost 32,367 men (or 28%) in the battles of Ligny, Wavre and Waterloo.
Wellingtons army lost 18,430 men (or 20%) in the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo.