Prussian Reform: The Recovery of a Nation

: Napoleon's defeat of the Prussian army at Jena and Auerstadt in October of 1806 ruptured the traditional Germanic hegemony that had long held sway over the balance of power among the German states and northern Europe. The reputation of the army and the strength of the Prussian nation, born out of the victories of Frederick the Great, completely collapsed in one short day of battle.1 Overcoming the devastation of defeat, the Prussian king and his newly appointed military reformers implemented a comprehensive restructuring of the army that transformed not just the leadership, but also the recruitment, organizational structure and tactics of the once-vaunted Frederician army. While individual reforms varied in effectiveness, in their totality, the efforts of Prussia would directly lead to victory in 1813 over the French and the eventual victories of the entire Allied coalition.