1813, and stresses both the significance of the battle and the brutal nature of the fighting." "Digby Smith's detailed account of Leipzig concentrates on the ferocious fighting, charts the fortunes of the bitter struggle and underlines the incredible human cost of the battle. Using a wealth of first-hand accounts, many of them previously unpublished in English, he brings dramatic events to life and demonstrates just what it was like for the average French, German, Russian, Prussian, Austrian or Swedish soldier to take part in the Battle of the Nations." -- From the book jacket.

Chapter 1Road to Leipzig -- Effects of the Russian Campaign -- Trachenberg plan -- End of the armistice -- Chapter 2 Protagonists -- French Army -- Austrian Army -- Prussian Army -- Russian Army -- Swedish Army -- Schwarzenberg's problems -- Chapter 3 Prelude to battle -- Enemies close up -- Thursday 14 October: Liebertwolkwitz -- Chapter 4 Friday 15 October -- Napoleon's plans -- Allies' plans -- Chapter 5 Saturday 16 October -- Opposing deployments -- Connewitz and Dolitz -- Markkleeberg, the first phase -- Markkleeberg, the second phase -- Wachau -- Prince Gortschakoff's 2nd Column -- Attack on Guldengossa -- Markkleeberg: the arrival of the Austrian reserves -- Kolmberg -- Seifertshain -- Liebertwolkwitz -- Action at Lindenau -- Battle of Mockern -- Russians at Wiederitzsch -- End of the day -- Chapter 6 Sunday 17 October -- Chapter 7 Monday 18 October -- Battle for Leipzig -- Allied plan -- 1st Column -- 2nd Column at Probstheida -- 3rd Column at Zuckelhausen -- Zuckelhausen -- Holzhausen -- Paunsdorf -- Actions of the Army of the North -- 4th Column: Langeron's Corps at Schonefeld -- 5th Column: the Halle Gate -- 6th Column: Gyulai at Lindenau -- Defection of the 24th Saxon Division -- Defection of the Wurttemberg cavalry -- Bennigsen's eastern sector, late afternoon -- Chapter 8 Tuesday 19 October -- Assault on the Halle Gate -- Assault on the Hintertor -- Army of the North at the Outer Grimma Gate -- Capture of the Grimma suburb -- Storming of the inner city -- Last fight on the Fleischerplatz -- Destruction of the Elster Bridge -- Fate of Napoleon's German allies -- Allied victory -- Costs of the battle -- Appendices : A List of abbreviations -- B French order of battle at Leipzig -- C Order of battle of the Army of Bohemia -- D Order of battle of the Army of Silesia -- 332 -- E Order of battle of the Army of the North -- F Order of battle of the Reserve Army of Poland -- G Overview of the combined Allied armies -- H Losses of Klenau's IV (Austrian) Corps at Liebertwolkwitz on 14 October.