(This is Part 11 of a series. Go back to Part 10.)
The fifth sub-principle for concentrating strength against weakness is to:
5. Pretend that you are weak yourself.
Perhaps the most famous example of this occurred in 1805 at the Battle of Austerlitz, considered by historians to be Napoleon's most brilliant engagement because he was able to virtually dictate the movements of the opposing army.
In the run-up to the battle Napoleon was in serious trouble. In front of him was a combined Austro-Russian army that outnumbered his. Moreover, Prussia was tempted to join the allied coalition against him, which would have made his situation hopeless.
It was essential, therefore, that Napoleon defeat the Austro-Russians before they were reinforced. If they retreated east or northeast and waited for reinforcements Napoleon was finished.
Though outnumbered, he had to entice the opposing army to battle somehow—and quickly. To accomplish this, he pretended to be even more weak than he was.
Napoleon's soldiers were occupying the Pratzen Heights, a highly desirable ridge near the town of Austerlitz. But Napoleon deliberately retreated from this ridge—as if, upon seeing the formidable army arrayed against him, he had retreated in fear.
The Russians and Austrians celebrated their good fortune and, as Napoleon had planned, occupied the Pratzen Heights. To further simulate fear, he now asked for negotiations. In an insulting gesture, the Russians sent a junior staff officer to Napoleon's headquarters.
To further his plan, Napoleon acted unusually docile towards this arrogant young staff officer, who reported back to his Russian and Austrian superiors that "the French army is on the eve of its doom."
To complete the trap, Napoleon seriously weakened his right, inviting an attack there. At a council of war on December 1st the enemy decided to attack Napoleon's right flank from the Pratzen Heights the next morning—exactly as Napoleon had planned.
And that is exactly what happened. The next morning wave after wave of Austro/Russian troops moved down from the Pratzen Heights to attack Napoleon's right flank. However, this left a large gap on the heights between the enemy soldiers on the north and those on the south now busily attacking Napoleon's right.
Anticipating that his right flank would be under severe pressure, Napoleon had secretly summoned Marshal Davout, stationed in Pressburg with an army corps, to march urgently and join him at Austerlitz. Everything now depended on Davout arriving in time.
Which he did. Davout arrived on the day of the battle with his 10,000 soldiers and reinforced the French right. His right flank now stabilized, Napoleon turned his attention to the emerging gap in the Austro-Russian center. Snapping shut his telescope, he ordered Marshal Soult and his two divisions to attack and occupy the Pratzen Heights.
The Russian general now saw what was happening and desperately tried to summon some soldiers back to the heights from the attack to the south, but it was too late. After a brief but fierce engagement, the French soldiers occupied the Pratzen.
From there, they turned right (south) and now attacked
from the rear the 50,000 troops that were busily attacking Napoleon's right flank. This resulted in the disintegration of the Austro-Russian army.
Shocked by this sudden and overwhelming defeat, the Russian Czar retreated back to Moscow with the remnants of his army. And the Emperor Francis of Austria sued for peace the next day.
Such is the power of feigning weakness.
(This is the end of Part 11. Go to Part 12.)
—jim sloman, 8.21.03 for 6.5.04
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