Napoleonic Army Memoirs by cARTEm Comics drags the reader into the mud of the Napoleonic Wars in Eastern Europe, where the Grande Arme faces the Gordian Knot of moving beyond the Niemen River.

In the year In 2008, the French publisher Delcourt published a full-format Spanish edition of cARTEm by Michel Dufran, Alex Alexandre and Jean-Paul Fernandez under the title “Souvenirs de la Grande Armée”. The collection of BD – for example, The Cambridge Five -, coincided with the moment of the little French general, of Corsican origin, thanks to Ridley Scott.

This comic, Reminiscences of Napoleon’s Armies, is not an ode to war, as the title of the work might suggest, but, on the contrary, to the tragedy of humanity in the conflict of war, for it speaks. The daily life of soldiers under Napoleon’s banner, the hardest part is staying alive… even if you’re not on the battlefield.

Conspiracy

The entire volume of Napoleonic Army Memoirs is composed of four distinct sections: 1807, Poland; 1808, the widow’s children; 1809 Vienna See or Die!; And 1812, Count Zhukov Hunts. The main character will be Marcel Godert, who in the first part the reader will find as a brigadier of horse hunters of the second regiment in Napoleon’s Grande Arme. Godart is not French, but Belgian, which is why he is nicknamed among his colleagues.

Although it is a war story, it has a police aspect to many of its stories, as Godwart becomes a mystery to be investigated in a place as chaotic as a military operation. Based on clues and biased information, he must solve the case so as not to harm the war effort and, in turn, raise the morale of the army.

Napoleon’s army until 1812 The memories of Napoleon’s army show that although it was French, it was made up of many countries, such as Belgians, Dutch, Prussians… This Grande Arme was divided into six armies until 1808, which it was. In 1809, the German army was divided between Spain and the Army of the Rhine.

In the year Apart from Spain, where the war was active between 1810 and 1812 – which made for interesting television episodes – there was no Eastern European conflict between 1810 and 1812, the poor relations between Paris and St. Petersburg in 1810. They marched into the tsar’s territories.

For the invasion of Russia, in addition to nearly 410,000 French troops, there were troops from Poland, Austria, various Italian provinces, Germans (Bavarians, Saxons, Prussians, and Westphalians), Switzerland, Denmark, Norwegians, Spanish, Portuguese, and Croatians. And Irish. This diverse force was difficult to move together, especially due to different military formations and different languages.

In the first episodes, you will see how a friendship is formed between several members of the 2nd Hunters, where they share joys and sorrows, always with “Belgium” as a connecting element for all the main actors. The rigor of the campaign is seen gradually, where the elements of the military unit face various challenges, with the appropriate consequences.

This coming and going of men takes its toll on the “Belgian” who, although he rises in the ranks of Napoleon’s army, still feels in his soul the chill of the loss of his friends after Napoleon’s fall. In Moscow and the relentless retreat of the Russian winter, it does not leave our protagonist without problems.

The authors

Michel Dufrane is a Belgian author, currently a French-speaking literary critic in his native country. Dufrane is an all-rounder in the publishing world, but also the architect of comic adaptations of classics like The Three Imposters. The training in psychology makes it easier to adapt the personality of the characters to the work.

In Memoirs of the Napoleonic Army, Dufran, although adhering to the historical rigor of the Napoleonic campaigns, is inspired by one of his ancestors who died at the Battle of Elau and gives his life through Marcel Godwart, who shares his last name. The introspection of this character, like many others in the collection, is the author’s greatest quality. Also, the simplicity with which he narrates the daily life of the army makes it more relatable to the reader.

Serbian cartoonist Vladimir Aleksic, under the pseudonym Alexis Alexander, is responsible for giving faces to the Brigadier, the 2nd Rangers and the rest of the contestants. To do this, he uses a careful and clear style, including many foreground details and background details, where you can see the wooden beams on the houses, the puddles left by the pedestrians or the leaves falling from the trees.

The detail of faces and expressions makes it easy for the reader of Memoirs of Napoleon’s Army to understand the thoughts that run through the minds of the characters and the emotions that stir them up. Napoleonic memorabilia Napoleonic army with large dialog boxes in each panel.

Last, but not least, because it perfectly complements the work of his colleagues, is the color from the hands of Jean-Paul Fernandez, who masterfully knows how to present the cold colors of the Russian campaign, where its winter is almost permanent darkness; Green and brown colors in the leaves of the forest. This great use of different chromatic tones accentuates the sequence of military actions.

Napoleonic Army Memoirs Edition.

CARTEm Comics’ great quality and commitment remain one of its unrivaled values. Napoleon’s Army is bound in cardboard, in large format, 22 x 31 cm and 208 pages long, and the translation is this time by José E. Martínez Tur.

In addition to the work, you can appreciate the preparation of the plot of almost twenty pages and in the footsteps of Napoleon’s army under the title, you can see drafts of the vignettes of the volume, the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, the timeline of the different stages. The State of France in the Nineteenth Century, with a small map of the situation, a glossary, short biographies of the authors, and some endnotes by the translator.

This work does not glorify the war genre, but rather the daily survival of life in one, perfectly narrated and illustrated by Michel Dufrane, Alexis Alexander and Jean-Paul Fernandez. In this way he describes the troubles of the soldiers, their longings and worries, their worries and fears, or as Calderon de la Barca says in the eighth of his comedies entitled “The Siege of Breda”:

Interest here

It is not defamation; If he is honest

The poor and the poor soldiers

It has better quality

If it is very pleasant and bright;

(…)

Here is the most important

is to obey

And it should be the way

Asking is not refusing.

Memories of Napoleon’s army

After the victories at Austerlitz and Jena, Napoleon’s army crossed Poland and halted on Russian soil. The tension and rivalry will fuel most of the army. A few days before the decisive battle, morale is at a low ebb… In this comprehensive issue, learn about the daily life of the emperor’s soldiers during Napoleon’s greatest military campaign.

In the ranks of the Grande Armée

Following the strategic victories at Austerlitz and Jena, at the height of Napoleonic history, Napoleon’s army was in an enviable position in Europe. The Grande Arme, known as a mighty military corps, was a powerful force that demonstrated its skill and discipline on the battlefield.

However, the fate of thousands of people crossing the vast expanses of Poland, with their eyes fixed on Russian soil, was at a critical juncture when historical events took place.

Crossing Poland was a challenging experience for the Imperial troops. As the march continued and the unforgiving weather began to take its toll, the army’s morale began to erode.

Living conditions in the field were harsh and often brutal: long days on the march, insufficient supplies, and constant exposure to the elements left many soldiers exhausted and discouraged. Fatigue and hunger became constant companions on this journey to the Russian Empire.

Despite the earlier victories, internal disputes and rivalries began to undermine the collective spirit. The army consisted of people from different regions and nationalities who were recruited or called to serve in the Grande Armée.

Cultural and linguistic differences often led to misunderstandings and conflicts in the ranks. In addition, the competition between personal and political officers can affect the military in critical periods.

With a decisive battle on Russian soil looming, morale was at an all-time low. The soldiers began to doubt the feasibility of their efforts and thought it worthwhile to continue fighting under such adverse conditions.

However, despite these challenges, Napoleon’s charismatic personality and undisputed leadership inspired some hope in the ranks. His ability to cheer the men on and renew their commitment to the fight gave them a new sense of purpose.