From: officialflagrant

Napoleon Bonaparte, a prominent French General, is regarded by some as the “greatest of all time” among military leaders [04:17:00], [53:11:00]. His approach to warfare and his views on history have left a significant mark.

Concept of “Total War”

Napoleon is credited with inventing the concept of “Total War” [54:07:00]. This involved using the entire country’s resources for the war effort, including industry shifting to wartime production (e.g., car makers producing tanks and bullets) [54:15:00]. This contrasted with earlier, more “gentlemanly” forms of warfare where surrenders involved formal meetings and sword exchanges [54:26:00]. Napoleon’s philosophy was to fight ruthlessly, advocating for killing everyone [54:38:00].

It is suggested that the application of total war tactics by Napoleon led to a significant increase in war casualties compared to previous eras [54:41:00].

Views on History

A notable quote attributed to Napoleon states, “History is a set of lies agreed upon” [10:40:00]. This perspective suggests a skepticism towards historical narratives, particularly regarding ancient history, where details might be “made up” or romanticized by omitting “boring stuff” [10:38:00].

Portrayal in Media

The film Napoleon by Ridley Scott is mentioned, with a preference for its 4.5-hour director’s cut [53:20:00]. This suggests public interest in Napoleon’s story and its cinematic interpretations.