Dan Snow's History Hit The Battle of Waterloo
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Jun 17, 2025 Peter Snow, a veteran broadcaster and historian, teams up with his son Dan to delve into the legendary Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon met his match against the Duke of Wellington. They dissect the clash's strategic brilliance, highlighting key defense tactics at Hougamont and the chaos of cavalry charges. Peter shares intriguing anecdotes from the battlefield, illustrating the intense decisions faced by Napoleon. The discussion emphasizes how the battle reshaped Europe and marks a significant milestone in their decade-long history of storytelling.
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First Podcast Episode Story
- Dan Snow and his father Peter Snow launched their first podcast episode on the Battle of Waterloo in a cheap hotel room.
- Their initial setup was primitive, and they could not have imagined the podcast would grow so significantly.
Contrasting Commanders
- Wellington was a cautious, austere, and very experienced commander with a mixed allied army.
- Napoleon was charismatic but recovering from recent defeats and recklessly confident in 1815.
Napoleon's Strategic Missteps
- Napoleon’s strategy was to quickly defeat the Prussians first before turning on Wellington.
- He succeeded at Ligny but made critical errors in coordination that allowed Wellington to withdraw.