European against his will: in the vanguard of Napoleon's Grande Armee (1805-1813)

On 4 November 1805, August Lamberts began his travel journal. He was one of the many Belgian 'conscrits' who were forced to perform military service in the armies of the Napoleonic Empire. Over a period of eight years, he would record in his notebook the many places he stayed
on his travels through Europe. The result is an accurate picture of the education and training, the reconnaissance, the combat actions, the observation and policing assignments of Napoleon's war machine.
The missions and experiences of Lamberts' cavalry regiment are placed in the context of the diplomatic and military history of that period. In addition, the book also focuses on the experiences of ordinary conscripts,
who were part of the great history that was then written in blood, against their will. The chronicle of Willem Kenis is also used for this purpose.
Author Emiel Lamberts (Londerzeel) is emeritus professor of Modern History at KU Leuven. He taught European political and religious history there from 1973 to 2006. He is also a descendant of the main character.