The Dual Battles of Jena and Auerstadt, 1806. Napoleon's High-Water Mark. Prussia's Defeat Sparks Reforms - Becomes the World's Greatest Military Institution of the 19th Century.

The disastrous Prussian defeat at Jena and Auerstädt in 1806 was more than a humiliation, it was a reckoning. In the ashes of their shattered military, Prussia saw the urgent need for reform. The old system, built on outdated doctrines and rigid hierarchy, was swept away. At the heart of this transformation was the creation of the General Staff system, a revolutionary institution that replaced privilege and pedigree with merit, expertise, and meticulous planning. This system became the engine...