Der längste Nachmittag

The legendary defense of the Meierhof La Haye Sainte by the Kings German Legion on the afternoon of June 18, 1815, was the turning point of the Battle of Waterloo. The prominent Irish historian Brendan Simms provides a detailed account of the bloody and tense hours. Although the defense of the farm ultimately failed, the time gained allowed the Prussian troops to intervene in the battle, which was crucial for Napoleon's defeat later that evening. La Haye Sainte was held by nearly 400 men of the Kings German Legion, a German military unit in British service. The French advanced around the farm and attempted to storm the hills, where they were met with gunfire. Although the attackers had to retreat, they inflicted heavy losses on the Kings German Legion; in the end, only a few remained.