Ep 5. Massacre at Waterloo

In season 1, episode 5 of "Battlefield Detectives," titled "Massacre at Waterloo," viewers are taken back to one of the most significant battles in history. The Battle of Waterloo saw British, Dutch, and German forces, commanded by Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, take on Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's French army in 1815. It was a fierce, bloody battle that raged for hours, and ultimately ended in victory for the British.

The episode delves into one particular aspect of the battle- the massacre of French prisoners by British soldiers. Before the battle, the French had taken some Dutch and Belgian soldiers as prisoners and kept them in a farmhouse near the battlefield. During the battle, the farmhouse was occupied by British soldiers who were unaware of the prisoners, and when the French retreated, the prisoners remained behind. After the battle, British soldiers found the prisoners and, in what has been described as a fit of rage, began to slaughter them.

The episode first looks at the background and context of the battle- the political and military tensions that led up to it, the key players involved in each army, and the intricacies of the battlefield itself. It explains how the battle was fought and won, and looks at the role that each side played in the conflict. It also explores the impact that the Battle of Waterloo had on European history, and how it marked the end of Napoleon's power and influence.

The main focus of the episode, however, is the massacre of the prisoners. The show's hosts interview historians, military experts, and eyewitnesses to gain insight into what happened at the farmhouse that day. They explore the different perspectives and accounts of the event, and examine the evidence that exists.

The episode provides a detailed account of the massacre, including the number of prisoners who were killed (which is still a matter of debate), and the methods that were used to kill them. It also explores the aftermath of the massacre- the shock and horror that it caused, and the subsequent investigations and trials that took place.

Throughout the episode, the show highlights the complex nature of war and the atrocities that can occur within it. It raises important questions about the morality of warfare and the treatment of prisoners, and challenges viewers to think critically about the events that took place on that fateful day.

Overall, "Massacre at Waterloo" is a captivating and thought-provoking episode that sheds light on one of the most tragic aspects of the Battle of Waterloo. It combines historical analysis with eyewitness accounts and expert commentary, to provide a comprehensive and compelling account of this devastating event.