Born in Mecklenburg in 1742, Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher first joined the swedish army as a cavalryman in 1756. He fought in three campaigns against Prussia, but when captured by the enemy in 1760 promptly switched sides.

Blücher was well known for his ferocity and his hatred against the French. He urged the Prussian commanders to wage war against Napoleon Bonaparte, but his unruly behaviour during the campaign of 1806 led to his forced retirement. He returned to duty in 1813, promoted to Field Marshal of Prussia, and met the hated French at Lutzen, Bautzen, Katsbach, Leipzig, Waterloo and about half a dozen other battlefields. After Napoleon's first defeat in 1814, Blücher received the title of Prince of Wahlstatt. He died on September 12, 1819.

There are some anecdotes about this old soldier that suggests that he was not too mentally stable. In June 1815 he made a short speech in front of his troops and announced that he was pregnant and about to give birth to an elephant, fathered by a French grenadier. He was removed from the front and placed in protective custody.

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