History buffs flock to Czech Republic to re-enact Napoleon’s Austerlitz triumph

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00:00It was Napoleon's most decisive victory, the Battle of Austerlitz, and to commemorate it,

00:07history buffs unite every year. Cannons and guns are blazing, they recreate the French

00:15Emperor's tactical defeat of the much greater Russian-Austrian forces. American Mark Schneider

00:22played Napoleon once again, and after a two-decade commitment, celebrated his final run.

00:28And for me, you know, for 20 years, being here at the 200th anniversary, and now on the 220th,

00:36it's really an honour and pleasure, so it's an incredible experience.

00:41On the 2nd of December, 1805, Napoleon led a force of some 73,000 troops to beat the more

00:48than 85,000 who fought for the Allies. With some 15,000 dead or wounded, Austria signed

00:56a truce at the Castle of Austerlitz, and a peace treaty was later brokered. This reenactment

01:02takes place every year in the Czech Republic in late November. Organisers say each event

01:09is bigger than the last. This year we have more than 1,600 participants from over 18 countries

01:19in the world. The arsenal comprises 1,100 rifles, 16 cannons, the cavalry rides over 80 horses.

01:27According to organizers, the aim is not to celebrate war or Napoleon and his victory. Rather, it is

01:34to promote knowledge of a common European history.

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