Victory at Waterloo?

What if Blucher died before the Hundred Days while in retirement in Silesia? Natural causes seems the most likely cause. Of course the Prussians would replace him but who would the replacement be and would they be able to defeat Napoleon?
 
Of course the Prussians would replace him but who would the replacement be and would they be able to defeat Napoleon?

Probably August von Gniesenau (though with outside chances for Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg and Friedrich Kleist von Nollendorf who had the advantage of being older). Von Gniesenau definitely had the ability to defeat Napoleon, Yorck and Kleist were also able commanders. Friedrich von Bülow could have also got the job, I have no doubt that he would have been able to defeat Napoleon. The Prussian army in 1815 was a very different one from that of 1806 (or the German army of 1914), and the problems with command that they suffered from at Jena-Auerstädt had largely been overcome.
 
Without Blucher there would have been no Waterloo. Wellington only stood and fought because he had Blucher's word that the Prussians would join him, Gneisenau however hated the British and would never have given such a promise (Yorck and Bulow I don't know enough about), so Wellington would have followed his back up plan of retreating north of Brussels to give time for the Austrians, Russians, etc. to arrive.
 
Gneisenau however hated the British and would never have given such a promise?
What's your source for this statement? I've read a book about that campaign which said that he was pro-British and supported Blucher over the promise. (My copy of the book is currently in storage, so it will take me a few days to check its author if you want to know that detail.)
 
What's your source for this statement? I've read a book about that campaign which said that he was pro-British and supported Blucher over the promise. (My copy of the book is currently in storage, so it will take me a few days to check its author if you want to know that detail.)

Gneisenau disliked the English, claiming that they would " run away" and leave their allies to spill their blood ( a view held by many members of the coalition.)
In fact, he disobeyed Bluchers orders and delayed reaching the field to help Wellington until very late, stopping his closest units to Wellington from moving, telling his men to take the long rout and deliberately causing chaos ( ironicly, this actually helped the allies as it meant that by the time they arrived Napoleon had committed most of his men so he was unable to withdraw his army in one peace and therfore suffered a bigger defeat.
 
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