How Did Weather Affect The Life Of Napoleon

Weather The biggest factor regarding weather on the morning of December 2, 1805 was that it was fraught with fog and low lying mist. This would prove especially helpful to Napoleon’s army during the assault of the Pratzen Heights. This thick fog was able to mask two of Napoleons Divisions, almost 16,000 men as they approached the heights. The Russian and Austrian forces were unaware of the approaching French, as the summit they looked out upon had clear skies, yet the heights limited observation in the recesses of the terrain below. It was only when the sun had broken through that the Allied forces were made aware of the dire situation in which they found themselves; unprepared and without the proper reserves to face such an overwhelming force. It’s not known if the weather had been predicted ahead of time to play into the tactical decisions of Napoleon. However it certainly made the
The indirect approach was a fast turning movement that did not sacrifice manpower. One Corp would pin down the enemies front while the second Corp under the screening of cavalry would move around utilizing the terrain as much as possible to hide the Corps advance on the flanks of the enemy; with the goal of cutting of the lines of communication and reinforcements and at the same time attacking the enemy from the rear ("French Army : Military : History : Wars," n.d.) While the principle doctrine of the Russian army is traced to Alexander Suvorov as noted in some of his maxims. “The offensive is the main weapon of war”, “Achieve Rabidity in attack, use the bayonet”, “fight in the field, not in fortifications; confuse the enemy.” This principled approach translated into a Russian soldier that was reluctant to give ground and indoctrinated to press the attack ("Russian Military History: The Origins of Russian Military Doctrine,"