Napoleon's Invasion of Russia
Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia
In 1812, Napoleon marched into Russia with a grand army of 420,000 French soldiers. This happened for two reasons; one being compelling Alexander I to remain in the blockade against the United Kingdom; and the official reason was to erase the threat of a Russian invasion of Poland. Napoleon’s troops, marching into Russia, were not prepared for a harsh winter in Russia. The Russians didn’t make their situation any easier by devastating everything in their path, and so by the time they got home, the French army was severely diminished.
The ‘invasion’ started in June, the French hoping they would avoid the harsh hell that is winter in Russia. Both Napoleon and the Russian army, led by Marshal Kutuzov, knew that if there were to be a confrontation, the Russians would not stand a chance. This resulted in the Russians using a ‘Scorch Earth’ strategy. They kept running from the French armies, retreating deeper into Russia while burning and destroying everything in their path. ‘By September the French army had diminished by two thirds and the rest were suffering from fatigue, starvation and raids by Russian forces.’ To avoid the grand city of Moscow to fall into the hands of Napoleon, the Tsar insisted on a confrontation, so on 7th of September they two armies met 70 miles out of Moscow and by nightfall 108,000 men had died yet there had been no victor either. Realizing that further defense of Moscow would be pointless and so they destroyed it, unwilling to hand it over to the Russians. Admitting defeat, Napoleon and his troops started marching back home in mid-October. They couldn’t continue south because Kutuzov was blocking the way, so they travelled the devastated road they came from.
After suffering a harsh winter in Russia as well as starvation and fatigue the French army returned home with only 10,000 men alive. This was the first step towards Napoleon’s defeat. Many people believe it was Napoleon’s pride that led to his fall, and
In 1812, Napoleon marched into Russia with a grand army of 420,000 French soldiers. This happened for two reasons; one being compelling Alexander I to remain in the blockade against the United Kingdom; and the official reason was to erase the threat of a Russian invasion of Poland. Napoleon’s troops, marching into Russia, were not prepared for a harsh winter in Russia. The Russians didn’t make their situation any easier by devastating everything in their path, and so by the time they got home, the French army was severely diminished.
The ‘invasion’ started in June, the French hoping they would avoid the harsh hell that is winter in Russia. Both Napoleon and the Russian army, led by Marshal Kutuzov, knew that if there were to be a confrontation, the Russians would not stand a chance. This resulted in the Russians using a ‘Scorch Earth’ strategy. They kept running from the French armies, retreating deeper into Russia while burning and destroying everything in their path. ‘By September the French army had diminished by two thirds and the rest were suffering from fatigue, starvation and raids by Russian forces.’ To avoid the grand city of Moscow to fall into the hands of Napoleon, the Tsar insisted on a confrontation, so on 7th of September they two armies met 70 miles out of Moscow and by nightfall 108,000 men had died yet there had been no victor either. Realizing that further defense of Moscow would be pointless and so they destroyed it, unwilling to hand it over to the Russians. Admitting defeat, Napoleon and his troops started marching back home in mid-October. They couldn’t continue south because Kutuzov was blocking the way, so they travelled the devastated road they came from.
After suffering a harsh winter in Russia as well as starvation and fatigue the French army returned home with only 10,000 men alive. This was the first step towards Napoleon’s defeat. Many people believe it was Napoleon’s pride that led to his fall, and
Bibliography: "History & Culture of Russia / The Invasion of Russia." History & Culture of Russia / The Invasion of Russia. InterKnowledge Corp, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.geographia.com/russia/rushis05.html Hartley, Janet. “Napoleon In Russia.” History Today41.1 (1991): 28. History Reference Center. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. Prianishnikov, Illarion. Napoleon 's Retreat from Moscow, 1812. N.d. Powell History. Illarion Prianishnikov. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.powellhistory.com/art/history_in_art_NapoleonGallery.html>.