Nexus of Thought: Western History 147: What was the purpose of Napoleon’s Russian campaign and what was the end result?

Monday, October 12, 2020

Western History 147: What was the purpose of Napoleon’s Russian campaign and what was the end result?

Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 to force the country to support the Continental System - his trade embargo against Britain. Officially though he titled the invasion as the Second Polish War where he advanced the narrative of liberating Poland from Russia,

The invasion began on June 24, 1812. When the French Grande Armée of 680,000 men crossed the Neman River. While 81% of the soldiers were French this vast military juggernaut had a substantial Polish, Austrian, Italian and German contingent.

Between the 16^th and 18^th of August the Armée defeated the Russians at the Battle of Smolensk pushing the bulk of the Russian force into retreat. It was at this point that the Cossacks started burning villages and land ahead of the French Army in what historians have described as a Scorched Earth policy. The Russians would continue their retreat for the next three months.

On September 7^th the two sides faced off the Battle of Borodino which provided a French victory. However the success came at a high cost. When the French entered Moscow they found the city ablaze and Tsar Alexander I refusing to sue for peace.

Six weeks later the French won another victory at the Battle of Maloyaroslavets however the Russians continued their policy of retreat.

Naploleon's Russian Campaign source: www.historyhome.co.uk

The Scorched Earth policy was working. An army marches on its stomach and the French started to suffer from a lack of food and fodder for the animals. They began a long retreat as a harsh winter set in.

French forces retreating from Russia source: history.com

On the march back the French forces were harassed by Peasant and Cossack units. Hypothermia sets in as a mounting death rate took a heavy toll. The Invasion proved to be a tragedy. Troops of the Armée were decimated. 380,000 died and a further 100,000 were captured on return. At the end only 27,000 soldiers remained when the French crossed the Berezina River.

For Napoleon this was the biggest blow to both his prestige and military might and would encourage a new round of coalition wars. If ever there was a turning point on the road to glory this was it. It was the beginning of the End for the Little corporal.