{"id":10692,"date":"2025-01-25T09:55:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T07:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tacotichelaar.nl\/wordpress\/?page_id=10692"},"modified":"2025-07-18T15:02:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T13:02:55","slug":"french-invasion-of-russia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tacotichelaar.nl\/wordpress\/french-invasion-of-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0French invasion of Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"File:Hal\u0161any.
The IV corps under Eug\u00e8ne at Hal\u0161any on 11 July 1812. The cavalry, the artillery, the generals, and the drummers, followed by the infantry, print by Albrecht Adam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The French invasion of Russia<\/b>, also known as the Russian campaign<\/b>  and in Russia as the Patriotic War of 1812<\/b>, was initiated by Napoleon<\/a> with the aim of compelling the Russian Empire<\/a> to comply with the continental blockade of the United Kingdom<\/a>. Widely studied, Napoleon’s incursion into Russia stands as a focal point in military history<\/a>, recognized as among the most devastating military endeavors globally<\/a>.[<\/span>21]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> In a span of fewer than six months, the campaign exacted a staggering toll, claiming the lives of nearly a million soldiers and civilians.[<\/span>22]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>20]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

On 24 June 1812 and subsequent days, the initial wave of the multinational Grande Arm\u00e9e<\/a> crossed the Niemen<\/a> River, marking the entry from the Duchy of Warsaw<\/a> into Russia. Employing extensive forced marches, Napoleon rapidly advanced his army of nearly half a million individuals through Western Russia<\/a>, encompassing present-day Belarus<\/a>, in a bid to dismantle the disparate Russian forces led by Barclay de Tolly<\/a> and Pyotr Bagration<\/a> totaling approximately 180,000\u2013220,000 soldiers at that juncture.[<\/span>23]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>24]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> Despite losing half of his men within six weeks due to extreme weather<\/a> conditions, diseases and scarcity of provisions, Napoleon emerged victorious in the Battle of Smolensk<\/a>. However, the Russian Army, now commanded by Mikhail Kutuzov<\/a>, opted for a strategic retreat, employing attrition warfare against Napoleon<\/a> compelling the invaders to rely on an inadequate supply system, incapable of sustaining their vast army in the field.<\/p>\n

The fierce Battle of Borodino<\/a>, located 110 kilometres (70 mi) west of Moscow, concluded as a narrow victory for the French although Napoleon was not able to beat the Russian army and Kutuzov could not stop the French. At the Council at Fili<\/a> Kutuzov made the critical decision not to defend the city but to orchestrate a general withdrawal, prioritizing the preservation of the Russian army.[<\/span>25]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>a]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> On 14 September, Napoleon and his roughly 100,000-strong army took control of Moscow<\/a>, only to discover it deserted, and set ablaze<\/a> by its military governor Fyodor Rostopchin<\/a>. Remaining in Moscow for five weeks, Napoleon awaited a peace proposal that never materialized.[<\/span>26]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> Due to favorable weather conditions, Napoleon delayed his retreat and, hoping to secure supplies, began a different route westward than the one the army had devastated on the way there. However, after losing the Battle of Maloyaroslavets<\/a>, he was compelled to retrace his initial path.<\/p>\n

As early November arrived, snowfall and frost complicated the retreat. Shortages of food and winter attire for the soldiers and provision for the horses, combined with guerilla warfare<\/a> from Russian peasants and Cossacks<\/a>, resulted in significant losses. More than half of the soldiers perished from exhaustion, typhus<\/a>, and the unforgiving continental climate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the Battle of Krasnoi<\/a>, Napoleon faced a critical scarcity of cavalry and artillery due to severe snowfall and icy conditions. Employing a strategic maneuver, he deployed the Old Guard<\/a> against Miloradovich<\/a>, who obstructed the primary road to Krasny, effectively isolating him from the main army. Davout<\/a> successfully broke through, Eugene de Beauharnais<\/a> and Michel Ney<\/a> were forced to take a detour.[<\/span>27]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> Despite the consolidation of several retreating French corps with the main army, by the time they reached the Berezina<\/a>, Napoleon commanded only around 49,000 troops alongside 40,000 stragglers of little military significance. On 5 December, Napoleon departed from the army at Smorgonie<\/a> in a sled and returned to Paris. Within a few days, an additional 20,000 people succombed to the bitter cold and diseases carried by lice<\/a>.[<\/span>28]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> Murat and Ney assumed command, pressing forward but leaving over 20,000 men in the hospitals of Vilnius<\/a>. The remnants of the principal armies, disheartened, crossed the frozen Niemen and the Bug<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While exact figures remain elusive due to the absence of meticulous records,[<\/span>29]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> estimations varied and often included exaggerated counts, overlooking auxiliary troops. Napoleon’s initial force upon entering Russia exceeded 450,000 men,[<\/span>30]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> accompanied by over 150,000 horses,[<\/span>31]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> approximately 25,000 wagons and nearly 1,400 artillery pieces. However, the surviving count dwindled to a mere 120,000 men (excluding early deserters);[<\/span>b]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> signifying a staggering loss of approximately 380,000 lives throughout the campaign, half of which resulted from diseases.[<\/span>33]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>34]<\/span><\/a><\/sup> This catastrophic outcome shattered Napoleon’s once-untarnished reputation of invincibility.[<\/span>35]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

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