Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia
In 1812, Napoleon’s French army, the Grande Armée, invaded Russia. Napoleon had been a remarkably successful leader, making massive military gains and building an enormous military. The Grande Armée numbered some 680,000 men. Napoleon planned his invasion for early summer; his army entered Russia on June 24, 1812. Napoleon was less interested in gaining Russian territory, and more interested in stopping the trade relationship between Russia and Britain. Officially, Napoleon hoped to protect Poland from Russian aggression.
Napoleon moved rapidly through Russia, engaging in and winning many small battles. The first large battle was at Smolensk in August 1812. The Russian army retreated from Smolensk; they burned the city and surrounding lands as they retreated. This limited the French access to food and other essentials. The Russians continued the scorched earth policy, forcing the French into starvation. The French won a costly victory in early September, and reached Moscow by the middle of September. The city was empty, already evacuated by the Russians.
Still expecting peace, Napoleon waited. As he waited, Russia’s harsh winter began. Waiting was, when faced with a lack of supplies and no ability to re-provision his troops, an excruciatingly bad decision. His troops lacked food, winter clothing, or any other provisions. The horses were in poor condition, and they had no fodder for them. Napoleon finally retreated that November. His men were starving and suffering from hypothermia.
While poor strategy condemned Napoleon, and perhaps a lack of understanding of Russian actions and morale, the Russian winter destroyed his army. Winter, along with the scorched earth strategies of the Russian army and Cossacks, brought starvation, privation, and death for both men and horses.
Of the nearly 700,000 men who entered Russia with Napoleon, only 27,000 crossed the river, and slowly returned to France. Some were missing, around 100,000 captured, and 380,000 dead.