A steppe too far: Napoleon’s 1812 Russian Invasion Benjamin Howell 10 June 2012

Objectives of lecture To provide a more balanced account of the Russian campaign of 1812 from that of which you may have previously been made aware. To review the reason’s why one of histories greatest Generals got it so wrong.

Lecture breakdown A look at Europe in 1812 Key Personalities Reasons for War (i.e. Treaty of Tilsit, and the Continental System) The march towards Moscow 1812 The Battle of Borodino Entry into Moscow and ‘The Retreat’ Summary of what went wrong and What If’s

Europe 1812

Key Personalities - French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte

Marshall Louis Nicolas Davout

Marshall Joachim Murat

Marshall Michel Ney

Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot

Armand Augustin Louis de Caulaincourt

Auguste-Jean-Gabriel de Caulaincourt

Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte

Eugène de Beauharnais

Key Personalities - Russian Tsar Alexander I

Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov

Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly

Pyotr Bagration

Count Alexander Petrovich Tormasov

Reasons for War Problems resulting from the ‘Treaty of Tilsit’ Poland Internal pressure from nobles, merchant class et al Problems resulting from the ‘The Continental System’

The march towards Moscow On June 24 1812, almost 600,000 French crossed the Neman (Niemen) River into Russia. Grande Armee actually comprised of 20 different countries with just about as many languages. Elite officer corps all spoke French, but the ordinary soldier spoke whatever their normal language was. Russians were split into 3 separate armies: The First Western Army – commanded by General Barclay de Tolly. 127,000 men The Second Western Army – commanded by General Peter Bagration. A little under 50,000 men The Third Western Army – commanded by General Alexander Tormazov. Approximately 43,000 men

On day one of the march the Emperor discovers on paper what looks impressive can be big problem: The roads and terrain of Russia not designed for 600,000 soldiers and hangers-on with supplies. The roads were impassable and so many people jammed onto them When trying to send messages along the line the couriers could not get through, slowing communications. Soldiers at the front of the march were starving as supplies in the rear cannot get through to them quickly. Weather inbound a big problem – the heat! Loss of men & horses was significant.

The Battle of Borodino Kutuzov was now in control of the Russian army with orders to stop the French taking Moscow. Borodino...about 70 miles west of Moscow. Russians had 154,000 men and 624 cannon, and had the advantage of a heavily defensible area with redoubts etc. French had 130,000 men and 600 cannon at this time – he has a disadvantage. 3 September Kutuzov surveys his battlefield. Late on 5 September attack begins. 6 September – rest day 7th September – main day of battle and a 12 hour slogging match.

Entry into Moscow and ‘The Retreat’ On the 14th September from a hill Napoleon could see Moscow. He thought that taking Moscow may shake some sense into Russians and make them sue for peace. It was the 15th of September and the Russians in Moscow decided to leave city by one gate just as Murat and Cavalry were entering. The French did NOT burn down Moscow! Napoleon waited in Moscow for 35 days!!! General Winter / Frost. The Berezina River – the last remaining natural barrier between French and freedom.

Summary of what went wrong and What If’s Napoleon indecisive and was not his usual self. Napoleon’s health Napoleon did not respect the Russians. Alexander was not going to budge!