NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Napoleon and the Russian Campaign of 1812 In June of 1812, Napoleon began his fatal Russian campaign. Napoleons immense ego compared to his sense of judgment is the reason France lost to Russia in a disastrous defeat. Napoleons invasion of Russia was an attempt to force Tsar Alexander 1 to agree to the terms of a treaty that Napoleon had offered him four years before. Napoleon gathered half a million soldiers from France as well as all of the vassal states of Europe. Napoleon went into Russia leading the largest army ever seen. The Russians began a defensive campaign of strategic retreat, consuming the land as they fell back.
As the summer grew on, Napoleons massive supply lines were stretched thinner and his force began to decline. By September, without having a single battle, the French Army had been reduced by more than two thirds from fatigue, hunger, desertion, and raids by Russian forces. The campaign guaranteed Napoleons downfall and Russias rank as a leading power in post- Napoleonic Europe. Before the Russian Campaign, Napoleon was a very respected political leader, the best seen for decades. In 1799, he became the First Consul of France. The French government had been in trouble since the beginning of the Revolution, but Napoleon was able to restore order and regularity.
Napoleon restored relations with the Roman Catholic Church, balanced the French budget and developed a fair tax. In 1802, the French named Napoleon Consul for Life. In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France. Virtually all of Europe was under Napoleons control. By 1812, Napoleon had expanded the territory of France all over Europe including Spain, Italy, Holland, and Switzerland. Napoleon conquered most of Europe, but couldnt conquer England.
The British navy had defeated France in almost every battle. The countries that Napoleon did not directly control, he was usually allied with. With virtually all of Europe under Napoleons control, he was able to rise the largest army ever seen. Napoleon required men from all over Europe. He had 300, 000 French, 190, 000 Germans, 90, 000 Poles and Lithuanians, and 32, 000 Italians and Liiyrians. The officially given reason for the invasion of Russia was Napoleons desire to conquer Britain.
Because of Britains power at sea, Napoleon could not overcome Britain without powerful allies on the continent. Russia was a great power that did not help Napoleon in closing British ports. The British trade enabled Britain to survive Napoleons tactics. The Russians, lead by Marshal Kutuzov, could not realistically hope to defeat Napoleon in a direct battle. Instead, they begin a defensive campaign of strategic retreat, destroying the land as they fell back. Burning the fields and houses, so Napoleons army had no food or shelter from the harsh winter.
and harassing the flanks of the French. As the summer wore on, Napoleons massive supply lines were stretched ever thinner and his force began to decline. The battles to Moscow were just the beginning of the victory retreat planed by the Russians. In June 1812, Napoleons army crossed the Neman River into Russia. The Russians retreated, denying Napoleon a direct battle. In September, Napoleon fought the Russians at Borodino, near Moscow.
The battle resulted in many losses on both sides, but produced no clear winner. Again, the Russians withdrew. Napoleons military machine was growing thinner and thinner from the Russian climate. Napoleon and his army was making their way to Moscow, when they encountered typhus, colds, and dysentery.
Even Napoleon had caught a mild flu. However, his soldiers had received the brunt of the attack. Napoleon had lost about 80, 000 men altogether from diseases alone. By September, without having a single battle, the French Army had been reduced by more than two thirds from fatigue, hunger, desertion, and raids by Russian forces Napoleon rode into Moscow noticing the Russians retreat plan already in process. Napoleons opponent Kutusov made up his mind not to fight another battle in defense of Moscow.
Kutusov ordered that all the people in the city to retreat to the countryside. He released all inmates from the city jails, and destroyed the firefighting equipment. Napoleon and his army of 100, 000 arrived only to find several hundred criminals and lunatics freely walking. That night, fires began all over the city. Fires swept through the city for several days and in the morning most of the city had been burned from fires. Napoleons ego caused him to fight every war he came across, this was to be one of the reasons he lost the Russian Campaign.
If Napoleon had reached Moscow with 300, 000 men instead of 100, 000 he could have continued his campaign and defeated the weakened Russian army. He could have reached Moscow with at least 300, 000 men if he had taken better care of his troops and had not fought every battle that he came across. If Napoleon only had at least 300, 000 men, he could have waited for supplies with the comfort of knowing that he was safe. Instead, Napoleon retreated and allowed his army to slowly dissolve under attacks by the Russians. Napoleons ego compared to his sense of judgment was a bad characteristic of his military genius. His ego helped Russia to overcome the French army and help in the fall of Napoleon.
Napoleon launched an invasion of Russia in 1812. Russia did not have a strong army, so they retreated. When Napoleon reached Moscow, the city was empty. Napoleons army was not prepared for the cold Russian winter.
Freezing, hungry and more than a thousand miles from home, the allied nations of Europe defeated Napoleon in 1813. Nationalism was an enemy to Napoleon because it led to the decline of his empire. Napoleon died on the island of St. Helena in the company of a few of his friends. Napoleon had gained immortality and fame. He died a hero.
Despite his failures, he will always be regarded as one of the greatest military masterminds in the history of mankind.
Free research essays on topics related to: french army, 1812 napoleon, fell back, 000 men, supply lines
Research essay sample on French Army Supply Lines
