The French invasion of Russia; known in Russia as the Patriotic War of 1812 and in France as the Russian Campaign (French: Campagne de Russie); began on 24 June 1812 when Napoleon's Grande Armée crossed the Neman River in an attempt to engage and defeat the Russian army. Napoleon hoped to compel Tsar Alexander I of Russia to cease trading with British merchants through proxies in an effort to pressure the United Kingdom to sue for peace. The official political aim of the campaign was to liberate Poland from the threat of Russia. Napoleon named the campaign the Second Polish War to gain favor with the Poles and provide a political pretext for his actions. The Grande Armée was a very large force; numbering 680;000 soldiers (including 300;000 of French departments). Through a series of long marches Napoleon pushed the army rapidly through Western Russia in an attempt to bring the Russian army to battle; winning a number of minor engagements and a major battle at Smolensk in August. Napoleon hoped the battle would mean an end of the march into Russia; but the Russian army slipped away from the engagement and continued to retreat into Russia; while leaving Smolensk to burn. Plans Napoleon had made to quarter at Smolensk were abandoned; and he pressed his army on after the Russians. As the Russian army fell back; Cossacks were given the task of burning villages; towns and crops. This was intended to deny the invaders the option of living off the land. These scorched-earth tactics greatly surprised and disturbed the French; as the willingness of the Russians to destroy their own territory and harm their own people was difficult for the French to comprehend. The actions forced the French to rely on a supply system that was incapable of feeding the large army in the field. Starvation and privation compelled French soldiers to leave their camps at night in search of food. These men were frequently confronted by parties of Cossacks; who captured or killed them.
#1597668 in Books 2016-06-29Original language:English 9.00 x .25 x 6.00l; .34 #File Name: 1534962875108 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Two thumbs up to the author!By Sheree LaneI concede to the author’s statement that civil war was the most deadly and probably the defining event of American history. As you read through the book you could witness the different battles fought and different revolutions just to obtain freedom and end slavery. I have read several history books of James Weber and I do admire the way he presents history facts in a brief; chronological; interesting and reader friendly manner. Two thumbs up for him!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Learned a lot from this bookBy Veronica HIt’s always better to know the history of our country. It’s interesting to learn histories of other countries. This book is quite interesting which will remind us of a noted event in American history. I will surely recommend this to the younger ones so they will know about this event in the history. This is really an informative one and a good read indeed.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must read book in the contemporary situation.By Tom MackseyThe American Civil War was the most deadly and probably the defining event of American history; even more than the War of Independence. I have never read such a comprehensive book on American Civil War before I got this book. Today we can say that few events in American history impacted this country like the Civil War. Author describes the stages through American history has gone through till President Johnson officially ends Civil War in 1865. A must read book in the contemporary situation.
