Napoleon I24 February 1812
Prussia allows for the free passage of French troops against Russia
France · Warfare / Napoleonic Wars. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Prussia allows for the free passage of French troops against Russia
Leaves France for the Russian campaign
Watches leading regiments of the Grand Army cross the River Niemen at Kovno
Crosses the River Niemen with the "Grande Armee". Collects 675,000 men from the grand Duchy of Warsaw
530,000 vross the River Niemen to invade Russia
Reaches Wilna but the Russian Army has fled
Reaches Beschenkowitschi, the town has been deserted
The French engage some Russian regiments to force the Russians into battle
The French arrive at Wilna
The Russian Army has withdrawn without any trace
1,000 armed Russian convicts with fuses & bombs are burn Moscow to the ground
Enters Moscow with the "Grande Armee" which was reduced to a force of just 1,000 men
Napoleon retreats to Smolensk
Persued by forces of 3 to 1. Discovers an unmapped ford only 100 yards wide & 6 feet deep
Retreats over the Beresina River
Crosses the Beresina but only 25,000 of his Grande Armee remain
Napoleon's retreat from Russia is over, from an initial force of 525,000 men and 1,400 guns, Napoleon manages to salvage a little over 25,000 men and 200 cannons, the rest succumbed to General Winter
Deserts his army & retreats to Paris
On the eve of the invasion says, "Avant deux mois, la Russie me demandera la paix"
Commands the French retreat from Moscow
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