In Our Time Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow
Sep 19, 2019
Join experts Janet Hartley, Michael Rowe, and Michael Rapport as they dissect the chaos of Napoleon's 1812 campaign in Russia. Hartley unveils the complexities of Napoleon's motivations and miscalculations, while Rowe emphasizes the brutal winter conditions and significant casualties during the fateful retreat. Rapport explores the impact of conscription on military manpower and the shifting perception of Napoleon in Europe. Together, they reveal how this catastrophic retreat reshaped alliances and transformed the narrative surrounding one of history's most controversial leaders.
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Napoleon's Motives for Invading Russia
- Napoleon invaded Russia to enforce the Treaty of Tilsit and the Continental System against Britain.
- This seemingly reasonable aim was undermined by the need for a decisive Russian defeat and Alexander I's refusal to cooperate.
Alexander I's Refusal to Surrender
- Napoleon misjudged Alexander I's position, underestimating both his resilience and the pressure he faced from patriotic elites.
- Alexander's religious conviction and the potential for heavy French losses during a retreat further solidified his resolve.
Composition and Size of Napoleon's Army
- Napoleon's Grand Armée, unprecedented in size for the time, comprised diverse nationalities with 40% French and significant German and Polish contingents.
- The army's vast size posed command and control challenges, lacking the structured general staff of later 19th-century armies.
