Napoleon S Army In Russia

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) is one of the most illustrated political and military figures of the last two millennia. He has remained in the memory of the world as a legend that the passage of the years has failed to blur. On the contrary, Napoleon Bonaparte widely continues to be considered the personification of human genius. Originally published in this English translation in 1942, leading Russian historian Evgeny Tarle details Napoleon’s military campaign to invade Russia in the early nineteenth century. “The campaign of 1812 was more frankly imperialistic than any other of Napoleon’s wars; it was more directly dictated by the interests of the French upper middle class. The war of 1796-7, the conquest of Egypt in 1798-9, the second Italian campaign, and the recent defeat of the Austrians could still be justified as necessary measures of defence against the interventionists. The Napoleonic press called the Austerlitz campaign ‘self-defence’ against Russia, Austria, and England. The average Frenchman considered even the subjugation of Prussia in 1806-7 no more than a just penalty inflicted on the Prussian court for the arrogant ultimatum sent by Frederick-William III to the ‘peace-loving’ Napoleon, constantly harried by troublesome neighbours. Napoleon never ceased to speak of the fourth conquest of Austria in 1809 as a ‘defensive’ war, provoked by Austrian threats. Only the invasion of Spain and Portugal was passed over in discreet silence. “The War of 1812 was a struggle for survival in the full sense of the word—a defensive struggle against the onslaughts of the imperialist vulture.”—E. V. Tarle

In 1812 Napoleon's magnificent army invaded Russia. Among the half a million men who crossed the border was Albrecht Adam, a former baker, a soldier and, most importantly for us, a military artist of considerable talent. As the army plunged ever deeper into a devastated Russia Adam sketched and painted. In all he produced 77 colour plates of the campaign and they are as fresh and dramatic as the day they were produced. They show troops passing along dusty roads, bewildered civilians, battles and their bloody aftermath, burning towns and unchecked destruction. The memoirs which accompany the plates form a candid text describing the war Adam witnessed. Attached to IV Corps, composed largely of Italians, he was present at all the major actions and saw the conquerors march triumphantly into Moscow. But, from then on, the invading army's fate was sealed and the disastrous outcome of the war meant that the year 1812 would become legendary as one of the darkest chapters in history.

Napoleon’s invasion of Russia remains the benchmark for military disaster, even some two hundred year after he and his 600,000 men crossed the Niemen into the interior of Russia. The story of these men and their stolid, valiant opponents, the Russians, is recounted in admirable detail by the Author: from the killing fields of Smolensk and Borodino to the great fire of Moscow and the retreat through the snows of the Russian winter. Illustrated with 8 plans, the action of the great struggle is brought into full life, even through the passage of so much time. Author — George, Hereford B. 1838-1910. Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London, T.F. Unwin, 1899. Original Page Count – xv, 451 p. Illustrations — 8 maps and plans.

'A compulsive page-turner ... a triumph of brilliant storytelling ... an instant classic that is an awesome, remarkable and exuberant achievement' Simon Sebag Montefiore Winner of the Wolfson History Prize and shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize In the summer of 1812 Napoleon, the master of Europe, marched into Russia with the largest army ever assembled, confident that he would sweep everything before him. Yet less than two years later his empire lay in ruins, and Russia had triumphed. This is the first history to explore in depth Russia's crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars, re-creating the epic battle between two empires as never before. Dominic Lieven writes with great panache and insight to describe from the Russians' viewpoint how they went from retreat, defeat and the burning of Moscow to becoming the new liberators of Europe; the consequences of which could not have been more important. Ultimately this book shows, memorably and brilliantly, Russia embarking on its strange, central role in Europe's existence, as both threat and protector - a role that continues, in all its complexity, into our own lifetimes.

This volume brings together Austin's atmospheric trilogy on Napoleon's Russian campaign, allowing the reader to trace the course of Napoleon's doomed soldiers from the crossing of the Niemen in 1812 to the finale in the depths of a Russian winter.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 edition. Excerpt: ... The whole surface was broken, billowy, and uneven. The Russian army consisted of ninety thousand effective regulars, ten thousand militia of Moscow and of Smolensk, which had joined a day or two previously, and seven thousand Cossacks. Bagrathion commanded the left, Beningsen the centre, Barclay the right. On the 5th of September Murat appeared in front of the position by the road of G-olowino, and immediately deployed his cavalry and the division Campans, by which it was supported. The Viceroy took the direction of Borodino, and Poniatowski moved through Jelnia along the old Smolensk road. At two o'clock in the afternoon, Napoleon, who had come forward to reconnoitre, ordered an attack to be made on the Russian light troops in the villages of Aleksinki, Fomkino, andDoronino, and on the redoubt of Chewardino. At four o'clock the enemy passed the Kolocza, dislodging the Russians from the three before-named villages, and establishing themselves behind an elevation in front of the redoubt which was armed with twelve field pieces, and from which elevation they kept up a galling fire on the Russian cannoneers. As soon as Campans had planted his guns on an eminence that favoured the operation, he opened his fire on the redoubt. Murat then attempted to charge between the redoubt and a wood on the left, but was driven back. Prince Gorchakow, who was entrusted with the defence of this redoubt, had supported it with two regiments of infantry, supported agaiu on their right by two regiments of dragoons and four pieces of flying artillery, and on the left by a division of cuirassiers and eight pieces of flying artillery; two regiments of dragoons had also been employed in covering the chasseurs on their retreat from the villages. After a heavy...