Conflict: Napoleonic Invasion of Russia
Combatants: French vs. Russians
Location: Russia
Outcome: Inconclusive
Still in retreat from the disastrous Moscow campaign, Napoleon's bedraggled Grande Armee and its allies were caught against the Berezina River by the pursuing Russian forces under the command of Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov. Despite constant attacks, the French managed to construct a bridge of pontoons and move thousands of soldiers across the river. Still, thousands more remained on the enemy side of the river when the bridges were blown on November 28th. The French lost more 30,000 men in the crossing.
Points of Interest:
Over the course of the invasion, the Russians lost 250,000 men. The French lost over 400,000 soldiers, 175,000 horses, and 1,000 canons.
Both Austria and Prussia were allied with the French at this time but neither gave much assistance in the retreat from Russia.
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Sources:
Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).
Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.
Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1990). The Napoleonic Source Book. New York: Facts on File.
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