1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow

1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow
Adam Zamoyski

The Sunday Times bestselling account of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and eventual retreat from Moscow, events that had a profound effect on the subsequent course of Russian and European history.The saga of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and catastrophic retreat from Moscow has both fascinated military historians and captured the imagination of millions on an emotional and human level. 1812 tells the story of how the most powerful man on earth met his doom, and how the greatest fighting force ever assembled was wiped out. Over 400,000 French and Allied troops died on the disastrous Russian campaign, with the vast majority of the casualties occuring during the frigid winter retreat. Adam Zamoyski tells their story with incredible detail and sympathy, drawing on a wealth of first-hand accounts of the tragedy to create a vivid portrait of an unimaginable catastrophe.By 1810 Napoleon was master of Europe, defied only by Britain and its naval power. His intention was to destroy Britain through a total blockade, the Continental System. But Tsar Alexander of Russia refused to apply the blockade, and Napoleon decided to bring him to heel.The brutality of the following military campaign and the importance of its ramifications on Russian, French, German and, indeed, European history and culture cannot be understated. Adam Zamoyski’s epic, enthralling narrative is the definitive account of the events of that dramatic year.

1812

Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow

ADAM ZAMOYSKI

Maps (#ulink_c9ce72db-22f4-5fb4-bf83-08e74a601e38)

Europe in 1811

Russia’s expansion in the west, 1772–1812

The Russian Armies of the West

French and Russian dispositions in June 1812

The French advance

The advance to Vitebsk

The Rudnia offensive and Napoleon’s Smolensk manoeuvre

The battle for Smolensk

Lubino – Valutina Gora

The Russian positions at Borodino

Borodino. The morning attacks

Borodino. The final assault

Kutuzov’s retreat from Moscow

Maloyaroslavets

The retreat

The view from Smolensk

Krasny, 15–16 November

Krasny, 16 November

Krasny, 17–19 November

The closing trap, 21 November

The Berezina manoeuvre

The Berezina crossing

The strategic situation at the beginning of December

Statistical chart showing the outward march and retreat of all the forces which crossed the Niemen

Contents

Cover (#u58937b19-e996-5216-b160-7f375c7d414d)

Title Page (#u008b6f79-a534-5aea-82e4-072c660743b5)

Maps (#ubcaf3e53-0b2e-5471-aafb-95d1fe82d806)

Select Glossary of Place-Names in the Former Polish Lands of the Russian Empire (#u49a86e2a-1ec1-546d-bbc0-44d21a3c24c5)

Introductory Note (#u1cc4bdae-23ad-55c5-93aa-792769db641b)

1 Caesar (#udc05443d-581e-5fd1-8ad3-9be9baa71efe)

2 Alexander (#u6640ace8-4f68-5ade-9056-ba84bc2128ec)

3 The Soul of Europe (#u3d53f804-ca35-5a8c-adc4-b0f42768fa84)

4 The Drift to War (#u0645cc10-0a4d-5246-8841-a55cc1b02588)

5 La Grande Armée (#u1e6e4fa3-d6ee-543f-8ad3-10019fbeb4eb)

6 Confrontation (#ue59367c4-6bb7-5c5b-8e5a-6b89cbf23d1c)

7 The Rubicon (#u8e9d557b-3373-5ea3-9731-ad225103646d)

8 Vilna (#litres_trial_promo)

9 Courteous War (#litres_trial_promo)

10 The Heart of Russia (#litres_trial_promo)

11 Total War (#litres_trial_promo)

12 Kutuzov (#litres_trial_promo)

13 The Battle for Moscow (#litres_trial_promo)

14 Hollow Triumph (#litres_trial_promo)