Death March Through Russia: A Journey Through Hell and Back

In the annals of history, Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Russia in 1812 stands as one of the most catastrophic military campaigns ever undertaken. The ill-fated expedition resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, both French and Russian, and left an enduring legacy of suffering and destruction.

Death March Through Russia: The Memoir of Lothar Herrmann (Oxford English Texts)

by Benjamin Franklin

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1382 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	257 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In his gripping new book, Death March Through Russia, historian Andrew Roberts chronicles the horrific events of that fateful campaign. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including eyewitness accounts and official documents, Roberts paints a vivid and unflinching portrait of the human suffering and resilience that unfolded during Napoleon's ill-fated invasion.

The Grande Armée Marches East

In the spring of 1812, Napoleon assembled his largest army ever, the Grande Armée, and set out to conquer Russia. His objectives were ambitious: to crush the Russian army, seize Moscow, and force Tsar Alexander I to submit to his will.

The Grande Armée was a formidable force, numbering over 600,000 men. But it was ill-prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. The Russian army was larger and better equipped, and the vast expanse of Russian territory presented logistical difficulties that Napoleon had not anticipated.

As the Grande Armée marched east, it encountered increasing resistance from the Russian army. The Russians avoided pitched battles, instead employing a scorched-earth policy that deprived the French of food and supplies.

The Battle of Borodino

On September 7, 1812, the two armies clashed in the titanic Battle of Borodino. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in history, with over 100,000 casualties. The battle ended in a stalemate, but it weakened both armies and paved the way for Napoleon's disastrous retreat from Moscow.

The Retreat from Moscow

After the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon occupied Moscow, but the city had been abandoned by its inhabitants and was largely empty. With winter approaching, Napoleon made the fateful decision to retreat from Moscow.

The retreat from Moscow was a catastrophe. The Grande Armée was pursued by the Russian army and Cossacks, and it suffered from hunger, cold, and disease. Thousands of soldiers died each day, and the once-mighty Grande Armée was reduced to a ragged band of survivors.

The Legacy of the Death March

The death march through Russia was one of the most catastrophic military campaigns in history. It resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and it left a lasting legacy of suffering and destruction.

The death march also had a profound impact on Napoleon's career. It marked the beginning of his downfall, and it ultimately led to his defeat and exile. The death march also left a lasting legacy on the Russian people, who remember it as a time of great suffering and sacrifice.

Death March Through Russia is a gripping and unforgettable account of one of the most catastrophic military campaigns in history. Andrew Roberts' vivid and unflinching prose brings to life the horrors of that fateful expedition, and it offers a powerful reminder of the human suffering and resilience that can be unleashed by war.

Death March Through Russia: The Memoir of Lothar Herrmann (Oxford English Texts)

by Benjamin Franklin

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1382 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	257 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE