The Russo-French War (1812-1814)

The Russo-French War of 1812-1814. Ended with the almost complete destruction of the army of Napoleon. During the fighting, the entire territory of the Russian Empire was liberated, and battles were transferred to the lands of Germany and the Warsaw Duchy. Let us briefly consider how the Russo-French war was going on.

the date of the beginning

The fighting was primarily due to Russia's refusal to actively support the continental blockade, which Napoleon saw as the main weapon in the fight against Britain. In addition, Bonaparte pursued a policy towards European countries, which does not take into account the interests of Russia. At the first stage of the fighting, the national army retreated. Before Moscow, the Battle of Borodino passed . From June to September 1812, the preponderance was on the side of Napoleon. From October to December the army of Bonaparte tried to maneuver. She sought to retire to winter apartments, located in an undeveloped area. After this, the Russo-French war of 1812 continued with the retreat of the Napoleonic army in conditions of famine and frost.

Prerequisites for battle

Why there was a Russo-French war? The year 1807 was the first and foremost enemy of Napoleon. They were the United Kingdom. It seized the French colonies in America and India, and created obstacles to trade. Due to the fact that England held good positions at sea, as the only effective weapon of Napoleon was the continental blockade. Its effectiveness, in turn, depended on the behavior of other powers and their desire to follow sanctions. Napoleon demanded from Alexander the First more consistent implementation of the blockade, but constantly met with Russia's unwillingness to break off relations with its key trading partner.

In 1810, our country participated in free trade with neutral states. This allowed Russia to trade with England through intermediaries. The government takes a protective tariff, which raises customs rates, primarily on imported French goods. This, of course, caused the extreme discontent of Napoleon.

Offensive

The Russian-French war of 1812 was favorable for Napoleon at the first stage. On May 9, he meets in Dresden with allied rulers from Europe. From there he goes to his army on the river. The Niemen, who shared Prussia and Russia. On June 22, Bonaparte addressed the appeal to the soldiers. In it, he accuses Russia of not implementing the Treaty of Tisil. Napoleon called his attack the second Polish invasion. In June, his army occupied Kovno. Alexander I was at that time in Vilna, at the ball.

On June 25, the first collision occurred with. Barbarishki. Battles also occurred under Rumshishki and Priests. It is worth saying that the Russo-French War was held with the support of Bonaparte by the Allies. The main goal at the first stage was crossing the Neman. Thus, on the southern side of Kovno appeared the grouping of Bogarne (vice-king of Italy), with the north - the corps of Marshal Macdonald, from Warsaw through the Bug, the corps of General Schwarzenberg invaded. On June 16 (28) the soldiers of the great army occupied Vilna. June 18 (30), Alexander I sent to Napoleon Adjutant General Balashov with a proposal to conclude peace and withdraw troops from Russia. However, Bonaparte refused.

Borodino

August 26 (September 7) 125 km from Moscow there was the biggest battle, after which the Russo-French war went according to the scenario of Kutuzov. The forces of the parties were approximately equal. Napoleon had about 130-135 thousand people, Kutuzov - 110-130 thousand in the domestic army did not have enough guns for 31 thousand militiamen in Smolensk and Moscow. The soldiers were given peaks, but Kutuzov did not use people as cannon fodder. They performed various auxiliary functions - they carried out the wounded and so on. Borodino actually was an assault by soldiers of the great army of Russian fortifications. Both sides widely used artillery both in attack and in defense.

Council in Fili

The battle of Borodino lasted 12 hours. It was a bloody battle. Napoleon's soldiers at the price of 30-34 thousand wounded and killed broke through the left flank and pushed back the center of the Russian positions. However, they failed to develop their offensive. In the Russian army, losses were estimated at 40-45 thousand wounded and killed. There was practically no prisoners on either side.

On September 1 (13), Kutuzov's army settled in front of Moscow. Her right flank was at the village of Fili, the center - between pp. Troitsky and with. Volynsky, left - in front of with. Vorobiev. Rearier settled on the river. Setuni. At 5 o'clock on the same day, a military council was convened in Frolov's house. Barclay de Tolly insisted that the Russo-French war would not be lost if he gave Moscow to Napoleon. He spoke of the need to preserve the army. Bennigsen, in turn, insisted on a battle. Most of the other participants supported his position. However, the point on the council was put by Kutuzov. The Russo-French war, he believed, would end with the defeat of Napoleon only if it succeeded in preserving the national army. Kutuzov interrupted the meeting and ordered to retreat. By the evening of September 14, Napoleon entered the deserted Moscow.

The Expulsion of Napoleon

In Moscow, the French did not stay long. A short time after their invasion, the city was enveloped in a fire. The soldiers of Bonaparte began to experience a shortage of provisions. Local residents refused to help them. Moreover, guerrilla attacks began, the militia began to be organized. Napoleon was forced to leave Moscow.

Meanwhile, Kutuzov set up his army in the way of the French retreat. Bonaparte intended to go to cities not destroyed by military operations. However, his plans were prevented by Russian soldiers. He was forced to go practically along the same road that he came to Moscow. Since the settlements on the way were destroyed by them, there were no products in them, as well as people. Exhausted by hunger and disease, Napoleon's soldiers were subjected to constant attacks.

Russian-French war: results

According to Clausewitz, the great army with reinforcements numbered about 610 thousand people, including 50 thousand Austrian and Prussian soldiers. Many of those who were able to return to Koenigsberg, almost immediately died of disease. In December 1812, about 225 generals passed through Prussia, slightly more than 5 thousand officers, 26 from a small number of thousands of lower ranks. As contemporaries testified, they were all in very miserable condition. In general, Napoleon lost about 580 thousand soldiers. The remaining soldiers formed the backbone of Bonaparte's new army. However, in January 1813 the battles moved to the lands of Germany. Then the fighting continued in France. In October, the army of Napoleon was defeated near Leipzig. In April 1814, Bonaparte renounced the throne.

Long-term consequences

What did the Russian-French war gain? The date of this battle has firmly become history as a turning point in the issue of Russia's influence on the affairs of Europe. Meanwhile, the foreign policy strengthening of the country was not accompanied by internal changes. Despite the fact that the victory rallied and inspired the masses, the successes did not lead to the reform of the social and economic sphere. Many peasants who fought in the Russian army marched through Europe and saw that serfdom was abolished everywhere. They expected the same actions from their government. However, serfdom continued to exist after 1812. According to a number of historians, at that time there were not yet those prerequisites that would lead to its immediate abolition.

But a sharp surge of peasant uprisings, the creation of political opposition in the progressive nobility, which followed almost immediately after the end of the battles, refute this opinion. Victory in the Patriotic War not only rallied people and contributed to the rise of the national spirit. Together with this, the borders of freedom widened in the consciousness of the masses, which led to the Decembrist uprising.

However, not only this event is associated with the year 1812. It has long been suggested that the entire national culture, self-consciousness, gained momentum during the Napoleonic invasion. As Herzen wrote, the true history of Russia opens only in 1812. Everything that was before, can be considered only an introduction.

Conclusion

The Russian-French war showed the strength of the entire Russian people. In the confrontation of Napoleon, not only the regular army participated. A guerrilla movement rose up over the villages and villages . The militia formed detachments, attacked soldiers of the great army. On the whole, historians note that patriotism was not particularly manifested prior to this battle in Russia. It should be noted that in the country the common people were oppressed by serfdom. The war with the French turned the minds of people. The masses, united, felt their ability to resist the enemy. It was a victory not only for the army, its command, but for the entire population. Undoubtedly, the peasants expected a change in their lives. But, unfortunately, were disappointed by further developments. Nevertheless, the impetus to free-thinking, resistance has already been given.