Reasons For Napoleon’s Defeat Essay, Research Paper
Reasons for Napoleon’s Defeat
Essay submitted by Unknown
The Campaign of 1812 should have been a another crusade for Napoleon, but he now
faced 2 new policies that he had never faced before, the severe Russian winter and the
notorious scorched-earth policy. On June 23, 1812 Napoleon’s Grande Armee, over
500,000 men strong, poured over the Russian border. An equal amount of Russian
forces awaited them. The result of the campaign was a surprise. Two authors, General
carl von Clausewitz and Brett James, show similarities in reasons why Napoleon had lost
Napoleon believed that after a few quick victorious battles, he could convince
Alexander to return to the Continental System. He also decided that if he occupied
Moscow, the Russian government would crumple and ask for peace.
” A single blow delivered at the heart of the Russian Empire, at Moscow the Great,
at Moscow the Holy, will instantly put this whole blind, apathetic mass at my
mercy.” pg 6, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia
This was his belief he expressed in March 1812. However, when Napoleon eventually
took over Moscow, the Tsar still did not surrender. Napoleon, sent a message to the
Tsar, demanding a immediate surrender. However, the Tsar could not surrender
because if he did, he would be assassinated by the nobles.
Clausewitz replies by saying, ” Napoleon was unable to grasp the fact that Alexander
would not, could not negotiate. The Tsar knew well that he would be disposed and
assassinated if he tried so.” pg 256, The Campaign of 1812 in Russia
General Clausewitz said, “Napoleon believed if he defeated the Russian Army and
occupied Moscow, the Russian leadership will fall apart and the government would call
for peace.” pg 253, The Campaign of 1812 in Russia Brett James also agreed that
Napoleon’s occupation had no result. ” The occupation of Napoleon in Moscow did not
have a effect on the government.” Pg 13, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia
With his battle plan set, Napoleon prepared his troops for the attack on Russia. But,
Napoleon did not consider the fierce Russian winter which awaited him. According to
Ludwig Wilhelm Gottlob Schlosser, a onlooker, he described the army by saying,
” The French, down to the lowliest drummer were very fastidious. These poor French
devils were not satisfied with less than soup, meat and vegetables, roast, and salad for
their midday meal, and there was no sign of their famous frugality. They were
completely devoid of the coming winter.” pg 13, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia
Napoleon was even warned by General Rapp about the extremities of the oncoming
winter in Russia.
” The natives say we shall have a severe winter,” Napoleon retorted scornfully, ”
Bah! You and your natives! We shall see how fine it is.” pg 147, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat
in Russia
Napoleon should have heeded Rapp’s words. As the Grand Armee marched toward
Moscow, many horses and men were lost in the freezing snow, and for those who
remained, their morale and effectiveness was at the nadir.
General Clausewitz states his point by saying,
“With more precaution and better regulations as to subsistence, with more careful
consideration of his marches, which would have prevented the unnecessary and
enormous accumulation of masses on one and the same road, he would have preserved
his army in a more effective condition.” pg 255, The Campaign of 1812 in Russia
Brett James also shared the same opinion, ” Napoleon appeared to have made no effort
to discover the facts in Russia, or prepare his troops for it.” pg 140, 1812
Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia
As Napoleon and his army was making their way to Moscow, they encountered typhus,
colds, and dysentery. Even the mighty Napoleon had caught a mild case of the flu.
However, his soldiers had received the brunt of the attack.
Captain Thomas- Joesph Aubry relives this ordeal, ” After this the typhus made
appalling inroads in our ranks. We were fourty-three officers in our ward. All of them
died, one after the other, and delirious from this dreadful disease, most of them singing,
some in Latin, others in German, others again in Italian – and singing psalms, canticles,
or the mass.” pg 210, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia General Clausewitz wrote, ” The
bad water and the air-borne insects caused dysentery, typhus, and diarrhea.” pg 136,
The Campaign of 1812 in Russia Brett James also wrote, ” Bad water, bad air, and bad
sanitation all contributed to the vile diseases.” pg 213 1812, Napoleon’s defeat in Russia
Napoleon had lost about 80,000 men altogether from diseases alone. But there were
some remedies for the sick, doctors provided gruel for the dysentery and warm soup for
the colds. Napoleon could have lowered the casualties if he had brought more doctors
and more supplies.
When Napoleon had finally reached Moscow, he discovered it deserted. Two days later,
a great fire broke out in Moscow, temporarily forcing Napoleon and some of his troops
out of Moscow. If Napoleon had reached Moscow with at 300,000 men instead of
90,000, he could have continued his campaign and defeat the weakened Russian army.
The Emperor could have reached Moscow with at least 300,000 men if he had taken
better care of his troops and had not fought every battle that he came across. Brett
James shows that Napoleon regarded his army as mere numbers and did not
contemplate that they would be affected by hunger and fatigue.
“He would not have lost a 100,000 men if he had not chosen on every occasion to take
the bull by the horns.” pg 86, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia “Moscow was a good
weeks march away, but already the army was already disintegrating through sheer
hunger.” pg 147, 1812 Napoleon’s Defeat in Russia
General Clausewitz also relates with Brett by declaring, “He reached Moscow with
90,000 men, he should have reached it with 300,000. This would have happened if he
treated his army with more care and forbearance.” pg 255, The Campaign of 1812 in
Russia
If Napoleon only had at least 300,000 men, he could have waited for supplies with the
comfort of knowing that he was safe. Instead, Napoleon retreated and allowed his army
to slowly wither under the attack of the Russian guerrillas.
Therefore I have shown some reasons why Napoleon had lost the Campaign of 1812 to
Russia. However, Napoleon did not lose the war out of military errors but of a simple
miscalculation – a miscalculation that was made by Hitler a century later. Napoleon
believed that if he occupied Moscow, the Russian government would collapse and he
would rule Europe with little opposition. But as history reveals, this tactic does not
work and Napoleon is defeated, paving the way for other nations to deny Napoleon’s
lust for power.