What was the Russian army like back in 1812? The story continues our program series devoted to the forthcoming bicentenary of Russia’s victory in the 1812 war with France.
In June 1812, the more than 600,000-strong Grande Armee, Europe’s largest and best-trained army, led by the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte marched into Russia. Napoleon and his generals did not have the slightest doubt that it would be a short and victorious war. But things turned out just the opposite.
Napoleon’s expectations of quick and easy triumph were fed by his more than two-fold numerical advantage over the Russians. When the French attacked, the Russian army numbered just 240,000 officers and men. Yet, the superior troop strength did not save Napoleon from an utter defeat. Russia, which had fought several wars in the 18th century, had well-trained and combat efficient troops and talented commanders.
Russian generals often outsmarted their French counterparts, something the latter tacitly acknowledged. Realizing that chances to defeat the superior enemy in one or several battles were close to zero, the Russian command devised a shrewd strategy - slipping away from the French, yet keeping them constantly engaged and thus wearing them down. As a result, Napoleon sustained heavy losses in minor local combats.
Forced to retreat in the first weeks of the war, the Russians avoided a decisive engagement as long as they could. Napoleon, on the contrary, deliberately sought it, knowing that if he won that crucial battle, he would win the entire war. Finally, the battle did take place, but Napoleon had to accept the venue and time imposed by the Russian command. The Borodino battle lasted a staggering 15 hours.
Formally, Napoleon won, but that was a Pyrrhic victory won at a devastating cost, leaving the French with virtually no army to continue the war. The Russian strategy proved victorious.
Speaking about numerical superiority, even though the Russian army was considerably outnumbered, it felt the support of the entire nation behind it. People in the occupied lands formed volunteer formations: the rich and the poor, noblemen and peasants stood shoulder-to-shoulder against the invaders, exhausting them with guerrilla warfare. The exact number of volunteers is unknown.
Some historians put them in tens of thousands. The Russian Orthodox Church did not remain aloof either. Churches and monasteries donated large sums for the purchase of weapons, ammunition and medicines. Some clerics voluntarily gave up priesthood and joined the army. With Russian troops keeping him engaged and guerrillas harassing his rear, things became pretty hot for Napoleon. He was confronted not just by a regular army but the entire people. And in that case, an aggressor, superior, better armed or more experienced though he might be, is usually doomed to lose.
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