The Russian-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's consider briefly how the Russo-French war was going on.
The fighting was primarily due toRussia'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 military operations, 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.
Почему произошла Русско-французская война?The year 1807 was the first and foremost enemy of Napoleon. They were the United Kingdom. She captured the French colonies in America and India, creating 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.
В 1810 г.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.
The Russo-French War of 1812at the first stage was favorable for Napoleon. On May 9, he meets in Dresden with allied rulers from Europe. From there he goes to his army on the river. The Neman, who shared Prussia and Russia. On June 22, Bonaparte addressed the appeal to the soldiers. In it, he accuses Russia of not fulfilling the Treaty of Tysil. Napoleon called his attack the second Polish invasion. In June, his army was occupied by 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 the Rumshishki and the Priests. It is worth saying that the Russo-French War was supported by Bonaparte by the Allies. The main goal at the first stage was crossing the Neman. Thus, on the southern side of Kovno, there was a grouping of Beauharnais (the viceroy of Italy), with the northern side of the corps of Marshal Macdonald, the corps of General Schwarzenberg invaded Warsaw through the Bug. 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.
August 26 (September 7) in 125 km from Moscowthe biggest battle took place, 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 in both attack and defense.
Бородинское сражение длилось 12 часов.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.
1 (13) сентября армия Кутузова расположилась before Moscow. Her right flank was at the village of Fili, the center - between pp. Troitsky and with. Volynsky, the left - in front of. Vorobyov. Rearier settled on the river. Setuni. At 5 o'clock on the same day in the house of Frolov a military council was convened. 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 the national army could be saved. Kutuzov interrupted the meeting and ordered to retreat. By the evening of September 14, Napoleon entered the deserted Moscow.
In Moscow, the French did not stay long.Some time after their invasion, the city was engulfed in a fire. The soldiers of Bonaparte began to experience a shortage of provisions. The locals refused to help them. Moreover, guerrilla attacks began, the militia began to be organized. Napoleon was forced to leave Moscow.
Kutuzov, meanwhile, set up his army onways of retreat of the French. Bonaparte intended to go to cities not destroyed by military operations. However, his plans prevented the 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.
According to Clausewitz, the great armyreinforcements 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.
What did the Russian-French wonwar? 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 creationpolitical 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 minds of the masses, which led to the Decembrist uprising.
However, not only this event is associated with 1812year. 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.
The Russian-French war showed the strength of everythingpeople of Russia. In the confrontation of Napoleon, not only the regular army participated. A guerrilla movement rose up along 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 taken into account that in the country the simple population was oppressed by serfdom. The war with the French turned the minds of people. People's masses, rallying together, felt their ability to resist the enemy. It was a victory not only for the army, its commanders, 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.
