​DIG IT

Russian Campaign

 

The Russian’s ruined my plan to cut off British trade, by trading with them. I led my army of about 600 000 men into Russia. My army was made up of the several nations that were under my control. People thought I was crazy and that it was a long shot, but I did it anyway. 

I planned to confront the Russian army in a major battle, the kind I usually won. They kept retreating every time I tried to attack. They led us deeper and deeper into Russia. I expected a short battle, but it dragged on and on. We didn‘t have nearly enough supplies, and we had trouble finding some because the Russians burned the cities we passed through. We planned to stay in Smolensk, until it got burned. The Russian’s are willing to destroy their property, and harm their people to stop us? That’s insane!

The retreats happened for about 3 months before a fight happened in September. The Russians placed themselves on hillsides about seventy miles west of Moscow. We won, but we lost more then 250 000 soldiers. 

We got into Moscow about a week later in September 1812, the harsh winter approaching rapidly. I was forced to retreat. The winter was extremely cold. We had no winter clothing, no heat, and very few supplies. Most of my army froze or starved to death. My grand army had been destroyed!

The Russian army flooded into central Europe, taking Prussia and Austria as allies. I left my army in Russia, as I did in Egypt, and returned to Paris to protect my position as Emperor.