| The Patriotic War of 1812, or the Russian Campaign of Napoleon as it
was called on the West, occupies one of the most remarkable places in the
century-old and reach of events Russian history. The Patriotic War of 1812
had become the beginning of the end of Napoleon's Empire; Russia had become
the place of the destruction of the Great Army. Many events were contained
in this heroic epoch: long and heavy retreat of the Russian armies in land,
a bitterness of defeats of the first months of the campaign, the tragedy
of the surrender of Moscow to the enemy, the triumph and the joy after
enemy's proscription from the limits of Motherland. This catastrophe heartened all the peoples of Europe to defy Napoleon. In Germany the news unleashed an outbreak of anti-French demonstrations. The Prussian contingents deserted the Grande Armée in December and turned against the French. The Austrians also withdrew their troops and adopted an increasingly hostile attitude, and in Italy the people began to turn their backs on Napoleon. The retreat from Russia, combined with Napoleon's reverses in Spain, precipitated his downfall.  Napoleon leaves the battle grounds (J.Worms) |
From "Russia in War and Peace" (Alan Palmer) |