Crossing the Berezina
By the time Napoleon's army reached the Berezina River on November 18, 1812, their defeat was clear. Reports vary as to the number of troops still alive; a general estimate is around 50,000 were left of the over 400,000 that had first invaded. Kutuzov's army still largely avoided direct confrontations, choosing only a few direct battles. Their only real hope for escape lay in crossing the half-frozen Berezina.
Troops worked day and night constructing two bridges, one for troops and one for what remained of their artillery. The remains of the army crossed on the 24th and 25th, with heavy losses in the freezing water. Sgt. Bourgogne writes of counseling a fellow soldier against too hasty a crossing:
"I pointed out to him the number of dead and dying already on the bridge, these last preventing others passing over by catching hold of their legs, and all rolling together in the Berezina. They appeared for a moment amongst bits of ice, only to disappear altogether and make way for others" (Bourgogne, p 149).
Estimates of the survivors of the crossing vary, but approximately half of the army, both able-bodied and wounded, perished in the attempt. On November 29th, the bridges were burned to slow the pursuing Russian army.
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Document last reviewed September 27, 1997
Comments to: Lori Eichelberger