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Napoleon and his army entered Moscow on 14 September. To Napoleon's surprise, Kutuzov had abandoned the city, and it fell without a fight. Hundreds of thousands of civilians fled along with the retreating Russian army, leaving the city nearly empty.
Napoleon invaded with the intention of ending the war in a short campaign centred on a decisive battle in western Russia. As the Russians withdrew, Napoleon's supply lines grew and his strength was in decline from week to week.
French invasion of Russia, (June 24–December 5, 1812), invasion of the Russian Empire by Napoleon I’s Grande Armée. The Russians adopted a Fabian strategy, executing a prolonged withdrawal that largely denied Napoleon a conclusive battle. Although the French ultimately captured Moscow, they could.
24 wrz 2024 · Napoleon watched as Moscow, a jewel of the Russian Empire, burned to the ground. This was a devastating blow—he had captured the city, but its value had been reduced to ashes. Worse, Tsar Alexander refused to negotiate, and Napoleon realized that he could not hold Moscow indefinitely.
22 cze 2012 · Why Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia Was the Beginning of the End. The French emperor—intent on conquering Europe—sent 600,000 troops into Russia. Six disastrous months later, only an estimated ...
The occupation of Moscow, initially seen as the campaign's ultimate objective, now appeared to be a hollow victory, a dead-end that offered no path to a meaningful resolution of the conflict. Finally, on October 19, 1812, Napoleon made the fateful decision to retreat from Moscow.
On the 15th September, a week after the bloody battle of Borodino, Napoleon entered Moscow. He had expected to enter with glory, met by a delegation of the city's highest officials assembled in recognition of his victory and ready to negotiate peace.