R G Burton

Napoleon's Invasion of Russia R G Burton

Part of the acclaimed "Special Campaign" series of works intended for serious professional students of military history each volume is interspersed with strategical and tactical comments and illustrated by numerous sketches.

The military lessons of the Russian campaign are numerous. In its general features, in the grandeur of its conception, and in some respects in its execution, as well as in its abysmal end, this gigantic invasion was splendid and awe-inspiring. Who can contemplate unmoved the sublime spectacle of that mighty human stream pouring across Europe into Russia, fighting its way to Moscow, and its shattered remnants struggling back across the Berezina, in worst icy flood so many thousand lives were quenched in circumstances of tragic horror. The dramatic figure of the Great Emperor, standing in the snow during the retreat, domination the situation by the mere terror of his personality, will stand out for ever on the page of history. The fortitude in the retreat of Ney, what warrior of transcendent courage, who, asked were the rearguard, replied in all truth "I am the rearguard"; and in response to a summons to surrender "A Marshal of France never surrenders!" furnishes one of the finest episodes of this dramatic epoch.

The Causes of War - Preparations for War - The Opposing Forces - The Theatre of War - The Invasion of Lithuania - The Advance to the Dwina - From the Dwina to the Dnieper - The Battle of Smolensk - The Advance to Borodino - The Battle of Borodino - The Occupation of Moscow - From Moscow to Maloyaroslavetz - The Retreat to Smolensk - From Smolensk to Borisov - The Passage of the Berezina - From the Berezina to the Niemen - The Causes of Failure.

Maps and Plans:

1. Map of the Theatre of Operations.

2. Map to Illustrate the Operations round Smolensk.

3. Plan of Smolensk and its Environs.

4. The Battle of Borodino.

5. From Moscow to Smolensk.

6. The Passage of the Berezina.