The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape
In the winter of 1812, Napoleon's army retreated from Moscow under appalling conditions, hunted by three separate Russian armies, its chances of survival apparently nil. By late November Napoleon had reached the banks of the River Berezina - the last natural obstacle between his army and the safety of the Polish frontier. But instead of finding the river frozen solid enough to march his men across, an unseasonable thaw had turned the Berezina into an icy torrent. Having already ordered the burning of his bridging equipment, Napoleon's predicament was serious enough: but with the army of Admiral Chichagov holding the opposite bank, and those of Kutusov and Wittgenstein closing fast, it was critical. Only a miracle could save him ...

In a gripping narrative Alexander Mikaberidze describes how Napoleon rose from the pit of despair to the peak of his powers in order to achieve that miracle. Drawing on contemporary sources - letters, diaries, memoirs - he recreates one of the greatest escapes in military history - a story often half-told in general histories of the Russian campaign but never before fully explored.
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The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape
In the winter of 1812, Napoleon's army retreated from Moscow under appalling conditions, hunted by three separate Russian armies, its chances of survival apparently nil. By late November Napoleon had reached the banks of the River Berezina - the last natural obstacle between his army and the safety of the Polish frontier. But instead of finding the river frozen solid enough to march his men across, an unseasonable thaw had turned the Berezina into an icy torrent. Having already ordered the burning of his bridging equipment, Napoleon's predicament was serious enough: but with the army of Admiral Chichagov holding the opposite bank, and those of Kutusov and Wittgenstein closing fast, it was critical. Only a miracle could save him ...

In a gripping narrative Alexander Mikaberidze describes how Napoleon rose from the pit of despair to the peak of his powers in order to achieve that miracle. Drawing on contemporary sources - letters, diaries, memoirs - he recreates one of the greatest escapes in military history - a story often half-told in general histories of the Russian campaign but never before fully explored.
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The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape

The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape

by Alexander Mikaberidze
The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape

The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape

by Alexander Mikaberidze

eBook

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Overview

In the winter of 1812, Napoleon's army retreated from Moscow under appalling conditions, hunted by three separate Russian armies, its chances of survival apparently nil. By late November Napoleon had reached the banks of the River Berezina - the last natural obstacle between his army and the safety of the Polish frontier. But instead of finding the river frozen solid enough to march his men across, an unseasonable thaw had turned the Berezina into an icy torrent. Having already ordered the burning of his bridging equipment, Napoleon's predicament was serious enough: but with the army of Admiral Chichagov holding the opposite bank, and those of Kutusov and Wittgenstein closing fast, it was critical. Only a miracle could save him ...

In a gripping narrative Alexander Mikaberidze describes how Napoleon rose from the pit of despair to the peak of his powers in order to achieve that miracle. Drawing on contemporary sources - letters, diaries, memoirs - he recreates one of the greatest escapes in military history - a story often half-told in general histories of the Russian campaign but never before fully explored.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781848849440
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication date: 08/19/2010
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 288
Sales rank: 92,409
File size: 5 MB

About the Author

Alexander Mikaberidze is an author and historian.

Table of Contents

List of Maps and Illustrations 7

Author's Note 13

Preface 14

Acknowledgements 17

Background 19

From the Nieman to Moscow 20

Departure from Moscow 23

Turning Point: The Battle of Maloyaroslavets 24

From Maloyaroslavets to Smolensk 26

The Battle of Vyazma 27

Smolensk 27

The Battle of Krasnyi 29

Ensnaring the Eagle: The St Petersburg Plan 33

Russian Leadership 37

Campaign Chronicle 48

11 October-17 November: Minsk 48

18-22 November: Struggle for Borisov 53

23 November: Combat at Loshnitsa 66

23 November: The Second Battle of Borisov 70

24-26 November: Chichagov and Oudinot's Feint 77

Northern Front: Campaign Summary 88

Combat at Smolyany 89

The Watching Game 90

From Chereya to Loshnitsa 93

Central Front: From Krasnyi to Orsha 96

From Orsha to Bobr 105

But Where is Kutuzov? 112

26 November: The Crossing, Day 1 117

The Battle of Brili 127

Wittgenstein's Misjudgment 139

27 November: The Crossing, Day 2 144

The Battle of Stary Borisov: Wittgenstein Arrives and Partouneaux Surrenders 159

28 November: The Crossing, Day 3 176

Russian Plans for Attack 177

Operations on the Western Bank: Battle of Stakhov-Brili 179

Operations on the Eastern Bank: The Battle of Studyanka 197

Burning the Bridges 210

Aftermath 216

The End of the Campaign: 30 November-31 December 1812 220

Conclusion 224

Notes and Sources 243

Select Bibliography 269

Index 281

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