LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Napoleon Bonaparte: Russians
built 176 days ago
Despite the quagmire in Spain, Napoleon reacted to deteriorating relations with Russia by invading that country with an army of six hundred thousand on June 24, 1812. Napoleon could conquer the Russian army, but even he could not overcome the Russian winter and the scorched-earth policy of his enemy that left behind no supplies or protection. When Napoleon reached Moscow, his prize was the capture of a burned-out, abandoned city - and the approach of winter, the severity of which had destroyed more than one invading army. By the time remnants of Napoleon's starving, freezing Grand Army crossed back into France, it totaled no more than ten thousand effective soldiers.
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The Russians under Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly avoided a decisive engagement which Napoleon longed for, preferring to retreat ever deeper into the heart of Russia. A brief attempt at resistance was offered at Smolensk (16–17 August), but the Russians were defeated in a series of battles in the area and Napoleon resumed the advance. The Russians then repeatedly avoided battle with the Grande Armée, although in a few cases only because Napoleon uncharacteristically hesitated to attack when the opportunity arose. Thanks to the Russian army's scorched earth tactics, the Grande Armée had more and more trouble foraging food for its men and horses.[14][15] Along with hunger, the French ... suffered from the harsh Russian winter.
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Napoleon had defeated the Austrians at Ulm in October and had occupied Vienna, the Austrian capital, in November, but part of the Austrian army remained intact and moved north to join its Russian ally at Olmütz (Olomouc) in Moravia. Napoleon followed, with the aim of winning a quick victory before Prussia could join the anti-French coalition and tip the scales against him.
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The Russian people first discovered Napoleon as the young and bright general who stood out during the military campaigns of Italy in 1796 - 1797 and of Egypt in 1798 - 1799. By that time, he was deeply admired in Russia for his military genius by both civilians and soldiers such as Alexander Suvorov, who saw in him a "new Hannibal." Later on, Napoleon's victories over European armies reinforced the myth of his military invincibility, until the retreat of Berezina in October - November 1812.
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