Napoleons_Russian_Campaign

Napoleons Russian Campaign Napoleons Russian Campaign The peace between France and Russia in 1807 lasted for five years but was not satisfactory to either side. The Tilsit settlement was thought of by Napoleon as no more than a convenient truce. In 1807 he had been in no position to invade Russia but there was no way that he could tolerate another European power for very long. Napoleon felt that a war with Russia was necessary ‘for crushing England by crushing the only power still strong enough him any trouble by joining her.’ Napoleon began preparing for the war. He secured the support of Austria and Prussia since even though neither was in any position to refuse. Emperor Francis of Austria provided 34,000 men to cover the French but sent secret messages to St. Petersburg assuring Alexander that Austrian hostilities would be kept to a minimum. Prussia though was placed in a less fortunate position. With Berlin occupied by French and most of their 1807 debt to be paid it had no alternative but to provide 25,000 men and supply quarters and rations for the entire army. The rest of Napoleon’s Grand Army came from the many countries under his direct control. The Kingdom napoleon, army, though, french, men, russian, troops, barclay, moscow, kutusov, battle, armies, river, retreat, first, decided, smolensk, russia, plan, left, under, two, second, russians, prussia, bagration, reached, position, out, november, napoleon’s, made, czar, consisted, between, back