The Bataille of Bérézina took place of the 26 to the November 29th 1812 close to the river Bérézina (in current Bielorussia), between the French Army of Napoleon I {{er}} and the Russian armies, of Koutousov, Wittgenstein and Tchitchagov, after the failure of the Campagne of Russia
Context
Five months after the crossing of the Niémen the June 24th, the Large army beats a retreat and is in front of a marshy river: the Bérézina. The Russian armies hope on this natural obstacle to block the army of Napoleon and thus to destroy it.The retirement of Russia is done under bad conditions: the winter is early and very vigorous. Exposed on its side by the army of Wittgenstein, continued by that of Koutousov, and blocked by Bérézina whose army of Tchitchagov control the bridge of Borisov since the day before, the Large army is, the November 22nd 1812 in the morning, in a desperate plight.
Unfolding
The November 23rd, the Russians await the French with Borisov and Napoleon decides to organize an operation of diversion there to allow the crossing of Bérézina 15 km lower, vis-a-vis the village of Stoudienka, where the general Corbineau identified a possible passage.The success of the operation passes by the very fast construction of two bridges to Stoudienka. Working in ice-cold water the 26, November 27th, 28th and th, the Pontonnier S of the general Eblé carry out and maintain these two works that the Large army crosses the 26, as of 1 p.m., in spite of the opposition of the three Russian armies.
In the night, Tchitchagov realizes of its error but cannot intervene immediately. Tchitchagov, Wittgenstein and the avant-garde of Koutousov take the offensive the 28 around 8 hours of the morning.
Vis-a-vis army of Wittgenstein, in front of forces enemy which increases as time passes, the marshal Victor with: 10000 men, defends all the day the heights of Stoudienka, while 800 riders of Fournier are distinguished by charging very often the Russian cavalry and the infantry. Whereas the crossing is completed, the night stops the engagements and Victor benefits from it to pass in its turn on Right Bank.
Later, whereas the large one of the army already crossed the Bérézina, of many latecomers are still on other bank. Eblé sends several times to say around the bivouacs, that the bridges will be destroyed at dawn of the 29 to protect the retirement. Cars are burnt to convince the latecomers of the urgency to be crossed, but the majority of the carriages, exhausted, preferring to wait the day, remain deaf with these injunctions.
After as much as possible having deferred the expiry, the two bridges are burnt with 8:30. The left bank of Bérézina offers the tragic spectacle then, men, women and children precipitating through the flames of the bridges or trying to cross to the stroke.
The Russian cossacks, finding the passage released after the departure of Victor, arrive at 9:30. They seize the spoils given up by the Large army and make many prisoners.
Conclusion
The fighting formations, the Staff and the artillery of the Large army crossed the Bérézina, but this undeniable military success has the bitter taste of the many undergone losses, which will be evaluated with approximately: 45000 died or captive.
Works
One of the independent sources for this episode of the wars of the Revolution and the Empire are the memories of the general Rostopchine (father of the countess of Ségur), Histoire of Napoleon and the Large army during the year 1812 , published in 1824.This passage inspired by many artists. One can quote in particular:
- Balzac, which wrote Adieu! (1830), which puts in scene a separate woman of the French soldier that she liked at the time of the passage of Bérézina, and become insane since ( Scènes of the military life and philosophical Étude );
- Tolstoï, which wrote Guerre and peace (1864), whose epopee of a Russian family at the 19th century is the occasion to illustrate the impotence of the man vis-a-vis the whims of the History.
- Rambaud, which wrote It Snowed (2000), on the Countryside of Russia, of the entry in Moscow until the return of Napoleon in Paris.
External bonds
- Number of the losses of the battle
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