The Battle of Krasnoi from the 15th of November to the 18th of November 1812 was a series of skirmishes fought in the final stage of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. The Russians under General Mikhail Kutuzov inflicted heavy losses on the remnants of the Grande Armée. Lacking sufficient artillery, cavalry and supplies to wage battle, Napoleon’s object at Krasnoi was to collect his scattered troops and to resume his retreat. Despite the vast superiority of his forces, Kutuzov refrained from launching a full-scale offensive during the four days of fighting.
On the 17th of November, in the key period of the battle when Russian victory was clear Kutuzov promptly cancelled his army’s planned offensive, even in spite of the Russians’ overwhelming superiority in strength. Napoleon with the debris of his army escaped.
This caused widespread protests among Russian officers and generals. In his memoirs, the British ambassador to the Russian Armys headquarters R. Wilson rejected any suspicion of Kutuzov “cowardice”, but noted that there was “some hidden reason” for such behavior of Russian Field-Marshal.
What were the real reasons of that decision?
There is a presumption that Kutuzov deliberately gave Napoleon, though not his army, the chance to get away. Thus the Russiancommander, acting in the best British political traditions, left alive the main opponent of the Britain on the European political scene and made Russia’s participation in the European campaigns of 1813-1814 a necessity. Otherwise, if Napoleon were removed from the scene by Russian hands, Britain would have beenable to unilaterally dominate the weakened Europe, as the United States woulddo with Western Europe later.
SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence is offering you the “War of 1812 – French Invasion to Russia” video:
Historical videos on SouthFront? Nice! And excellent quality, as always.
Great Video, As a swiss the battle of the river beresina was a turning point in history. The swiss stayed behind to defend the fleeing French army. This was the last time the swiss weren’t neutral and it ended in a disaster.
Historians are still puzzled on why Napoleon really wanted to march on Moscow. The move had no real strategical relevance. History will retain that it was all about ego.
Or perhaps Kutuzov let Napoleon escape for the same reason Howe let Washington escape time and again, and Brunswick did not press the attack at Valmy. Recall Napoleon’s utterance (and forgive my paraphrasing): “The army is my Lodge, my soldiers my Freemasons, and I am their Grandmaster.” Kutuzov was known as a member of a Masonic Lodge.