Battle of Borodino

:Another Battle of Borodino took place in October 1941.

Background

The French Grande Armée had begun the invasion of Russia in June, 1812. Alexander I proclaimed a Patriotic War in defence of the fatherland. The Russian forces — previously massing on the Polish frontier — fell back before the invaders in the face of the speedy French advance, often confused with a 'scorched earth' policy (see main article on the invasion). Prince Michael Barclay de Tolly was commander-in-chief of the Russian army. His attempts at forming a defensive line were thwarted time and again by the fast moving French line, but Barclay's constant retreat was nevertheless perceived as an unwillingness to fight and he was removed. The new Russian commander, Prince Mikhail Kutuzov, although much more fierce in his rhetoric, was also unable to establish a defensive position until within 125 kilometers of Moscow. Kutuzov picked an eminently defensible area near the village of Borodino and from September 3 strengthened it with earthworks, notably the Rayevski Redoubt in the center-right of the line and three open arrow-shaped 'Bagration fletches' to the left.

Related Topics:
Grande Armée - Alexander I - Patriotic War - Scorched earth - See main article on the invasion - Michael Barclay de Tolly - Mikhail Kutuzov - Moscow - Earthworks - Bagration - Fletches

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