1. Massively Invade Russia: Napoleon, with his vast army known as the Grande Armée, planned a massive invasion of Russia. His objective was to enter the Russian territory, capture Moscow, and force Tsar Alexander I into a peace treaty that would secure his dominance over Europe.
2. Divide and Weaken Russia: Napoleon knew the vast size of Russia would work against him in a prolonged war of attrition. His strategy was to divide and weaken Russia by rapidly occupying strategic territories and important cities, including Moscow. He believed this would demoralize the Russian army and push the Tsar into negotiations.
3. Swift and Decisive Campaign: Napoleon planned a swift and lightning-fast campaign. He wanted to catch the Russian army off-guard and prevent them from fully mobilizing. He hoped to achieve a decisive victory before winter set in, as the harsh Russian weather posed a significant challenge for his army.
4. Psychological Pressure: Napoleon's invasion also aimed to exert psychological pressure on Tsar Alexander. By capturing vital cities and demonstrating the strength of his army, Napoleon hoped to convince Alexander to accept his terms rather than risk further destruction.
5. Exploit Russian Weaknesses: Napoleon was aware that Russia had internal weaknesses, such as supply chain issues and difficulties transporting supplies to its vast armies. He expected to capitalize on these challenges and stretch Russian resources thin by advancing deep into Russian territory.
6. Control Resources: Napoleon sought control of Russia's crucial resources, including food and other provisions, to sustain his invading army and disrupt Russian logistics.
However, Napoleon's plan had critical flaws that eventually led to his defeat:
- Underestimating Russian Resilience: Napoleon underestimated the Russian army's resilience, patriotism, and willingness to fight on even while retreating. The Russians adopted a scorched-earth policy, burning crops, villages, and resources, depriving the French army of vital supplies.
- Supply Challenges: The vast distances, inadequate supply lines, and unpredictable terrain of Russia made it difficult for Napoleon to sustain his army. Harsh winter weather further exacerbated these issues, causing severe losses to the French army due to frostbite, starvation, and disease.
- Lack of Decisive Victory: Napoleon failed to achieve a decisive victory in any major battle, allowing the Russian army to retreat strategically and avoid destruction. The Battle of Borodino in September 1812 was ultimately inconclusive and failed to break Russian resistance.
- Delay in Moscow Occupation: Napoleon's entry into Moscow occurred much later than planned. This delay gave the Russians time to organize and prepare for a counteroffensive. The city itself offered little value, as the Russians had evacuated supplies and burned large parts of it.
In summary, Napoleon's plan to defeat Russia involved a rapid and decisive campaign, but it was undermined by Russian resistance, supply issues, harsh winter weather, and the failure to achieve a decisive victory. These factors contributed to his ultimate defeat and the disastrous retreat of his army from Russia in 1812.