In 1812, Napoleon's massive army crossed a river to begin a doomed invasion
Napoleon Bonaparte led over 400,000 soldiers across the Neman River into Russia in 1812, beginning a campaign that would eventually shatter his empire and change the map of Europe forever.
Napoleon's Grande Armée crossed the Neman River on June 24, 1812, marking the start of a catastrophic invasion. While Napoleon sought a quick decisive battle, the Russian forces retreated deep into their territory, using scorched-earth tactics to starve the invaders.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz