Napoleon's Russian Campaign of 1812
Figurative map of the successive losses in men of the French Army
Advance to Moscow (June to September 1812)
Retreat from Moscow (October to December 1812)
Key Events of the Campaign
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June 24, 1812: Napoleon's Grande Armée crosses the Neman River, beginning the invasion of Russia.
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September 14, 1812: French forces occupy Moscow, but find it largely abandoned and set ablaze.
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October 19, 1812: Napoleon begins the retreat from Moscow as winter approaches.
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November 26-29, 1812: Crossing of the Berezina River, a major disaster for the retreating French army.
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December 14, 1812: Remnants of the Grande Armée cross back over the Neman River, ending the campaign.
Inspired by Charles Joseph Minard's 1869 flow map of Napoleon's Russian Campaign.
The width of the colored zones is proportional to the number of soldiers in the French army.