The war of 1812 ended in what year?

Answer 1

The French invasion of Russia began on the 24th of June 1812. Napoleon's forces crossed the River Neman, and won the first major battle at Smolensk 16-18th of August, at the same time General Wittgenstien blocked the French path to St Petersburg at the battle of Polotsk. The two armies met again at Borodino near Moscow on the 7th of September, The French won the day but failed to destroy the Russian army which was able to regroup. Napoleon entered Moscow on the 14th of September to find it burnt and abandoned. The French without reinforcements or supplies (the fleeing Russians had destroyed all food stocks) were forced to retreat in the face of the on coming winter. The depleted French tried to reach Kaluga to forage for fresh supplies but were beaten back by the reinforced Russian forces. Napoleon was forced to retreat along the same route he had advanced, all food supplies in this part of Russia had either been consumed or destroyed during the advance. The Russian winter, lack of supplies and constant attack by Russian forces ravaged The French army. In November when they crossed the river Berezina only 27 000 soldiers remained of the half a million who had invaded Russia. Napoleon was forced to abandon his men and flee to Paris to put down an attempt to overthrow him as emperor. The campaign ended on the 14th of December when the last French troops left Russian soil.