crossing of the Berezina River

E176352

The crossing of the Berezina River was a disastrous retreat action in November 1812 during Napoleon’s withdrawal from Russia, symbolizing the collapse of the Grande Armée amid chaos, heavy losses, and near-encirclement by Russian forces.

All labels observed (5)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
retreat operation
approximateFrenchStrength tens of thousands of troops and followers
approximateRussianStrength superior numbers compared to French forces
belligerent First French Empire
Russian Empire
casualties significant Russian casualties
very high French casualties
commander Admiral Pavel Chichagov
Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov
General Jean Baptiste Eblé
General Peter Wittgenstein
Marshal Michel Ney
linked to: Michel Ney

Marshal Nicolas Oudinot
Napoleon I of France
linked to: Napoleon I
conflict French invasion of Russia
consequence further disintegration of the Grande Armée
weakening of Napoleon’s military power in Europe
countryAtTheTime Russian Empire
date November 1812
description disastrous retreat action during Napoleon’s withdrawal from Russia
endDate 29 November 1812
hasLegacy term "Bérézina" used in French as a synonym for disaster
historicalPeriod Napoleonic era
involves pontonniers of General Jean Baptiste Eblé
location Berezina River
linked to: Berezina

near Borisov
present-day Belarus
militaryTactic feint and deception to mislead Russian forces about crossing point
notableFeature emergency construction of pontoon bridges
extreme cold and harsh winter conditions
large numbers of stragglers and non-combatants
notableFor sacrifice of French engineers and pontonniers
outcome escape of part of the Grande Armée
heavy French losses
near-encirclement by Russian forces
partOf French invasion of Russia
Napoleonic Wars
relatedEvent Battle of Borodino
Battle of Leipzig
retreat from Moscow
result French tactical success
Russian strategic success
startDate 26 November 1812
strategicObjective avoid encirclement and destruction by Russian armies
preserve remnants of the Grande Armée
symbolism symbol of chaos and catastrophe in French collective memory
symbol of the collapse of the Grande Armée

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

French invasion of Russia notableEvent crossing of the Berezina River
French invasion of Russia keyBattle Battle of the Berezina
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River
Patriotic War of 1812 battle Battle of Berezina
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River
Berezina knownFor Battle of Berezina
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River
Berezina significantEvent Battle of Berezina
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River
Berezina significantEvent Crossing of the Berezina by Napoleon’s Grande Armée
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River
Отечественная война 1812 года ключевоеСражение Переправа через Березину
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River
Battle of Krasnoi followedBy Battle of Berezina
linked to: crossing of the Berezina River