On the march with the French

For the invasion of Russia, Napoleon Bonaparte assembled the largest army seen in Europe. More than 650,000 men from France and its allies, backed by 1000 cannons, marched through Eastern Europe and into Russia ready to teach Tsar Alexander a lesson.

Leaving behind more than 200,000 men on the border with Russia, the emperor advanced at the head of a 400,000-man army.

The French troops were seasoned, confident men, while the Allies - who made up half of the force - varied in both quality and morale.

They were men from Poland, Saxony, Italy, Bavaria, Hesse, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Westphalia, Wurtemberg, Baden, Switzerland, Croatia, Berg, Naples and Mecklenberg. There were even Austrians and Prussians among them.

The preparations were nothing short of astounding as the French organised enough provisions to sustain an army of 400,000 men - and 150,000 horses - for 50 days.

1500 wagons were needed to carry the load - some 20 million rations of rice and bread - and some 50,000 draft horses were used to transport the materials.

 

Basic Supplies
	Quintals*	Bottles
Wheat	270,000
Rice	12,000
Oats	2 million
Wine		28 million
Brandy		2 million
*1 Quintal equals	100 pounds	45 kilos