French invasion of Russia | World history | Khan Academy

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Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia. Created by Sal Khan.
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World history on Khan Academy: Called the Great War (before World War II came about), World War I was the bloody wake-up call that humanity was entering into a new stage of civilization. Really the defining conflict that took Europe from 19th Century Imperial states that saw heroism in war into a modern shape. Unfortunately, it had to go through World War II as well (that some would argue was due to imbalances created by World War I).
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[@alanegdell7406]

how is this the same guy who teaches me calculus?!

[@user-vx3os3yy2q]

Alan Egdell he is a mega-brain

[@romantsar8344]

Дана Бекбулатова Big Brain Time

[@cocotaveras8975]

Big boi brain 🧠

[@ulanbaialiev2129]

Napoleon had the most powerful army, but Russia has the strongest people ...

[@MarvinMatters]

+Saifthebest01 Do you know why? If you kill your people, others will be afraid of you

[@Indipuk]

There is nothing extraordinary about russian people. Their country is just too big to surrender when losing only 1 major city.

[@ulanbaialiev2129]

I know Russians and they differ from Europeans. They a little on another perceive the world - the simple people often put interests of the state above own. The state and elite often uses it and cultivates this aspiration and self-sacrifice.

[@ASroma90]

I like the history videos! Keep em coming!

[@wrycoder]

Thanks for this lesson. Love the Minard chart! Reminds me of Tolstoy.

[@UncleVanya21]

It was Hitler who chose Stalingrad to do battle, not the Soviets, he needed it to control the Volga so he could move down south and capture those Caucasus oil fields.

[@khanacademy]

@SkilletKosier I went with the numbers on Minard's chart. I've also read the 600k starting/40k ending numbers (as opposed to the 450k/10k that I talk about in this video).

[@SSanf]

I love your history videos.

[@ProHelp2010]

In Soviet Russia, you don't get cold. Cold gets you!

[@UncleVanya21]

Our military prowess was instrumental in bringing down the Polish Kingdom, the Swedish Empire, the French Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Third Reich. A millennium of warfare, there every defeat was overcome with subsequent victories. The French and the Germans had a good run, but our success was often on a grander scale than theirs, literally.

[@Tehcarp]

Khan, that 'chart' is a map. A thematic map. The reason it is a map is because it has locations on it.

[@UncleVanya21]

And not just invasions, we got a long history of victory outside of our borders.

[@MsTomas086]

Plus the Russian admire the French so much even there building and culture has French influences.

[@Knightmetal]

Dude, you're truly awesome! you can teach any single thing that cross your mind and you do it good haha. A couple of months ago I was learning derivatives and integrals from you and I'm learning history, you should run for president ;-)

[@alejoeisabel]

Remember, Napoleon had his best troops in Spain fighting that guerilla war. He was blead to death in Spain and Russia. Any similarities in today's world?

[@kylmrtn]

Good stuff

[@Edax_Royeaux]

Napoleon wasn't defeated by Russian winter, he was out of Russia before the winter. He was defeated by the Russian Autumn! Even the Russians had trouble coping with the cold, and at the Battle of Berezina, they only had a slight advantage, but the sheer fact that they couldn't stop Napoleon at the river, depite having him surrounded on both sides with more troops, should show that that was an unnatural year that even Russians found too cold.

[@UncleVanya21]

And yes, we do love our country more than others, because our ancestors have had to defend it more than others. We also did not become the 3rd largest Empire in history of the human race by running in the other direction.

[@Chriswmagic]

I remember Ted Teevan belting out on the radio: "Napoleon tried to take Moscow! Hitler tried to take Moscow! No one has ever taken Moscow! No one except Team Canada 1972!"

[@baboushko]

Napoléon took Moscow

[@JerrySorn]

@ Tehcarp - "chart" and "map" are synonymous for that time in history, especially in military context. And you would never hear a sea captain calling for a map, always chart.

[@mekaview]

Khan, you are a cyborg. You are doing everything like a machine. Kudos. i am amazed.

[@vart12345]

nice work, go ahead. how about galapagos islands.

[@phnxbr]

I was in Smolensk. There in the cathedral are carved in the stone the names of Russian officers who were carrying round the icon of Notre-Dame de Smolensk.

[@phnxbr]

Leo Tolstoy "War and Peace"

[@peopleseelight]

you forgot the battle in the un-named fort outside of Moscow after Borodino. Yes it was a small battle but it was his last one before the city of Moscow

[@UncleVanya21]

So it is our weakness that German army's supply lines were vulnerable? Somehow we did not have that problem then we marched from our territory to Germany. At Kulikovo we fought the Golden Horde, that was the Mongol Empire, they outnumbered us 4 to 1. In the 10th century our Great Kniaz Oleg raided Constantinople and nailed his shield to its gates.

[@Indipuk]

Those temperatures are bullshit, −37 °R = that's like -47 Celsius in December Belarus? That's nonsense, record all times low is only -23 Celsius... on average it is -1... -5 Celsius....

[@SlavicWolfPL]

Warsaw Duchal commanders proposed to stop the invasion after the liberation of Lithuania and Belarus (and rebuilding of Commonwealth), then recruitement of local men to Polish corps of Grande Armee, and finally next offensive in 1813. Poles had 300-years experience in fighting Muscovites, but Emperor prefered short (and tragic) scenario...

[@ironmantis25]

@Trouterr hitler knew about the russian winter just as Napoleon did, but like Napoleon, hitler was too overconfident about the strength of his forces and underestimates the Russian Army. Hitler thought that germany could defeat russia in a few months using the same blitzkreig tactics used in poland and france.

[@pongman]

Thank you. Now can you do one on the Rise and Fall of Wall St.? lol

[@unitix]

Very nice video

[@pbfreak11]

Soooooo do you have a masters in every faculty?

[@xraidedlok]

what play list is this in

[@oarfrost]

that bloke is good!

[@UncleVanya21]

As for the Teutons...they didn't do to well in the battle of the ice (Or slaughter on the Ice as we call it). We didn't see them since.

[@jk1776yt]

What is the black retreat line that runs vertical from Polotzk in the Minard graph? Is this French troops that were stationed in Polotzk that joined the main retreating army? thanks

[@HistorianUndertaker1]

@RemingtonSAXMAN That's the thing; they retreated using the smolensk road to go back to France but the main problem of the whole (missed) invasion was that the French army encountered logistics problems. The supplies were always threatened (attacked) by the cossacks, and the road conditions were very poor. The land was also poor and the only way to survive during the retreat was to steal some goods from the local population and do stuff like that.

[@UncleVanya21]

We may loose a battle, but we almost always win the war (and then we loose the war, we fight another one a few years later and always win in the end) and all thats left for those stupid enough to test their strength against us is cry about how a cold breeze made their men fall over.

[@HistorianUndertaker1]

Sal you forgot to mention one very important event in your awesome video: the battle of maloyaroslavets (Ocober 24th ). Briefly, Napoleon made the choice of not taking the Kalouga's road (leading through Ukraine) because of the whole Russian army amassed on the other side of the Luzha river. After his "victory" at the maloyaroslavets. he judged more prudently to come back through the smolensk road....

[@gambart2002]

Khan, you are the New Age of education.

[@Alezander333]

so the Russians really pulled a nasty prank on Napoleon

[@DrewDude09]

I have some issues with this video. One being is that Napoleon didn't want to go to Moscow at first. He wanted to defeat the Russian army and bring the Tsar to the negotiating table. This didn't happen because of inept commanders Napoleon put in charge of certain advanced columns, including his brother Jerome. Secondly, I haven't heard any account of Napoleon claiming to want to rule Russia. It would be fairly implausible for him to do so anyways given geographical limitations. ;p

[@Imprudentman]

I was interested to learn that the Russian tried to take over Poland in 1812. Russian, Germans and Austrians have divided Poland. The last section was held in 1773, it seems.

[@DarkReapersGrim]

@MuseseekerMan As you know Russia is a large country. Wikipedia indicates that there were around 270,000 people in Moscow. A third of them stayed in Moscow (they were primarily foreign traders, servants, and people who couldn't or didn't want to run or flee). Apparently the majority of the people who left Moscow went south (don't know why they didn't retreat to the east to get away from the French). Anyway, operations continued to cut the numbers of the Frenchmen from there.

[@RemingtonSAXMAN]

Why didn't the french retreat through the already established and guarded arrival route? If men were posted to ensure a supply route would they not have some supply infrastructure existing on this route for them to use in retreat? Have I missed something obvious?

[@ubentu]

@jrab227 All of the information is on the web.

[@THEKING531]

I just realize.. this "khanacademy" is just exactly the same copy of the wikipedia articke on Napoleon.. I can actually follow it word by word....... and we are thought never to take material off wikipedia

[@jaitalia8085]

Nice little video and use of the Minard Figurative Map. Overview of facts accurate with one important clarification on the crossing of the Berezina. Most of the loses came from General Partouneux's Division making a wrong turn and falling into the Russian's hands (surrendered). Napoleon was furious he surrendered without a shot and ruined what was turning out to be almost a flawless military operation saving the remainder of his Army. (Reference: Memoirs by his Master of Horse Caulaincourt)

[@UncleVanya21]

Look at how much Poland lost, and Russia, and then you may see that for all intents and purposes you got off easy. You forgot to mention Normandie-Niemen squadron fighting for the USSR.

[@jackuy12345]

why dont u do world war 1 and 2 as well?

[@Emperor.Penguin.]

Russia won Stalingrad because German supply lines were stretched too far, at Kursk Russia was fighting a retreating army, at Kulikovo Russia fought the remnants of the Mongols, at Poltava you won because Swedish reinforcements arrived late, and do i really have to start on Berlin a battle were Russia fought more young boys and old men rather than actual soldiers, but Russia does have a great military history, but if you compare it to German or French military history, there is no contest.

[@SH4CKL3DP3NGU1N]

what recorder is this

[@UncleVanya21]

So basically what you're saying is that you do not know history. Stalingrad was a retreat? Kursk was a retreat? Brest Fortress was a retreat? Perseverance during Leningrad blockade was a retreat? Battle of Kulikovo was a retreat? Battle of Poltava was a retreat? Maybe the battle of the Devil's Bridge? Storming of Ismail fortress? Battle of Berlin? I got a couple of hundred more examples if you need em. We win because we are stronger than our opponent.

[@silentmr47]

Great video, It is funny how French and after them Germen wanted to capture Russia in a few month, and how both of the armies were broken so badly. Russian winter was their true enemy.

[@UncleVanya21]

Well, in the end, we did conquer most of the lands that once belonged to their empire.

[@Skoben2000]

Wikipedia is a wealth of knowledge. However, I always try to bare in mind anyone can alter, add to, delete the information. Not to discourage using Wikipeia, I use it myself. Just want to shed light that it can have it's faults with anyone able to alter it. Credible cited resources can make it a much better "periodical." I was interested in learning this from your post. I had never learned of these numbers and did more reading. I have found others stating these numbers. Interesting contrast

[@Belamoor]

Ohmygod people, stop saying russian winter won the war. Were you even watching the vid ? It was only septempber when Napoleon reached Moscow, yes the winter did affect war's outcome, but it was not the decisive factor. I say, more impotently, was the willingness of russians to fight against all odds using all means necessary, even if it means burning own capitol. Now, im not saying that's a good thing, i actualy wish Napoleon ruled Russia for some time. And yes, i am russian.

[@turk3cu]

no food for enemy!

[@Emperor.Penguin.]

So Stalingrad had nothing to do with German Supply lines being too long/difficult to maintain? ok sure, at Kulikovo you weren't actually facing the mongols anymore Russia was fighting one of the many sub-Khanates that were nowhere near as strong as the Mongol Empire. as for German military history, there's the Germanic Tribes that conquered Rome it'self, the Teutonic order who Russia feared, and remember in WW1 where Russia was getting it's ass handed to it by who was it? Oh thats right Germany.

[@earthlilly]

HE ABDUCTED THE POPE?????? oh my goodness...

[@Oppetsismiimsitsitc]

Superior to other allied forces? Have you forgotten of the Soviet Union.

[@ironmantis25]

napoleon shouldn't put all his eggs on one basket

[@user-ql5ts8vy5u]

From 1055 to 1462 the first historian Sergei Solovyov 245 has the news of the invasion of Russia and external conflicts, and two hundred of them occur in 1240-1462 gg., roughly one almost every year. Later, with the XIV century - wrote in 1894, expert on Russian military history General Sukhotin NN (book "The war in the history of the Russian world") - and to this day, over 525 years Russia had in the wars yet 305 years, nearly two-thirds of his life

[@vaahtobileet]

Also: Finnish winter > Soviet army

[@Emperor.Penguin.]

and watch watch you say about France because it is a well known fact that France weather it be a kingdom/republic or empire has had more victories at war than any other nation in history EVER!

[@Dionaerys]

Well, I mean, not really most. To my knowledge Russia never conquered China or Persia

[@PsycAndrew]

@jrab227 I know! He's insane! (in a good way)

[@UncleVanya21]

But they're always so French about it, with their Frenchiness, its hard not to poke fun at them :).

[@frankph5]

La France a conquis le continent Euro-asiatique comme aucune autre nation ne l'a jamais fait dans l'histoire. De la même façon que les britanniques ont dessiné leur empire en y incluant les déserts et régions quasi inhabités d'Australie et du continent nord-américain, celui des français serait bien plus vaste. L'hégémonie américaine a à peine un siècle, celle de la France a des siècles. Preuve en est que : The French language provides half of the English modern vocabulary.

[@sasamuraki]

finally profanity from da man... 03.17 #LOL great job Sal...

[@AliaumeMcry]

France surrendered, not the french. I'm tired of people "forgetting" that 500.000 french died in world war II, not including civilians/deported etc. There were gaullist troops fighting in afrika, syria, iran, N-Europe for the britt and vichyist troops fighting in france, most of the middle east , russia for the germans. All the while occupied france was at civil war resulting in a death count far superior to the other "allied" forces. 500.000... That's a lot for a war we suposedly didn't fight

[@xraidedlok]

@SkilletKosier dont step to sal man

[@dreking3348]

Russia the sleeping bear

[@jrab227]

why does this guy know everything?

[@neokanzler]

@Raz3r572 China?

[@Dionaerys]

Weeell, I mean, it worked for the Mongols.

[@DamonDamonsson]

29.10.1611 :)

[@UncleVanya21]

Russia won Stalingrad because they were able to encircle the Germans (by destroying the Romanian and Hungarian armies that were covering their flanks). At Kulikovo we had 30 thousand men against 120 thousand Mongols. As for Swedish reinforcements at Poltava, that seems to be their fault. German military history? There wasn't a unified Germany until the 19th century. French? You're right, there is no contest, but its not in the direction you're implying.

[@UncleVanya21]

All that said, the German people contributed much to the Russian Empire, even today a lot of Russian Germans are prominent individuals in the Russian Federation, for example German Gref who used to be the Minister of Economics.Russian is a state of mind, we're a melting pot for different kinds of white people Im not claiming some genetic superiority Russians have in face of adversity, but examples like attack of the dead in 1916, Brest in 1941 are hard to find elsewhere.

[@ikonyasha]

borodinO

[@Copainization]

Too slow, fell asleep.

[@AliaumeMcry]

It's not "poking fun at them" your hollywood propaganda shit is insulting.I don't know how many times I've been insulted of... "French"... Is my nationality an insult ? Besides even BBC recognises the french military record as "most successful in europe".

[@truesightgrabber]

What are you talking about ? The simple way description what happened. UK decided to hold development of her competitors and like German and Russia, of course not with own hands. As for battles, the major impact on the Napoleon army made cold climate condition, vast distances and partisans. 2 minutes explanation instead 17 minutes of bla bla bla. Get my honest dislike.

[@VendPrekmurec]

"russian winter my ass". The french were destroyed

[@malaka1212]

Russia lost 25+ million bud.... that's slightly more than 500,000