✦ History

Part of Napoleonic Wars, French invasion of Russia

Battle of Berezina

November 26–29, 1812 · Studzianka, Berezina River

Result Inconclusive

During the retreat from Moscow, French engineers bridged the Berezina River at Studzianka while Russian armies closed in. Part of the Grande Armée escaped, but thousands of soldiers and stragglers were lost.

On the map Contemporaries

French Empire and allies

Coalition

France
Duchy of Warsaw
Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Westphalia
Kingdom of Saxony
Grand Duchy of Hesse
Russian Empire
Napoleon Emperor of the French, Led the crossing of the river Michel Ney military commander Claude Victor-Perrin, Duc de Belluno military commander Nicolas Oudinot military commander
Pavel Chichagov Admiral, Commanded the Army of the Danube on the west bank Yefim Chaplits military commander Peter, 1st Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg military commander

Strength and losses

Strength
c. 33,000
Casualties
50,000–60,000c. 20,000
Captured
c. 10,000
Guns
250–300c. 250
Guns lost
c. 50
Strength
61,500–64,000c. 87,000
Casualties
c. 10,000
Killed
10,000
Wounded
10,000
Captured
c. 2,000
Guns
c. 391

Units

Grande Armée II Corps (Oudinot, 1812) IV Corps (Eugène, 1812)
Russian Army of the Danube (1812) Wittgenstein's corps (1812)

Also involved 3