Strategy, Logistics, Tactics or Leadership: Which factor was the most important as a turning point in Napoleon's fortunes?

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Strategy, Logistics, Tactics or Leadership: Which factor was the most important as a turning point in Napoleon’s fortunes?

Up until the winter of 1812 Napoleon’s military career had been largely successful.  Apart from a defeat in Egypt and the continuing problems in Spain, things had gone well.  He had gained control of most of Central and Western Europe, defeating Austria and Prussia.  The only country that remained consistently hostile to him was Great Britain.  However, the Russian campaign, and in particular the decision to retreat from Moscow, marked the biggest change in Napoleon’s fortunes.  From now on his would be a career of defeats dotted with minor victories, rather than vice versa.  Napoleon’s defeat in Russia had many contributing factors.  But the most important was the Leadership decisions of Napoleon himself.  His decision to retreat from Moscow during the winter of 1812 lead not only to his defeat in Russia, but also to his overall defeat in Europe.

The issue of supply was one of many problems during the French invasion of Russia.  All the things necessary for the army to function had to be transported by cart, there being no railways.  Considering the vast distances involved, it is no wonder that supplies were often short.  However, the Grande Armee was trained to live off the land, and so the lack of supplies cannot be seen as a decisive factor in the defeat.  Rather than causing the defeat, the Logistics problem instead made it more costly, leading to the deaths of many more soldiers than necessary.

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Tactics had always been a part of Napoleon’s military successes.  His army used its Column attack to great effect against the powers of Central Europe.  However, tactics did not play a significant role in the Russian campaign. Napoleon was unable to force the decisive battle that he always sought in his campaigns, and so his tactics were not put to the test.  The only major battle in Russia, at Borodino, ended in a draw, although both sides claimed victory.  It is possible that if the French tactics had been either far superior or far inferior to the Russian army ...

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