Napoleon’s Retreat Quiz

May 2024
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Question 1

Which aspect of Russia’s physical geography did not affect Napoleon’s invasion?

heavy rains
vast size
extreme cold
impassable jungles

Question 2

What happened when Napoleon arrived in Moscow?

He was given the keys to the city.
The people had already fled, and fires broke out.
The city surrendered, and thousands of Russians were imprisoned.
The Muscovites fought desperately and saved their city.

Question 3

Go to the Wikipedia story on Minard and enlarge the graphic to answer this question: What happened at the town of Polotzk?

A part of the French army turned back instead of proceeding to Moscow.
Troops that had broken away rejoined the main French army.
Most of the troops drowned trying to cross the Berezina River.
The French army swelled in size, thanks to reinforcements.

Question 4

Use Minard’s graphic from Wikipedia again to answer this question: About how many French troops began the retreat from Moscow?

127,000
100,000
55,000
24,000

Question 5

Early in Book Fifteen: 1812–13, Chapter X of the online War and Peace, you will find a description of the retreat after the crossing of the Berezina River. What does Tolstoy say about why the captive French soldiers were not given food?

The Russian commanders hated the French.
The Russians were greedy, and kept all the supplies for themselves.
The French were simply unnecessary.
The French soldiers had already been sentenced to death.

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