Following the French conquest of Moscow in September, the situation quickly deteriorated for Napoleon Bonaparte and his Grande Armée. The Russian strategy of scorched earth had left the French troops without the necessary supplies to sustain a prolonged occupation. As the harsh winter approached, coupled with dwindling food and resources, Napoleon faced immense pressure to withdraw. On 19 October 1812, he made the critical decision to commence a retreat. The French soldiers, weary and demoralized, faced both the brutal Russian winter and continual attacks by Russian forces as they attempted to travel the long journey back to France.

During the retreat, the conditions worsened drastically; soldiers suffered from frostbite, starvation, and exhaustion. The Russian army, employing guerilla tactics, harried the disorganized French units, leading to significant casualties. The infamous Battle of Berezina in November further exemplified the chaos, as many soldiers drowned in the frozen river while trying to escape the pursuing enemy. Ultimately, the retreat from Moscow resulted in the near-total destruction of Napoleon's once-mighty army, which had begun the campaign with over 600,000 troops.

The catastrophic loss had profound ramifications, not just for Napoleon’s ambitions, but also for the political landscape of Europe. The failed invasion marked the beginning of the decline of French hegemony and the rise of opposition against Napoleon across the continent. As other nations sensed vulnerability, coalitions formed, leading to the eventual downfall of the Napoleonic Empire in subsequent years.