Question

Napoleon’s decision to invade Russia was, perhaps, his greatest mistake. Which of the following statements is not true about the invasion of Russia?

a. Napoleon decided to invade Russia because it was leaving the Continental System.
b. Napoleon marched his army all the way to Moscow.
c. Napoleon was defeated by the Russians at the battle of Waterloo.
d. Napoleon's army suffered great losses due to Russia's harsh winter..

Answer 1

The false statement is the C: Napoleon was defeated by the Russians at the battle of Waterloo. The Battle of Waterloo was not fought against the Russians, but against two of the armies of the so-called Seventh Coalition (specifically those of Britain and Prussia) in 1815. Napoleon was indeed defeated, and this battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars, which included the Invasion of Russia in 1812.

All the other statements are true: Napoleon did march his army all the way to Moscow, arriving there on September 14, 1812; thousands and thousands of men and horses died as a result of the harsh winter; and Napoleon decided to invade Russia because Czar Alexander I refused to comply with the embargo, known as the Continental System, that Napoleon had imposed on Great Britain.

Answer 2

It is not true regarding Napoleon's invasion of Russia that "c. Napoleon was defeated by the Russians at the battle of Waterloo," since this battle took place primarily between France and Great Britain.