Œuvres de Napoléon Bonaparte, Tome V.

This volume brings together Napoleon’s own dispatches from the early months of the 1812 Russian campaign, presenting the emperor’s perspective as diplomatic relations frayed and war became inevitable. The bulletins trace the shift in Russian policy, the breakdown of negotiations, and the French government’s frantic preparations—fortifying garrisons, amassing supplies, and sealing alliances with Austria and Prussia. Listeners hear the stark language of an empire on the brink of a monumental clash.

The narrative then follows the massive mobilization of the Grande Armée, detailing the movements of its eight corps across the Oder, the Elbe, and deep into Polish territories. Through precise orders and vivid proclamations, the text reveals how Napoleon sought to rally his troops and justify the campaign as a defense of honor and alliance. These primary documents paint a compelling picture of the strategic calculations, political tensions, and military logistics that set the stage for one of history’s most infamous invasions.