Napoleon must fall: Dresden

A Russian general and Napoleon’s downfall

Napoleon invaded the Russian Empire with the Grande Armée on 24 June 1812. By September, Moscow was ablaze. A year and a half later, after several bloody campaigns, Russian troops and their allies reached Paris in March 1814. Napoleon was defeated and forced to abdicate.

Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly from Livonia played a key role in the Russian forces’ eventual success. But even though he made a decisive contribution to Napoleon’s downfall, his name soon fell into obscurity after his death. With his reserved demeanour and his Baltic German heritage, he was not the sort of figure to be hailed as a shining national hero.

[Translate to English:] Das Bild zeigt ein Ölgemälde von Michael Andreas Fürst Barclay de Tolly.

Private papers offer insight

The Military History Museum acquired part of Barclay de Tolly’s personal papers, comprising 200 documents and records, and presented a selection of them in the exhibition. They offer valuable insight into the workings of military command structures in the early 19th century. Ration lists, maps and marching orders bear witness to the daily work of planning, encrypted documents reveal cases of espionage, and correspondence with Napoleon’s chief of staff, Louis-Alexandre Berthier, reveals unexpected channels of communication. The documents were complemented by dioramas featuring tin soldiers, as well as historical weapons, medals and uniforms, including the coat of a French marshal.

Digital tour

Take our 360° tour here and click your way through Napoleon’s downfall. (German language only)

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Display case from the ‘Bodies in formation’ section.

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