In a speech to the House of Lords, Field Marshal Montgomery said that Rule Number One on Page One of the Book of War was, "Never march on Moscow"! His advice came too late for more than one great general.

The Emperor Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, to force the Tsarist empire to comply with the demands of his Continental Blockade aimed against England, was one of the greatest military efforts in recorded history. The very size of his army was his undoing – half a million men crossed the frontier; less than one hundred thousand were available when the sullenly retreating Russian armies made their stand before Moscow, at Borodino. The Russians left the field after an appallingly bloody battle: Napoleon might claim it as a victory but at such a cost.

There is a spectacular re-enactment of the battle every year but the bicentenary (final details not known) will be especially memorable. We shall use the opportunity to study the battle in detail (and it was fought over again in 1941). The tour will also take in the wonderful Borodino panorama museum in Moscow and the decisive defeat of Napoleon's schemes at the little-known battle of Maloyaroslavetz.

This continues the Napoleonic series accompanied by John Lee who has conducted tours to many Napoleonic battlefields and who specialises in explaining the tactics of the contending armies on the field of battle.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Fly London Heathrow to Moscow. Transfer by coach to Mozhaisk for dinner and overnight (2 nights).
Day 2: Attend the spectacular Battle of Borodino bicentenary re-enactment, including access to the Borodino museum.
Day 3: Explore the battlefield of Borodino and discuss the decisions of Napoleon, the actions of his Grand Armée and the efforts of Marshal Kutuzov's Russian Army to block the French advance on Moscow. Depart to Moscow for dinner and overnight (3 nights).
Day 4: A morning visit to the new Borodino Panorama Museum, built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Russian victory in the war of 1812. After lunch we visit the State Historical and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
Day 5: A rare opportunity to visit the battlefield of Maloyaroslavetz, 24th October 1812 between Kutuzov's Russians and the Italian 15th Division under Eugene de Beauharnais.
Day 6: Morning tour of Moscow including Red Square and the Kremlin. After lunch we transfer to Moscow airport for an early evening flight to London Heathrow.