WI:Napoleon Freed Russian Serfs

Maybe he can get some disloyalty, enough to change the campaign... no
Russian peasants are not educated enough to join Napoleon in enough numbers I mean these are the same people that in 1914 didn't know were Germany was...

Most likely some of the more innovative bunch join him or become neutral, the majority don't realise he wants to free them or doenst believe him and continue on as normal.
 
What if Napoleon in 1812, during his invasion of Russia, issued a proclamation declaring the serfs free. The previous century had seen a serf uprising in Russia, could this be repeated to Napoleon's benefit?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pugachev's_Rebellion

Thanks!



PS: I am formulating a ATL based on Napoleon's 1813 campaign ;)

How would the serfs know they are free now? ;) - Unless there are the means to spread the news it would be irrelevant.
 
huh, you have both make a good point. Any ideas how Napoleon could inform them?:D

Doubt it'd be that effective for a few reasons. One of them being that Napoleon had all but been declared the Anti-Christ by various people the Orthodox Church and was very much hated by large sections of the Russian population. Second of all was the effect French troops had on Russia, basically blazing through almost literally and taking what they wanted. Napoleon wasn't well considered by the people at that time.
 
Additionally, it would defeat Napoleon's purpose. Allegedly he went in in an attempt to force Alexander back into alliance with France; hence he wanted to keep Russia strong enough. Liberating the serfs would definitely prevent a rapprochement with Alexander, and could also severely weaken Russia to the point where Napoleon would gain no benefit from having it as an ally.
 
Doubt it'd be that effective for a few reasons. One of them being that Napoleon had all but been declared the Anti-Christ by various people the Orthodox Church and was very much hated by large sections of the Russian population. Second of all was the effect French troops had on Russia, basically blazing through almost literally and taking what they wanted. Napoleon wasn't well considered by the people at that time.

But if his armies free the serfs they encounter, wouldn't that be a powerful response to the propaganda? If a supposedly evil guy comes to my place of bondage and tells me I'm free, I'm probably not going to think he's so evil anymore.

If the Grande Armée comes as liberators, I imagine it would become a lot easier for them to forage in the Russian countryside - the freed serfs probably would be a lot more willing to offer them provisions. From a logistical standpoint, I think it could have been a significant help and perhaps would have reduced the number of desertions.

The main downside I see is, as mentioned above, this would permanently poison the relationship between Napoleon and Alexander. But then again, by this point, it seems like things are headed that way regardless.
 
But if his armies free the serfs they encounter, wouldn't that be a powerful response to the propaganda? If a supposedly evil guy comes to my place of bondage and tells me I'm free, I'm probably not going to think he's so evil anymore.

If the Grande Armée comes as liberators, I imagine it would become a lot easier for them to forage in the Russian countryside - the freed serfs probably would be a lot more willing to offer them provisions. From a logistical standpoint, I think it could have been a significant help and perhaps would have reduced the number of desertions.

The main downside I see is, as mentioned above, this would permanently poison the relationship between Napoleon and Alexander. But then again, by this point, it seems like things are headed that way regardless.

The general French foraging actions were to take everything that they could from the local populace, hence why the French were never that popular throughout various parts of Europe. The Russians undertook a scorched earth policy during the Russian campaign, trying to deny Napoleon of everything they could. Granted, Napoleon's own woeful attempts at supplying his forces contributed to the disaster that followed but the Russian policy also kicked in.

As for trying to free the Serfs, they're not really in a position to really believe Napoleon since the propaganda's still there and it's his troops currently rampaging through their lands.
 
Another thing is that Napoleon permanently occupied relatively little Russian territory on its route to Moscow. Unlike Hitler, Napoleon had no intention to occupy or govern vast swaths of Russia, he was only after a policy change. How could he put such a scheme into action unless the French had a foot on the ground everywhere to make the plan known and begin to take action on it?
 
as others have said, the French modus operandi is to take everything they could. It's how they fed themselves, and the war booty kept the troops motivated. they have no culture of being kind to occupied territory. they have one mission: defeat other armies and abuse the countryside while doing so. For the serfs, there is no appeal. Yay, they're free. To do what? The French are stealing their bread, and anything of value, and they're not sticking around to redistribute land or enforce anything resembling a hopeful future. That doesn't even begin to address the preconceived notions propagandized about the French.

The notion sounds like a takeoff on the idea that if Hitler/Germany had come through as liberators, they could have won the war. Completely different times/circumstances.
 
Another thing is that Napoleon permanently occupied relatively little Russian territory on its route to Moscow. Unlike Hitler, Napoleon had no intention to occupy or govern vast swaths of Russia, he was only after a policy change. How could he put such a scheme into action unless the French had a foot on the ground everywhere to make the plan known and begin to take action on it?

Napoleon's main body occupied little territory, but other forces were operating elsewhere in Russian territory supporting his advance. Macdonald's left wing of French/Prussian forces was maneuvering east of Riga and Prince Schwarzenberg's right wing of French/Austrian forces was operating 300 miles south of Napoleon's main line of advance.

Perhaps either of these two would have more access to serfs.;)
 
Top