WI: Napoleon invades Russia in 1812, splits army into 3

What if Nappy decides to split the Grande Armee into 3? 200,000 troops would be sent along to St. Petersburg, the historical route and Ukraine. It would solve many of the supply issues and assuming supply problems are alleviated he might still have a historical count of troops at Borodino. The idea of this plan being that even if one of the columns is defeated, Russia will still be losing valuable land.

After all this does follow its old motto: march divided, fight united.
 
Possibly, he sort of lost his head with Russia. When he finally got into a toe to toe battle with the Russian army he didn't show his usual flare for tactics, he just slugged it out.

But if he was thinking more rationally, he may not have gone after Moscow in the first place.
 
It's asking for defeat in detail. Russia had a lot of land - they can stand losing a lot of it; and ITTL it can concentrate majority of its army against each prong one after another. Bad idea.
 
A truly serious threat to St Petersburg just might be the thing to force the Russians to fight. It might very well bring Sweden into the war on France's side. If the Swedes were sure that the French would win and they would regain Finland it could Tilt the Balance.
Napoleon would have to be ready with the Central force to turn in either direction.
 
Napoleon would have to be ready with the Central force to turn in either direction.

Which would be impossible. The strategy of "march divided, fight united" that Adonnus references only works if the subordinate units are within close supporting distance - i.e. 1-2 days march. Forces moving against St Petersburg and Moscow would be separated by several weeks march. Tizoc is absolutely right in describing the strategy as an invitation to be defeated in detail.
 
Which would be impossible. The strategy of "march divided, fight united" that Adonnus references only works if the subordinate units are within close supporting distance - i.e. 1-2 days march. Forces moving against St Petersburg and Moscow would be separated by several weeks march. Tizoc is absolutely right in describing the strategy as an invitation to be defeated in detail.


And their lines of advance would be diverging instead of converging - something any officer cadet would get demerits for. Iirc that was precisely how the Germans got into trouble at Stalingrad.
 
A truly serious threat to St Petersburg just might be the thing to force the Russians to fight. It might very well bring Sweden into the war on France's side. If the Swedes were sure that the French would win and they would regain Finland it could Tilt the Balance.
Napoleon would have to be ready with the Central force to turn in either direction.

Sweden isn't joining France's side after Nappy went and occupied Pomerania. Avoid that and maybe there's a chance.
 
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