Moscow, The Stalingrad of 1812: American Reaction toward Napoleon's Retreat from Russia

Abstract

COMPARISON of America's attitude toward Russia during World War II and during the War of 1812 reveals a striking parallel. In both wars Russia defended herself against foreign dictators whose success would have resulted in their complete conquest of continental Europe. The unsuccessful Nazi siege of Stalingrad in 1942 and the disastrous French retreat from Moscow became associated in the American mind with all-out resistance to aggressive militarism and dictatorship. In both wars Americans hailed Russia as this nation's first line of defense against the two most formidable military machines of their day. To many Americans the ideology of the Russian government in both wars counted for little when the fate of Europe and the world rested on that people's determination to ravage their homes rather than surrender to a foreign power. Although the roles of France and the German states were reversed, the chief difference between the two wars was the part played by the United States. In the earlier conflict, this nation was the enemy of England; in the latter, an ally. In 1812 at almost the same time that Tsar Alexander I joined forces with England to combat Napoleon, the United States went to war against Great Britain. Russia was thus placed in the dilemma that regardless of the victor in the Anglo-American conflict, the Tsar faced either the danger of losing the aid of his ally, England, or the possibility that the United States would join Napoleon, his enemy. Peace between England and the United States was also greatly desired by Alexander in order to continue the American carrying trade with Russia. England, likewise, would be more fully able to aid his war on Napoleon by not detracting from British forces employed against France. Accordingly, early in the conflict, he volunteered his offices to restore peace between Britain and the United States.