Why did both Napoleon and Hitler fail to defeat Russia?

[Sikander]

Re: Why did both Napoleon and Hitler fail to defeat Russia?

Originally posted by sas
We're having this discussion at Historic Battles. Why not join the discussion?

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Both Napoleon and Hitler tried it, and both failed. Russia's size, abundant manpower and harsh winters have defeated any external enemy. Was the German (Axis) and Napoleons armies doomed from the day they set they're foot in Russian soil? Or did they both make critical mistakes that caused they’re own downfall. Over a century span the two invasions, and still they have so much in common, why do you think they both failed?

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Both leaders had too little force to impose their will over so much area in order to secure political goals that were too unpopular with the native population.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Tolls
"Why he decided not to sit in Moscow, I cant tell, but it was a terrible mistake for his army."

I believe he had insufficient supplies to last out in Moscow for the winter months...there was no way of getting supplies to him, and he didn't trust his allies to remain allies (Prussia and Austria) for those winter months. So all in all logistically and politically he felt it unwise to spend 3 or 4 months tied up in Moscow.

Indeed, his flanking forces were also disintegrating under Russian pressure on the northern flank at least (and probably the southern as well) and it is unlikely they would have survived another 3 months holding out there...so come the spring he would have had a half starved army in Moscow, completely cut off from Poland.

Yes, his cavalry was being slaughtered on both flanks. He was already losing the cavalry war, and would have had to abandon all his cav in order to winter in Moscow. There seems to be a pretty direct correlation between Napolean's cavalry strength in theatre and his success. Once his ability to see the enemy while they were blind to his movements was removed he wasn't nearly as difficult to defeat.