The War of Liberation

The year 1813 opened with Napoleon facing the greatest crisis of his career. The Russian disaster had destroyed the Grande Armée's core, while the Spanish ulcer continued to drain French resources. Most critically, the aura of invincibility that had held his empire together was shattered, encouraging resistance throughout Europe and undermining the psychological foundations of French dominance.

The German uprising began with Prussia's defection from the French alliance in February 1813. Frederick William III, previously Napoleon's reluctant ally, issued the call "To My People" that transformed the conflict from a war between governments into a struggle for national liberation. The Prussian example encouraged other German states to join what became known as the War of Liberation, creating a continental coalition united by opposition to French domination.

Russia's continued resistance, despite the enormous costs of 1812, provided the military backbone for the new coalition. Tsar Alexander I, now convinced that only Napoleon's complete defeat could ensure European peace, committed Russian forces to campaigns beyond Russian territory. This decision transformed a defensive war into an offensive crusade that would carry Russian armies to Paris.

Napoleon's response demonstrated both his military genius and his fatal inability to accept strategic reality. With remarkable energy, he rebuilt French forces from the remnants of previous campaigns, conscripting teenagers and recalling veterans to create new armies. The 1813 campaign in Germany showcased his tactical brilliance through victories at Lützen and Bautzen, but these successes could not restore the strategic balance that had shifted decisively against France.