So began the disastrous Great Retreat, during which the retreating army came under increasing pressure due to lack of food, desertions, and increasingly harsh winter weather, all while under continual attack by the Russian army led by Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Kutuzov, and other militias.
Nii algas hukatuslik suur taganemine, mille kestel langes taganev armee toidupuuduse, deserteerimiste ja üha karmima talveilma tõttu üha kasvava surve alla, kõik samal ajal ülemjuhataja Mihhail Kutuzovi ja teiste maakaitseväelaste juhitavate Vene vägede jätkuvate rünnakute all.