While some of his forward units approached Moscow, fighting the Russian people and weather took its toll, which combined with the internal difficulties at home made the withdrawal unavoidable.
Kuigi mõned tema eelüksused lähenesid Moskvale, tõi võitlus Vene rahva ja ilmaga kaotuse, mis koos sisemiste raskustega kodus tegi tagasitõmbumise vältimatuks.