classic example napoleon made a major misstep when he declared war on russia after a dispute with tsar alexander i and launched an invasion of russia in with troops twice the number of the standing russian army the campaign was a catastrophe obstinant russian resistance combined with the bitterly cold russian winter dealt napoleon a disastrous defeat from which more than of his invading force perished is this a neutral analysis no is the analysis of napoleon's campaign necessary here no leave it to the relevant article this is a summary of russia's history