Today in History, July 17, 1918- Czar of Russia and Family Executed

Today in History, June 24, 1812
Napoleon Bonaparte Invades Russia--

Napoleon, Trump, and the "Malaysian Monkey Trap"

There are times in History, in Warfare, Politics, Chess, and Life, that an action or decision one makes which appears to result in a spectacular Victory, actually sows the seeds of total defeat. Such is the case with Napoleon's Invasion of Russia on this date, 208 Years ago today.

Rather than chronicle the key battles and all of the people involved, I'm focused on some critical points which are very relevant to our situation. First, is that Napoleon's foolish attempt to conquer Russia, (which he succeeded at) is a perfect example of how would be Tyrants and Dictators, from Julius Caesar, to Napoleon, to Adolf Hitler, have each made monumental blunders in judgment and outflanked themsevles out of pure Imperial Hubris, both in the belief in their own invincibilty, and that the Fates or Gods are working through them. Therefore, such types rarely take the counsel of others, and instead listen only to the voice in their own head. Such people are often the most dangerous and destructive when they are put in positions of leadership. It is, for example the reason that a great General like George S. Patton could be so successful in Commanding an Army, yet such a failure as a leader and political figure in between wars. The Ego of such people is their weak Flank, and they become predictable, and static. You know what they will do before they do it, and you can use that vulnerabilty to throw them down, in the same way you do with Judo, in using your adversary's strength against them.

Napoleon had Crowned himself Emperor of France, assuming the three Titles of head of State, Head of the Army, and Head of the French Church, as did Julius Caesar in Rome's heyday, and Henry VIII of England before him. A series of political reforms, successful Military conquests, and toppling of oppressive Monarchies made him the most powerful individual in Europe and filled the French Treasuries. He also conscripted 100's of Thousands of non-Frenchmen into the French Army, which grew with each successive conflict. Because Napoleon held up the ideals of the French Republicans as his standard, many great and Historical people in Europe, including Beethoven, were fooled that Napoleon came as a Liberator.

That said, Napoleon, like Adolf Hitler 130 years later, was obsessed with conquering Russia and adding the prize of Moscow to his Emperors Crown. He was determined to expand France's geographical reach, and also to permanently dash those ambitions held by Russian Czars to make Moscow the Capitol of a Third and Final Roman Empire.

On June 24, Napoleon's "Grande Armee" crossed the Neman River, but kept his actual intentions hidden by calling it the "Second Polish War" claiming that the objective was to Liberate Poland from the threat of Russia. He also said that he wanted to compel Czar Alexander I to cease trading with the United Kingdom's merchants, in the hope the British would sue for Peace. He did this to gain favor from the Poles and to provide a pretext for his invasion, in much the manner Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia with the deception that he was "protecting" Sudeten Germans living there.

Again, without recounting all the Battles, Napoleon succeeded in making it to Moscow, occupied the Kremlin, and Crowned himself Emperor of Russia, remaining there with his Army to settle in for the Winter.

The Russians of course, had wisely decided not to waste their entire Army by trying to stop the invasion cold, they would attack and withdraw, literally allowing Napoleon to advance all the way into the Russian heartland, and to occupy Moscow, drawing them in like the Chessmasters they are. The Russians, who were being advised by Prussian Military theorists, had kept their most powerful General in reserve for the French. His name was "General Winter". That's correct, the Russians knew that Napoleons Army was not equipped or provisioned for the horrific toll that the Russian Winter takes on people not acclimated to it.
So, the Czar ordered the unthinkable to be done. He deployed non-uniformed partisans to set Fire to Moscow and burn it, driving the French Army out of their Winter Quarters into the brutal Russian Winter, in their Spring and Summer Uniforms, with no provisions. Napoleon was then attacked by a Russian offensive and forced to retreat from Moscow to Kaluga, where he was met by Marshal Kutuzsov. The Russian Army attacked relentlessly, using the tactics of "scorched Earth" and drove Napoleon's Grande Armee further and further West, back into Poland until he finally had to cross the Elbe and head back to France to rebuild his Army.

Napoleon Invaded Russia with 685,000 Soldiers, 400,000 of whom were French, and the remainder forced conscripts who had no committment to the War and were the first to desert, both on the way in, and especially on the way out. 400,000 were killed, 50,000 wounded, and 80,000 deserted in Russia. By the time Napoleon had fought off further skirmishes, with the unchecked spread of frostbite, disease, starvation, etc, and the 100,000 captured, only 27,000 Soldiers crossed the River with Napoleon, who had started out with 685,000.

So, there is your lesson in Hubris. It shows you that the arrogance of unchecked power frequently turns its own Victories into ultimate defeat, though at a great cost of Human life. The Russia Campaign was the turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, because Napoleon himself listened to the "Voice in his Head" and believed himself invincible. The painting pictured below shows the dejected and defeated Napoleon in retreat, surrounded by his shattered Army.

That reminds me of an anecdote, which is the story of the "Malaysian Monkey Trap", which is exactly what it sounds like. Trappers had a tried and true method for catching Monkeys, who though intelligent, are predictable. They would place a piece of Fruit or a large nut inside a Gourd, with a narrow neck, and tie the Gourd to a tree stump. The Monkey would reach inside the Gourd to grab the bait, and close his hand around it into a fist. Once the Monkey made a fist, he couldn't get his hand out, and because the Monkey stubbornly would refuse to give up his Nut, he would be stuck with his hand inside the Gourd, unable to get it out, and would be caught. They never figured it out. Essentially, that little metaphor is the key to understanding Napoleon's defeat. And, it will be the key to the defeat of Donald Trump as well. Trump's "Nut" is his re-election. He wants and needs that more than anything, desperately, because his defeat means that he is a completely finished LOSER, who will spend the rest of his life in Court. So, he will not let the Nut go, and he will do stupid, reckless and desperate things to hang on, and will trap himself in ways that would even embarrass our Malaysian Monkey.

So, that's today's History. Signing off.