Abstract:
Friedrich Ludwig Weinberger (1794 – 1869) served as a young volunteer in the garrison of Königsberg, East Prussia. In June 1812, this unit of 400 Prussian artillerymen was forced by Napoleon to join his Grande Armée invading Russia. One of only 13 survivors of his unit, Weinberger returned home from Russian custody in March 1813.
Out of his experiences during the advance, in battle, during the occupation of and the retreat from Moscow, he formed a narrative to which dates, names and military facts were added. The fair copy of 78 pages can be assumed to have been finished in 1849, its purpose being to underlie oral lectures.
The manuscript was handed down in family tradition. It is probably the only preserved source proving that in Napoleon’s Russian campaign, Prussian foot soldiers too, marched as far as Moscow.