Suvorov's Swiss campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Suvorov's Swiss campaign |
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| Part of War of the Second Coalition | |||||||
 The Swiss campaign route of Alexander Suvorov, 1799 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Holy Roman Empire |
 Helvetic Republic |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Alexander Suvorov |
 André Masséna |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 27,000 | 77,000 | ||||||
The Suvorov's Swiss campaign was a series of battles in Switzerland during September and October 1799. It was part of a bigger conflict called the War of the Second Coalition. Russian and Austrian armies, led by Alexander Suvorov, had won many battles against the French in Italy.
Suvorov was ordered to move his troops from Italy to Switzerland. His goal was to push the French army, led by General André Masséna, out of the Helvetic Republic (which was Switzerland at the time). The Allies hoped to defeat the French completely.
However, the countries fighting together (Russia, Austria, and Britain) had their own disagreements. They worried about Russia becoming too powerful in Italy. So, they decided to send Suvorov's army to Switzerland instead. This left the Austrians in charge of Italy. Suvorov was told to cross the Gotthard Pass and meet another Russian army. This second army was led by General Alexander Korsakov.
Suvorov's army faced many challenges. They fought hard battles to cross the St. Gotthard Pass. Then, they marched along the Reuss River valley. French General Claude Lecourbe constantly attacked them. When they reached Altdorf, they had to change their route. The French controlled Lake Lucerne and the western mountain passes.
General Masséna sent more French troops to stop Suvorov. The Russians were blocked between Schwyz and Glarus. Suvorov tried to reach the Linth river, but the French pushed his troops back. Suvorov's army was stuck in the mountains. They had very little food and supplies.
Things got worse when Suvorov learned that Generals Korsakov and von Hotze had been defeated. This happened in the Second Battle of Zurich. Suvorov had no choice but to retreat. His army suffered heavy losses and lost all their cannons. They finally reached the Rhine river on October 7. Suvorov was then called back to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Contents
Why the Campaign Happened
The War of the Second Coalition was a big conflict in Europe. By mid-1799, Russian Field Marshal Aleksandr Vasilyevich Suvorov had won many battles in northern Italy. He had defeated the French revolutionary troops. He even gained control of Lombardy and Piedmont. He was called the "Prince of Italy" for his victories. Suvorov wanted to march all the way to Paris, France.
However, the allied powers (Britain, Austria, and Russia) did not fully agree. Britain worried about Russia gaining too much power in the Mediterranean Sea. Austria saw Russia's success in Italy as a threat to their own control. They preferred to lose Russian military help rather than share political power.
The British government wanted to move Russian troops to Switzerland. This would help a planned British-Russian landing in the Batavian Republic (modern-day Netherlands). Austria also wanted to move their own troops from Switzerland to Germany. This would help them gain control in Bavaria.
So, Suvorov was ordered to leave Italy. His army was to join General Aleksandr Mikhailovich Rimsky-Korsakov in Switzerland. Korsakov was arriving with 30,000 men from Galicia. The Austrian army would stay in Italy.
Suvorov wanted Archduke Charles, an Austrian commander, to wait for him. This would give Korsakov time to prepare. But Archduke Charles followed orders from Vienna and left Zurich early. The French quickly took Zurich, which put Korsakov in a bad spot. Suvorov was very upset about this.
The Allies' plan was to use Switzerland as a key area. Switzerland was important because it allowed armies to move into Germany or Italy. The French had taken control of the Swiss Plateau in 1798. This gave them a strong position. Driving the French out of Switzerland became a major goal for the Austrians. The British also thought Switzerland was a good place to attack France.
The Russian Army's Difficult Journey
On September 4, Suvorov told the Tsar he was moving to Switzerland. He complained that the Austrians had not supported him well. He said they were slow with supplies and ammunition. He believed they wanted him to leave Italy.
Suvorov began his march on September 11. He sent heavy equipment on a longer route. He himself led about 27,000 men through Varese to Bellinzona. On September 15, the Russian advance guard entered Switzerland. The main army gathered at Taverne in Ticino. Suvorov expected 1,500 mules with supplies from the Austrians. But nothing arrived.
Suvorov was furious. He accused the Austrians of betrayal. Only 650 mules arrived, which was not enough. Suvorov decided to use Cossack horses to carry supplies. Even the officers gave up their personal horses and carriages. Suvorov, who was in his seventies, walked on foot to set an example. The Russian troops, who were not used to mountain fighting, received quick training.
Crossing the Gotthard Pass
On September 21, Suvorov ordered his army to advance. The march was slow due to heavy rains, fog, and mountains. By September 22, the army reached Giornico. The weather was harsh, and a blizzard hit on September 23.
Suvorov planned to cross the Gotthard Pass by September 25. He wanted to meet Korsakov at Lucerne on September 27. But on September 24, at Airolo, a French battalion stopped them. The Russians lost 600 men before breaking through. Suvorov was at the front of the line.
On September 25, the army marched toward Andermatt. The French had retreated behind a tunnel called "Buca d'Uri." They also partly destroyed the Devil's Bridge. The French ambushed the Russians here. Over 900 Russians died before they managed to repair the bridge. They crossed under constant enemy fire, forcing the French to retreat.
The French troops were very good at mountain warfare. They could march in difficult places and sleep in the snow. They were a constant problem for the Allies.
Suvorov continued along the Reuss valley. He captured the Gotthard Pass. By the evening of September 26, his troops reached Altdorf. This was near Lake Lucerne. Suvorov thought the hardest part was over. He wrote a hopeful note to an Austrian general.
However, Suvorov did not know that General Masséna had defeated Korsakov's forces. This happened in the Second Battle of Zurich. Masséna had 77,000 men. Korsakov was forced to retreat. Austrian General von Hotze was also defeated and killed.
The Chinzig Crossing
At Lake Lucerne, the French controlled the area. They blocked the Russians from reaching Lucerne. The lake itself was also controlled by French boats.
Suvorov's troops were exhausted. Their shoes were worn out, and many were barefoot. Their uniforms were torn. Rifles and bayonets were rusty. The men were starving because of a lack of supplies. Suvorov still didn't know about Korsakov's defeat. He decided not to rest at Altdorf.
Instead, he led his army toward the Chinzig Pass on September 27. He hoped to bypass the French and reach Schwyz. The plan was to climb from 500 meters to 2,070 meters. The path was steep and covered in snow.
Lecourbe told Masséna about the Russian detour. Masséna changed his plans. He sent General Mortier to occupy Muotathal with 9,000 men. General Gazan marched with 10,000 men to block the Linth valley. Masséna himself gathered his main forces at Schwyz.
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When Suvorov's 18,000 tired men reached Muotathal, they were surrounded. They had no supplies or ammunition. The French army was much larger and better equipped. On September 29, Suvorov held a meeting with his generals. He was determined not to surrender. He blamed the Austrians for their problems.
Suvorov proposed their only option: "To go back is dishonorable. I have never retreated. Advancing to Schwyz is impossible: Massena commands more than 60,000 men and our troops do not reach 20,000. We are short of supplies, ammunition and artillery.... We cannot expect help from anyone. We are on the edge of the precipice! All we have left is to rely on Almighty God and the courage and spirit of sacrifice of my troops! We are Russians! God is with us!"
The generals decided to move east instead. They would cross the Muotathal Pass to the Pragel Pass. Then they would go through the Klöntal Pass to reach General Linken at Glarus. They hoped to then reach Sargans.
On September 30, the Russian army had about 16,584 soldiers ready to fight. They had lost about 3,000 soldiers in ten days. They had only five days of food, which they had to stretch to last ten.
Marching to Glarus
The army moved immediately despite their exhaustion. As they reached the Pragel Pass, they clashed with French troops. General Bagration turned the tide of the battle. He pushed the French back.
Bagration was told that General Molitor had defeated other Allied forces. Molitor said Suvorov was surrounded and would be forced to surrender. Bagration's troops continued to attack the French. The French retreated, but Molitor reorganized his forces.
Bagration led four desperate attacks against French artillery. They suffered heavy losses. The weather got worse, with sleet falling. The Russians spent the night freezing, without fires or food. Bagration, though wounded, kept encouraging his troops.
The fighting continued on October 1. Bagration's charge pushed the French back. Molitor withdrew his troops to the Linth river. He set up defenses and destroyed a bridge. This allowed the French to control both sides of the river.
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Bagration received reinforcements and attacked French positions. The French resisted fiercely. They destroyed bridges over the Linth just before the Russians took the village.
Meanwhile, General Rosenberg's troops were attacked by Masséna. Suvorov ordered Rosenberg to hold his ground. The French tried to trap the Russians in the valley. They cut off supply lines. Despite this, the Russians fought back with bayonets. A particularly bloody fight happened at the stone bridge over the Muota River. Many French soldiers fell into the water. By October 1, the French retreated toward Schwyz.
Bagration rebuilt a bridge and marched toward Näfels. Molitor held Näfels with strong defenses. Bagration pushed the French out of the town, but couldn't take their main positions. The French received reinforcements and retook the town. Molitor encouraged the Swiss soldiers by reminding them of a past victory against the Austrians.
Bagration attacked the village many times. But French troops arrived, and Netstal changed hands several times. After sixteen hours of fighting, Suvorov ordered Bagration to stop. Both sides claimed victory, but little had changed. The Russians were near Glarus, but the French still blocked their way to Zurich.
Bagration's advance guard stayed near Glarus. The entire army didn't gather there until October 4. On that day, Suvorov held another war council.
The Difficult Retreat
Marching to Panix
Suvorov wanted to break through French lines at Näfels. He hoped to reach Sargans and resupply his army. Austrian officers agreed, as the army was low on strength and ammunition. But Russian officers wanted to go south instead. They proposed crossing the Panix Pass to reach the Anterior Rhine valley.
Eight out of ten generals approved the "Russian proposal." This meant marching on a path without enemy troops. Suvorov agreed, showing how bad his men's conditions were. An Austrian general reported that his brigade had no ammunition, money, bread, or boots.
On the night of October 4–5, the retreat began. It was snowing and raining. Bagration stayed in the rear guard with his 1,800 men. Only 250 of them could still fight. Suvorov had to leave about 1,300 wounded and sick men behind. He left a letter asking Masséna to care for them.
The march was even harder than before. A nun from a nearby convent described it as "pathetic." Soldiers marched barefoot in snow and rain. Only one general had a horse; everyone else walked.
The French learned of the Russian retreat. They tried to surround Suvorov. They sent troops to block his escape routes. On October 5, French soldiers attacked Bagration's Cossacks. Bagration's rear guard fought about 20 attacks. They had to use bayonets because they were low on ammunition. They managed to protect the army.
On the night of October 5–6, the army camped near Elm. It was cold, and they had no food. The French continued to attack Bagration's troops. Many soldiers died from the cold or were captured. When the Russians took the Panix route, the French stopped chasing them. Bagration reported losing 800 men, four cannons, and a treasure chest.
Crossing Panix Pass and Reaching Chur
On October 6, the Russians began climbing Panix Pass, which is 2,407 meters high. They had to leave all their cannons behind. They lost 300 mules while climbing in snow up to their knees. The paths were narrow and slippery.
A book from 1904 described the extreme hardships. Soldiers, exhausted or wounded, fell off the path. Many abandoned their backpacks and rifles. The weakest simply lay down and died.
Suvorov shared all the difficulties with his men. He kept cheering them on. He refused a cloak to show his endurance. He walked with the soldiers to the top of the pass. There, he used Cossack spears to make a fire and tea. A Russian captain wrote that Suvorov insisted on walking alone, even when supported by horsemen. He told his generals, "Do you hear how they praise me? These are the same men who also praised me like this in Turkey and Poland."
At the top of the pass, a strong blizzard hit. Scouts couldn't see, risking falls into cliffs. Local people helped them find a safe way down. On October 7, the Russians reached the first Pigniu chalets. They rested and then descended to Ilanz and safety.
Suvorov rested his men for another night. On October 9, they moved toward the Rhine and then to Chur. They arrived on October 10, bringing 1,400 French prisoners. Suvorov had only 14,000 men left. Only 10,000 could barely march or fight. Many were sick or had eye problems. All their cannons were lost. A third of the troops had no weapons.
On October 22, Tsar Paul withdrew from the coalition. He recalled Suvorov, who publicly accused the Austrians of betrayal. On October 25, Suvorov's and Korsakov's forces gathered. They began marching back to winter quarters in Bohemia. They arrived in January 1800, ending the Swiss campaign.
Why the Campaign Failed
After almost a month of hard marching and sixteen days of fighting, Suvorov lost over 5,000 men. The French still controlled Switzerland, just as they did before the campaign.
Tsar Paul I blamed the failure on Archduke Charles. He said Charles left Switzerland too early. This happened before Suvorov's army could join Korsakov's. Archduke Charles had received orders to leave Switzerland in early August. But Suvorov didn't get his orders until late August. He still thought he was supposed to continue fighting in Italy.
When Suvorov finally learned that Charles had left, he was very upset. He accused the Austrians of plotting against him.
The Swiss campaign was based more on political reasons than good military planning. Suvorov himself might have underestimated the challenges. He was known for being impulsive. He might have been too optimistic about the weather, the enemy, and his men's abilities. For example, when an Austrian general suggested a retreat plan, Suvorov ordered him to "Cross out the word retreat!"
Suvorov's plan relied on many things happening perfectly. Korsakov's and Hotze's attacks needed to happen at the same time as Suvorov's arrival. But many things went wrong. The Russians waited four days for Austrian supplies, which were late and not enough. The weather was terrible. The French fought fiercely, slowing Suvorov down. They also cut off his supply lines.
Finally, Masséna proved to be a brilliant commander. He defeated Korsakov and Hotze while Suvorov was still far away. This left Suvorov's army with no choice but to retreat through the mountains.
Suvorov's critics, like Archduke Charles and General Korsakov, blamed him. Archduke Charles said the campaign was poorly planned. Korsakov said Suvorov demanded too much from his men. He even said Suvorov was solely responsible for the failure. Korsakov went to St. Petersburg before Suvorov. He likely put Suvorov in a bad light with the Tsar. This might be why Tsar Paul I gave Suvorov a cold welcome.
What We Remember from the Campaign
Even though the Swiss campaign failed, it made Suvorov more famous. Especially in Russian culture, he is seen as a hero, like Xenophon, Hannibal, or Julius Caesar. In 1801, Tsar Paul I ordered monuments built in his honor. In Switzerland, there is a large monument dedicated to Suvorov and his men. It's carved into rock near the Devil's Bridge.
Historians often remember the Swiss campaign. General Masséna himself reportedly said, "I would give all my campaigns and all my victories for Suvorov's expedition to Italy and Switzerland alone."
The famous military writer Carl von Clausewitz called the successful retreat "a miracle." Friedrich Engels wrote that crossing the Panix Pass was "the greatest military undertaking ever among those engaged in crossing the Alpine passes." Russian statesman Dmitry Milyutin wrote that the campaign's failure brought Russian troops "more honor than the most brilliant of victories."
See also
