1812/1941: Hitler's Obsession with Napoleon's Defeat

The Russian winter did take a major toll on Napoleon and His troops and again did do the same to the German troops. In both cases thousands froze to death and even the equipment became ineffective or at least much harder to use.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
A QUOTE F.T.C. - "French plans in 1812 were also very similar to the Germans plans for 1941: both countries sought to destroy the Russian armies as fast as possible near the border. Yet, both France and Germany kept pushing even deeper into Russia until Moscow was within reach. Also, the French and Germans never planned to capture the city and yet, Moscow attracted them like a powerful magnet. Last but not least, both Napoleon and Hitler utterly underestimated the Russian resilience and response to their respective invasion. It was Tsar Alexander I who took Paris, and Stalin who conquered Berlin. How ironic."