The retreat from Russia: the soldiers of great army in hostile space (according to the intercepted letters of ranks of Napoleon army)

In article on the basis of the analysis of trophy letters French soldiers 1812 considers the problems of preservation of military honor and the moral spirit of Napoleon's army during the retreat from Russia. The author shows that the morale of the army in the letters of its soldiers was manifested as a natural response to their plight. This state was different forms of expression: as compassion to the fighting comrades, as worries about the Homeland, the family, as the appeal to the heroic past. The author comes to the conclusion that all this spiritually helped the French to withstand the retreat and save the moral dignity of the army.