#1 Polish Invasion
1604 The False Dmitriy
(claimed to be a son of the Czar, but wasn’t) brought Polish troops and invaded
Russia. This marked the beginning of civil war and political confusion known as
the Time of Trouble in Russia.
1610 Polish troops
occupied Moscow.
1612 Russians united
and drove the Polish forces out of Moscow.
#2
Sweden Invades around 1700:
(Overview)The
Great Northern War was fought between Sweden's Charles XII and a coalition lead by Peter the Great. By the end of the war,
Sweden had lost her supremacy as the leading power in the Baltic region and was
replaced by Peter the Great's Russia. Peter the Great invaded parts of the Baltic
controlled by Sweden in 1704. Sweden
had such a powerful military that Peter soon released these conquered areas to
keep peace. Charles would not accept this and considered Russia a permanent
danger to Sweden in the Baltic. He prepared a campaign against Russia - a march
on Moscow. The invasion of Russia
started in 1707. From 1707 through to 1708, Peter the Great withdrew his forces. As
Peter withdrew, he used a scorched earth policy destroying anything that might
be of value to an advancing army. Charles did not follow Peter. Instead, the
Swedish army wintered in the Ukraine. The winter of 1708 to 1709 was one of the
worst on records and had a major impact on Sweden's army. Charles XII lead a
weakened and under-equipped army into Russia. In June/July 1709, Sweden
suffered a serious military defeat at the Battle of Poltava. Many
Swedish soldiers were killed and those who were not surrendered. The defeat
immediately turned around the position Sweden and Russia held in Europe. After
this one decisive battle, Sweden was no longer supreme in eastern Europe. The
victory put Peter the Great where he wanted to be
- dominant in eastern Europe and a power to be reckoned with.
#3 Napoleon invades in 1812
western Russia trashed (scorched earth again)
#4 Germany invades in WWI:
Russia is the first country that Austria-Hungary/Germany declares war
on. Successfully hold off Austria/Hungary’s troops, but then the Germans
attack. Germans push deep into Russian territory before the Communist
Revolution (October, 1917 – Lenin – becomes USSR) leads to Russia withdrawing
from the war.
#5 Germany invades in WWII:
27 million dead; 70,000 towns destroyed. Much anger over a “delayed”
invasion of France by the U.S. (D-Day) – desperately wanted a 2nd
front to be opened in the west to take the pressure off.