EUROPE'S MANY ATTEMPTS TO DISMEMBER AND PLUNDER RUSSIA

19 March 2025

Europe’s Many Attempts to Subjugate Russia

For centuries, European powers have repeatedly launched invasions and attacks against Russia, often under the leadership of a dominant Western power. These assaults have ranged from outright military invasions to economic and political subjugation. Was the motive a fear of Russia, or was it a greed for Russia's resources?

Napoleon’s Grand Failure (1812)

In June 1812, Napoleon assembled the largest invasion force the world had ever seen—600,000 troops—on a mission to conquer Russia. But this was not just a French attack. It was a European campaign, bringing together soldiers from France, Poland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, Westphalia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and Hungary. Six months later, this grand coalition was shattered by Russian resilience, the vastness of the land, and the brutal winter.

Hitler’s Barbarossa Disaster (1941)

Obsessed with Napoleon’s failure, Hitler sought to avoid his mistakes. In June 1941, he launched Operation Barbarossa, the largest military invasion in history: 3.8 million troops, 3,600 tanks, 2,700 aircraft, and tens of thousands of artillery pieces. Again, this was not just a German attack—it was a European assault. Troops from Germany, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium all took part. They too failed, facing the same fate as Napoleon, as Russia’s vastness and resilience broke their campaign.

A Long History of Western Attacks on Russia

Russia has endured major invasions and interventions from the West since the 17th century:

1. Polish-Lithuanian Invasion (1598-1613)

During Russia’s "Time of Troubles," Poland sought to place a Polish king on the Russian throne. Polish forces occupied Moscow from 1610 to 1612 before being expelled by Russian militias.

2. Swedish Invasion (1708-1709)

Charles XII of Sweden invaded Russia but was crushed at the Battle of Poltava in 1709.

3. French Invasion (1812)

Napoleon’s doomed march to Moscow.

4. Crimean War (1853-1856)

A British-led coalition, including France, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire, sought to weaken Russia.

5. World War I (1914-1918)

Germany and Austria-Hungary launched a massive Eastern Front offensive, with other European nations contributing troops.

6. Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)

Poland attempted to carve out territory and create a buffer zone at Russia’s expense.

7. Western Intervention in Russian Civil War (1918-1922)

Britain, the U.S., Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Japan sent troops into Russia. The official narrative claims they supported the anti-Communist Whites, but in reality, their intervention helped stabilise Bolshevik rule. Western powers ensured that the Whites remained weak, allowing Lenin and Trotsky to consolidate power.

8. World War II (1941-1945)

Hitler’s doomed Operation Barbarossa.

The Economic War on Russia

9. The 1990s – A Silent Invasion

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia was not invaded militarily but economically. Western financial interests, acting through their proxies—the oligarchs—seized control of the country. Under Western-backed economic "shock therapy", Russia’s GDP collapsed by 50%, a far worse decline than during World War II. By the late 1990s:

Over 50% of Russians lived in poverty, with 25% in desperate conditions.

Death rates increased by 60%, with an estimated 5-6 million surplus deaths - equivalent to losing 3.4%-4% of the population.

Western banks and institutions effectively controlled Russia’s wealth until Putin began reversing this in the 2000s.

10. Ukraine War (2014-Present): The Latest Western Proxy War

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is not a local civil war but a NATO-backed proxy war against Russia. The West has armed, financed and trained Ukrainian forces, and applied almost 30,000 "sanctions" using them as a tool to weaken Russia. The various tactics for extending Russia are described in a document commissioned by the Pentagon in 2019 that can be found on the internet titled RAND_RR3063.pdf.

The EU is currently attempting to raise €800 billion from its members to rearm and is planning to send an expeditionary force that they call peacekeepers to Russia.

Conclusion

From military invasions to economic warfare, Europe’s history with Russia has been one of hostility, betrayal, and failed conquests. Russia has survived them all.