Almost 200 hundred years after Napoleon Bonaparte’s failed invasion of Russia in 1812, the remains of 18 of his soldiers that took part in the campaign will finally be laid to rest.
Napoleon’s 500,000 man strong army rolled into Russia only to be defeated. After the failed siege attempt many of them died horrible deaths ranging from the cold weather, disease, and starvation.
The bodies of tens of thousands were thrown in trenches because of the inability to dig graves due to the frozen ground. The 18 remains are believed to those of Napoleons Infantry, hussar and dragoon units.
A few days before the Russians recaptured the city Napoleon deserted his men and escaped from Vilnius. A mass burial took place in 2003 for 3,500 members of Napoleon's grand army.
The burial ceremony for the remains of the 18 soldiers was held at a cemetery near Vilnius, their remains were found separate from the 3,500. The ceremony was attended by Diplomats, officials, and soldiers from both the France and Lithuania.
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