The500,000strongNapoleon’sarmymovesthroughRussiaandcausesmuchdestructionculminatinginthebattleofBorodino.TheRussianarmyhastoretreat.Moscowisoccupied,lootedandburneddown,butsoonNapoleonlosescontrolandhastoflee.Bothsidessuffertremendouslossesinthewar,andRussiansocietyisleftirrevocablychanged.AsMoscowissetablazebytheretreatingRussians,theRostovsfleetheirestate,takingwoundedsoldierswiththem,andunbeknownsttothem,alsoAndrei.Pierre,dressedasapeasant,triestoassassinateNapoleonbutistakenprisoner.AstheFrenchareforcedtoretreat,heismarchedformonthswiththeGrandeArmée,untilbeingfreedbyaraidingparty.TheFrencharedefeatedbyKutuzovintheBattleofKrasnoi.Andreiisrecognizedandisbroughttohisestate.HeforgivesNatashaonhisdeathbed.ShereuniteswithPierreandtheymarryasMoscowisbeingrebuilt.
