Like Napoleon, the Russians and Prussians entered the armistice committed to continuing the war on 20 July 1813. Yet what hope did they have for victory? During the Spring Campaign, the French emperor had driven their army more than 200 miles from the Saale to the Oder in one month’s time. Two major battles had been fought and lost. Who among the Russians and Prussians could challenge Napoleon? Although they had ejected the French from their motherland in 1812, the Russians did not achieve a decisive victory over Napoleon himself during that entire campaign. Forsaking the Prussians and returning home remained an option after the failures of the Spring Campaign, yet leaving Central Europe under Napoleon’s control offered Russia little long-term security. As for the Prussians, zeal and hatred on their own failed to liberate their state in the first six months of 1813. By breaking his alliance with Napoleon, Frederick William jeopardized his very crown. To avoid the same fate that had befallen the previous five coalitions that had waged war against France, the military and political leaders of both states understood that they needed more than the unprecedented cooperation that had characterized their operations during the Spring Campaign. With the stakes so high, they realized that only an unconventional strategic plan would allow them to again challenge French dominance in Central Europe.