Thunderstorm of the twelfth year
It has arrived - who helped us here?
The frenzy of the people
Barclay, winter or Russian God?
A.S. Pushkin
In 1812, the hordes of Napoleon, his army of “twelve” languages, moved towards our country. This army was considered invincible. Bonaparte's goal was to seize our lands, "to throw the Russians back into their ice, so that for 50 years they could not influence the affairs of civilized Europe." For him, we were barbarians, a dark, worthless people, a people incapable of uniting, because in our country there was serfdom, the peasants, oppressed by the nobility, were accustomed to tyranny, to injustice, to suffering. Napoleon rubbed his hands, he knew that this situation would work in his favor, it seemed to him that the war would be short, the victory would be bright, and when he entered Moscow with his army, the boyars (who no longer existed) would present him with the keys to the Kremlin .
But the people did not want to bow to Napoleon. This people, accustomed to slavery, did not accept such slavery; even the thought of serving the French, their emperor, was not allowed. Our people met the enemy steadfastly and fell upon his head with all their hatred. From the very beginning of the war, the French had a hard time. The Russians avoided major battles, exhausted the enemy with small skirmishes, burned houses and hay, stole cattle so that the French would not get their goods, filled up wells, it was not for nothing that Napoleon, looking at burning Moscow, exclaimed: “What a people! Yes, these are Scythians! They set the fire themselves!”
The people of Russia were ready for any sacrifice. Vasilisa Kozhina, who created a partisan detachment, Nadezhda Durova, who became the first woman officer, and others - they are an example of patriotism for all subsequent generations, for us, who read about these exploits and are amazed at the heroism of the Russian people. But that generation did not think that their actions were a feat. No wonder Lermontov said: “Yes, there were people in our time.”
The Battle of Borodino is one of the largest and bloodiest battles in world history. I am surprised how these people were not afraid of losing their lives, becoming crippled. No, they boldly went into battle, thinking only about the Fatherland, that our Motherland was in danger. Nobles and peasants, standing shoulder to shoulder, defended their native land, without thinking about rewards and glory. They were driven by patriotism and honor, which was highly valued in those days. They continued the heroic chronicle, where the names of Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy, Alexander Suvorov are inscribed in golden letters. The heroes of 1812 replenished its pages and left us an example of nobility and selfless service to the Fatherland.
D. Davydov, A.S. Figner, E. Chetvertakov - they were leaders of partisan detachments. It was through their efforts that the retreating French were destroyed. In a history lesson, I learned how Figner, who knew French perfectly, came to the enemy’s camp, found out the information the Russians needed, and left as if nothing had happened! What self-control! He risked his life, but not a single muscle on his face betrayed his excitement. This is the power of the spirit!
Napoleon expected anything but such a reception. He fled, left Russia confused, discouraged, leaving the army to the mercy of fate, leaving behind his convoys and guns. He left offended by the Russians, grumbling: “They don’t fight according to the rules.” "What are the rules? The war is just beginning. What world? - this is how Kutuzov answered Napoleon’s ambassador after the Tarutino maneuver. Yes, we had no time for rules. It wasn’t just for us on the Borodino field, it was heavy in the heart of every Russian when the only right decision was made in Fili, it was unbearably painful for everyone when everyone learned about the death of Bagration (he is the God of the army - that’s what the soldiers said), when they realized that our ancient capital may perish in fire. Difficult moments, tragic days. But thanks to our perseverance, the courage of the Russian people - the army, every peasant and nobleman who was not officially listed in the army - we won! “The retreat of Napoleon’s army was pathetic,” wrote eyewitnesses of those events. The wounded, demoralized, frostbitten French army made its last push on the Berezina River. The flight of the “great army” ended in disaster; the war of 1812 ended in triumph for the Russian people.
The unity of the people is always important for any country, but if in other countries efforts are needed to achieve this goal, then for the Russian people this is a natural state, especially in years of testing. Neither internal slavery (serfdom), nor other reasons (the youth of many heroes), nothing could change what was, is and will be in us: no matter how we live, we will not allow our Motherland to be insulted! Never to anyone!

Pravoslavie.fm is an Orthodox, patriotic, family-oriented portal and therefore offers readers the top 10 amazing feats of the Russian army. The top does not include […]

Pravoslavie.fm is an Orthodox, patriotic, family-oriented portal and therefore offers readers the top 10 amazing feats of the Russian army.

The top does not include single exploits of Russian warriors like captain Nikolai Gastello, sailor Pyotr Koshka, warrior Mercury Smolensky or staff captain Pyotr Nesterov, because with the level of mass heroism that has always distinguished the Russian army, it is absolutely impossible to determine the top ten best warriors. They are all equally great.

Places in the top are not distributed, since the feats described belong to different eras and it is not entirely correct to compare them with each other, but they all have one thing in common - a vivid example of the triumph of the spirit of the Russian army.

• The feat of the squad of Evpatiy Kolovrat (1238).

Evpatiy Kolovrat is a native of Ryazan; there is not much information about him, and it is contradictory. Some sources say that he was a local governor, others - a boyar.

News came from the steppe that the Tatars were marching against Rus'. First on their way lay Ryazan. Realizing that the Ryazan residents did not have enough of their own forces to successfully defend the city, the prince sent Evpatiy Kolovrat to seek help in neighboring principalities.

Kolovrat left for Chernigov, where he was overtaken by the news of the destruction of his native land by the Mongols. Without hesitating for a minute, Kolovrat and his small squad hurriedly moved towards Ryazan.

Unfortunately, he found the city already devastated and burned. Seeing the ruins, he gathered those who could fight and, with an army of about 1,700 people, rushed in pursuit of Batu’s entire horde (about 300,000 soldiers).

Having overtaken the Tatars in the vicinity of Suzdal, he gave battle to the enemy. Despite the small number of the detachment, the Russians managed to crush the Tatar rearguard with a surprise attack.

Batu was very stunned by this frantic attack. Khan had to throw his best parts into battle. Batu asked to bring Kolovrat to him alive, but Evpatiy did not give up and bravely fought with an enemy outnumbered.

Then Batu sent a parliamentarian to Evpatiy to ask what the Russian soldiers wanted? Evpatiy answered - “just die”! The fight continued. As a result, the Mongols, who were afraid to approach the Russians, had to use catapults and only in this way were they able to defeat Kolovrat’s squad.

Khan Batu, amazed by the courage and heroism of the Russian warrior, gave Evpatiy’s body to his squad. For their courage, Batu ordered the rest of the soldiers to be released without harming them.

The feat of Evpatiy Kolovrat is described in the ancient Russian “Tale of the Ruin of Ryazan by Batu.”

• Suvorov's crossing of the Alps (1799).

In 1799, Russian troops who participated in battles with the French in Northern Italy as part of the Second Anti-French Coalition were recalled home. However, on the way home, Russian troops were supposed to assist Rimsky-Korsakov's corps and defeat the French in Switzerland.

For this purpose, the army was led by Generalissimo Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. together with the convoy, artillery and the wounded, she made an unprecedented transition through the Alpine passes.

During the campaign, Suvorov's army fought through St. Gotthard and the Devil's Bridge and made the transition from the Reuss Valley to the Muten Valley, where it was surrounded. However, in the battle in the Muten Valley, where she defeated the French army and broke out of encirclement, she then crossed the snow-covered, inaccessible Ringenkopf (Panix) pass and headed towards Russia through the city of Chur.

During the battle for the Devil's Bridge, the French managed to damage the span and bridge the gap. Russian soldiers, under fire, tied the boards of a barn nearby with scarves of officers and went into battle along them. And while overcoming one of the passes, in order to knock the French down from a height, several dozen volunteers, without any climbing equipment, climbed a steep cliff to the top of the pass and hit the French in the rear.

The son of Emperor Paul I, Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, took part in this campaign under the command of Suvorov as an ordinary soldier.

• Defense of the Brest Fortress (1941).

The Brest Fortress was built by the Russian military in 1836-42 and consisted of a citadel and three fortifications that protected it. Later it was modernized several times, became the property of Poland and again returned to Russia.

By the beginning of June 1941, units of two Red Banner rifle divisions of the Red Banner and 42nd Rifle Divisions and several small units were located on the territory of the fortress. In total, by the morning of June 22, there were about 9,000 people in the fortress.

The Germans decided in advance that the Brest Fortress, located on the border with the USSR and therefore chosen as one of the targets of the first strike, would have to be taken only by infantry - without tanks. Their use was hampered by forests, swamps, river channels and canals surrounding the fortress. German strategists gave the 45th division (17,000 people) no more than eight hours to capture the fortress.

Despite the surprise attack, the garrison gave the Germans a tough rebuff. The report said: “The Russians are resisting fiercely, especially behind our attacking companies. In the Citadel, the enemy organized a defense with infantry units supported by 35-40 tanks and armored vehicles. The fire of Russian snipers led to heavy losses among officers and non-commissioned officers.” In one day, June 22, 1941, the 45th Infantry Division lost 21 officers and 290 lower ranks in killed.

On June 23, at 5:00, the Germans began shelling the Citadel, while trying not to hit their soldiers blocked in the church. On the same day, tanks were used for the first time against the defenders of the Brest Fortress.

On June 26, on the North Island, German sappers blew up the wall of the political school building. 450 prisoners were taken there. The East Fort remained the main center of resistance on the North Island. On June 27, 20 commanders and 370 soldiers from the 393rd anti-aircraft battalion of the 42nd Infantry Division, led by the commander of the 44th Infantry Regiment, Major Pyotr Gavrilov, defended there.

On June 28, two German tanks and several self-propelled guns returning from repairs to the front continued to fire at the East Fort on the North Island. However, this did not bring visible results, and the commander of the 45th division turned to the Luftwaffe for support.

On June 29 at 8:00 a.m., a German bomber dropped a 500-kilogram bomb on the Eastern Fort. Then another 500 kg bomb was dropped and finally an 1800 kg bomb. The fort was practically destroyed.

However, a small group of fighters led by Gavrilov continued to fight in the Eastern Fort. The major was captured only on July 23. Residents of Brest said that until the end of July or even until the first days of August, shooting was heard from the fortress and the Nazis brought their wounded officers and soldiers from there to the city where the German army hospital was located.

However, the official date for the end of the defense of the Brest Fortress is considered to be July 20, based on the inscription that was discovered in the barracks of the 132nd separate battalion of NKVD convoy troops: “I am dying, but I am not giving up. Goodbye, Motherland. 20/VII-41”.

• Campaigns of Kotlyarevsky's troops during the Russian-Persian wars of 1799-1813.

All the exploits of the troops of General Pyotr Kotlyarevsky are so amazing that it is difficult to choose the best, so we will present them all:

In 1804, Kotlyarevsky with 600 soldiers and 2 guns fought off Abbas Mirza’s 20,000 soldiers for 2 days in an old cemetery. 257 soldiers and almost all of Kotlyarevsky’s officers died. There were many wounded.

Then Kotlyarevsky, wrapping the wheels of the cannons with rags, made his way through the besiegers’ camp at night, stormed the nearby Shah-Bulakh fortress, knocking out the Persian garrison of 400 people, and settled in it.

For 13 days he fought off the corps of 8,000 Persians besieging the fortress, and then at night he lowered his guns down the wall and left with a detachment to the Mukhrat fortress, which he also took by storm, knocking out the Persians from there too, and again prepared for defense.

To pull the cannons through the deep ditch during the second march, four soldiers volunteered to fill it with their bodies. Two were crushed to death, and two continued the hike.

In Mukhrat, the Russian army came to the rescue of Kotlyarevsky’s battalion. In this operation and during the capture of the Ganja fortress a little earlier, Kotlyarevsky was wounded four times, but remained in service.

In 1806, in the field battle of Khonashin, 1644 soldiers of Major Kotlyarevsky defeated the 20,000-strong army of Abbas Mirza. In 1810, Abbas Mirza again marched with troops against Russia. Kotlyarevsky took 400 rangers and 40 horsemen and set out to meet them.

“On the way,” he stormed the Migri fortress, defeating a 2,000-strong garrison, and captured 5 artillery batteries. Having waited for 2 companies of reinforcements, the colonel took battle with the Shah’s 10,000 Persians and forced him to retreat to the Araks River. Taking 460 infantry and 20 mounted Cossacks, the colonel destroyed Abbas Mirza's 10,000-strong detachment, losing 4 Russian soldiers killed.

In 1811, Kotlyarevsky became a major general, crossing the impregnable Gorny ridge with 2 battalions and a hundred Cossacks and storming the Akhalkalak fortress. The British sent the Persians money and weapons for 12,000 soldiers. Then Kotlyarevsky went on a campaign and stormed the Kara-Kakh fortress, where military warehouses were located.

In 1812, in the field battle of Aslanduz, 2,000 Kotlyarevsky soldiers with 6 guns defeated the entire army of Abbas Mirza of 30,000 people.

By 1813, the British rebuilt the Lankaran fortress for the Persians according to advanced European models. Kotlyarevsky took the fortress by storm, having only 1,759 people against a 4,000-strong garrison and during the attack almost completely destroyed the defenders. Thanks to this victory, Persia sued for peace.

• Capture of Izmail by Suvorov (1790).

The Turkish fortress of Izmail, which covered the Danube crossings, was built by French and English engineers for the Ottomans. Suvorov himself believed that this was “a fortress without weak points.”

However, having arrived near Izmail on December 13, Suvorov spent six days actively preparing for the assault, including training troops to storm models of the high fortress walls of Izmail.

Near Izmail, in the area of ​​the present village of Safyany, earthen and wooden analogues of the moat and walls of Izmail were built in the shortest possible time - the soldiers trained to throw a Nazi ditch into the moat, quickly set up ladders, after climbing the wall, they quickly stabbed and chopped the stuffed animals installed there, simulating defenders.

For two days, Suvorov conducted artillery preparation with field guns and cannons of the rowing flotilla ships; on December 22, at 5:30 a.m., the assault on the fortress began. Resistance on the city streets lasted until 16:00.

The attacking troops were divided into 3 detachments (wings) of 3 columns each. Major General de Ribas's detachment (9,000 people) attacked from the river side; the right wing under the command of Lieutenant General P. S. Potemkin (7,500 people) was supposed to strike from the western part of the fortress; the left wing of Lieutenant General A. N. Samoilov (12,000 people) - from the east. Brigadier Westphalen's cavalry reserves (2,500 men) were on the land side. In total, Suvorov's army numbered 31,000 people.

Turkish losses amounted to 29,000 killed. 9 thousand were captured. Of the entire garrison, only one person escaped. Slightly wounded, he fell into the water and swam across the Danube on a log.

The losses of the Russian army amounted to 4 thousand people killed and 6 thousand wounded. All 265 guns, 400 banners, huge reserves of provisions and jewelry worth 10 million piastres were captured. M. was appointed commandant of the fortress. I. Kutuzov, future famous commander, winner of Napoleon.

The conquest of Ishmael was of great political significance. It influenced the further course of the war and the conclusion of the Peace of Iasi between Russia and Turkey in 1792, which confirmed the annexation of Crimea to Russia and established the Russian-Turkish border along the Dniester River. Thus, the entire northern Black Sea region from the Dniester to the Kuban was assigned to Russia.

Andrey Szegeda

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We know from history that our Motherland has faced many trials. And Russia has always found the strength to withstand and survive in incredibly difficult conditions.

Thanks to what did Russia manage to overcome all the difficult trials that befell it?

You already know that history tells about all events: good and cruel, joyful and sad. We will talk about one of the pages of history today.

The Kulikovo Field, the Battle of Lake Peipus, Borodino - they remained forever in the historical memory of our people. As symbols of victory and revival, as the embodiment of sacred popular anger against the invaders who encroached on their native lands, on peaceful homes, on the very existence of the Russian state.
As an inexhaustible source of ardent patriotic feeling connecting the past with the present, Pushkin said about the inseparability of these two principles - past and present:

Two feelings are wonderfully close to us,
In them the heart finds food;
Love for the native ashes,
Love for fathers' coffins.

(Based on them from time immemorial,
According to the will of God Himself,
Human independence
The key to his greatness).

In all these glorious battles, the people defended their right to independence and repelled the mortal danger that loomed over their native land in different eras and in different social conditions.
But the military aspects of Russian history are significant in that, in addition to the factual side, they also have a deep spiritual background, the understanding of which, today, alas, has almost been lost.

In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France and sought dominion over all of Europe.
In 1812, his army invaded Russia.

Tsar Alexander I Pavlovich called out to his people:
“...I will not lay down my arms until not a single enemy warrior remains in my kingdom. Russian people, brave descendants of the brave Slavs, you have repeatedly crushed the teeth of lions and tigers rushing at you. Unite everyone: with a cross in your heart and a weapon in your hands, no human forces will defeat you.”
The Patriotic War began, in which all Russians rallied as one person against the enemy of their faith and homeland - a war in which the Russian people suffered great suffering, not with pride, but with humble faith in the truth of God, defeating the mighty enemy. The Russians saw their personal villain in every enemy and took strong revenge for their homeland. To prevent the enemy from getting Russian property, the inhabitants, when Napoleon approached, devastated their fields, burned the harvest and went into the forests or went to meet them with weapons in their hands.
But, if the Russians were three times inferior to the enemy in numbers and weapons, then, of course, they surpassed him in moral strength, the blood unity of soldiers who were ready to unquestioningly lay down their bellies for their native land and its shrines.

Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly

Since the War of 1812 - Commander-in-Chief of the 1st Western Army. M.B. Barclay de Tolly chose the only possible tactics. Retreating and skillfully maneuvering, he sought to concentrate Russian troops and prevent Napoleon from defeating them one by one. This strategy was not understood by the patriotic army. An unpopular commander with a foreign name, Barclay de Tolly transferred command to M.I. Kutuzov, remaining at the head of the 1st Army.

The news of the appointment of a new commander-in-chief, Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, spread through the troops with lightning speed.
The moment of joy was inexplicable. The name of this glorious commander, associate of Suvorov, winner of the Turks, produced a general resurrection of the spirit in the army, from soldier to general. The people rejoiced, seeing in Kutuzov a symbol of deliverance from the mortal danger hanging over Russia. No wonder even the French general Philippe-Paul de Segur said in his memoirs:

“There was something purely national about him, which made him so dear to the Russians. In Moscow, joy on the occasion of his appointment was universal: in the middle of the streets they threw themselves into each other’s arms, considering themselves saved.”

The name of the great Russian commander Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov is inseparable from the Patriotic War of 1812. It was during this final period of his life that he fully revealed himself as a strategist, a statesman, who led the people's war against foreign invaders.
Kutuzov’s feat in the Patriotic War of 1812 is immortal, about which Pushkin wrote:

When the voice of the people's faith
Called to your holy gray hair
"Go and save."
You stood up and saved...
M.I. Kutuzov, relying on the high moral and fighting qualities of Russian soldiers, wrote a new glorious page in the history of Russian military art.
The myth of the “invincibility” of Napoleon’s army was dispelled.
The Borodino victory is a vivid example of patriotism, courage, heroism, and perseverance of the great Russian people; it showed to what high feat a Russian soldier can rise, how he would rather fall with arms in his hands than yield.
Hence the countless examples of heroism and courage shown by its participants, who felt that they were waging a just war.
The bodies of the killed and wounded covered the contested batteries and the surrounding area in a bloody mass. Soldiers dropped out in thousands, officers in hundreds, generals in dozens.

The commander of the Astrakhan Grenadier Regiment, Fedor Fedorovich Buxgewden, was bleeding from three wounds received, went ahead of his soldiers and died at the battery.

The chief of staff of the VI Corps, Colonel Fedor Fedorovich Monakhtin, pointing the column to a battery captured by the enemy, said: “Guys, imagine that this is Russia, and defend it with your heroic chest!” The grapeshot threw him half-dead to the ground.

The fate of the Tuchkov brothers is unprecedented. All rose to the rank of general and four (Nikolai, Pavel, Sergei and Alexander) of them participated in the Patriotic War of 1812.

Of the four Tuchkov brothers who participated in the Patriotic War, Alexander was the youngest. Tuchkov was promoted to colonel at the age of 22, without having been in a single battle. Tuchkov 4th met the War of 1812 as the commander of a brigade that was part of the 3rd Infantry Corps under the command of N. A. Tuchkov 1st.
On July 15, as part of Barclay de Tolly's army, the brigade met the enemy in battle near Vitebsk. Alexander Tuchkov’s last fight was Borodino. Bagration's army fought near the village of Semenovskaya. The division of P.P. Konovnitsyn, which included the brigade of A.A. Tuchkov, sent to her aid, entered the battle from the march. Under fire from French cannonballs and grapeshot, trying to entice the soldiers, Tuchkov rushed forward with a banner in his hands and was hit by grapeshot.

Nikolai Alekseevich Tuchkov participated in the Russian-Swedish wars, as well as the Swiss campaign and campaign of 1807. During the War of 1812, in the army of Barclay de Tolly, Tuchkov the First commanded the 3rd Infantry Corps. He took part in the retreat of the Russian army from Vilna to Borodino. Tuchkov's corps fought with Poniatovsky's corps near the village of Utitsa on the Old Smolensk Road. The Utitsky mound passed from hand to hand several times. The mound was recaptured from the French in a counterattack. General Tuchkov, who led the counterattack, was mortally wounded. Three hours earlier, his brother Alexander Tuchkov 4th was killed.

Their mother lost her sight from tears, and the young wife of one of the fallen, Alexandra Alekseevna Tuchkova, then built a monastery on the Borodino field and retreated into it from light and peace...

“Tell the exploits of the mustachioed hero, O muse, tell us how Kulnev fought,” wrote the partisan poet Denis Davydov.
Yakov Petrovich Kulnev received a baptism of fire in the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. At the beginning of the war of 1812, at the head of the Grodno regiment, he was part of Wittgenstein’s separate corps. On July 13, he captured several hundred French. On July 19, in the battle of Klyastitsy, Kulnev, commanding Wittgenstein’s vanguard, captured nine hundred prisoners and Marshal Oudinot’s convoy. The next day, Kulnev was killed by a cannonball.

Among the partisan leaders, the young captain Alexander Samoilovich Figner, who spoke French well, became famous for his particular courage. Disguised as a French officer, he repeatedly came to the enemy’s camp, learned from the soldiers everything he needed, then returned to his own and quickly attacked the enemy.

Patriotic inspiration was universal, nationwide.
This movement proceeded at the behest of the soul and heart, and not according to official orders. The flames of the people's war grew menacingly. Uniting in large parties, led by one of the retired soldiers or brave comrades, the peasants attacked the enemy.

Kutuzov knew the soul and heart of the Russian soldier well and loved him. He wrote: “I am happy leading the Russians, and you should be proud of the name of the Russians, for this name is and will be the banner of victory.”

1. The main result of the war of 1812 was the defeat of Napoleonic army by Russian troops and the complete expulsion of the invaders from the country. The Patriotic War of 1812 was of great importance for the growth of national self-awareness of the Russian people.

2. The main hero of the just war of 1812 was the Russian people. He was the decisive force in the defeat of Napoleon and his army.

3. Kutuzov’s merit lies in the fact that he was able to understand the popular character of the just war of 1812. against the invaders, managed to rely on the strength of the people and defeat Napoleon's army.

I believe that the theme of the Patriotic War of 1812 is relevant in our time, we must know and respect the history of the Fatherland. While building a new Russia, we must take into account the lessons of the past.

Therefore, we again and again turn to the events of 1812, because it is important to us, the descendants of the brave Slavs.

In days imbued with uncertainty and hopelessness for many, this appeal has a special meaning. From the depths of the fall, we look at the highest rise of the spirit of the Russian people, who rebelled against the forces whose invasion was perceived as an attempt to change the order established by God, to lead Holy Rus' astray from the path predicted by its heavenly patrons.

...On June 12, 1812, having gathered an army of 600 thousand, Napoleon crossed the Neman and invaded Russia... Less than a year remains until the anniversary - the 200th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812. The anniversaries of the date when the Napoleonic Wars finally reached Russia... Of course, this very memorable date in our history, and the anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, will be especially celebrated in our country. Who knows, and not only in our...

We know a lot about this time, about the people, about the “main characters” and the events that were difficult, and so bright, so memorable for the Russian consciousness of 1812-1813. But, it seems, there is much more we simply don’t know yet. That’s why it seemed important to me: it’s worth publishing now some “fresh” (at least for me) materials that appear on this topic. I know they will be interesting not only to me...

We may not be very ready for this view of the events after Borodin and the prehistory of the war. But here it is, a view from France, the view of contemporaries of those events...

So, let's begin:

FRENCH NEWSPAPERS OF 1812 ABOUT THE FIRE OF MOSCOW ("The Times", UK)

“The Russians served thanksgiving services for the victory at Polotsk. They gave thanks to the Lord for the victories near Riga, near Ostrovno and near Smolensk. The Russians believe that they were victors everywhere, forcing the French to retreat a considerable distance. And to the same sounds of Russian thanksgiving chants, their army arrived in Moscow. There they also considered themselves winners, at least that’s how the townspeople treated them, because well-informed people knew about the current situation.

Moscow is a warehouse for goods from Europe and Asia. Its warehouses were truly enormous; Each house had a supply of everything necessary for eight months. We felt the full scale of the disaster awaiting us only last night, as on the day of our entry into the city. In the house that belonged to the despicable Rostopchin, we found some documents, as well as an unfinished letter - Rostopchin fled without finishing it.

Now Moscow - one of the most beautiful and richest cities in the world - no longer exists! On the fourteenth, the Russians set fire to shopping arcades, the market and the hospital building. And on the sixteenth a strong wind arose. By order of Governor General Rostopchin, three or four hundred scoundrels set fire to the city simultaneously at five hundred different points. Since 5/6 of all houses were built of wood, the fire spread with great speed - it was truly an ocean of fire. Churches (there are 1,600 of them), as well as a large number of palaces and huge warehouses - almost all of this became the prey of fire. The Kremlin was not damaged.


(Fire in Moscow on September 15-18, 1812 after the capture of the city by Napoleon. Painting by A.F. Smirnov, 1813)

For Russia, as well as for its trade and nobility, which lost all their property in the fire, the magnitude of such a great loss cannot be calculated. I think that we will not exaggerate if we say that the total amount of damage reaches many billions.

About a hundred arsonists were arrested and shot, all of whom stated that they acted on the orders of Rostopchin and another high-ranking official.

Thirty thousand sick and wounded Russians burned to death. The richest trading houses in Russia have been reduced to ruins. What a great shock! The fire burned everything - clothes, warehouses and other property of the Russian army. Thus the Russians lost everything; they didn’t take anything with them, because they always believed that we would never be able to reach Moscow, and by this they only misled people. Seeing that the French had captured everything, the Russians conceived a terrible plan: they decided to destroy by fire their capital, this holy city, the center of the empire - and thereby doomed two hundred thousand respectable inhabitants to poverty. Rostopchin is solely to blame for this atrocity, committed by criminals released from prison.

As a result, the supplies available to our army were significantly reduced. However, we managed to collect a certain amount of the most necessary things. In addition, the basements were not damaged as a result of the fire, and residents were also able to save many things over the past twenty-four hours. The townspeople tried to stop the spread of the flames, but the [Moscow] governor-general took terrifying precautions ahead of time: he ordered the removal or destruction of all means for extinguishing the fire.

Our exhausted army is regaining its strength. We have an abundance of bread, potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables, as well as meat, pickles, wine, cognac, sugar, coffee - in a word, supplies of all kinds.

Our vanguard traveled twenty miles along the road leading to Kazan, the enemy is retreating in the same direction. The other part of the French vanguard advanced towards St. Petersburg, and in this direction the enemy does not have a single soldier.

The weather is still autumn. Our soldiers stock up on a large number of coats and furs for the winter, because Moscow is a whole warehouse of such things.”

MESSAGE OF THE WAR MINISTRY

Now, when the news of the glorious victories of our Great Army [i.e. Napoleon's army - approx. trans.] spread throughout Europe, and the Imperial eagle soared over the Kremlin - this ancient residence of the kings - we would like to encourage our readers to serious reflections to which the events that took place suggest us.

The first thing that naturally comes to mind is the enormous changes that have occurred over the past few years. We have not yet forgotten those times when the Russian troops, camped in the Alps, cherished their daring plan - to establish a barbaric yoke in France, the land of art and honor, after first ruining our land. At that time, the very name of the Russians aroused panic fear, and such fear always arises when people first hear about a hitherto unprecedented threat. But could we then, even in our wildest dreams, have imagined that just a few years later the French army would be able to avenge its defeats in the battles of Trebbia and Novi in ​​the ancient capital of Russia! But the likelihood of such a development of events would have increased even more if the French emperor had not shown courtesy in his time and would not have been content with the victory won at the moment when the sun of Austerlitz rose and the Muscovite legions were defeated.

What was the reward for that courtesy? Russia, having treacherously violated its obligations, has by no means abandoned its policy, which it has adhered to over the past century [i.e. in the 18th century - approx. transl.], aggressively rushing towards Southern Europe. And even when signing the peace treaty, Russia invented means to evade fulfillment of its terms, wanted to trample on it - and this happened at the very moment when the British government, with its machinations, was preparing the ground for a new war. However, on the banks of the Vistula and Neman, the French eagle was accompanied by victories, and the Russian army, which suffered a crushing defeat in the battle of Friedland, was able to preserve its remnants for the second time only by appealing to the generosity and humanity of the winner.

A new treaty of peace and alliance led to a cessation of hostilities. It was then that it seemed possible to believe that Russia would no longer disturb the peace of the European continent, and the great plans of the French government, which sought to return freedom of trade and freedom of the seas to the countries, would no longer encounter obstacles from the Power, which itself was interested in their implementation. However, England, frightened, again began to intrigue on the Pyrenees stage. The spirit of discord - and it awakens when power sleeps - soon agitated the capital of Spain, as well as the provinces of this country. There the shoots of revolution began to appear everywhere. The Spanish monarchy and the sovereign himself were sliding into the abyss of anarchy. The authority of His Royal Majesty was rudely trampled upon, the most sacred treaties were not openly observed - everything spoke of the overthrow of the foundations and the triumph of English diplomacy, which during the last twenty years had worked hard to disturb the peace of nations - and at that very moment the Spanish monarch vacated his tottering throne and entrusted the safety of Spain to the hero who saved France.

However, after this, England began to spread its pernicious influence in the Pyrenees by all means. She revived ancient prejudices and inflamed passions among a brave but ignorant people - she marked the beginning of this fratricidal war of the Spaniards against their natural allies, and at the same time against the interests of their country, playing into the hands of their most implacable enemies.

The great man who controlled the fate of France did not have time to expel English troops from Spain solely because Russia, guided by its treacherous policy, pinned down most of the French troops in the north. Russia has not kept any of its obligations. Expanding her territory in all directions of the world, she, contrary to her treaty obligations, provided England with the wealth of her land and the benefits of her trade. However, mistaking [French] politeness for weakness - forgetting that politeness always indicates strength - Russia openly began to prepare for new battles. Proud of its superiority over armies that were alien to drill, Russia even refused to negotiate and began recklessly egging on the victors of Austerlitz and Friedland [i.e. French - approx. transl.]. And the result of this new war turned out the way it should have been. The French troops, led by their august Sovereign, truly surpassed all their previous exploits, and our brave allies proved in practice their unfailing loyalty.

Over the course of four months, important events took place that will take their special place in history: the liberation of Poland without shedding blood; certificate of double victory near Smolensk; a repetition of Austerlitz on the banks of the Moscow River and, finally, the very capture of Moscow - this concentration of all the wealth of Russia. It is here that the enormous power of a power appears before us in all its greatness, which is waging two significant wars at once on the two extremities of Europe, and at the same time in the inner part of Europe the most complete calm and security reign. What Frenchman, called by such a worthy name, will not feel his thoughts soar, and his soul, at the sight of such a majestic spectacle, will not become more sublime! Victories that bring glory to a country glorify its citizens themselves, and if these victories bring them prosperity, then they should awaken enthusiasm and gratitude.

It is impossible not to see that the union of Russia and England means the threat of double despotism for all other countries; and if the intentions of these two states were crowned with success, then ignorance and barbarity would again reign in Europe. England, while desiring to establish her exclusive right over knowledge and trade, strives at the same time to keep other nations in the chains of ignorance and pernicious prejudices. Thus in Spain she supports the Inquisition for the same reason that she sacrifices neutral countries to expand her trade. She wants to become a monopolist in industrial production and in the field of human knowledge, but all her efforts are in vain, since the Spaniards, whose capital the British are leaving, begin to notice their true interests. Not only Russia, but also England was defeated under the walls of Moscow.

INTERNET PROJECT 1812:
http://www.museum.ru/museum/1812/index.html

Poems and quotes

"New Russia begins in 1812." A. I. Herzen
“The destruction of the huge Napoleonic army during the retreat
research from Moscow served as a signal for a general uprising against
French rule in the West." F. Engels
“We will stand with our heads for our Motherland.” M. Yu. Lermontov
“...Everyone was burning with zeal. Everyone excelled themselves." A. P. Er-
Molov, general, participant in the War of 1812
“Well, it was a day! Through the flying smoke
The French moved like clouds..." M. Yu. Lermontov
“And we promised to die,
And they kept the oath of allegiance
We are going to the Borodino battle." M. Yu. Lermontov
“And prevented the cannonballs from flying
A mountain of bloody bodies." M. Yu. Lermontov
“Russia is not lost with the loss of Moscow.” M. I. Kutuzov
“The twelfth year was a great era in the life of Russia...”
V.G. Belinsky
“The Russian campaign of 1812 placed Russia at the center of the war. Rus-
Russian troops formed the main core, around which only later
The Prussians, Austrians and the rest grouped together.” F. Engels
“The enemy experienced a lot that day,
What does Russian fighting mean? M. Yu. Lermontov
"Guys! Is Moscow behind us? To the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812
We'll die near Moscow,
How our brothers died! M. Yu. Lermontov
“Napoleon waited in vain,
Intoxicated with the last happiness,
Moscow kneeling,
With the keys of the old Kremlin:
No, my Moscow did not go
To him with a guilty head.” A. S. Pushkin
“Not a holiday, not a receiving gift,
She was preparing a fire
To the impatient hero."
A. S. Pushkin
“I'm proud to be Russian! From the brave Russian grenadier
no army in the world can stand.” A. V. Suvorov
“The earth shook like our breasts;
Horses and people mixed together,
And volleys of a thousand guns
Laughed into a long howl..." M. Yu. Lermontov
“Nothing can stand against Russian weapons - we are strong and
rena in yourself." A. V. Suvorov
“If I take Kyiv, I will grab Russia by the legs. If I master
Petersburg, I will take her by the head. Having occupied Moscow, I will hit it in
heart". Napoleon
“In Russia, the bitterness of the people against the invading enemy
grew every month... The desire to defend Russia and punish the insolent
whom and the cruel conqueror - these feelings gradually engulfed the entire
people". E. V. Tarm, writer.
"The most terrible of all my battles is the one that
I gave near Moscow.” Napoleon
“The French showed themselves worthy of winning, and the Russians
"The Chinese have acquired the right to be invincible." NapoleonTo the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812

“I tell you: war is the sister of sorrow, and many of you do not believe
huddle under the shade of their roof. But go ahead. For who but you will protect
this land...” From an ancient manuscript.
“Only that feat is beautiful that is performed for the Motherland
and the people." Nina Onilova
“By hastening to remove the heroic from our lives, we are preparing for ourselves
We are facing eternal defeat." G. Vladimov
“Moscow has the right to be proud of the greatness of its destiny.” S. Shchipachev

Internet resources

Perseverance, courage, heroism of the Russian warrior in the War of 1812

The reasons for the events of the War of 1812 were: the clash of Napoleon's claims to world domination with the desire of Alexander I to lead European politics. By 1812, Napoleon had only Russia left to capture for complete domination in Europe, on the road to becoming, as the emperor himself put it: “Lord of the world,” only she stood. Napoleon learned that Russia had violated the treaty on the continental blockade. (Russia traded with England under the American flag). Conflict in the Polish and German principalities. (Napoleon rashly annexed the Duchy of Oldenburg to France, and the Duke was the uncle of Alexander I), personal grievances and insults. (Napoleon inadvertently reminded Alexander I of his personal participation in the conspiracy against his father. Russian The emperor, in response, did not accept Napoleon's matchmaking with Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna.) He brought his troops to Warsaw and from there moved to Russia. Thus began the War of 1812.

At this time, Russia was already fighting two wars: with Turkey and Iran. Thus, Russia could not oppose Napoleon with a large army. France was only occupied with a naval war with England; for France, Russia was the main and only goal on land, and it could concentrate all its forces on the war with Russia. In addition, there were very bad roads in Russia, which complicated the communication of the army and the delivery of everything necessary for the front, fortunately, this was also a problem for Napoleon when he entered Russia. In an economic sense, France was more than a prosperous country. Capitalist relations were developed in France, so France had more than enough money for the war.

Russia was almost the complete opposite of France - there were almost no capitalist relations, feudal relations dominated, serfdom was preserved, money came into the treasury from taxes and duties, everything that Russia had, it achieved through the oppression of the masses and the efforts of rich patriots. Russia had huge reserves of resources, and they were developed, but mainly in the Urals and in the center of Russia.

The Peace of Tilsit, concluded between Russia and France, after the defeat of Russian troops at Austerlitz (1807), joining the continental blockade led to the fact that in 1808 - 1812 Russia's foreign trade decreased by 43%. France could not compensate for this damage, since economic ties with Russia were superficial. At first glance, Russia had little chance of winning the war with France. Since 1810, Alexander I began to pull up troops to the western borders of the empire, counting on a strike in Poland, and not on Russian territory. In general, a surprise attack by Napoleon on Russia is out of the question, since the military command of the Russian troops prepared more than 40 plans for a campaign against France. Napoleon already began preparations for the East in 1809. However, he did not take into account that Russia had already saved Europe once, standing as a wall in the 13th and 14th centuries on the path of countless waves of nomads from Central Asia.

There was a lot in common between the commanders-in-chief of the armies Kutuzov and Napoleon: they both loved their homeland, they were loved in the army. Napoleon, because he was hitherto invincible, Kutuzov, because he was the successor of Suvorov, they were talented commanders who knew their business well. Before this, Napoleon had won their head-to-head bets, so he had an advantage over Kutuzov, and besides, he was younger and more energetic than Kutuzov. Kutuzov and Napoleon achieved success through their own work, both of them started as junior officers. During this time, they gained not only military, but also civilian experience. Both of them were subtle diplomats.

How were the armies prepared for war?

The French army was much better equipped than the Russian army. The Russian army has always been famous for its lack of good officers and courageous ordinary soldiers. The lack of good officers was explained by the fact that although Peter's law existed, the nobility circumvented it. The soldiers were taken from the common people: from serfs. The Russian army was famous for its artillery, besides artillery there was another pride - the Russian Imperial Guard, it consisted of hefty men two meters tall and was used only as a last resort. In the French army, officer ranks were not given away so easily - they had to be earned. There were courageous, disciplined soldiers in the army. They showed these qualities in every battle. In addition, they had a special reserve, the Old Guard, which consisted of old, seasoned soldiers. The advantage of the French army was also characterized by the fact that it was larger and more united. The Russian army was scattered throughout the country and was divided into four parts. True, in addition to the army, there were also partisan detachments that played a big role in the war.

As mentioned above, Napoleon entered Russia on June 10 (22), 1812. In the shortest possible time, the pontoon boats of the French engineer General Eblenaveli built three bridges. Russian Life Cossacks under the command of Staff Captain Rubashkin were unable to detain them. Napoleon decided to strike the main blow on Moscow and thereby strike Russia in the heart. Napoleon's tactics did not change; he wanted to give a general battle and, having won it (he had no doubt about this), destroy the Russian army.

What was the “Great Army”?

It consisted of more than 600 thousand people with 1372 guns. It included the elite of the French troops - the imperial guard under the command of Marshals Lefebvre, Mortier, Bessières, Dutch infantrymen, and Polish lancers. In addition to the French, there were Poles, Prussians, and Germans of the Rhineland, Spaniards and others.

Napoleon's main forces were deployed in two echelons, the first crossed the Neman, the second remained in the rear, between the Vistula and the Order.

This immediately marked the lag between the troops of the center and the right wing. In an effort to encircle the Russian army, Napoleon demanded the fastest advance to disorganize the Russian command.

What was the Russian army like on the western border of the Russian Empire?

The total number of border armies was 220 - 240 thousand people with 942 guns. The 1st Western Army, under the command of the Minister of War, General of Infantry M.B. Barclay de Tolly, numbered 110-127 thousand people with 558 guns and was located on a line from Russia to Lida, that is, it stretched for 200 kilometers. 2nd Western Army under the command of Infantry General P.I. Bagration, consisting of 45 - 48 thousand people with 216 guns. The 3rd Western Army, stationed in Volyn near Lutsk under the command of cavalry general A.P. Tormakov - 46 thousand people with 168 guns. The goal pursued by Napoleon was not to allow the armies to unite, but to defeat them individually or to force a decisive battle on the Russian army. However, Napoleon's strategic plan was cracked from the very beginning. The Russians were not going to go to a general battle, reasonably believing that the time was ahead for him.

At Smolensk the 1st and 2nd Western armies united. On August 18, a battle took place where the courage and heroism of Russian soldiers was clearly demonstrated. First, they detained the enemy at the walls of the city, and then, undefeated, crossed to the Moscow road, preparing for new inevitable battles. The capture of Smolensk cost Napoleon 20 thousand soldiers, and then over time more and more militias joined the Russian army. The stormy events of 1812 stirred up the broad masses of Russia, aroused unprecedented energy of the people, and awakened “People's consciousness and people's pride.” The national liberation nature of the war of 1812 showed that the people did everything to support the army, its combat effectiveness, and its morale.

From the very beginning of hostilities, the majority of peasants in Lithuania and Belarus advocated disobedience to the invaders. Peasant partisan detachments arose spontaneously, during the retreat of the Russian army.

The Belarusian land, covered with forests and swamps, burned under the feet of the invaders. As we moved deeper into Russia, the people's resistance grew.

The just and defensive nature of the war prompted the active participation of the broad masses of Russia.

Seeing the active resistance of the peasants, Napoleon began to spread provocative rumors about the upcoming liberation of the peasants from serfdom. But in reality, his war against Russia was exclusively aggressive in nature, and his army suppressed anti-serfdom protests. Lithuanian and Polish landowners supported Napoleon, but the peasants of Lithuania and Belarus began partisan actions against enemy troops. At the beginning, the peasants acted passively, refused to supply fodder and food to the French army, left their villages and went into the forests. But soon the peasantry switched to more active forms of partisan warfare: attacks on individual enemy units, and active assistance to the Russian army. The uprisings against the Polish and Lithuanian khans were now directed against the Napoleonic army. In Mogilev, Vitebsk and other cities of Lithuania and Belarus, the French command was forced to leave entire military units to fight the peasants.

The broad masses of the Russian peasantry rose up in partisan struggle as soon as Napoleonic troops entered the Smolensk province. The partisan movement arose in Poresensky, Krasinsky and Smolensky districts, since the population of these districts primarily suffered from the invaders. But as the enemy army advanced deeper into Russia, the entire population of the Smolensk province rose up to fight. In August 1812, a number of peasant partisan detachments were created in the Smolensk province. The Sychevsky zemstvo police officer Boguslavsky, the leader of the Sychevsky nobility Nakhimov, Major Emelyanov, retired captain Timashev and others took part in their organization. In just half a month, these detachments had about 15 major skirmishes with the French. The partisans of the Smolensk province dealt a significant blow to the enemy, and also greatly helped the Russian army. In particular, the detachment of the merchant of the city of Porechye Nikita Minchenkov helped the army detachment to liquidate the French detachment under the command of General Pino.

Just as in the Smolensk province, Napoleon was met in other areas. The popular partisan movement became increasingly widespread. Peasants rose up everywhere to fight the enemy.

After Smolensk, the State Council considered candidates for the post of commander-in-chief. Many names were called. The world decided to appoint the 67-year-old infantry general M.I. Kutuzov. Documents show what great work M.I. Kutuzov did after his appointment. He paid attention to literally everything: the military plan and reserves, the supply of the army and the condition of the roads, the organization of the militia and partisan detachments, medical care and treatment of prisoners, and so on. Only such an understanding of all problems could be the key to future success. While Kutuzov was traveling to the army, it was fighting back to the east. Napoleonic troops captured a significant part of the Russian Empire. Having familiarized himself with the affairs in the army, it was no longer possible to postpone the general battle, and Kutuzov made the final decision to give it. The people and the army cannot wait any longer. He gives the corresponding order to the acting chief of the main staff, L. L. Bennschsen, to find a suitable position. The command stopped at the Borodino field, which the army began to approach on the morning of August 22.

Kutuzov, having carefully examined the area, ordered the construction of fortifications to begin. Feature of Borodino.

Why was it here that the commander-in-chief of the Russian army decided to give a general battle?

The area in the Borodino region, located 12 kilometers west of Mozhaisk, is very hilly and crossed by a significant number of rivers and streams that have formed deep ravines. The eastern part of the field is more elevated than the western. The Koloch River flows through the village, which flows into the Moscow River 4 kilometers from the village. The river had a high and steep bank, which well covered the right flank of the Russian army's positions. The left flank came close to a shallow forest, heavily overgrown with small bushes and swampy in places. years of the Great Patriotic War warsAbstract >> History

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