1812 - Faces of heroes

On September 7, 1812, exactly 200 years ago, the Battle of Borodino took place, which became one of the greatest battles in history. This year we celebrate the anniversary of those terrible events. Starting from this issue, a series of articles about the wars with Napoleon will be prepared. The beginning will be today's portrait gallery of the main Russian military leaders who in one way or another influenced the course of the war. Although not a military leader, the last place is occupied by Nadezhda Durova, the first female officer.

Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov(-) - Field Marshal General, commander-in-chief of the Russian army during the Patriotic War of 1812. The first full Knight of the Order of St. George.

At the beginning of the 1812 campaign against the French, Mikhail Kutuzov was in St. Petersburg in the secondary post of commander of the Narva Corps, and then the St. Petersburg militia. Only when disagreements among the generals reached a critical point was he appointed commander-in-chief of all armies operating against Napoleon (August 8). Kutuzov was forced to continue his retreat strategy. But, yielding to the demands of the army and society, he fought the Battle of Borodino and at the military council in Fili made the difficult decision to abandon Moscow. Russian troops, having completed a flank march to the south, stopped at the village of Tarutino. Kutuzov himself was sharply criticized by a number of senior military leaders.

Having waited for the French troops to leave Moscow, Kutuzov accurately determined the direction of their movement and blocked their path at Maloyaroslavets. The parallel pursuit of the retreating enemy, which was then organized, led to the actual death of the French army.

In 1813, Mikhail Kutuzov led the allied Russian-Prussian troops. April 28, 1813 Kutuzov died in the city of Bunzlau. For a month and a half, the coffin with his remains moved towards St. Petersburg. Five miles from the city, the horses were unharnessed, and the people carried the coffin on their shoulders all the way to the Kazan Cathedral, where the great commander was solemnly buried.”

Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly(-) - an outstanding Russian commander, field marshal general, minister of war, prince, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, full holder of the Order of St. George.

With the beginning of the Patriotic War, he was left by the emperor as responsible for directing military operations (he did not have the official status of commander-in-chief). He managed to achieve the unification of the Russian armies near Smolensk, thwarting Napoleon's plans to break the Russian forces separately. He initiated the creation of the first partisan formations. Barclay de Tolly's attempts to preserve the army at any cost aroused discontent and reproaches against him. He was even accused of treason. With the appointment of Kutuzov as commander in chief, Barclay de Tolly remained commander of the 1st Army. He distinguished himself during the Battle of Borodino. At the council in Fili, he came up with the idea of ​​leaving Moscow in order to save the army and, on the instructions of Kutuzov, led the withdrawal of the army from Moscow. During the foreign campaign of the Russian army, he commanded the 3rd Army. Since 1813, commander-in-chief of all Russian and Prussian armies

Petr Ivanovich Bagration(-) - Russian infantry general, prince, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. “Bagration is the best general of the Russian army,” said Napoleon. Bagration began the War of 1812 as commander-in-chief of the 2nd Western Army. After a skillfully carried out retreat, inflicting a number of defeats on the French, Bagration united with Barclay’s army. On August 26, on the Borodino field, Bagration accomplished his last feat. On the left flank of the Russian army near the village of Semenovskaya, earthen fortifications were built: Bagration's flashes. The main blow of Napoleonic army fell on them. Hand-to-hand combat lasted from six o'clock in the morning until noon, after which Bagration gave the order to launch a counterattack. A few minutes later he was wounded by a cannonball fragment, which shattered his leg. Three weeks later Bagration died.

Alexander Petrovich Tormasov(-) - count, cavalry general. During the Patriotic War of 1812, he commanded the 3rd Western Army on the southern flank, Moscow mayor. During the War of 1812, he commanded the 3rd Army, whose troops defeated units of the Saxon Corps near Kobrin on July 15, and on July 31 repelled attacks by superior forces of the French army at Gorodechnya, preventing their active actions in the Kiev direction. During the counter-offensive of Russian troops, he took part in the battles of Maloyaroslavets, Vyazma and Krasny. In the spring of 1813, during the illness of M. I. Kutuzov, he acted as commander-in-chief.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Raevsky(-) - Russian commander, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, cavalry general (1813). During the Patriotic War of 1812 he commanded the 7th Infantry Corps and showed great organizational abilities as a military leader, courage and bravery. Under his command, the corps successfully fought battles near Saltanovka, in the Battle of Smolensk in 1812, the Battle of Borodino in 1812, and near Maloyaroslavets. Participated in the foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813-1814.

Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich(-) - Paskevich’s fighters acted as part of Bagration’s army, and showed their best side in heavy battles near Smolensk and Saltykovka During Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns, he took part in the most important battles, showing courage (at Borodino two horses were killed under him), ability to work and jealousy for service. For distinction in the battle of Leipzig he was promoted to lieutenant general. Commanded a division during the capture of Paris.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov(-) - Russian military leader, count, cavalry general, Cossack. Since 1801 - Ataman of the Great Don Army. During the Patriotic War of 1812 he commanded Cossack regiments on the border, covering the retreat , Full Knight of the Order of St. George. The biggest undertaking of Colonel Ivan Dibich during the counter-offensive of the Kutuzov army was the neutralization of the Prussian troops that were part of Napoleon's Grand Army. He convinced the generals of the Prussian king - York and Massenbach not to cross their weapons with Russian ones, proving that the days of the Great Army were numbered. The two corps commanders agreed with the arguments of their former compatriot. And soon the Kingdom of Prussia will become an active participant in the anti-Napoleonic coalition. Commanding a corps vanguard detachment, General Dibich took part in the battle on the Berezina River, where he completed the defeat of Napoleonic Grand Army.

Nadezhda Andreevna Durova( - ) - the first female officer in the Russian army, lieutenant of the Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment. Under the name of Alexander Andreevich, Alexandrova took part in the battles of Mir, Romanov, Saltanovka, and in the rearguard battles of Gzhatsk and the Kolotsky Monastery. While retreating to the Borodino position, she was shell-shocked in the leg by a cannonball. After leaving Moscow, she was at the headquarters of M.I. for some time. Kutuzova as an orderly, then was treated in the city of Sarapul.

2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the military-historical patriotic event - the Patriotic War of 1812, which is of great importance for the political, social, cultural and military development of Russia.

Beginning of the war

June 12, 1812 (old style) Napoleon's French army, having crossed the Neman near the city of Kovno (now Kaunas in Lithuania), invaded the Russian Empire. This day is listed in history as the beginning of the war between Russia and France.

In this war, two forces collided. On the one hand, Napoleon’s army of half a million (about 640 thousand people), which consisted only half of the French and also included representatives of almost all of Europe. An army, intoxicated by numerous victories, led by famous marshals and generals led by Napoleon. The strengths of the French army were its large numbers, good material and technical support, combat experience, and belief in the invincibility of the army.

She was opposed by the Russian army, which at the beginning of the war represented one-third of the French army. Before the start of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Russian-Turkish War of 1806-1812 had just ended. The Russian army was divided into three groups far apart from each other (under the command of generals M.B. Barclay de Tolly, P.I. Bagration and A.P. Tormasov). Alexander I was at the headquarters of Barclay's army.

The blow of Napoleon's army was taken by the troops stationed on the western border: the 1st Army of Barclay de Tolly and the 2nd Army of Bagration (153 thousand soldiers in total).

Knowing his numerical superiority, Napoleon pinned his hopes on a lightning war. One of his main mistakes was to underestimate the patriotic impulse of the army and people of Russia.

The start of the war was successful for Napoleon. At 6 o'clock in the morning on June 12 (24), 1812, the vanguard of the French troops entered the Russian city of Kovno. The crossing of 220 thousand soldiers of the Great Army near Kovno took 4 days. 5 days later, another group (79 thousand soldiers) under the command of the Viceroy of Italy Eugene Beauharnais crossed the Neman to the south of Kovno. At the same time, even further south, near Grodno, the Neman was crossed by 4 corps (78-79 thousand soldiers) under the overall command of the King of Westphalia, Jerome Bonaparte. In the northern direction near Tilsit, the Neman crossed the 10th Corps of Marshal MacDonald (32 thousand soldiers), which was aimed at St. Petersburg. In the southern direction, from Warsaw across the Bug, a separate Austrian corps of General Schwarzenberg (30-33 thousand soldiers) began to invade.

The rapid advance of the powerful French army forced the Russian command to retreat deeper into the country. The commander of the Russian troops, Barclay de Tolly, avoided a general battle, preserving the army and striving to unite with Bagration’s army. The numerical superiority of the enemy raised the question of urgent replenishment of the army. But in Russia there was no universal conscription. The army was recruited through conscription. And Alexander I decided to take an unusual step. On July 6, he issued a manifesto calling for the creation of a people's militia. This is how the first partisan detachments began to appear. This war united all segments of the population. As now, so then, the Russian people are united only by misfortune, grief, and tragedy. It didn’t matter who you were in society, what your income was. The Russian people fought unitedly to defend the freedom of their homeland. All people became a single force, which is why the name “Patriotic War” was determined. The war became an example of the fact that the Russian people will never allow freedom and spirit to be enslaved; he will defend his honor and name to the end.

The armies of Barclay and Bagration met near Smolensk at the end of July, thus achieving their first strategic success.

Battle for Smolensk

By August 16 (new style), Napoleon approached Smolensk with 180 thousand soldiers. After the unification of the Russian armies, the generals began to persistently demand from the commander-in-chief Barclay de Tolly a general battle. At 6 am August 16 Napoleon began the assault on the city.

In the battles near Smolensk, the Russian army showed the greatest resilience. The battle for Smolensk marked the development of a nationwide war between the Russian people and the enemy. Napoleon's hope for a lightning war was dashed.

Battle for Smolensk. Adam, around 1820

The stubborn battle for Smolensk lasted 2 days, until the morning of August 18, when Barclay de Tolly withdrew his troops from the burning city to avoid a big battle without a chance of victory. Barclay had 76 thousand, another 34 thousand (Bagration’s army).After the capture of Smolensk, Napoleon moved towards Moscow.

Meanwhile, the protracted retreat caused public discontent and protest among most of the army (especially after the surrender of Smolensk), so on August 20 (according to modern style) Emperor Alexander I signed a decree appointing M.I. as commander-in-chief of the Russian troops. Kutuzova. At that time, Kutuzov was 67 years old. A commander of the Suvorov school, with half a century of military experience, he enjoyed universal respect both in the army and among the people. However, he also had to retreat in order to gain time to gather all his forces.

Kutuzov could not avoid a general battle for political and moral reasons. By September 3 (new style), the Russian army retreated to the village of Borodino. Further retreat meant the surrender of Moscow. By that time, Napoleon's army had already suffered significant losses, and the difference in numbers between the two armies had narrowed. In this situation, Kutuzov decided to give a general battle.

West of Mozhaisk, 125 km from Moscow near the village of Borodina August 26 (September 7, new style) 1812 A battle took place that will forever go down in the history of our people. - the largest battle of the Patriotic War of 1812 between the Russian and French armies.

The Russian army numbered 132 thousand people (including 21 thousand poorly armed militias). The French army, hot on her heels, numbered 135 thousand. Kutuzov's headquarters, believing that there were about 190 thousand people in the enemy army, chose a defensive plan. In fact, the battle was an assault by French troops on a line of Russian fortifications (flashes, redoubts and lunettes).

Napoleon hoped to defeat the Russian army. But the resilience of the Russian troops, where every soldier, officer, and general was a hero, overturned all the calculations of the French commander. The battle lasted all day. The losses were huge on both sides. The Battle of Borodino is one of the bloodiest battles of the 19th century. According to the most conservative estimates of total losses, 2,500 people died on the field every hour. Some divisions lost up to 80% of their strength. There were almost no prisoners on either side. French losses amounted to 58 thousand people, Russians - 45 thousand.

Emperor Napoleon later recalled: “Of all my battles, the most terrible was the one I fought near Moscow. The French showed themselves worthy of winning, and the Russians showed themselves worthy of being called invincible.”

Cavalry battle

On September 8 (21), Kutuzov ordered a retreat to Mozhaisk with the firm intention of preserving the army. The Russian army retreated, but retained its combat effectiveness. Napoleon failed to achieve the main thing - the defeat of the Russian army.

September 13 (26) in the village of Fili Kutuzov had a meeting about the future plan of action. After the military council in Fili, the Russian army, by decision of Kutuzov, was withdrawn from Moscow. “With the loss of Moscow, Russia is not yet lost, but with the loss of the army, Russia is lost”. These words of the great commander, which went down in history, were confirmed by subsequent events.

A.K. Savrasov. The hut in which the famous council in Fili took place

Military Council in Fili (A. D. Kivshenko, 1880)

Capture of Moscow

In the evening September 14 (September 27, new style) Napoleon entered empty Moscow without a fight. In the war against Russia, all of Napoleon’s plans consistently collapsed. Expecting to receive the keys to Moscow, he stood in vain for several hours on Poklonnaya Hill, and when he entered the city, he was greeted by deserted streets.

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

Already on the night of September 14 (27) to September 15 (28), the city was engulfed in fire, which by the night of September 15 (28) to September 16 (29) intensified so much that Napoleon was forced to leave the Kremlin.

About 400 lower-class townspeople were shot on suspicion of arson. The fire raged until September 18 and destroyed most of Moscow. Of the 30 thousand houses that were in Moscow before the invasion, “hardly 5 thousand” remained after Napoleon left the city.

While Napoleon's army was inactive in Moscow, losing its combat effectiveness, Kutuzov retreated from Moscow, first to the southeast along the Ryazan road, but then, turning west, he flanked the French army, occupied the village of Tarutino, blocking the Kaluga road. gu. The basis for the final defeat of the “great army” was laid in the Tarutino camp.

When Moscow burned, bitterness against the occupiers reached its highest intensity. The main forms of war of the Russian people against Napoleon's invasion were passive resistance (refusal of trade with the enemy, leaving grain unharvested in the fields, destruction of food and fodder, going into the forests), guerrilla warfare and mass participation in militias. The course of the war was most influenced by the refusal of the Russian peasantry to supply the enemy with provisions and fodder. The French army was on the verge of starvation.

From June to August 1812, Napoleon's army, pursuing the retreating Russian armies, covered about 1,200 kilometers from the Neman to Moscow. As a result, its communication lines were greatly stretched. Taking this fact into account, the command of the Russian army decided to create flying partisan detachments to operate in the rear and on the enemy’s communication lines, with the goal of impeding his supply and destroying his small detachments. The most famous, but far from the only commander of the flying squads, was Denis Davydov. Army partisan detachments received full support from the spontaneously emerging peasant partisan movement. As the French army advanced deeper into Russia, as violence on the part of Napoleonic army grew, after fires in Smolensk and Moscow, after discipline in Napoleon’s army decreased and a significant part of it turned into a gang of marauders and robbers, the population of Russia began to move from passive to active resistance to the enemy. During its stay in Moscow alone, the French army lost more than 25 thousand people from partisan actions.

The partisans formed, as it were, the first ring of encirclement around Moscow, occupied by the French. The second ring consisted of militias. Partisans and militias surrounded Moscow in a tight ring, threatening to turn Napoleon's strategic encirclement into a tactical one.

Tarutino fight

After the surrender of Moscow, Kutuzov obviously avoided a major battle, the army accumulated strength. During this time, 205 thousand militia were recruited in the Russian provinces (Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Tula, Kaluga, Tver and others), and 75 thousand in Ukraine. By October 2, Kutuzov withdrew the army south to the village of Tarutino, closer to Kaluga.

In Moscow, Napoleon found himself in a trap; it was not possible to spend the winter in the fire-ravaged city: foraging outside the city was not going well, the French's extended communications were very vulnerable, and the army was beginning to disintegrate. Napoleon began to prepare to retreat to winter quarters somewhere between the Dnieper and Dvina.

When the “great army” retreated from Moscow, its fate was decided.

Battle of Tarutino, October 6th (P. Hess)

October 18(new style) Russian troops attacked and defeated near Tarutino French corps of Murat. Having lost up to 4 thousand soldiers, the French retreated. The Tarutino battle became a landmark event, marking the transition of the initiative in the war to the Russian army.

Napoleon's retreat

October 19(in modern style) the French army (110 thousand) with a huge convoy began to leave Moscow along the Old Kaluga Road. But Napoleon’s road to Kaluga was blocked by Kutuzov’s army, located near the village of Tarutino on the Old Kaluga Road. Due to the lack of horses, the French artillery fleet was reduced, and large cavalry formations practically disappeared. Not wanting to break through a fortified position with a weakened army, Napoleon turned around the village of Troitsky (modern Troitsk) onto the New Kaluga Road (modern Kiev Highway) to bypass Tarutino. However, Kutuzov transferred the army to Maloyaroslavets, cutting off the French retreat along the New Kaluga Road.

By October 22, Kutuzov's army consisted of 97 thousand regular troops, 20 thousand Cossacks, 622 guns and more than 10 thousand militia warriors. Napoleon had up to 70 thousand combat-ready soldiers at hand, the cavalry had practically disappeared, and the artillery was much weaker than the Russian one.

October 12 (24) took place battle of Maloyaroslavets. The city changed hands eight times. In the end, the French managed to capture Maloyaroslavets, but Kutuzov took a fortified position outside the city, which Napoleon did not dare to storm.On October 26, Napoleon ordered a retreat north to Borovsk-Vereya-Mozhaisk.

A.Averyanov. Battle of Maloyaroslavets October 12 (24), 1812

In the battles for Maloyaroslavets, the Russian army solved a major strategic problem - it thwarted the plan for the French troops to break through to Ukraine and forced the enemy to retreat along the Old Smolensk Road, which they had destroyed.

From Mozhaisk the French army resumed its movement towards Smolensk along the road along which it advanced on Moscow

The final defeat of the French troops took place when crossing the Berezina. The battles of November 26-29 between the French corps and the Russian armies of Chichagov and Wittgenstein on both banks of the Berezina River during Napoleon's crossing went down in history as battle on the Berezina.

The French retreat through the Berezina on November 17 (29), 1812. Peter von Hess (1844)

When crossing the Berezina, Napoleon lost 21 thousand people. In total, up to 60 thousand people managed to cross the Berezina, most of them civilians and non-combat-ready remnants of the “Great Army”. Unusually severe frosts, which struck during the crossing of the Berezina and continued in the following days, finally exterminated the French, already weakened by hunger. On December 6, Napoleon left his army and went to Paris to recruit new soldiers to replace those killed in Russia.

The main result of the battle on the Berezina was that Napoleon avoided complete defeat in conditions of significant superiority of Russian forces. In the memories of the French, the crossing of the Berezina occupies no less place than the largest Battle of Borodino.

By the end of December, the remnants of Napoleon's army were expelled from Russia.

The "Russian campaign of 1812" was over December 14, 1812.

Results of the war

The main result of the Patriotic War of 1812 was the almost complete destruction of Napoleon's Grand Army.Napoleon lost about 580 thousand soldiers in Russia. These losses include 200 thousand killed, from 150 to 190 thousand prisoners, about 130 thousand deserters who fled to their homeland. The losses of the Russian army, according to some estimates, amounted to 210 thousand soldiers and militias.

In January 1813, the “Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army” began - the fighting moved to the territory of Germany and France. In October 1813, Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Leipzig, and in April 1814 he abdicated the throne of France.

The victory over Napoleon raised the international prestige of Russia as never before, which played a decisive role at the Congress of Vienna and in the following decades exercised a decisive influence on European affairs.

Key dates

12 June 1812- invasion of Napoleon's army into Russia across the Neman River. 3 Russian armies were at a great distance from each other. Tormasov's army, being in Ukraine, could not participate in the war. It turned out that only 2 armies took the blow. But they had to retreat to connect.

August 3rd- a connection between the armies of Bagration and Barclay de Tolly near Smolensk. The enemies lost about 20 thousand, and ours about 6 thousand, but Smolensk had to be abandoned. Even the united armies were 4 times smaller than the enemy!

8 August- Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief. An experienced strategist, wounded many times in battles, Suvorov's student was liked by the people.

August, 26th- The Battle of Borodino lasted more than 12 hours. It is considered a general battle. On the approaches to Moscow, the Russians showed massive heroism. The enemy's losses were greater, but our army could not go on the offensive. The numerical superiority of the enemies was still great. Reluctantly, they decided to surrender Moscow in order to save the army.

September October- seat of Napoleon's army in Moscow. His expectations were not met. It was not possible to win. Kutuzov rejected requests for peace. The attempt to escape to the south failed.

October December- expulsion of Napoleon's army from Russia along the destroyed Smolensk road. From 600 thousand enemies there are about 30 thousand left!

December 25, 1812- Emperor Alexander I issued a manifesto on the victory of Russia. But the war had to be continued. Napoleon still had armies in Europe. If they are not defeated, he will attack Russia again. The foreign campaign of the Russian army lasted until victory in 1814.

Prepared by Sergey Shulyak

INVASION (animated film)

Formed at the beginning of 1810 on the western border, it was called Northern, 1st, Dvinskaya. Until 1812 there was no commander in the army. At the beginning of 1812 it was transformed into the 1st Western Army, it consisted of six infantry corps (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th), three cavalry corps ( 1st, 2nd and 3rd), Flying Cossack Corps, four pioneer and two pontoon companies (total - 120 thousand people with 590 guns). From 14 Apr. Until July 7, Alexander I was with the army. The army's main headquarters was located in Vilna.

19.3.1812 Infantry General M.B. Barclay de Tolly appointed Commander-in-Chief.

One of each Pre-war plans of the Russian command The 1st Western Army was to concentrate at Sventsyan and then retreat to the fortified Dris camp where to meet the enemy. On June 26 (July 8) the army occupied Drissa camp. By decision of the military council, on July 2 (14), the army left the Dris camp and, fighting fierce rearguard battles with the advancing enemy (at Oshmyany, Kozyany, Kochergishki, Ostrovno, Kakuvyachin, Luches), moved inland with the aim of connecting with Second Western Army.

At the beginning of hostilities, Dorokhov's vanguard and Platov's Cossack corps were cut off by the enemy and retreated to Smolensk along with the 2nd Western Army. First separate infantry corps Wittgenstein was left on the river. Dvina to cover the direction to St. Petersburg.

22.7.(3.8).1812 The 1st and 2nd Western armies united in Smolensk and on July 26 (August 7) ​​attempted an offensive in a general direction towards Rudnya and Porechye. After the sudden crossing of the main forces of the Great Army to the left. bank of the Dnieper 1st Western Army was forced to retreat to Smolensk, and after Battle of Smolensk and battles Valutina Gora together with the 2nd Western Army retreated to Moscow.

IN Battle of Borodino The 1st Western Army occupied the right flank and center of the position, and the 3rd Infantry Corps was at the tip of the left flank in the vicinity of the village of Utitsa. As the battle progressed, army troops were transferred to the left flank. 16(28).9.1812 in Tarutino camp The 1st Western Army is merged with the 2nd Western Army. The Main Army was formed from them.

1st Western Army

(Emperor Alexander I , commander - infantry general M.B.Barclay de Tolly )

150 baht., 128 esc., 19 kaz.p., 590 or.

Chiefs of the Army General Staff: Lieutenant General N.I. Lavrov(from April 3), Lieutenant General F.O. Paulucci(from June 21), Major General A.P. Ermolov(from June 30);

Chief of Artillery – Major General A.I. Kutaisov(then – Major General V.G. Kostenetsky);

Chief of Engineers – Lieutenant General Kh.I. Truzson;

Quartermaster General - Actual State Councilor (later - Major General) E.F. Kankrin;

Quartermaster General - Colonel K.F. Tol, from 24 Aug. - Colonel Ya.P. Gaverdovsky, from 8 Sep. - Lieutenant Colonel V.A. Gabbe;

duty general - colonel (then - major general) P.A. Kikin;

Commandant Ch. apartments - Colonel S. Kh. Stavrakov.

• 1st Infantry Corps (Lieutenant General Count P.H. Wittgenstein)
• 2nd Infantry Corps (Lieutenant General K.F. Baggovut)
• 3rd Infantry Corps (Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov 1st)
• 4th Infantry Corps (Lieutenant General Count P.A. Shuvalov)
• 5th Reserve (Guards) Corps (Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich)
• 6th Infantry Corps (Infantry General D.S. Dokhturov)
• 1st Cavalry Corps (Adjutant General F.P. Uvarov)
• 2nd Cavalry Corps (Adjutant General Baron F.K. Korff)
• 3rd Cavalry Corps (Major General Count P.P. Palen 3rd)
• Flying Cossack Corps (Cavalry General M.I.Platov)

Questions and answers on the history of the Patriotic War of 1812

1 question: The military-political situation in Europe at the beginning XIX century. Why did Napoleon decide to start a war with Russia?

Answer: At the beginning of the 19th century, France was ruled by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a brilliant commander and talented statesman. He was an ambitious man who dreamed of conquering the whole world. Napoleon's army was supported by the gold of Parisian bankers who dreamed of financial domination.

At first, the emperor intended to ensure France's dominance in Europe, for which it was necessary to crush long-time enemies: Austria, Prussia, and England. Russia in 1804 joined the so-called 3rd anti-French coalition.

Since 1789, France has waged constantly victorious wars. Napoleon was confident in the success of the war with the 3rd coalition, defeating them one by one. What was accomplished before 1807.

2 Question: When was the peace treaty between Russia and France signed?

Answer: In the summer of 1807, Alexander I and Napoleon met near Tilsit in East Prussia (now the city of Sovetsk in the Kaliningrad region) on the Neman River. On June 25, the Russian-French peace treaty was signed.

The peace treaty with France did not yet mean true peace, since Russia at that time was fighting simultaneously with two countries - Sweden and Turkey.

3 Question : When did the Patriotic War of 1812 begin?

14 Question : Who was the Moscow governor in 1812?

Answer: Count.

15 Question : What was the length of soldier's service in the Russian army in 1812?

Answer: 25 years.

16 Question: What was the length of service of officers in the Russian army in 1812?

Answer: Not installed.

17 Question : What is the size of Napoleon's army for the campaign against Russia?

Answer: For the campaign against Russia, Napoleon managed to create an army of 642 thousand with 1372 guns, which was called the Great.

18 Question: On whose side did the Poles fight in 1812?

Answer: On the side of Napoleon.

19 Question: Which states took part in the war against Russia?

Answer: Austria, Prussia, Switzerland, Duchy of Warsaw (Poles), Spain, Italy, Confederation of the Rhine.

20 Question: Who was Russia's ally in the war against Napoleon?

Answer: England and Sweden, but they did not participate in the war on Russian territory.

21 Question: What forces did the Russian army have in 1812?

Answer: 650 thousand people, 1600 guns, 400 thousand militia.

22 Question: Is it possible to compare Napoleon's aggression against Russia in 1812 and Hitler's aggression against the Soviet Union in 1941?

Answer: Yes, in 1812 Napoleon violated the peace treaty with Russia concluded in Tilsit in 1807.

Hitler also in 1941 violated the peace treaty with the Soviet Union, concluded in 1939.

In fact, in 1812, Russia fought alone with all of Europe, and in 1919, the Soviet Union fought alone with all of Europe.

23 Question: What losses did the French and Russians have in the War of 1812?

Answer: France - about 550 thousand people and 1200 guns; Russia - 210 thousand people.

24 Question: What goals did Napoleon have against the Russian Empire?

Answer: Napoleon’s goals of the military campaign against Russia were:

The revival, in contrast to the Russian Empire, of the Polish independent state with the inclusion of the territories of Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine.

25 Question : How long did the Patriotic War of 1812 last, and what were its results?

Answer: The Patriotic War of 1812 lasted from June 24 to December 14, 1812.

The main result of the war: - Almost complete destruction of Napoleon's army.

26 Question: What battle preceded the general battle on the Borodino field?

Answer: Battle for the Shevardinsky redoubt.

27 Question: When did the Russian army pass through Moscow?

30 Question: Who is to blame for the burning of most of Moscow when the French were in it?

Answer: There are several versions of the fire:

Organized arson by Moscow residents;

Arson by Russian spies;

General chaos in the abandoned city and banditry activities of the French.

31 Question: Give examples of French atrocities on Russian soil?

Answer: In Moscow, for suspicion of setting the city on fire, the French shot about 400 civilians; during the retreat before Gzhatsk, on the Smolensk road the French, saving ammunition, killed 2,000 Russian captured soldiers, smashing their heads with rifle butts; There were other atrocities and violence against civilians.

32 Question: When did the Patriotic War turn into the “Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army”?

Answer: In January 1813. The fighting moved to the territory of Germany and France.

Question 33: When did the Battle of Leinzig take place and what were its results?

BARCLAY DE TOLLY Mikhail Bogdanovich (1757-1818) - prince (1815), Russian field marshal general (1814). Division and corps commander in the wars with France and Sweden. In 1810-12, Minister of War. During the Patriotic War of 1812, he was the commander-in-chief of the 1st Army, and in July - August of virtually all active Russian armies. In 1813-14, commander-in-chief of the Russian-Prussian army, from 1815 - the 1st Army.

Origin and beginning of service
He came from an ancient Scottish baronial family. At the beginning of the 17th century, due to religious persecution, his ancestors moved to Germany and then to the Baltic states, his grandfather was the burgomaster of Riga, his father served in the Russian army and retired with the rank of lieutenant. Barclay himself was raised from the age of 3 in the family of his uncle, the brigadier of the Russian army E. von Vermeulen. According to the custom of that time, in 1767 he was enlisted as a corporal in the Novotroitsk Cuirassier Regiment, and began active service in 1776 in the ranks of the Pskov Carabineer Regiment, already having the rank of sergeant. In 1778 he received his first officer rank - cornet, and from 1783 to 1790 he held adjutant positions with a number of generals. He received baptism of fire during the Russian-Turkish war in 1788 during the storming of Ochakov in the army of G. A. Potemkin, then participated in the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-90 and the 1794 campaign against Polish insurgents, where he was awarded the Order of St. George for his bravery 4 th class. His diligence and courage in battle were very soon noticed, and from 1794 he consistently climbed the steps of the career ladder: he commanded a battalion, regiment, brigade, and division. In 1798 he became a colonel, and in 1799 - a major general. He especially distinguished himself in the campaign of 1806-1807, commanding rearguard detachments, he fought near Pultusk and Preussisch-Eylau, where he was wounded and carried from the battlefield unconscious. For heroic behavior he received the rank of lieutenant general and again distinguished himself in the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809. For crossing the ice through the Kvarken Strait and occupying the Swedish city of Umeå, he was awarded the rank of infantry general, and was soon appointed commander-in-chief of the army in Finland.

Minister of War and commander
The military and administrative abilities of Barclay de Tolly were appreciated by Emperor Alexander I. From 1810 to 1812, he served as Minister of War, and it was he who was entrusted with all the preparations for the upcoming war with Napoleonic France. During this time, he managed to carry out a number of important events: the construction of engineering structures, the creation of rear bases, the improvement of the divisional and creation of the corps system, the streamlining of the headquarters service, the creation of intelligence agencies, the reform of field and senior military command. Under him, new principles of combat training of troops began to be introduced into practice - training in marksmanship and operations on rough terrain. His merits include the development before 1812 of the correct strategy against such an enemy as Napoleon. Based on the received intelligence data about the significant numerical superiority of the French forces, he proposed an operational plan designed to prolong military operations over time and into the depths of Russian territory. During the first period of the Patriotic War of 1812, Barclay served as commander-in-chief of the 1st Western Army and was able, despite the resistance of some of the generals and the officer corps, to bring the pre-war plan to life. From the beginning of hostilities, he organized the withdrawal of Russian troops, and his units avoided attacks from superior enemy forces. After the unification of the two Western armies near Smolensk, he began to exercise overall leadership of their actions and continued to retreat, which caused an explosion of discontent and accusations against him in the army environment and Russian society. After his appointment and arrival to the troops, M.I. Kutuzov remained commander-in-chief of the 1st Western Army. In the Battle of Borodino, the center and right flank were subordinate to him. According to many contemporaries, on this day Barclay sought death: during the battle he appeared in its most dangerous areas, 5 horses were killed under the general, 9 of his 12 adjutants were killed or wounded. His skillful leadership of the troops at Borodino was highly praised by Kutuzov, who believed that largely thanks to the firmness he showed, the desire of the superior enemy to the center of the Russian position was “restrained,” and “his courage surpassed all praise.” As a reward for this battle, Barclay received the Order of St. George, 2nd class. At the military council in Fili, Barclay acted as the main opponent of L.L. Bennigsen, criticizing his chosen position on the Sparrow Hills, and was the first to strongly advocate leaving Moscow in order to preserve the army, after which he organized the passage of retreating troops through Moscow. On September 21, after being dismissed from command at his own request, he left the army. During the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-14. on February 4, 1813 he took command of the 3rd Army. The troops under his command took the Thorn fortress, distinguished themselves in the battle of Koenigswart, and participated in the Battle of Bautzen. In 1813, Barclay was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian-Prussian troops, and after Austria joined the ranks of the Allies, he commanded the Russian-Prussian troops as part of the Bohemian Army. Under his leadership, the victory was won at Kulm (he was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st class), and as one of the main heroes of the victory in the Battle of Leipzig, he and his descendants were elevated to the dignity of count of the Russian Empire. In the campaign of 1814, he successfully commanded troops at Fer-Champenoise and during the capture of Paris, for which he received the rank of field marshal. After the end of hostilities, he became the commander-in-chief of the 1st Army, at the head of which he made a second campaign in France in 1815 and received a princely title for reviewing Russian troops near the city of Vertue. He was buried on the estate of his wife Bekhof in Estland.