So fate decreed that Russia's population has always distinguished friendliness and hospitality throughout its existence had a lot of fight.There were wars of conquest, but most of the time the Russian state desperately defended from those who encroach on its territory unfriendly countries.
In war it is sometimes necessary to make difficult choices on which depends the fate of the country.The Military Council in Fili in 1812 - a good example.
Patriotic War of 1812
None century did not pass peacefully for Russia.Each carried a serious threat of war.So it was at the beginning of the XIX century.The ambitions of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte made him mad step - to go to war with the Russian Empire, which no one was under the influence of France, excluding the UK.This independent position of the most powerful of the north did not suit Napoleon, and he planned to put in the first battle defeat of the Russian army, then to Alexander I to dictate their conditions.
Russian Emperor, an outstanding diplomat, knew that Napoleon will try to impose his army a decisive battle in which the chances of winning are slim, Russia.A year before the war began, he said, it is better to retreat to Kamchatka than in the capital to sign a peace treaty."Our winter climate and our will to fight for us" - so said Alexander I. Time has proved that his words were prophetic.
Battle of Borodino - behind Moscow
forced the June 1812 border river Neman, Grand Army entered the territory of Russia.Following the approved plan, the Russian troops began an organized retreat.All three disparate Army all forces unite in a hurry.Near Smolensk in early August the 1st and 2nd Army successfully completed the maneuver.Here, Napoleon tried to force a decisive battle commander of the Russian troops Barclay de Tolly.The latter, knowing that incessant retreat exhausted troops have a negligible chance of winning, rather to save the army and ordered the soldiers to leave the city.
main battle in the war between the Russian army, which at that time commanded by Alexander I appointed Mikhail Kutuzov and Napoleon's army took place near the village of Borodino on August 26 (September 7).Defeat Napoleon failed, but in the battle of Borodino the Russian army, the most important thing, completed his basic problem - caused serious damage to enemy forces.
retreat to Moscow
8 September, trying to maintain an army, Kutuzov ordered a retreat towards Mozhaisk.After the battle of Borodino, all the officers were eager to start a new battle with Napoleon.This is also repeatedly said Kutuzov himself.But from personal letters to the emperor, he learned that he had received the necessary reinforcements.
September 13th army from the village Mamonov came to pick for her General Bennigsen positions a few kilometers from Moscow.During the inspection of the future battle on Poklonnaya Hill, Barclay de Tolly and Yermolov expressed Allied armies categorical opinion about it unusable.Behind the Russian troops appeared river, ravines and huge city.This completely eliminates the possibility of any maneuver.Bloodless army could not fight on this unfortunate position.
Council in Fili - the date and participants
In order to make a final decision on the fate of the battle and the capital, in the evening on September 13 Kutuzov called a council of war at Fili.He held secret, in a hut peasant Frolov.
number and names of the officers present on it are known to us only from eyewitnesses of these events, since in view of the secret protocols were not kept.It is known that it was attended by 15 persons, except those in the rear of General Miloradovich.At the Council in Fili was not invited to the governor who had arrived in Moscow Count Rostopchin.
Opinion council members
from the letters and memoirs of participants know that the first to take the floor, General LL Bennigsen, who asked the question: "Will the army fight or surrender to Moscow?"He himself was determined to be a new battle.Its present supported by the majority of officers who were eager to get revenge for Borodino.Benningsen emphasized the fact that the new battle is to maintain the morale of the army, the delivery of capital will undermine it.
followed took the word of a former commander of the armies of Barclay de Tolly, who said that the position for the battle of Russian troops is the most unsuitable, and therefore proposed to move to Vladimir.About Moscow, he said, it is now to save the country is important, not the capital and the army, and that it is necessary and in every way to save.
Opinion Barclay de Tolly was supported only by Ostermann-Tolstoy, and Toll Rajewski.The other officers or supported Bennigsen, or suggested by the forward march of Napoleon's army.
tough choice - destiny commander
Council in Fili not allowed to come to a consensus.Voting was not there.The entire burden of responsibility for the decision fell on the shoulders of M. Kutuzov.And he made a choice, Izumi Bennigsen, who was convinced that the commander in chief would be on his side.Kutuzov ordered to leave the capital and retreat to Tarutino.As later recalled council members from this decision were all terrified.Letting the enemy capital - this has not happened in the history of the Russian state.To go for it, we had a lot of courage.Besides, Kutuzov could not know in advance how to react to his decision to the emperor.
Kutuzov spent the night in a hut, where they held a council in Fili.According to witnesses, he had not slept, walked around the room.She could hear the commander came up to the table, where the map.It is said that the room could be heard as muffled sob.No one was so hard during these hours, as the commander in chief.
Military Council in Fili - historical significance
unprecedented decision at the time - the ancient capital of surrender to the enemy - was of great importance for the subsequent course of the war.Napoleon's army was stuck in Moscow, Russian military forces also managed to preserve.In Tarutino camp, the army rested and strengthened.And the French were freezing in the burning capital.Delivery in Moscow - is the beginning of the end of the Great Army.Napoleon did not wait by Alexander I, the words of the world, and soon Russian troops hunt the invaders back to the border.
If Kutuzov agreed with most of the officers are likely to be his army were killed at the walls of Moscow, and left the country without protection.
Military Council in Fili why something rather sparsely represented in the arts.Which, incidentally, is amazing.From paintings most famous work - is the famous painting "The Council in Fili" A battle-Kivshenko.The basis of his creations the artist took the stage of the Board of Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace."
