Patriotic War of 1812 - this is one of the most heroic pages of our history, fully shown the ability to consolidate the Russian people in the face of external danger.Although it is considered to be the main event of the battle of Borodino, it is the battle of Maloyaroslavets 1812 forced Napoleon to abandon the plan of conquest of the southern provinces and forced to retreat along the Smolensk road.As a result, the French army was destroyed, and Russian troops liberated Europe and marched into Paris.
Background
Almost immediately after September 14, 1812 Napoleon's army entered Moscow, in its rear turned guerrilla war.Especially a lot of concern brought to the enemy troops, who led I. Dorokhov A. Seslavin, D. Davydov and Alexander Figner as they destroyed carts full of food and fodder.At the same time losses as a result of attacks on guerrilla units of the French army were often quite comparable with the number of casualties in major battles.In particular, October 11 squad Dorokhova freed Vereya, smashing the head battalion regiment of Westphalia, and the guerrillas got a convenient base for further attacks on the Kaluga and Smolensk on the roads.The shortage of fodder supplies and resulted in the fact that the French began to lose fighting ability and even threw the gun because of the lack of horses.Given all of the above and the silence of the Russian Tsar in response to an offer of peace, Napoleon decided to leave Moscow and move to Smolensk through Kaluga.
Actions before the battle
Before you talk about the battle of Maloyaroslavets, must understand how the enemy army general turned out to be next to the small and unremarkable town, where at that time lived only about 1.5 thousand people.So, Napoleon's army made of the ruined Russian capital on October 19 and moved along the old Kaluga road.But the next day the emperor ordered to roll at the village of Troitsk in the New Kaluga road, and sent forth the vanguard under the command of his stepson, Eugene de Beauharnais, who captured the village of October 21 Fominskoe.After the report that the enemy should be in the direction of Maloyaroslavets, Kutuzov ordered Dokhturov block the way to Kaluga.At the same time, Napoleon wrongly understood maneuver for Russian troops preparing for battle and ordered Beauharnais stop progress, putting this mission the paucity division of General Delzona.
Capture French Maloyaroslavets
When Delzon approached the city, the mayor P. Bykov ordered to destroy the bridge over the puddle.However, this did not prevent the enemy infantry to cross to the other side on the construction of a pontoon bridge and take Maloyaroslavets, which at that time there was no one to defend.At the same time the emperor himself with the main forces camped for the night in Borovsk.
Battle of Maloyaroslavets date and the main events
is known to historians most interested in questions "when" and "where".So, the battle of Maloyaroslavets of 1812, the date of which - 24 October, began at 5 am when Dokhturov sent rangers to attack Colonel A. Bistrom.Thousands of soldiers of this regiment managed to beat the French in the outskirts of the city, but to the 11 o'clock arrived to help the defending shelves Beauharnais, and later Napoleon himself with the main forces.Reinforcements have received and Russian, so the afternoon in the fighting have already participated by 9000 people on each side.It took another few hours, but the battle is not only subsided, but grew fiercer as the armies hurried to help all the new shelves.
At four o'clock the battle of Maloyaroslavets entered its decisive stage.The fact that Kutuzov was able to take a favorable position on the heights, located in 1-3 km south of the city, which allows to control the way to Kaluga.In this fight for the burning city lasted until 10 pm.
Events October 25-26
The next morning, instead of Maloyaroslavets was ashes, and both sides again ready to fight.Surprisingly, however, Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov ordered to retreat to prepared positions in the evening, calling their actions confusion among the enemy.This maneuver was accompanied by a secret movement of several regiments Platov, who crossed to the other side Puddles and attacked the French.And Napoleon himself narrowly escaped capture and was forced to convene the council in Gorodnya, which single-handedly decided to "think only of the salvation army."Thus, the battle of Maloyaroslavets of 1812, the release date of which - 26 October, ended with the retreat of Napoleon's army at Mozhaysk that she did not promise anything good.
Results
Judging by reports of French military leaders who are diverse, Napoleon's army lost from 3500 to 6000 people.According to the Russian side have been killed and about 6,700 wounded soldiers and officers.And no one took into account the losses among the militiamen, who probably also had many.In spite of all the sacrifices of Maloyaroslavets battle during the War of 1812 it was subsequently unanimously recognized by historians a major strategic victory of Kutuzov.As for the French, it only delayed their departure and deprived the army of Napoleon's last hope to resume the military campaign in 1813.
Russian generals, who played a decisive role in the battle for the bridgehead on the bank Puddles
Talking about any battles, and even more so, as the battle of Maloyaroslavets during the War of 1812 (there was in the first days after the retreat of NapoleonMoscow), it is impossible not to say a few words about the generals who took part in it.So the battle for the Luga bridgehead played a crucial role:
- Mikhail Kutuzov. Even before the start of the Battle Field Marshal demonstrated exceptional vision and made famous Tarutino maneuver, forced Napoleon to play by the rules of Russian.The next step Kutuzov led to the retreat of the French, was the position taken along the way to Kaluga, which the enemy could not take because of the lack of strong cavalry and artillery.
- M. Platov and D. Dokhturov .Among the generals, by which the battle of Maloyaroslavets (1812) was the beginning of the end of the Grand Army of Napoleon, especially those allocated two generals - they truly invaluable merits.Moreover, as you know, in the history of a great role play of chance, as happened the day before this battle.After the battle of Maloyaroslavets 1812 (date: 24 October) was not planned at all, and if the French did not take the movement of the body Dokhturov for the preparation of a brilliant battle and stopped moving parts Beauharnais, it is not clear what could have happened.Conversely, in the case of Platov's providence was on the side of Napoleon, whom the Cossacks failed to capture.But the war could end as early October 25, 1812!
- A. Seslavin .Not least the fact that the battle of Maloyaroslavets (the date - 1812, October 24) has been a positive outcome for the Russian troops and the guerrillas played.In particular, the detachment Lieutenant General Seslavin.The fact is that if he did not notice the scouts movement of the French army, the body Dokhturov, preparing to attack the village Fominskoe would be defeated before the battle.
French generals who had distinguished themselves in the Battle of Maloyaroslavets
Among Napoleon's generals in this battle distinguished:
- Eugene Beauharnais .It was the Viceroy of Italy took Fominskoe, preparing forces capture Maloyaroslavets his adoptive father, and he is with his 4th Corps came back to the city after he was released huntsman Bistrom.
- Alexis Delzon .General Delzonu the honor of capturing the city, which began the battle of Maloyaroslavets.In addition, he personally led one of the attacks and was killed in combat, as befits a brave soldier.
little-known heroes of the battle
for deeds committed in the battle for Maloyaroslavets, received awards several hundred ranks.Among them were many soldiers of the 19th Jaeger Regiment, which went on the attack and Archpriest Vladimir Vasilkovsky.This shepherd is renowned for being the first Russian priest, awarded the Order of St.George the fourth degree.An important role in the battle of Maloyaroslavets in 1812 ended in favor of the army Kutuzov played and S. Belyaev, who at that time was the department chief of the local court.When the French wanted to bring a pontoon bridge, the young man took apart the dam, and the water rushed detained invaders.
Chernoostrozhsky Nicholas Monastery - a silent witness to history
Today remained only one "witness" fighting against Napoleon, which occurred on the banks of the puddle.The fact is that since the late 16th century to house a convent in Maloyaroslavets, in 1812 to be in the center of military operations.After the famous battle townspeople noticed that Blue gate of the monastery with the image of the Savior completely covered with traces of bullets and grapeshot, but the face of Christ was not damaged by any bullet.It was hailed as a miracle, and during the reign of Nicholas I, at the behest of the emperor on the gate there was an inscription "Ulcers in memory of the French war."Unfortunately, this plate has not been preserved, but today you can see the Blue gate marks from bullets that restorers left to posterity the memory.
monument in honor of the heroes of the Battle of Maloyaroslavets, established in the 19th century
Almost immediately after the Second World War with Napoleon Russian people began to establish memorials, which were to perpetuate the memory of the fallen.Was no exception and the battle of Maloyaroslavets, briefly tell which is quite difficult.
first monument in honor of the heroes of this battle was the cathedral church of St. Nicholas, built on donations of Russian and consecrated in 1843.In addition, the 30th anniversary of the victory of the Russian army in the war with Napoleon, Nicholas I ordered to establish a monument in the field of the most famous battles, including in Maloyaroslavets.The monument was cast on the design of architect A. Adamini and its installation in the main square of the city was completed in October 1844.Unfortunately, this monument has not come down to our days, as it was destroyed in the 30-ies of the last century.
monuments to the heroes of the battle, set in the 20-21 th centuries
In 1950 it was decided to divide the city park in memory of the victims of the Patriotic War against Napoleon.He have arranged around two mass graves where soldiers were buried, thanks to which the battle of Maloyaroslavets during the War of 1812 was an important turning point.Even earlier, in honor of the 100th anniversary of this event, over the tombs were found two monuments.
first one on a hill.In the center of the composition, designed to perpetuate the memory of those who won the battle of Maloyaroslavets, stands a pedestal with a rock on which the cross.Its foot soldiers laying wreath Polotsk regiment, and a monument at the site before you can see the 3 field gun model 1812 and pyramid nuclei.
As regards the second of the monument, it is located in the same square and a rock with a cross on top of which the year of (the battle of Maloyaroslavets took place in 1812) and a memorial plaque with the inscription: "Valiant forefathers Fifth Corps".
In addition, on the outskirts there is another mass grave with a modest obelisk, also dating from 1812.
memory of the events that took place in Maloyaroslavets and the surrounding area more than 200 years ago, revered today.In particular, 5 October 2014 in installed a monument Archpriest B. Vasylkivska, authored by artist Shcherbakov.
Reconstruction of the battle of Maloyaroslavets, 2014
Remembering ancestors feats of arms - it is a good tradition.In the framework of several decades around the world carried out the reconstruction of various battles.In our country, the first such event was organized at the end of the 80s, and they often devoted to the famous battle of two World War II.This year, the reconstruction of the battle of Maloyaroslavets (2014) on 26 October, and also scenes of fighting, recreated in minute detail, the audience also saw a colorful parade, workshops for the production of ammunition and participated in various competitions.
many battles of the war in 1812 forever in the books of the military art.Although, as the poet said, all Russia remembers the day of Borodino, the battle of Maloyaroslavets also deserves to be descendants did not forget its heroes.
