The battle of Borodino in 1812 is a battle that lasted only one day, but is preserved in the history of the planet among the most important world events. Napoleon took this blow, hoping to quickly conquer the Russian Empire, but his plans were not destined to come true. It is believed that it was the Battle of Borodino that became the first stage in the fall of the famous conqueror. What is known about the battle that Lermontov glorified in his famous work?
Battle of Borodino 1812: prehistory
It was a time when Bonaparte's troops had already managed to subjugate almost all of continental Europe, the emperor's power even extended to Africa. He himself emphasized in conversations with those close to him that in order to gain world domination, he only had to acquire control over Russian lands.
To conquer the Russian territory, he gathered an army,which numbered approximately 600 thousand people. The army was rapidly advancing deep into the state. However, Napoleon's soldiers, one after another, died under the blow of the peasant militias, their he alth worsened due to the unusually difficult climate and poor nutrition. Nevertheless, the advance of the troops continued, the goal of the French was the capital.
The bloody Battle of Borodino in 1812 became part of the tactics used by the Russian commanders. They weakened the enemy army with minor battles, waiting for the time to strike.
Main steps
The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was actually a chain consisting of several clashes with French troops, resulting in huge losses on both sides. The first was the battle for the village of Borodino, which is located about 125 km from Moscow. On the part of Russia, the Chasseurs of de Tolly participated in it, on the part of the enemy, the Beauharnais corps.
The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was in full swing when the battle for the Bagration Flushes took place. It involved 15 divisions of French marshals and two Russians, led by Vorontsov and Neverovsky. At this stage, Bagration received a severe wound, which forced him to entrust command to Konovnitsyn.
By the time the Russian soldiers left the flushes, the Battle of Borodino (1812) had been going on for about 14 hours. A brief summary of further events: the Russians are located behind the Semenovsky ravine, where the third battle takes place. Its members arethe people who attacked the flushes and defended them. The French received reinforcements, which was the cavalry, under the leadership of Nansouty. Uvarov's cavalry hurried to help the Russian troops, and the Cossacks under the command of Platov also approached.
Raevsky's battery
Separately, it is worth considering the final stage of such an event as the Battle of Borodino (1812). Summary: the battles for the Raevsky battery, which went down in history as the "grave of the French cavalry", lasted about 7 hours. This place really became a grave for many soldiers of Bonaparte.
Historians still wonder why the forces of the Russian army left the Shevadinsky Redoubt. It is possible that the commander-in-chief deliberately opened the left flank in order to divert the attention of the enemy from the right. His goal was to protect the new Smolensk road, using which Napoleon's army would quickly approach Moscow.
Many important historical documents have been preserved that shed light on such an event as the war of 1812. The Battle of Borodino is mentioned in a letter that Kutuzov sent to the Russian Emperor even before it began. The commander informed the tsar that the terrain features (open fields) would provide the Russian troops with optimal positions.
One hundred a minute
The battle of Borodino (1812) is briefly and extensively covered in so many historical sources that it seems that it was very long in time. In fact, the battle, which began on September 7 at half past five in the morning, lasted less than a day. Undoubtedly,it proved to be one of the bloodiest of all short battles.
It's no secret how many lives were taken by the Patriotic War of 1812. The Battle of Borodino made its bloody contribution. Historians could not establish the exact number of those killed, they say 80-100 thousand dead on both sides. The count shows that at least a hundred soldiers were sent to the next world every minute.
Heroes
The Patriotic War of 1812 gave many commanders the deserved glory. The Battle of Borodino, of course, immortalized such a person as Kutuzov. By the way, Mikhail Illarionovich at that time was not yet a gray-haired old man who did not open one eye. At the time of the battle, he was still an energetic, albeit aging man, and did not wear his signature armband.
Of course, Kutuzov was not the only hero who glorified Borodino. Together with him, Bagration, Raevsky, de Tolly entered history. Interestingly, the last of them did not enjoy authority among the troops, although he was the author of a brilliant idea to put partisan forces against the enemy army. According to the legend, during the Battle of Borodino, the general lost his horses three times, which died under a barrage of shells and bullets, but he himself remained unharmed.
Who won the victory
Perhaps, this issue remains the main intrigue of the bloody battle, since both parties involved in it have their own opinion on this matter. French historiansWe are convinced that Napoleon's troops won a great victory that day. Russian scientists insist on the opposite, their theory was once supported by Alexander the First, who proclaimed the Battle of Borodino an absolute victory for Russia. By the way, it was after him that Kutuzov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal.
It is known that Bonaparte was not satisfied with the reports provided by his military leaders. The number of guns recaptured from the Russians turned out to be minimal, as well as the number of prisoners whom the retreating army took with them. It is believed that the conqueror was finally crushed by the enemy's morale.
What to read about the Battle of Borodino
The large-scale battle that began on September 7 near the village of Borodino inspired writers, poets, artists, and then directors covering it in their works for two centuries. One can also recall the painting "The Hussar Ballad" and the famous creation of Lermontov, which is now taught at school.
What was the Battle of Borodino in 1812 really like and how did it turn out for the Russians and the French? Buntman, Eidelman are historians who have created a concise and accurate text covering in detail the bloody battle. Critics praise this work for its impeccable knowledge of the era, vivid images of the heroes of the battle (on both sides), thanks to which all events are easy to imagine in the imagination. The book is a must read for those who are seriously interested in history and military affairs.
