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August 26, 1812. The 124th
km to the west of Moscow.
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A field by Borodino village.
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Two huge armies were
finishing the last preparations
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for the one of the bloodiest
battles of the epoch.
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A quarter million people.
Over a thousand guns.
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Borodino was to determine
the fate of the entire military campaign.
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The fate of Moscow.
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The fate of the entire Russia.
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NAPOLEONIC WARS IN RUSSIA
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At the daybreak drums
and trumpets were heard
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in both the French
and the Russian camps.
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At half past five over 100
French guns opened artillery fire
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at the left flank of the Russians
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where Bagration’s positions were.
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Napoleon carried out his first
diversions at the right flank.
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The first flank of the
Russian positions by Borodino
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was defended by the First
Army of Barclay de Tolly —
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76 thousand people and 480 guns.
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The Koloch River separated
it from the enemy.
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Barclay’s troops were
covering the Moscow direction.
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In case of need they could
attack flanks and rear
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of the French troops.
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The left flank was open country.
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It was taken by the
Second Army of Bagration —
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34 thousand people and 156 guns.
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After the loss of Shevardinskiy
Redoubt Bagration’s units
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were left with just three
half-constructed flashes.
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That’s why they built a
fortification in the middle
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which was handed over to
General Rayevskiy’s battery.
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Napoleon knew about the weakness
of the Russian left flank.
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He decided to deal it the hardest blow.
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He wanted to divert
the Russians’ attention
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by seizing the village
of Borodino and then
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to send the main forces to
the center, break through
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Kuruzov’s defense lines,
come out into the rear,
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press his army to the Moscow
River and devastate it.
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Napoleon never used more than 20
thousand soldiers for diversion maneuvers.
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The main forces of his troops,
about 115 thousand soldiers,
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attacked Bagration’s positions.
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The total strength of the
French army amounted to
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135 thousand people and 587 guns.
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Kutuzov had about 150
thousand soldiers including,
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according to different estimates,
up to 10 thousand Cossacks
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and up to 20 thousand home guards.
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The home guards were
mostly armed with bayonets
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and hardly took any part in the battle.
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Holy Mother, save us!
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The French delivered the main blow
by the village of Semenovskoye.
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They believed that
their majority in numbers
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would allow them to easily break
through the Russians’ defense.
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The Corps of Marshals Davout,
Ney, Murat and General Junot went forward.
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The French were met with fierce
fire. Losing dozens of killed
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and wounded, they started to retreat.
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Get ready!
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Fire by the row!
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Fire by the row!
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In less than half an hour
the second attack started.
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Marshal Davout rode to his soldiers
and took a place among them.
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Send someone to the Commander-in-Chief.
We need reinforcements.
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Tell Rayevskiy to move
the entire second line
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of the Seventh Infantry
Corps to the flashes.
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Tell General Tuchkov to send
Konovnitsin’s division here.
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Headed by the Marshal
the infantrymen stormed
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one of the flashes and
engaged into a furious battle.
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Generals Dessaix and Compana and
almost all brigade generals were wounded.
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A horse was killed under Davout.
The Marshal himself was concussed.
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Despite the losses the French managed
to capture the fortification.
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Neverovskiy’s division came
to the rescue of the flashes’ defenders.
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His soldiers kicked the French
out of the positions with mere bayonets.
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Guns and cannons never fell silent.
The third attack started.
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Kutuzov had already sent
reinforcements to Bagration.
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But they needed an hour to
get to the place of battle.
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30 thousand French were
storming the flashes
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defended by 16 thousand Russians.
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Three cavalry corps
of Murat engaged into the battle.
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The French artillery force was 160 guns.
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Two flashes were seized but later
the Russians recaptured them.
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Bagration moved his
reserves to the flashes
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and they counter-attacked the French.
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Murat himself barely escaped captivity.
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Grenadiers of General Vorontsov took the
hardest blow of the massive French attack.
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Almost all those brave warriors
died on the battlefield.
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Vorontsov himself was wounded
with a bayonet.
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Commander of the infantry division
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General Neverovskiy was
severely wounded too.
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To support his infantry
Napoleon sent in the cavalry
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that took the flashes back.
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Anrie, the cannon! Be quick! Be quick!
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Konovnitsin’s division rushed
into the battle right on approach.
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Damn it! Stop it! Get back!
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The Russian infantrymen,
grenadiers and cuirassiers
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were attacking the enemy from all sides.
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Soldiers! Attack!
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Columns of Revelskiy
and Muromskiy Regiments
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were headed by a 34-year old
General Alexandra Tuchkov,
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the youngest brother of Nicolay,
Pavel and Sergey Tuchkovs.
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Soldiers! Attack!
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The soldiers failed to bring
Tuchkov’s body from the battlefield.
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They didn’t find it. The place of his death
was literally plowed with cannon balls.
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After the end of the war
General Tuchkov’s widow
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Margarita Mikhaylovna built
the Church of the Vernicle Image
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of the Savior for her own money.
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She opened a women’s parish
that was later reformed
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into the Spaso-Borodinskiy
Women’s Monastery.
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Tuchkov’s widow had been
its Mother Superior Maria
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for many years.
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The battle had been
raging for six hours.
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A witness recalled:
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“The ground before the flashes
was covered with the bodies of the French
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and behind the flashes — with
the bodies of the Russians.
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The soldiers were walking on blood
that the earth refused to swallow”.
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Napoleon concentrated about
45 thousand of his soldiers
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supported by 400 guns on a little stripe
less than one km wide.
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Bagration had to oppose that devastative
force with just 20 thousand people
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and 300 cannons.
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This is the end!
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Play the attack!
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Aye-aye!
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Play the attack! Play the attack!
Play the attack!
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Get ready to attack!
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Bagration’s positions withstood
over six hours of relentless storming.
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Generals, colonels, officers
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and privates were fighting with
bayonets, butts, cleaning rods,
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stones and everything they
could lay their hands on.
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00:10:20,237 --> 00:10:23,363
It seemed that the Russian
troops were overpowering the French.
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The reserves were on their way.
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Then a grenade fragment
hit Bagration’s leg.
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The Prince is wounded!
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Call the doctor! Call the doctor!
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Lay him on the ground.
Be careful. Be careful.
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Tell… tell General Barclay
that the fate and the survival
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of the army now depend on him.
It has been all right so far.
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But let him watch over my army.
Tell Barclay…
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Tell him “Thank you” and
“I’m sorry”. “I’m sorry”.
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Prince Peter Ivanovitch Bagration
died on September 12, 1812
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in the village of Simy of Vladimir
province where he was buried.
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00:11:37,448 --> 00:11:42,391
In 1839 his remains
were reburied on Borodino Field.
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Repulsing fierce enemy attacks
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the Russians who were now
left with their commander
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retreated behind the Semenovskiy Gorge.
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The French took the flashes.
But the price for them
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was so high that they
had no strength left
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to pursue the remains
of the Russian regiments.
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Soon general Dokhturov who was appointed
the commander of the Second Army arrived.
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He organized a new defense line.
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He positioned artillery on top of the gorge
and immediately opened fire.
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Napoleon ordered to bring all the light
cannons to the Semenovskiy Gorge.
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00:12:19,512 --> 00:12:22,617
A wall of fire fell on approaching
reserves of Life Guards
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of Izmaylovskiy and
Lithuanian Regiments.
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Under the terrible fire
of the Russian batteries
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cuirassiers of Latour-Mobur and
Nansutie engaged into battle.
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The cuirassiers were the heavy cavalry.
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They used to wear helmets
and cuirasses for protection.
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A cuirass consisted of two
metal plates on the chest
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and on the back
connected with fasteners.
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They were armed with broadswords —
a type of cold weapon with a long blade
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weighting up to two kg.
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That weapon could cut an enemy
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00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:06,651
in half but demanded great strength
and stamina from a cuirassier.
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00:13:07,127 --> 00:13:09,875
“The Iron Men”, as Napoleon called them,
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easily plundered light
cavalry and bravely attacked
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close ranks of infantry squares.
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The French cavalry crossed a stream
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00:13:18,366 --> 00:13:21,165
and soon met the regiments
of the Russian cuirassiers.
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Supported by the infantry and cavalry
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they tried to encircle the French.
The latter had to retreat.
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In the beginning of the day
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when the defenders of
the flashes were repelling
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the third attack Napoleon
sent Beauharnais’s Corps
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to storm the Mound Height.
It was where the Russian battery
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of General Rayevskiy was stationed.
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They only managed to place 18
guns at the breastwork in time.
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Before them were camouflaged
ditches with stakes
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dug into the earth at the bottom.
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Beauharnais took his time to
fire at the height from the guns.
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When it seemed to him
that the Russian battery
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was devastated he sent his
infantry into the attack.
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But the trap ditches,
Russian snipers in the shrubs
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00:14:01,636 --> 00:14:05,544
and cannon balls made the French retreat.
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00:14:06,336 --> 00:14:09,017
The artillery cannonade
never fell silent.
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00:14:09,214 --> 00:14:13,837
All the slopes and approaches to the base
station were littered with dead bodies.
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Fire! Fire the cannon! Give me the ball!
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00:14:17,496 --> 00:14:19,732
The cannon balls were
used up at the battery,
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00:14:19,793 --> 00:14:21,908
so the cannons fell silent at last.
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00:14:31,339 --> 00:14:34,041
General Bonami’s
Brigade crossed the ditch
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and stormed the battery.
A hand-to-hand combat started.
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The head of the headquarters
of the First Army
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General Yermolov happened
to be at the battery
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in that critical moment. He saw
that the height may be captured
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so be threw three regiments of chasseurs
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and an infantry
battalion into the attack.
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Yermolov took Crosses
of St. George in his hand
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and rushed to the battery
inspiring the rest to follow him.
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00:15:00,784 --> 00:15:05,573
“Many soldiers ran after him
and fought the enemy bravely”.
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00:15:06,761 --> 00:15:10,495
Yermolov Alexei Petrovitch,
the Infantry General.
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00:15:10,932 --> 00:15:14,409
He headed the headquarters of Barclay
de Tolly during the Battle of Borodino.
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The participant of the Foreign Campaign
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00:15:17,291 --> 00:15:19,493
and the Battles of
Lutzen, Kulma and Leipzig.
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00:15:19,724 --> 00:15:23,157
In 1816 he was appointed
the Commander-in-Chief
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00:15:23,196 --> 00:15:25,983
of the Russian forces in
Georgia and Ambassador in Persia.
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00:15:26,276 --> 00:15:29,745
“A man of dignity, but a
lying one and an intriguer” —
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00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:32,300
that is how Barclay de
Tolly commented on him.
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00:15:32,628 --> 00:15:37,203
Denis Davidov called Yermolov
“The Guardian Angel of the Russian troops”.
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00:15:39,557 --> 00:15:42,193
Yermolov’s attack was
supported by soldiers
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00:15:42,245 --> 00:15:45,092
of the two infantry divisions
and a few dragoon regiments
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00:15:45,260 --> 00:15:48,286
that went round the Mound
Height from both right and left.
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00:15:48,456 --> 00:15:50,949
The French found themselves encircled.
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00:15:51,723 --> 00:15:55,533
After recapturing the battery the Russian
followed the retreating regiments.
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00:15:55,660 --> 00:15:57,324
The success was absolute.
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00:15:57,372 --> 00:15:59,644
The news about the captivity
of a French general
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00:15:59,714 --> 00:16:01,444
whom they confused for Marshal Murat
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00:16:01,482 --> 00:16:05,004
strengthened the army’s
battle spirit greatly.
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00:16:05,458 --> 00:16:08,394
Beauharnais threw all his infantry
forces at Rayevskiy’s battery.
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00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:10,991
Artillery fire and
hand-to-hand combat resumed.
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00:16:17,598 --> 00:16:19,489
Yermolov got wounded with case shot
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00:16:19,534 --> 00:16:22,203
and handed the command
over to General Likhachov.
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00:16:22,297 --> 00:16:25,285
Beauharnais begged
Napoleon for reinforcements.
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00:16:30,848 --> 00:16:34,168
The Mound Height was to be
urgently reinforced with reserves.
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00:16:34,378 --> 00:16:36,688
To win some time and to help Bagration
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00:16:36,810 --> 00:16:39,499
Kutuzov ordered the
Cossacks of Atamans Platov
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00:16:39,629 --> 00:16:42,120
and Uvarov’s cavalrymen
to go to the French rear
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00:16:42,306 --> 00:16:45,089
and deliver an unexpected blow.
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00:16:45,236 --> 00:16:48,104
The attack of the Russian
cavalry was so unexpected
224
00:16:48,172 --> 00:16:50,527
that it spread panic in
Napoleon’s headquarters.
225
00:16:50,645 --> 00:16:53,721
The Emperor stopped the attack
at the Rayevskiy’s battery
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00:16:53,794 --> 00:16:56,825
and turned his division around.
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00:16:57,081 --> 00:17:02,598
Waiting for the Russians’ general offensive
he was staying put till 3 p.m.
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00:17:03,239 --> 00:17:05,782
The psychological effect of
that raid was huge.
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00:17:05,914 --> 00:17:09,774
The Russian Army used the break
to reinforce its positions.
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00:17:09,962 --> 00:17:12,852
Beauharnais got reinforcements
too — the regiments of Ney,
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00:17:13,007 --> 00:17:15,652
Murat’s cavalry and the Young Guard.
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00:17:15,843 --> 00:17:20,765
Napoleon ordered the Marshals to join
efforts to seize the Mound Height.
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00:17:23,117 --> 00:17:25,966
After the artillery fire
Murat’s cuirassiers and uhlans
234
00:17:26,017 --> 00:17:29,452
rushed at Rayevskiy’s battery.
235
00:17:31,085 --> 00:17:34,556
The main tactical unit of
the cavalry was a squadron.
236
00:17:34,734 --> 00:17:38,592
It consisted of about 100 riders.
After the start of the attack
237
00:17:38,726 --> 00:17:43,261
the squadron would line up in
two lines 35 to 40 m long each.
238
00:17:43,899 --> 00:17:46,063
The riders used to
sit knee-to-knee.
239
00:17:46,134 --> 00:17:49,410
Other squadrons followed the first one.
240
00:17:49,946 --> 00:17:52,652
The squadron would go
into the attack at a trot.
241
00:17:52,931 --> 00:17:57,096
It would attack the cavalry
during the last 90 to 100 meters.
242
00:17:57,167 --> 00:17:59,313
There the horses would
be snapped into a gallop.
243
00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,722
To faster overcome the
artillery fire damage zone
244
00:18:02,867 --> 00:18:06,218
or the enemy infantry positions
the same tactic was used.
245
00:18:07,034 --> 00:18:10,324
The horses loaded with the
field kit got tired quickly.
246
00:18:10,425 --> 00:18:13,200
It was impossible to make a
horse gallop more than twice
247
00:18:13,303 --> 00:18:17,433
or trice during one battle. A
rider attacking at full speed
248
00:18:17,532 --> 00:18:21,113
would hold his blade
above his head point-first
249
00:18:21,527 --> 00:18:25,125
as the statute ordered
“to stab and not to cut”.
250
00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:30,903
When cavalry was at a 60-step distance,
251
00:18:31,028 --> 00:18:33,034
the Russian infantry opened fire.
252
00:18:33,224 --> 00:18:35,488
The cuirassiers’ armor
didn’t save from bullets.
253
00:18:35,668 --> 00:18:38,335
The riders had to retreat to their infantry
254
00:18:38,416 --> 00:18:42,057
that was approaching the Mound Height
in closed ranks.
255
00:18:43,464 --> 00:18:45,937
On getting the scattered
regiments in order
256
00:18:46,087 --> 00:18:49,256
the cuirassiers broke through
the wall of the Russian infantry,
257
00:18:49,336 --> 00:18:52,997
went round the Mound Height
and stormed the battery.
258
00:18:53,487 --> 00:18:55,762
The French infantry followed.
259
00:18:55,864 --> 00:18:58,841
Several battalions of
Likhachov were encircled.
260
00:18:59,988 --> 00:19:04,748
A desperate fight, bloody and relentless
ensued at the Mound Height.
261
00:19:05,330 --> 00:19:08,452
I’ll gladly die for the
sake of my Motherland!
262
00:19:08,532 --> 00:19:11,555
Likhachov led his soldiers
into a bayonet fight.
263
00:19:12,731 --> 00:19:14,836
The enemy learned a lot that day.
264
00:19:14,968 --> 00:19:20,346
They saw what the Russian fight means,
our hand-to-hand combat…
265
00:19:21,695 --> 00:19:26,285
The hand-to-hand bayonet fight is
the scariest episode of the battle.
266
00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:29,886
A soldier had less chances of surviving
it than under fire.
267
00:19:30,210 --> 00:19:32,810
The trihedral wide-bladed bayonets
268
00:19:32,939 --> 00:19:35,622
inflicted terrible
wounds maiming people.
269
00:19:36,186 --> 00:19:39,952
Commanders tried to settle
the battle with the artillery
270
00:19:40,060 --> 00:19:42,906
or gun fire or the
offensive with closed ranks.
271
00:19:43,653 --> 00:19:46,345
It usually made the enemy retreat.
272
00:19:46,548 --> 00:19:49,709
But the parties wanted to carry
the fight through to victory
273
00:19:49,878 --> 00:19:52,006
and rushed to
fight hand-to-hand.
274
00:19:52,489 --> 00:19:56,359
The Borodino Battle holds
one of the first places
275
00:19:56,391 --> 00:19:59,059
in quantity of the hand-to-hand
combats of those times.
276
00:19:59,384 --> 00:20:05,517
Thus, in a battle for Rayevskiy’s
battery only 300 people
277
00:20:05,615 --> 00:20:09,632
out of the 30th French Line
Regiment 4100 strong survived.
278
00:20:11,669 --> 00:20:14,106
The French officers managed to pull
279
00:20:14,142 --> 00:20:16,719
blood-covered General
Likhachov from the common heap.
280
00:20:16,781 --> 00:20:21,101
He ran at an enemy with a lance in his hand
and was all stabbed with bayonets.
281
00:20:21,349 --> 00:20:25,857
They brought him together with 15 surviving
soldiers to Napoleon.
282
00:20:29,529 --> 00:20:32,303
I value courage that
failed too much, my Lord,
283
00:20:32,434 --> 00:20:35,349
to deprive myself of a
pleasure to give you back
284
00:20:35,449 --> 00:20:39,425
your weapon of a brave man.
285
00:20:44,883 --> 00:20:49,093
Captivity deprived me of my
lance given to me by my Tsar
286
00:20:49,254 --> 00:20:51,829
and given away against my will.
287
00:20:53,093 --> 00:20:56,793
I may only take it back from him.
288
00:21:06,643 --> 00:21:10,534
Likhachov Petr Gavrilovitch
was the General Major.
289
00:21:10,670 --> 00:21:13,069
He used to serve in the
army since he was 14.
290
00:21:13,335 --> 00:21:15,463
Being the commander of
a regiment of chasseurs
291
00:21:15,508 --> 00:21:18,003
in the Caucasian Mountains
he demonstrated independence
292
00:21:18,035 --> 00:21:20,336
in learning and battle
preparation of his subordinates.
293
00:21:20,391 --> 00:21:24,402
During the Borodino Battle he used
to lead the 24th Infantry Division.
294
00:21:24,497 --> 00:21:28,060
He was released from captivity
in December of 1812.
295
00:21:28,201 --> 00:21:31,745
He died of consequences
of battle wounds in his family estate.
296
00:21:34,326 --> 00:21:36,968
The Mound Height was
seized by the French.
297
00:21:37,066 --> 00:21:38,891
But they failed to develop their success
298
00:21:39,005 --> 00:21:42,811
due to inexhaustible
persistence of the Russians,
299
00:21:43,227 --> 00:21:46,895
great losses and physical
tiredness of the troops.
300
00:21:49,205 --> 00:21:52,671
Anrie! Your wound is bleeding.
301
00:21:52,897 --> 00:21:55,194
You shall see the doctor!
302
00:21:58,481 --> 00:22:01,068
To cover the Old
Smolensk Road Kutuzov sent
303
00:22:01,375 --> 00:22:04,557
the Third Infantry Corps
of General Nicolay Tuchkov,
304
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:06,515
the eldest of the Tuchkovs brothers.
305
00:22:06,886 --> 00:22:11,508
He also got a detachment of the Cossacks
and 15 thousand soldiers from the Moscow
306
00:22:11,595 --> 00:22:14,569
and Smolensk volunteers’
units. The Corps was defending
307
00:22:14,686 --> 00:22:17,468
the village of Utitsa. In
case of necessity Tuchkov
308
00:22:17,553 --> 00:22:21,615
was to retreat to a little
elevation — the Utitskiy Mound.
309
00:22:24,684 --> 00:22:28,027
The home guards that consisted
of serfs, petty bourgeois
310
00:22:28,102 --> 00:22:30,465
and city dwellers were
armed with bayonets and axes.
311
00:22:30,567 --> 00:22:32,848
There were no other weapons.
312
00:22:40,254 --> 00:22:42,923
Forward!
313
00:22:46,039 --> 00:22:49,022
A French officer recalled:
314
00:22:49,567 --> 00:22:52,487
“A tall wood suddenly came into life.
315
00:22:53,037 --> 00:22:55,976
Seven thousand beards
ran out from an ambush.
316
00:22:56,015 --> 00:22:58,828
Shouting madly they rushed at the enemy
317
00:22:59,049 --> 00:23:04,466
with home-made bayonets and axes
chopping people like firewood”.
318
00:23:08,717 --> 00:23:11,208
Who is there at the Mound?
319
00:23:21,458 --> 00:23:25,005
Our people, Your Honor.
320
00:23:26,127 --> 00:23:27,733
Thank you!
321
00:23:28,003 --> 00:23:32,096
Nicolay Alexeyevitch Tuchkov
died in Yaroslavl in three weeks.
322
00:23:33,229 --> 00:23:36,994
General Baggovut took the command
over the left flank of the troops.
323
00:23:37,939 --> 00:23:41,543
After the end of the battle Napoleon
started pulling his forces back.
324
00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:44,592
The Russian army was ready
to go on fighting.
325
00:23:44,884 --> 00:23:47,596
The Russian soldiers shouted “Hurray!”
on hearing the news
326
00:23:47,649 --> 00:23:49,526
of the French attack the following day.
327
00:23:49,590 --> 00:23:51,496
The battles started and ended.
328
00:23:51,648 --> 00:23:54,945
The battles for life continued
at the dressing stations,
329
00:23:55,263 --> 00:23:57,818
in mobile and permanent hospitals
330
00:23:58,057 --> 00:24:01,044
that were receiving
more and more wounded.
331
00:24:02,794 --> 00:24:07,148
As a rule experienced doctors
and nurses were working in the hospitals.
332
00:24:07,568 --> 00:24:10,080
They were using bandages, lint, spirit,
333
00:24:10,201 --> 00:24:13,027
quinine, potions, ointments,
lotions, different bandages,
334
00:24:13,201 --> 00:24:18,985
plasters, surgical instruments,
silk and many other materials.
335
00:24:19,627 --> 00:24:23,636
The wounded’s fate depended
on the first medical aid —
336
00:24:23,970 --> 00:24:28,318
quick and skillful
dressing and timely surgery.
337
00:24:30,712 --> 00:24:33,008
The doctor would widen
a bullet wound and clean it
338
00:24:33,088 --> 00:24:35,978
from dirt, bones and powder,
as they used to say,
339
00:24:36,248 --> 00:24:39,581
“until the meat is red
and the blood is clean’.
340
00:24:39,806 --> 00:24:42,760
The doctors were trying
to save damaged limbs.
341
00:24:45,919 --> 00:24:48,594
Sepsis was treated with amputation.
342
00:24:48,743 --> 00:24:51,639
Hacksaw was used to cut off
limbs in field conditions.
343
00:24:52,024 --> 00:24:55,162
The only anesthetics
were spirit or vodka.
344
00:25:02,744 --> 00:25:06,511
Dominique-Jean Larrey, the
Chief Surgeon of the French Army
345
00:25:06,594 --> 00:25:09,591
was for the early amputation of limbs.
346
00:25:09,990 --> 00:25:13,669
He personally carried out
200 amputations at Borodino.
347
00:25:25,021 --> 00:25:28,037
The wounded from Borodino
were taken to Moscow by carts.
348
00:25:28,278 --> 00:25:31,404
By the end of August
of 1812 the hospitals
349
00:25:31,715 --> 00:25:35,198
were overcrowded with up to
30 thousand wounded and sick.
350
00:25:35,610 --> 00:25:40,186
According to some historians,
that number was about 40 thousand people.
351
00:25:41,135 --> 00:25:43,552
When the decision to leave Moscow
352
00:25:43,623 --> 00:25:46,481
was taken the wounded were
evacuated to Kasimov, Yelatma,
353
00:25:46,663 --> 00:25:49,042
Melenki, Ryazan and other settlements.
354
00:25:49,170 --> 00:25:52,508
However a major part of
them remained in the city.
355
00:25:54,842 --> 00:25:58,947
One of the bloodiest battles of
the first half of the 19th century,
356
00:25:59,094 --> 00:26:05,295
the Borodino Battle, lasted for 12 hours
and ended right where it started.
357
00:26:05,849 --> 00:26:10,355
The historians estimate Napoleon’s
losses at about 35 to 50 thousand men.
358
00:26:10,590 --> 00:26:16,751
49 of his generals died. The battle became
a grave for the French cavalry
359
00:26:16,893 --> 00:26:19,071
60 per cent of which were lost.
360
00:26:20,017 --> 00:26:22,337
According to different
estimates, the Russian army lost
361
00:26:22,423 --> 00:26:28,447
from 38 to 45 thousand people killed,
362
00:26:28,683 --> 00:26:31,790
wounded and missing
including 23 generals.
363
00:26:37,142 --> 00:26:40,660
On getting fuller data
about the quantity of killed
364
00:26:40,977 --> 00:26:43,943
And wounded Kutuzov changed his mind
about a major battle.
365
00:26:44,394 --> 00:26:46,151
Closed to the midnight the troops
366
00:26:46,225 --> 00:26:49,854
were divided into four columns
and got an order to retreat.
367
00:26:51,114 --> 00:26:54,269
The battle inflicted serious
damage on the French Army too.
368
00:26:54,579 --> 00:26:58,345
Napoleon now had no more
than 80 thousand soldiers.
369
00:26:59,083 --> 00:27:01,307
The Emperor believed
that Kutuzov would lead
370
00:27:01,382 --> 00:27:04,284
his army into a decisive
battle the following day.
371
00:27:04,811 --> 00:27:07,957
He had no doubts in his
victory and was almost sure
372
00:27:07,999 --> 00:27:12,041
that representatives of
Alexander I would come to him
373
00:27:12,349 --> 00:27:14,221
in Moscow with a peace mission.
374
00:27:14,476 --> 00:27:17,004
But Kutuzov acted otherwise.
375
00:27:17,355 --> 00:27:19,329
His army was retreating to Mozhaysk.
376
00:27:19,459 --> 00:27:22,790
Napoleon got to know
about that only at 10 a.m.
377
00:27:23,831 --> 00:27:26,484
Who won the Borodino Battle?
378
00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,909
In his letter to Emperor
Alexander I Kutuzov wrote:
379
00:27:31,100 --> 00:27:34,147
“The battle culminated so
that the enemy failed to win
380
00:27:34,207 --> 00:27:35,930
even one step of our land”.
381
00:27:36,820 --> 00:27:39,848
But the French considered
themselves victors.
382
00:27:40,020 --> 00:27:42,582
However Napoleon failed
to fulfill his main task —
383
00:27:42,731 --> 00:27:45,614
to defeat Kutuzov’s army.
384
00:27:48,882 --> 00:27:51,259
Napoleon recalled:
385
00:27:51,490 --> 00:27:56,969
“Out of all my battles
the one by Moscow was the worst.
386
00:27:57,407 --> 00:28:01,059
The French proved themselves
capable of achieving victory
387
00:28:01,451 --> 00:28:04,793
while the Russians won
the right to be invincible.
388
00:28:05,022 --> 00:28:09,173
Out of 50 battles that I led
we showed the greatest courage
389
00:28:09,290 --> 00:28:14,208
and achieved the least
success by Moscow”.
390
00:28:23,116 --> 00:28:26,136
In a few versts from
Moscow Kutuzov ordered
391
00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:31,655
General Bennigsen to find a
good place for a new battle.
392
00:28:36,258 --> 00:28:41,372
If the battle is tomorrow
he’ll get no Moscow for sure!
393
00:28:41,825 --> 00:28:46,345
I hope so… So many people died.
394
00:28:46,810 --> 00:28:50,636
The Second Grenadier
Company is almost gone.
395
00:28:51,023 --> 00:28:54,316
My brother-in-law
died there.
396
00:29:08,354 --> 00:29:13,049
They chose the Fili Hole in a
few km from the Vorobyovy Hills.
397
00:29:13,511 --> 00:29:16,658
This position was weak. However
the army was ready to fight
398
00:29:16,721 --> 00:29:20,209
anywhere not to let
the enemy enter Moscow.
399
00:29:20,797 --> 00:29:23,963
Kutuzov ordered to build a
battery at the Poklonnaya Hill
400
00:29:24,111 --> 00:29:26,493
showing that he was ready to fight.
401
00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:30,116
However, according to General Yermolov’s
words, the cunning old man
402
00:29:30,176 --> 00:29:31,945
had no intentions of fighting there
403
00:29:32,017 --> 00:29:36,091
and was looking for a
suitable pretext to retreat.
404
00:29:36,983 --> 00:29:42,143
On September 1, 1812 in 4
versts from Dragomilov post
405
00:29:42,177 --> 00:29:45,824
at the edge of the village of
Fili in peasant’s Frolov’s house
406
00:29:45,945 --> 00:29:48,055
Kutuzov gathered the council of war.
407
00:29:48,437 --> 00:29:51,602
He invited the War
Minister Barclay de Tolly,
408
00:29:51,965 --> 00:29:54,268
the head of the Chief
Headquarters Bennigsen,
409
00:29:54,353 --> 00:29:56,820
Commander of the Second Army Dokhturov,
410
00:29:56,952 --> 00:30:00,378
General-Quartermaster Tol,
the head of the headquarters
411
00:30:00,431 --> 00:30:03,182
of the First Army
Yermolov, Generals Uvarov,
412
00:30:03,244 --> 00:30:06,859
Osterman-Tolstoy,
Konovnitsin and Rayevskiy.
413
00:30:19,477 --> 00:30:24,883
The events that happened in that house
continue to baffle historians to this day.
414
00:30:25,369 --> 00:30:27,965
Kutuzov prohibited drawing
minutes of the meeting.
415
00:30:28,174 --> 00:30:31,546
We only know about it
from the memoirs of its participants.
416
00:30:32,071 --> 00:30:34,573
Kutuzov suggested that all
the generals should share
417
00:30:34,662 --> 00:30:37,472
their opinion on the
main issue — what to do?
418
00:30:37,953 --> 00:30:41,476
Should they fight or
leave Moscow and retreat?
419
00:30:44,357 --> 00:30:47,109
Sit down, gentlemen.
420
00:31:07,235 --> 00:31:10,052
Bennigsen and Yermolov
were for the fighting.
421
00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:15,989
Barclay de Tolly, Osterman-Tolstoy
and Tol were for leaving Moscow.
422
00:31:16,330 --> 00:31:22,017
We don’t know for sure the opinions
of Uvarov, Konovnitsin and Dokhturov.
423
00:31:22,293 --> 00:31:24,650
Rayevskiy was the last to speak.
424
00:31:28,582 --> 00:31:32,471
“Russia is not in Moscow.
It is among its sons.
425
00:31:33,381 --> 00:31:37,218
The main thing is to save
the army. My opinion is that
426
00:31:37,420 --> 00:31:40,165
we shall leave Moscow without a fight.”
427
00:31:45,338 --> 00:31:48,588
According to Bennigsen’s
recollections, six generals
428
00:31:48,687 --> 00:31:53,475
wanted to fight and four,
including Kutuzov, were against it.
429
00:31:53,955 --> 00:31:58,233
In Yermolov’s memoirs the
exact opposite is true.
430
00:32:02,380 --> 00:32:07,074
I order the retreat with
powers entrusted upon me
431
00:32:07,650 --> 00:32:12,055
by the Tsar and the Motherland!
432
00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:42,437
People heard the Commander-in-Chief crying
in his room several times that night…
433
00:32:53,112 --> 00:32:56,004
The decision of the council of
war was announced to the troops.
434
00:32:56,284 --> 00:33:01,374
The soldiers were upset.
But at 10 p.m. on September 1
435
00:33:01,612 --> 00:33:04,694
the army left Fili and
moved towards Moscow.
436
00:33:05,297 --> 00:33:09,746
At dawn first echelons of the
Russian army entered the city,
437
00:33:12,262 --> 00:33:15,056
The bridges and streets were crowded
438
00:33:15,154 --> 00:33:17,415
with the carts of refugees,
wounded and wagons.
439
00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:21,110
The soldiers were walking
silently, looking down.
440
00:33:21,512 --> 00:33:23,818
Many of them were crying.
441
00:33:27,779 --> 00:33:30,333
Kutuzov ordered General Miloradovitch
442
00:33:30,413 --> 00:33:33,283
who was heading the rear
guard to delay the enemy
443
00:33:33,323 --> 00:33:36,045
until the Russian troops pass Moscow.
444
00:33:36,296 --> 00:33:39,093
Marshal Murat was trying to
cut Miloradovitch’s rear guard
445
00:33:39,192 --> 00:33:41,803
from the city and encircle him.
446
00:33:42,275 --> 00:33:45,038
Then Miloradovitch sent
a letter to the Marshal.
447
00:33:45,310 --> 00:33:47,900
“If you start the battle,
the Russians will fight
448
00:33:47,981 --> 00:33:54,350
for every street and every house
and will ultimately set Moscow on fire”.
449
00:34:03,251 --> 00:34:07,954
Miloradovitch Mikhail
Andreyevitch, the Infantry General.
450
00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:11,539
He was heading the rear guard
and during the offensive —
451
00:34:11,639 --> 00:34:13,232
the vanguard of the Russian army.
452
00:34:13,322 --> 00:34:17,246
Because of his courage he enjoyed
endless authority among his soldiers.
453
00:34:17,398 --> 00:34:22,339
In 1818 he was appointed
the General Governor of St.-Petersburg.
454
00:34:22,594 --> 00:34:25,964
In 1825, on the day of
rebellion at the Senate Square
455
00:34:26,034 --> 00:34:28,798
he addressed the rebels and
practical led talked the soldiers
456
00:34:28,864 --> 00:34:31,032
into going back to the barracks.
457
00:34:31,627 --> 00:34:34,179
He avoided wounds in 50 battles
458
00:34:34,330 --> 00:34:37,992
only to get a mortal shot
in his back from the retired
459
00:34:38,149 --> 00:34:41,376
Lieutenant Kakhovskiy on December 14.
460
00:34:43,436 --> 00:34:48,084
Murat agreed to wait until
the last Russian soldier left the capital.
461
00:34:48,500 --> 00:34:50,624
The partial reason
for that noble compliance
462
00:34:50,759 --> 00:34:53,366
was a sorry plight of his cavalry.
463
00:35:02,699 --> 00:35:05,405
Thanks to the agreement
between Miloradovitch and Murat
464
00:35:05,633 --> 00:35:10,041
the Russian army and the majority of the
city dwellers managed to leave the city.
465
00:35:11,386 --> 00:35:16,499
By the evening of September 2
Moscow was almost empty.
466
00:35:22,650 --> 00:35:25,661
Napoleon and his army approached Moscow.
467
00:35:41,243 --> 00:35:46,627
Venice and Milan, Alexandria
and Lisbon, Vienna, Berlin
468
00:35:46,698 --> 00:35:49,259
and Rome succumbed to
the Emperor of France.
469
00:35:49,590 --> 00:35:53,595
However no other capital was
as hugely, almost mystically
470
00:35:53,759 --> 00:35:58,227
important for him as Moscow.
Here he hoped to get a petition
471
00:35:58,288 --> 00:36:01,999
from the Russian Emperor
with an entreaty for truce.
472
00:36:02,373 --> 00:36:07,627
Here his army was to get warm
apartments, food and forage.
473
00:36:09,135 --> 00:36:11,836
The French soldiers entered Moscow.
474
00:36:12,010 --> 00:36:15,197
Behind them were endless marches in heat
475
00:36:15,270 --> 00:36:18,168
without a drop of water, hungry
nights under pouring rain.
476
00:36:18,417 --> 00:36:21,506
Behind them were fire,
blood and thousands of dead.
477
00:36:21,701 --> 00:36:24,867
Ahead of them was peace
promised by their Emperor.
478
00:36:25,146 --> 00:36:28,230
They believed that they
had already defeated
479
00:36:28,290 --> 00:36:31,016
the Russian army, this
country and its people…
480
00:36:33,224 --> 00:36:37,730
The Emperor was impressed with
a view of the city from the Poklonnay Hill.
481
00:36:37,865 --> 00:36:41,011
He was waiting for a boyars’ delegation
with the keys from the city.
482
00:36:41,830 --> 00:36:43,387
The time was passing.
483
00:36:43,704 --> 00:36:48,687
Nobody came.
Napoleon was getting impatient.
484
00:36:50,666 --> 00:36:53,709
He was reported that
not only the authorities
485
00:36:53,757 --> 00:36:57,104
but even common city dwellers
are largely absent from the city.
486
00:36:57,728 --> 00:37:01,361
That same evening Napoleon
started getting disturbing reports:
487
00:37:01,567 --> 00:37:05,260
fires began in Moscow. Napoleon decided
488
00:37:05,363 --> 00:37:07,381
that the marauding
soldiers were to blame.
489
00:37:07,468 --> 00:37:11,894
He called for Marshall Mortier
appointed the Governor of Moscow.
490
00:37:12,281 --> 00:37:17,391
He demanded to immediately restore order
in the units and stop looting.
491
00:37:21,212 --> 00:37:24,179
You’ll answer for that with your head!
492
00:37:33,917 --> 00:37:38,083
"The fires already raged in
Zaryadye; then Kitay-Gorod lit up. "
493
00:37:38,299 --> 00:37:41,131
Soon fire claimed two more districts.
494
00:37:41,203 --> 00:37:43,628
There was nothing
to put the flames out with.
495
00:37:43,750 --> 00:37:47,598
Moreover the soldiers who were looting
the shops didn’t want to fight the fires.
496
00:37:47,790 --> 00:37:50,952
They barely managed to
put the Market Square out.
497
00:37:56,197 --> 00:37:59,358
The next day Napoleon entered Moscow
498
00:37:59,505 --> 00:38:02,192
half-hidden under
thick clouds of smoke.
499
00:38:09,902 --> 00:38:12,651
At last I’m in Moscow…
500
00:38:17,546 --> 00:38:20,109
…in the palace of ancient tsars…
501
00:38:21,071 --> 00:38:22,370
…in the Kremlin!
502
00:38:22,839 --> 00:38:24,590
In the evening the fires resumed.
503
00:38:25,113 --> 00:38:27,650
The fire caught the major part of the city.
504
00:38:27,940 --> 00:38:30,102
It was light as during the day.
505
00:38:30,188 --> 00:38:33,242
Strong wind was pushing the
flames to the center of Moscow.
506
00:38:33,734 --> 00:38:36,966
Fire approached the Kremlin by night.
507
00:38:37,982 --> 00:38:40,519
The guards managed
to put out the arsenal
508
00:38:40,564 --> 00:38:43,213
where some stocks of powder
and shells still remained.
509
00:38:43,424 --> 00:38:46,242
But when one of the
Kremlin’s towers caught fire
510
00:38:46,487 --> 00:38:50,066
Marshals turned to Napoleon
asking him to leave the Kremlin.
511
00:38:53,841 --> 00:38:55,736
They are setting fires themselves.
512
00:38:55,898 --> 00:38:58,343
What kind of people are
they? They are real Scythians!
513
00:38:58,443 --> 00:39:03,201
What decisiveness! The barbarians!
What a terrible sight!
514
00:39:04,220 --> 00:39:05,984
Napoleon was still lingering.
515
00:39:06,076 --> 00:39:08,494
How could he come to
the Kremlin as a winner
516
00:39:08,565 --> 00:39:11,026
and run away without even
spending a night there?
517
00:39:12,369 --> 00:39:16,637
This is impossible!
To burn their own cities!
518
00:39:16,711 --> 00:39:23,945
What fierce decisiveness!
What a people! What a people!
519
00:39:25,146 --> 00:39:28,694
The fire intensified. It was
hard to breathe because of smoke.
520
00:39:28,822 --> 00:39:29,853
Sir…
521
00:39:37,627 --> 00:39:40,516
Napoleon and his entourage
barely made their way
522
00:39:40,623 --> 00:39:43,084
to Petrovskoe along the Moscow River.
523
00:39:43,205 --> 00:39:45,509
The country palace of
the Russian Emperors
524
00:39:45,597 --> 00:39:47,844
became Napoleon’s
headquarters for three days.
525
00:39:48,020 --> 00:39:50,525
Moscow was still in flames.
526
00:40:19,370 --> 00:40:23,064
Historians still argue on
the causes of the fires.
527
00:40:23,420 --> 00:40:26,124
In his letter to
Alexander I Napoleon blamed
528
00:40:26,246 --> 00:40:29,247
“the death of a
beautiful and great city”
529
00:40:29,333 --> 00:40:31,797
on Governor Count Rostopchin.
530
00:40:32,302 --> 00:40:35,042
Incendiaries detained
by the French claimed
531
00:40:35,151 --> 00:40:37,227
that they were acting on his orders.
532
00:40:37,380 --> 00:40:40,406
After the war Rostopchin first confirmed
and then disproved
533
00:40:40,542 --> 00:40:43,225
his involvement in the fires.
534
00:40:43,963 --> 00:40:47,145
There are also other
versions including arson
535
00:40:47,191 --> 00:40:50,709
by the Russian scouts,
uncontrollable actions of the French,
536
00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:54,330
and even accidents inevitable
in the general war chaos.
537
00:40:57,272 --> 00:41:00,751
According to some estimates,
the fire destroyed 6,500 houses
538
00:41:00,878 --> 00:41:07,271
out of over 9,000, 122
churches out of 329,
539
00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:09,937
over 8,000 storehouses and shops.
540
00:41:10,296 --> 00:41:13,611
The University, library of Buturlin,
Petrovskiy and Arbatskiy Theatres
541
00:41:13,789 --> 00:41:16,148
all perished in the flames.
542
00:41:16,351 --> 00:41:20,907
Up to 2,000 wounded Russian
soldiers died in the fire.
543
00:41:38,982 --> 00:41:40,604
While the fire was raging
544
00:41:40,728 --> 00:41:43,583
Moscow was being looted and destroyed.
545
00:41:43,915 --> 00:41:48,339
On September 7, when
Napoleon returned to the city,
546
00:41:48,527 --> 00:41:51,607
he found scorched streets,
looted shops and drunk soldiers.
547
00:41:54,394 --> 00:41:56,589
The Emperor was worried by what he saw.
548
00:41:56,776 --> 00:42:00,096
A burnt city is a bad
place to spend the winter
549
00:42:00,197 --> 00:42:03,093
for the army with shaken discipline.
550
00:42:15,058 --> 00:42:18,181
However Napoleon was
still energetic and active.
551
00:42:18,493 --> 00:42:21,698
He continued to rule
his empire from Moscow.
552
00:42:22,049 --> 00:42:24,856
He was signing decrees,
appointments and awards, orders.
553
00:42:24,945 --> 00:42:28,180
Among them was the Statute
of “Comedie Francais”,
554
00:42:28,276 --> 00:42:30,973
that is still in full effect
today. The time was passing.
555
00:42:31,291 --> 00:42:34,294
Alexander I was keeping
silence. Signing of truce
556
00:42:34,475 --> 00:42:38,355
became a deed of honor for
Napoleon, no matter what the price.
557
00:42:39,482 --> 00:42:43,613
The Emperor sent two letters
to St.-Petersburg but got no answer.
558
00:42:44,957 --> 00:42:48,150
The Russians still had a capable army
559
00:42:48,249 --> 00:42:51,295
and Napoleon knew nothing
of its whereabouts…
560
00:42:55,835 --> 00:42:59,947
On leaving Moscow the Russian
troops went to the Ryazan Road,
561
00:43:00,105 --> 00:43:04,264
but then abruptly turned
to the old Kaluga Road.
562
00:43:04,423 --> 00:43:08,316
Barclay de Tolly who was against
that decision left for St.-Petersburg.
563
00:43:08,512 --> 00:43:13,289
The power now fully concentrated in
Kutuzov’s and Bennigsen’s hands.
564
00:43:14,515 --> 00:43:18,018
The movement of the army to the south
was kept secret from the Frenchmen.
565
00:43:18,237 --> 00:43:21,860
The Cossack units and Rayevskiy Corps were
distracting Murat’s detachments
566
00:43:21,990 --> 00:43:24,848
by continuing their retreat to Ryazan.
567
00:43:25,307 --> 00:43:27,288
There they… disappeared in the woods.
568
00:43:28,155 --> 00:43:30,385
Every time Murat was moving forward
569
00:43:30,651 --> 00:43:33,628
a Russian Cossack would ride up to him
570
00:43:33,720 --> 00:43:36,693
from the Russian units asking
in the exquisite French:
571
00:43:36,891 --> 00:43:40,628
“By what settlement is the
Italian Vice-King going to stop”?
572
00:43:44,322 --> 00:43:48,336
Murat found the Russian
army only on September 14.
573
00:43:48,415 --> 00:43:50,611
It stationed by the village of Tarutino.
574
00:43:50,946 --> 00:43:54,565
85,000 people took a favorable position.
575
00:43:54,727 --> 00:43:57,027
They were securely covering
the southern provinces
576
00:43:57,096 --> 00:44:02,116
that were supplying the army with recruits,
food, horses and ammunition.
577
00:44:02,429 --> 00:44:06,026
Murat constructed his
own fortified camp nearby.
578
00:44:12,518 --> 00:44:15,242
After that a silent
truce was established.
579
00:44:15,629 --> 00:44:17,947
Officers of the enemy
armies were meeting
580
00:44:18,087 --> 00:44:20,789
on the neutral territory,
communicating, joking
581
00:44:20,866 --> 00:44:22,905
and even arranging joint picnics.
582
00:44:23,430 --> 00:44:25,326
The generals didn’t lag behind.
583
00:44:25,481 --> 00:44:29,845
The two main brave heroes of both armies,
584
00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:32,912
Murat and Miloradovitch,
got on especially well.
585
00:44:43,061 --> 00:44:45,655
Yermolov recalled:
586
00:44:46,123 --> 00:44:50,149
“General Miloradovitch met with Murat
several times.
587
00:44:50,633 --> 00:44:53,076
Murat used to come either dressed
as a Spaniard,
588
00:44:53,550 --> 00:44:58,554
or in a silly attire with a sable hat
and in silk brocade pants.
589
00:44:59,162 --> 00:45:02,052
Miloradovitch would come on top
of a Cossack’s horse with a lance,
590
00:45:02,131 --> 00:45:04,538
in three shawls of three different colors.
591
00:45:05,236 --> 00:45:08,074
There was nobody like
them in both armies”!
592
00:45:20,475 --> 00:45:22,913
The officers became such good friends
593
00:45:23,066 --> 00:45:26,812
that Murat was sure — the
Russian army wouldn’t fight
594
00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:28,591
with the French any more.
595
00:45:28,949 --> 00:45:30,982
He reported to his Emperor accordingly.
596
00:45:31,159 --> 00:45:34,943
So Napoleon was waiting for peaceful
propositions from Alexander I.
597
00:45:47,381 --> 00:45:51,684
Alexander I was in a state of blissful
ignorance about the army affairs.
598
00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:53,307
Kutuzov informed his Tsar
599
00:45:53,333 --> 00:45:55,807
on the situation only in nine
days after the Borodino Battle
600
00:45:55,872 --> 00:46:00,485
and in two days after the
enemy had entered Moscow.
601
00:46:01,248 --> 00:46:05,481
“Let me dare report
to you, Your Highness,
602
00:46:05,724 --> 00:46:10,448
that arrival of the enemy
to Moscow doesn’t mean Russia’s defeat”.
603
00:46:11,768 --> 00:46:14,189
Kutuzov explained that they left Moscow
604
00:46:14,271 --> 00:46:16,576
because the army was
weakened after Borodino.
605
00:46:16,732 --> 00:46:20,308
He sent Colonel Misho with
an oral report to Petersburg.
606
00:46:23,503 --> 00:46:28,324
The Tsar’s family, the nobles
and the merchants were at a loss.
607
00:46:28,453 --> 00:46:30,334
Some people were packing their things.
608
00:46:30,477 --> 00:46:33,241
What if Napoleon goes
from Moscow to Petersburg?
609
00:46:33,512 --> 00:46:36,621
Some supported the idea of
signing the peace treaty.
610
00:46:36,737 --> 00:46:40,363
But the majority of the
Russian society was implacable.
611
00:46:40,714 --> 00:46:43,883
Tsar’s sister Ekaterina
Pavlovna was begging his brother
612
00:46:43,922 --> 00:46:45,566
not to sign the peace treaty.
613
00:46:45,815 --> 00:46:49,403
“I better stop being who
I am but not make a deal
614
00:46:49,583 --> 00:46:54,970
with a monster who makes
the entire world unhappy”.
615
00:46:57,783 --> 00:47:00,907
Meanwhile guerilla units
started appearing in the rear
616
00:47:00,940 --> 00:47:02,594
and on the flanks of Napoleon’s army.
617
00:47:02,654 --> 00:47:05,468
They were hunting the occupants down.
618
00:47:06,460 --> 00:47:09,060
The first order on
establishment of a guerilla unit
619
00:47:09,118 --> 00:47:12,753
was given by Bagration
just five days before the Borodino Battle.
620
00:47:13,149 --> 00:47:15,384
It was the General’s former adjutant,
621
00:47:15,462 --> 00:47:17,746
Lieutenant Colonel of the
Akhtirskiy Hussar Regiment
622
00:47:17,818 --> 00:47:21,310
Denis Davidov who suggested this idea.
623
00:47:21,538 --> 00:47:24,678
The village of Borodino
was his father’s estate.
624
00:47:25,005 --> 00:47:28,098
In five days before the
battle, when his native house
625
00:47:28,200 --> 00:47:30,206
was being dismantled
to build fortifications
626
00:47:30,292 --> 00:47:32,421
Davidov addressed
Bagration with a suggestion
627
00:47:32,479 --> 00:47:35,013
to form a mobile detachment.
628
00:47:36,858 --> 00:47:40,655
Davidov Denis Vasilyevitch
was a General Lieutenant,
629
00:47:40,794 --> 00:47:44,891
an author and a poet,
a cousin of General Yermolov.
630
00:47:45,201 --> 00:47:48,279
He participated in wars with
France, Sweden and Turkey.
631
00:47:48,659 --> 00:47:54,351
His first guerilla detachment
consisted of 50 hussars and 80 Cossacks.
632
00:47:54,597 --> 00:47:59,555
He was the participant
of the Foreign Campaign of 1813-1815.
633
00:47:59,808 --> 00:48:02,679
He captured Dresden
with his vanguard unit
634
00:48:02,864 --> 00:48:05,778
without an order after which
he was put under home arrest.
635
00:48:06,004 --> 00:48:09,292
Davidov’s bravery was
legendary throughout Europe.
636
00:48:09,806 --> 00:48:12,421
Residents of towns that the
Russian soldiers were passing
637
00:48:12,652 --> 00:48:17,468
were asking about Davidov in the
streets dreaming of seeing him.
638
00:48:19,407 --> 00:48:21,862
During one little raid
a small Davidov’s unit
639
00:48:22,084 --> 00:48:25,706
released 200 Russian prisoners,
seized a cart with bullets,
640
00:48:26,102 --> 00:48:30,722
nine carts with food and
took 370 Frenchmen prisoners.
641
00:48:31,028 --> 00:48:36,054
Napoleon hated Davidov and ordered
to execute him on site in case of capture.
642
00:48:36,261 --> 00:48:41,647
2,000 were sent to catch him.
Davidov had twice less people.
643
00:48:41,916 --> 00:48:45,921
However he managed to trap
and capture his enemies.
644
00:48:48,069 --> 00:48:51,636
On November 9 Davidov and
other guerillas took 2,000
645
00:48:51,709 --> 00:48:55,135
men of General Ajearaix
prisoners by Lyahov.
646
00:48:55,459 --> 00:48:59,317
He also eliminated the
French cavalry depot by Kopis.
647
00:48:59,563 --> 00:49:02,386
He defeated the enemy
detachment by Belynitchi,
648
00:49:02,548 --> 00:49:05,244
came up to the Neman and seized Grodno.
649
00:49:11,171 --> 00:49:13,757
Right after the Russian army left Moscow
650
00:49:13,838 --> 00:49:16,943
a few new guerilla units were formed.
651
00:49:17,236 --> 00:49:19,895
They were headed by Captain
Seslavin, Captain Figner,
652
00:49:20,092 --> 00:49:22,828
Colonel Kudashev and other officers.
653
00:49:22,992 --> 00:49:26,752
A real people’s war began
in the Frenchmen’s rear.
654
00:49:27,855 --> 00:49:31,717
Kutuzov and Bennigsen took all
measures to prevent the French
655
00:49:31,789 --> 00:49:34,839
from moving into the heart of Russia.
656
00:49:35,341 --> 00:49:37,493
The Vladimir Home
Guard occupied the road
657
00:49:37,549 --> 00:49:40,577
from Moscow to Pokrovsk,
the Ryazan Home Guard
658
00:49:40,618 --> 00:49:43,326
stood on the Oka River, the
Tula Home Guard was blocking
659
00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:45,776
the road to Serpukhov
and the Kaluga Home Guard
660
00:49:45,842 --> 00:49:49,045
was controlling the roads to
Yukhnov, Vyazma and Bryansk.
661
00:49:58,644 --> 00:50:03,857
The burnt-down Moscow — this is
all what Napoleon got in Russia.
662
00:50:24,296 --> 00:50:26,356
Created by Valeriy Babitch,
Directed by Pavel Tupik
663
00:50:26,407 --> 00:50:27,840
Director of Photography
— Dmitry Kiptiliy
664
00:50:27,884 --> 00:50:30,591
Music by Boris Kukoba, Hosted by Sergey
Chonishvili and Yevgeniy Sinchukov
665
00:50:30,629 --> 00:50:34,094
Produced by Valeriy Babitch, Vlad
Ryashin, Oleg Volnov and Konstantin Ernst
56161
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