When was the Battle of Borodino in 1812? Stages and course of the Battle of Borodino briefly

The date of the Battle of Borodino, September 7, 1812 (August 26, old style), will forever remain in history as the day of one of the greatest victories of Russian weapons.

There were several reasons why the Battle of Borodino took place. General Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, appointed commander of the Russian troops, avoided, as far as possible, the battle planned by Napoleon Bonaparte in conditions unfavorable for the Russian army. The reason for this reluctance to give a general battle was the serious superiority of Bonaparte's army in numbers and experience in military operations. Systematically retreating deeper into the country, Kutuzov forced the French to disperse their forces, which contributed to the reduction of Napoleon's Grand Army. However, a retreat to Moscow could seriously undermine the already low morale of Russian soldiers and provoke disapproval in society. For Bonaparte, it was important to quickly capture key Russian positions as quickly as possible, but at the same time maintain the combat effectiveness of his own army.

Understanding the seriousness of the task and the danger of Napoleon as a commander, Kutuzov carefully chose the location of the battle and eventually stationed the army on lands near the village of Borodino. This terrain, covered with a large number of ravines, streams and rivulets, minimized the numerical superiority of the French army and the significant superiority of its artillery. In addition, it greatly complicated the possibility of detours and made it possible to block all roads leading to Moscow (Gzhatsky tract, Old and New Smolensk roads). Kutuzov, when planning the Battle of Borodino, placed the main emphasis on the tactics of wearing out the enemy, and he attached great importance to the reliability of the hastily built fortifications.

Even a brief summary of the Battle of Borodino will take a lot of time. It became the most cruel and bloody in the 19th century. Defeat meant complete capitulation for Russia, and for Napoleon it meant a grueling and long military campaign.

The Battle of Borodino began with French artillery, which opened fire along the entire front at approximately 6 o'clock in the morning. At the same time, French columns began to take up positions for attack.

The Life Guards Jaeger Regiment was the first to be attacked. The French immediately encountered stubborn resistance, but still the regiment was forced to surrender its positions and retreat across the Koloch River.

Bagration's flushes located on the left flank were occupied by artillery and the second consolidated division of Major General Vorontsov. Chains of rangers were posted in front; the rangers of Prince Shakhovsky covered the fleshes from the bypass. The division of Neverovsky, a major general, was stationed behind. The Semenovsky Heights were occupied by the division of Major General Duka. From the French side, the attack on this sector was carried out by troops of the corps of General Junot, Marshals Murat (cavalry), Davout, and Ney. Their total number reached 115 thousand soldiers.

The flush attacks launched by the French at 6 and 7 a.m. were repulsed. Moreover, the battle in this area was incredibly intense. During the Battle of Borodino, a third attack was launched. Bagration's flushes were reinforced by the Lithuanian and Izmailovsky regiments, the division of Major General Konovnitsyn and cavalry units (the first cuirassier division and the third cavalry corps). But the French, preparing a massive offensive, concentrated considerable forces, including 160 guns. The third attack, launched at about 8 a.m., and the subsequent, fourth, launched at 9 a.m., also failed. During the fourth attack, Napoleon managed to briefly occupy the flushes, but the French were knocked out of their positions. The dead and wounded soldiers left on the battlefield presented a terrible picture. Further attacks, as well as attempts to bypass the already dilapidated flushes, were unsuccessful.

Only when holding these fortifications ceased to be advisable did the Russian troops under the command of Konovnitsyn retreat to Semenovskoye, where a new line of defense was occupied - the Semenovsky ravine. The troops of Murat and Davout were already exhausted, but Napoleon did not take the risk and refused their request to bring the Old Guard, the French reserve, into battle. Even a later attack by heavy cavalry under the command of Nansouty was unsuccessful.

The situation in other directions was also difficult. The Battle of Borodino was still far from over. While the battle for taking flushes was going on, the French attacked Kurgan Heights with the Raevsky battery located on it, one of the many heroes who showed unprecedented courage to defend their homeland. Despite attacks from superior forces under the command of Eugene Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson, the battery was able to hold the heights until reinforcements arrived, and then forced the French troops to retreat.

A description of the Battle of Borodino would not be complete without mentioning Lieutenant General Tuchkov’s detachment, which prevented Poniatowski’s Polish units from bypassing the Russian left flank. Tuchkov, having taken up positions on the Utitsky Kurgan, covered the Old Smolensk Road. During the battles for this height, Tuchkov was mortally wounded. Polish troops were unable to take the mound during the day. In the evening they were forced to retreat beyond the village of Utitskoye and take a defensive position.

On the right flank events developed just as intensely. Ataman Platonov and Lieutenant General Uvarov at about 10 am made a diversionary cavalry raid deep into the Great Army, which helped relieve pressure on the Russian defense along the entire front. Ataman Platonov, having reached the rear of the French to the village of Valuevo, forced the French emperor to temporarily suspend the offensive in the center, which gave a respite to the Russian troops. Uvarov's corps operated no less successfully in the area of ​​the village of Bezzubovo.

The actions of the Russian and French troops can be more clearly imagined using the diagram of the Battle of Borodino. From 6 pm the battle gradually began to calm down. The last attempt to bypass the Russian positions was made at 9 pm. But in the Utitsky forest the French were met by riflemen from the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment. Realizing that it would not be possible to break the resistance of Kutuzov’s troops, Napoleon ordered to abandon all captured fortifications and retreat to their original positions. The bloody Battle of Borodino lasted more than 12 hours.

The losses in the Battle of Borodino were enormous. Napoleon's Grand Army lost about 59 thousand wounded, missing and killed, among them 47 generals. The Russian army under the command of Kutuzov lost 39 thousand soldiers, including 29 generals.

The results of the Battle of Borodino, surprisingly, still cause serious controversy. The fact is that both Napoleon Bonaparte and Kutuzov officially declared their victory. But answering the question of who won the Battle of Borodino is not difficult. Kutuzov, despite the huge losses and subsequent retreat, considered the Battle of Borodino an undoubted success of Russian weapons, largely achieved thanks to the resilience and unparalleled personal courage of soldiers and officers. History has preserved the names of many heroes of the Battle of Borodino in 1812. These are Raevsky, Barclay de Tolly, Bagration, Davydov, Tuchkov, Tolstoy and many others.

Napoleon's army suffered huge irreparable losses without achieving any of the goals set by the Emperor of France. The future of the Russian campaign became very doubtful, the morale of the Grand Army fell. This was the outcome of the battle for Bonaparte.

The significance of the Borodino battle, despite all the controversy, is so great that today, 200 years later, Borodino Day is celebrated both in Russia, on the Borodino field, and in France.

THEM. Zherin. Injury of P.I. Bagration in the Battle of Borodino. 1816

Napoleon, wanting to support the attacking efforts at the Semyonov flushes, ordered his left wing to strike the enemy at Kurgan Heights and take it. The battery on the heights was defended by the general's 26th Infantry Division. The troops of the corps of the Viceroy of Beauharnais crossed the river. Koloch and began an attack on the Great Redoubt, which was occupied by them.

C. Vernier, I. Lecomte. Napoleon, surrounded by generals, leads the Battle of Borodino. Colorized engraving

At this time, generals and. Having taken command of the 3rd battalion of the Ufa Infantry Regiment, Ermolov regained the heights with a strong counterattack at about 10 o'clock. The “fierce and terrible battle” lasted half an hour. The French 30th Line Regiment suffered terrible losses, its remnants fled from the mound. General Bonnamy was captured. During this battle, General Kutaisov died unknown. French artillery began a massive shelling of Kurgan Heights. Ermolov, having been wounded, handed over command to the general.

At the southernmost tip of the Russian position, the Polish troops of General Poniatowski launched an attack on the enemy near the village of Utitsa, got stuck in the battle for it and were unable to provide support to those corps of the Napoleonic army that fought at the Semyonovsky flashes. The defenders of the Utitsa Kurgan became a stumbling block for the advancing Poles.

At about 12 noon, the sides regrouped their forces on the battlefield. Kutuzov helped the defenders of Kurgan Heights. Reinforcement from the army of M.B. Barclay de Tolly received the 2nd Western Army, which left the Semyonov flushes completely destroyed. There was no point in defending them with heavy losses. The Russian regiments retreated beyond the Semenovsky ravine, taking up positions on the heights near the village. The French launched infantry and cavalry attacks here.

Battle of Borodino from 9:00 to 12:30

Battle of Borodino (12:30-14:00)

At about 13:00, the Beauharnais corps resumed its attack on Kurgan Heights. At this time, by order of Kutuzov, a raid by the Cossack corps of the ataman and the cavalry corps of the general began against the enemy left wing, where the Italian troops were stationed. The Russian cavalry raid, the effectiveness of which historians debate to this day, forced Emperor Napoleon to stop all attacks for two hours and send part of his guard to the aid of Beauharnais.

Battle of Borodino from 12:30 to 14:00

During this time, Kutuzov again regrouped his forces, strengthening the center and left flank.

F. Rubo. "Living Bridge". Oil on canvas. 1892 Panorama Museum “Battle of Borodino”. Moscow

Battle of Borodino (14:00-18:00)

A cavalry battle took place in front of Kurgan Heights. The general's Russian hussars and dragoons attacked the enemy cuirassiers twice and drove them “all the way to the batteries.” When the mutual attacks here stopped, the sides sharply increased the force of artillery fire, trying to suppress the enemy batteries and inflict maximum damage on them in manpower.

Near the village of Semenovskaya, the enemy attacked the guards brigade of the colonel (Life Guards Izmailovsky and Lithuanian regiments). The regiments, forming a square, repelled several attacks by enemy cavalry with rifle salvoes and bayonets. The general came to the aid of the guards with the Ekaterinoslav and Order Cuirassier regiments, which overthrew the French cavalry. The artillery cannonade continued throughout the field, claiming thousands of lives.

A. P. Shvabe. Battle of Borodino. Copy from a painting by the artist P. Hess. Second half of the 19th century. Oil on canvas. TsVIMAIVS

After repelling the Russian cavalry raid, Napoleon's artillery concentrated a large force of its fire against the Kurgan Heights. It became, as the participants in the battle put it, the “volcano” of Borodin’s day. At about 15:00 in the afternoon, Marshal Murat gave the order for the cavalry to attack the Russians at the Great Redoubt with its entire mass. The infantry launched an attack on the heights and finally captured the battery position located there. The cavalry of the 1st Western Army bravely came out to meet the enemy cavalry, and a fierce cavalry battle took place under the heights.

V.V. Vereshchagin. Napoleon I on the Borodino Heights. 1897

After this, the enemy cavalry for the third time strongly attacked a brigade of Russian guards infantry near the village of Semenovskaya, but was repulsed with great damage. The French infantry of Marshal Ney's corps crossed the Semenovsky ravine, but its attack with large forces was not successful. At the southern end of the position of the Kutuzov army, the Poles captured the Utitsky Kurgan, but were unable to advance further.

Desario. Battle of Borodino

After 16 hours, the enemy, who had finally captured Kurgan Heights, launched attacks on Russian positions to the east of it. Here the general's cuirassier brigade, consisting of the Cavalry and Horse Guards regiments, entered the battle. With a decisive blow, the Russian guards cavalry overthrew the attacking Saxons, forcing them to retreat to their original positions.

North of the Great Redoubt, the enemy tried to attack with large forces, primarily with cavalry, but had no success. After 5 p.m., only artillery was active here.

After 16 hours, the French cavalry tried to deliver a strong blow from the village of Semenovskoye, but ran into the columns of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky and Finland regiments. The guards moved forward with the beating of drums and overthrew the enemy cavalry with bayonets. After this, the Finns cleared the edge of the forest from enemy shooters, and then the forest itself. At 19:00 in the evening the gunfire here subsided.

The last bursts of battle in the evening took place at the Kurgan Heights and the Utitsky Kurgan, but the Russians held their positions, themselves more than once launching decisive counterattacks. Emperor Napoleon never sent his last reserve into battle - the divisions of the Old and Young Guards to turn the tide of events in favor of French weapons.

By 6 pm the attacks had ceased along the entire line. Only the artillery fire and rifle fire in the forward lines, where the Jaeger infantry acted bravely, did not subside. The sides did not spare artillery charges that day. The last cannon shots were fired at about 10 pm, when it had already become completely dark.

Battle of Borodino from 14:00 to 18:00

Results of the Battle of Borodino

During the battle, which lasted from sunrise to sunset, the attacking “Grand Army” was able to force the enemy in the center and on his left flank to retreat only 1-1.5 km. At the same time, Russian troops preserved the integrity of the front line and their communications, repelling many attacks by enemy infantry and cavalry, while at the same time distinguishing themselves in counterattacks. The counter-battery fight, for all its ferocity and duration, did not give any advantage to either side.

The main Russian strongholds on the battlefield - Semenovsky flushes and Kurgan Heights - remained in the hands of the enemy. But the fortifications on them were completely destroyed, and therefore Napoleon ordered the troops to leave the captured fortifications and retreat to their original positions. With the onset of darkness, mounted Cossack patrols came out onto the deserted Borodino field and occupied the commanding heights above the battlefield. Enemy patrols also guarded the enemy's actions: the French were afraid of attacks in the night by Cossack cavalry.

The Russian commander-in-chief intended to continue the battle the next day. But, having received reports of terrible losses, Kutuzov ordered the Main Army to retreat to the city of Mozhaisk at night. The withdrawal from the Borodino field took place in an organized manner, in marching columns, under the cover of a strong rearguard. Napoleon learned about the enemy’s departure only in the morning, but he did not dare to immediately pursue the enemy.

In the “battle of the giants,” the parties suffered huge losses, which researchers are still discussing today. It is believed that during August 24-26, the Russian army lost from 45 to 50 thousand people (primarily from massive artillery fire), and the “Grand Army” - approximately 35 thousand or more. There are other figures, also disputed, that require some adjustment. In any case, the losses in killed, died from wounds, wounded and missing were equal to approximately a third of the strength of the opposing armies. The Borodino field also became a real “cemetery” for the French cavalry.

The Battle of Borodino in history is also called the “battle of the generals” due to the large losses in the senior command. In the Russian army, 4 generals were killed and mortally wounded, 23 generals were wounded and shell-shocked. In the Grand Army, 12 generals were killed or died from wounds, one marshal (Davout) and 38 generals were wounded.

The fierceness and uncompromising nature of the battle on the Borodino field is evidenced by the number of prisoners taken: approximately 1 thousand people and one general on each side. Russians - approximately 700 people.

The result of the general battle of the Patriotic War of 1812 (or Napoleon’s Russian Campaign) was that Bonaparte failed to defeat the enemy army, and Kutuzov did not defend Moscow.

Both Napoleon and Kutuzov demonstrated the art of great commanders on the day of Borodin. The “Great Army” began the battle with massive attacks, starting continuous battles for the Semenovsky flushes and Kurgan Heights. As a result, the battle turned into a frontal clash of sides, in which the attacking side had minimal chances of success. The enormous efforts of the French and their allies ultimately proved fruitless.

Be that as it may, both Napoleon and Kutuzov, in their official reports about the battle, declared the result of the confrontation on August 26 as their victory. M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov was awarded the rank of field marshal for Borodino. Indeed, both armies showed the highest heroism on the Borodino field.

The Battle of Borodino did not become a turning point in the campaign of 1812. Here we should turn to the opinion of the famous military theorist K. Clausewitz, who wrote that “victory lies not simply in capturing the battlefield, but in the physical and moral defeat of the enemy forces.”

After Borodin, the Russian army, whose fighting spirit had strengthened, quickly regained its strength and was ready to expel the enemy from Russia. Napoleon’s “great” “army,” on the contrary, lost heart and lost its former maneuverability and ability to win. Moscow became a real trap for her, and the retreat from it soon turned into a real flight with the final tragedy on the Berezina.

Material prepared by the Research Institute (military history)
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Many important dates and events are kept in the tablets of history. There are special, significant milestones in this series. Among them is the Battle of Borodino of 1812, briefly presented in reference books, deeply studied by historical science and which has become the theme for many works of art. The bibliography of the events of those years is very extensive. But such a brief and at the same time comprehensive description of the battle on the Borodino field could only be created by M. Yu. Lermontov in the poem “Borodino”.

We retreated silently for a long time

The Patriotic War of 1812 - an outstanding event in the history of Russia and our army - began on June 12, when reports began to arrive about the troops of the Second Great French Army crossing the Neman River and its entry into the territory of the Russian Empire. Strictly speaking, calling the army French can only be a stretch. It was hardly even half French. A significant part of it was either national formations or staffed on an international basis. As a result, the composition of the army looked like this:

Less significant in number were formations from Croatia, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. In total, Napoleon had at his disposal 10 infantry and 4 cavalry corps with a total strength (according to various sources) from 400 to 650 thousand people. The Russian army, divided into three directions, consisted of 227 thousand (after mobilization - 590 thousand) people.

Eyewitness accounts, maps and diagrams that fell into the hands of historians clearly confirm that Napoleon proceeded from the strategy of defeating the enemy in one general battle. The Russian army, not ready for such a battle, began to retreat, simultaneously concentrating forces in the Moscow direction.

After all, there were battles

It wasn't just a retreat. With their continuous attacks, the Russians exhausted the enemy. Retreating, they left nothing for the French - they burned crops, poisoned water, killed livestock, and destroyed forage. Active combat operations behind enemy lines were carried out by the partisan detachments of Figner, Ilovaisky, and Denis Davydov. The partisan movement born in this war was so large-scale (up to 400 thousand people) that it was time to talk about a second army. The so-called small war kept the soldiers of the Grand Army in constant tension. Napoleon, observing such a picture, subsequently accused the Russians of incorrect methods of warfare.

Constant, sometimes serious, clashes with individual units of the Russian army, partisan attacks on the rear prevented the French from advancing towards Moscow. In turn, this made it possible to combine the forces and means of our armies. On August 3 (July 22), the 1st Army of Barclay de Tolly and the 2nd Army under the command of Bagration united in Smolensk. But after four days of fierce fighting (which, by the way, was successful for the Russian troops), a rather controversial decision was made to continue the retreat.

And then we found a large field

On August 17, 1812, the prominent commander Field Marshal M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov took command of the Russian army. A decision was made to prepare troops for a general battle, the location for which was determined near the village of Borodino, 125 km west of Moscow. According to data from various sources, the alignment of the main forces and means of the armies before the start of the battle was as follows.

In the Russian army, consisting of:

• infantry - 72,000 people,
• cavalry - 14,000 people,
• Cossacks - 7000 people,
• militia warriors - 10,000 people,

there were from 112 to 120 thousand people and 640 guns.

Napoleon had at his disposal, taking into account non-combatants (they can be equated to militias), 130-138 thousand soldiers and officers and 587 guns, mostly more powerful than the Russians. The French could afford to have a stronger reserve (18 thousand) than in the Russian army (8-9 thousand). In a word, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, the Russian army was inferior to the enemy in its main parameters.

August 26 (September 7), 1812 - the day of the Battle of Borodino - a twelve-hour bloody battle is well known and does not cause controversy. Disagreements among historians are caused by events preceding this date. No one begs the significance of such fights, but they are often relegated to secondary status. And who knows what the outcome of the battle would have been without the heroic defense of the Shevardin redoubt. How many more fighters would the Russian army lose without getting a break? It was used to strengthen the main lines.

In this battle, which took place on August 24, detachments of generals Gorchakov and Konovnitsyn, numbering 11 thousand people with 46 guns, held back the enemy’s significantly superior strength (35 thousand personnel and 180 guns) all day, which allowed the main forces to strengthen the defensive positions near Borodino.

However, from a chronological point of view, the defense of the Shevardin redoubt is not yet the Battle of Borodino. The date of the one-day battle was August 26, 1812.

The enemy experienced a lot that day

The Battle of Borodino, which began early in the morning and lasted the whole day, was accompanied by varying successes of the opposing sides. The most significant events of this day are recorded in historical science under proper names.

• Bagration's flushes

4 defensive fortifications for artillery at a height near the village of Semenovskoye. They were a key fortification structure not only in the sector of the 2nd Army under the command of P.I. Bagration, but also for the entire defensive system of the Russian troops. The French took their first active actions at six o'clock in the morning in this direction. The forces of Marshal Davout's corps (25,000 men and 100 guns) were sent to the fléches, in the defense of which 8,000 Russians (with 50 guns) participated.

Despite triple superiority, the enemy was unable to solve his problem and was forced to retreat in less than an hour. In six hours, the French launched eight attacks on the flushes, trying to break through the left flank of the Russian army's defense. To do this, Napoleon was forced to constantly strengthen the grouping of troops in this direction. Naturally, M.I. Kutuzov did everything to prevent a breakthrough. In the fierce battle of the last attack, 15,000 Russians and 45,000 French fought.

Bagration, seriously wounded at that moment, was forced to leave the battlefield. This had a noticeable effect on the morale of flush defenders. They retreated, but entrenched themselves in a third defensive position east of the village of Semenovskoye.

• Battery Raevsky

The defense of the battery is one of the most significant stages of the Battle of Borodino. On the night before the battle, by order of M.I. Kutuzov, a battery of 18 guns was placed at the height of Kurgan, which was in the center of the Russian defensive system. The battery was part of the 7th Infantry Corps under Lieutenant General Raevsky. Its dominant position over the surrounding area could not go unnoticed by the French.

Along with Bagration's flushes, Raevsky's battery was subjected to repeated attacks by superior enemy forces. The defenders of this most important sector of defense and the soldiers of the detachments sent to support them showed miracles of heroism. Still, at the cost of huge losses (the French lost 3,000 soldiers and 5 generals here), by 16:00 Napoleon’s troops managed to capture the lunettes at the height of Kurgan. But they were not allowed to develop their success. Raevsky's battery became a common name in Russian history for courage, heroism and perseverance.

Anticipating possible enemy actions is the most important ability of a military leader. Taking into account the information about the enemy’s movements obtained from the reports of the corps commanders, Kutuzov assumed that Napoleon would strike the first blow against Bagration’s flushes. On the eve of the battle, he ordered an ambush in the Utitsky forest, where there were already two Jaeger regiments, the 3rd Infantry Corps of General Tuchkov and militias from the Smolensk region and the Moscow region, with the aim of delivering a flank attack to the French, who would go to the battle formations of the 2nd Army.

The plans were disrupted by the 5th French Corps, which captured the Utitsa Heights and launched a powerful artillery bombardment. Despite this, the Russian soldiers were able to gain time and pull back part of the French forces from Bagration’s defending flushes. Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov died in this battle.

• Raid of the troops of Platov and Uvarov

The Battle of Borodino of 1812 was short in duration and the brief summary of its episodes does not allow us to dwell on each of them. Therefore, historians often limit themselves to the main milestones of the battle, forgetting about the minor ones.

The raid of the Cossacks of the head ataman Platov (6 regiments) and the cavalry of Uvarov (2500 horsemen) behind enemy lines, carried out on the orders of M.I. Kutuzov, at the very height of the battle did not cause much damage to the French. But he strengthened Napoleon's doubts about the reliability of his rear.

It is possible that this is why he did not throw his main reserve into battle - the guard. It is unknown what would have happened if he had acted differently.

Then we began to count the wounds

Convinced of the futility of his attacks, Napoleon abandoned the captured Russian fortifications and returned the troops to their original positions. At 18:00 on August 26, Russian formations were still firmly positioned on the Borodino defensive lines.

The Battle of Borodino is perhaps the most controversial in the history of wars. The very fact that both commanders, Napoleon and Kutuzov, chalked up victory in it to their own account, does not give grounds to name a winner. Summing up the results of the bloodiest battle at that time (hourly joint losses amounted to 6,000 people), historians to this day cannot agree. They give different death tolls. On average they are as follows: the French army was missing 50 thousand people, the Russian losses amounted to 44 thousand.

And they kept the oath of allegiance

These words of M. Yu. Lermontov, summing up the heroic events of August 1812, hardly need any addition.

You will rarely meet a person in Russia (be it a child - a 4th grade student or an elderly citizen who does not overload his memory with historical knowledge) who has not heard the names of the heroes of 812 - Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov, generals A. A. Tuchkov and N. N. Raevsky, P. I. Bagration and M. B. Barclay de Tolly, military atamans M. I. Platov and V. D. Ilovaisky, the legendary Denis Davydov and sergeant major of the Jaeger regiment Zolotov, leader of the peasant partisan detachment Gerasim Kurin and cavalry girl Nadezhda Durova (Alexandrova).

Every year, on Borodino Field, history buffs and just spectators gather for an interesting event - a reconstruction of the August events of 1812, which lasts several days. At the end there is a serious battle in which the Russians must win. Isn't this a confirmation of people's memory? There are more and more people interested in this hobby. This event is scheduled to take place again in August of this year.

Different points of view on some facts and figures. But no one disputes that the Battle of Borodino in 1812 was the beginning of the end of Napoleonic greatness. A summary of any reference article or in-depth scientific research in conclusions on this issue will be consistent.

War of 1812

The Patriotic War of 1812 was the liberation war of Russia against the aggression of Napoleonic France. The French “Grand Army” (about 600 thousand people) included troops from many European countries enslaved by Napoleon. The war began with the invasion of French troops into Russian territory on June 14. The Russian 1st, 2nd, 3rd armies (commanders, respectively, Minister of War M.B. Barclay de Tolly, P.I. Bagration and A.P. Tormasov) began to withdraw according to Barclay de Tolly’s plan, preventing the enemy from breaking them apart. Operating in the main direction, the 1st and 2nd armies fought back, drawing closer to unite. On July 22, they united at Smolensk and, having given the French a battle, continued to retreat. On August 8, M.I. became commander-in-chief of the Russian army. Kutuzov, under whose leadership Russian troops in the bloody Battle of Borodino on August 26 did not allow Napoleon to gain victory over them. The abandonment of Moscow by the Russian army (September 2) became an integral part of Kutuzov’s strategic plan to exhaust the French troops, build up the forces of the Russian army, and use the growing partisan movement. As a result of the battle of Maloyaroslavets (October 12), Kutuzov seized the strategic initiative and forced Napoleon to retreat along the war-ravaged Old Smolensk Road. The battles that took place during the offensive of the Russian army at Vyazma, Lyakhovo, Krasny and near the Berezina River led to the expulsion of the French from Russia in December 1812. The enemy lost more than 500 thousand people, all cavalry and artillery on Russian territory.

Battle of Borodino August 26 (September 8), 1812 – Day of Military Glory (victory day) of Russia

The largest battle of the Patriotic War of 1812 between the Russian army and Napoleon's troops took place on August 26 near the village of Borodino. The decision to give battle to the French 120 km from Moscow in order to inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible was made by Infantry General M.I., who took command of the Russian army on August 17. Golenishchev-Kutuzov. The French Emperor Napoleon in the upcoming battle sought to defeat the Russian army and capture Moscow, which, in his opinion, would lead to the surrender of Russia.

Russian troops took up defensive positions in a strip 8 km wide. The right flank of their position adjoined the Moscow River and was protected by a natural barrier - the Koloch River. The center rested on the Kurgannaya heights, and the left flank abutted the Utitsky forest, but had open space in front of it. To strengthen the position on the left flank near the village of Semenovskoye, artificial earthen fortifications were built - flashes. According to Kutuzov’s calculations, the occupied position was supposed to reliably cover the main routes leading to Moscow, limit the enemy’s maneuver and force him to conduct frontal actions, since covering the flanks of the position was difficult.

By the beginning of the battle, the Russian army numbered 120 thousand people and 624 guns. The number of Napoleonic troops was about 135 thousand people with 587 guns.

The Battle of Borodino was preceded by the battle for the Shevardinsky redoubt on August 24, in which Russian troops (about 8 thousand infantry, 4 thousand cavalry and 36 guns) entered the fight against superior enemy forces (30 thousand infantry, 10 thousand cavalry and 186 guns) . The battle of Shevardino gave the Russian army the opportunity to continue the construction of engineering structures at the Borodino position, and also revealed Napoleon’s intention to deliver the main blow against the left wing of the Russian army.

At dawn on August 26, the historic Battle of Borodino began with powerful artillery cannonade from both sides. French troops attacked the village of Borodino, pushed the Russian rangers beyond the Kolocha River, but were unable to continue the offensive, as they shot down a French regiment that had crossed the river, and then burned the only bridge. With these demonstrative attacks, Napoleon wanted to divert Kutuzov’s attention from the direction of the main attack, which was being delivered against the troops of the left flank. This was followed by attacks on the Semenovsky flushes, defended by the troops of the 2nd Army of Prince P.I. Bagration. The Russian regiments withstood seven attacks, counterattacking the enemy more than once. Only the eighth, most bloody, attack brought some success to the French: the flushes destroyed by artillery fire were captured.

It seemed that Napoleon was already close to victory. All that remained was to break down the resistance in the center and capture Kurgan Heights (Raevsky’s battery). But while preparing the attack, Napoleon was informed of the appearance of large masses of Russian cavalry on his left flank. At the critical moment of the battle, Kutuzov sent M.I. to bypass the Cossacks. Platov and the 1st Cavalry Corps F.P. Uvarov. To eliminate the panic that arose on the left flank, Napoleon stopped the attack on the center and sent part of his guard to repel the Russian cavalry. Only after the situation there was restored did he resume attacks on the center of the Russian battle formation. At the cost of great effort, the French managed to capture the heights, but they were no longer able to build on their success due to heavy losses. By the end of the day, the Russian army stood firmly in the Borodino position. Convinced of the futility of the attacks and fearing that the Russian troops would take active action, Napoleon gave the order to withdraw the troops to the starting line. Kutuzov, realizing the impossibility of making up for the losses suffered, gave the order to retreat around midnight. On the night of August 27, the Russian army began to retreat to Moscow.

During the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon lost more than 58 thousand people, including 51 generals; Russian army - more than 44 thousand people, including 217 officers and 26 generals. Napoleon perfectly understood the outcome of the battle. “Of all my battles,” he said, “the most terrible is the one I fought near Moscow. The French showed themselves worthy of victory, and the Russians acquired the right to be invincible.” The Battle of Borodino marked the beginning of the near and final collapse of all Napoleon's plans for the conquest of Russia.

The wound received by the “Great Army” near Borodino turned out to be fatal. After 52 days, battered and bloodless, retreating to the west, she again passed through Borodino.

The Battle of Borodino will forever go down in the history of the liberation struggle of the peoples of our country as one of its most striking pages. Borodino has become a symbol of the indestructible spirit of the Russian soldier, evidence of the perseverance, courage and strength of the Russian people.

According to the Federal Law “On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia” dated March 13, 1995, September 8 is celebrated in the Russian Federation as the Day of the Battle of Borodino of the Russian Army under the command of M.I. Kutuzov with the French army.

The Battle of Borodino is one of the most famous in Russian history. It was of great importance in the War of 1812 and became the most brutal and bloody in the 19th century. September 7 (August 26), 1812 – the day of one of the greatest victories in Russian history. The significance of the Battle of Borodino is difficult to overestimate. Defeat in it would lead to complete and unconditional surrender.

By that time, the Russian troops were commanded by Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, a general respected not only by officers, but also by ordinary soldiers. He sought at any cost to delay the general battle with Napoleon's army. Retreating inland and forcing Bonaparte to disperse his forces, he tried to minimize the superiority of the French army. However, the constant retreats and approach of the enemy to Moscow could not but affect the mood in Russian society and the morale of the army. Napoleon was in a hurry to capture all the key positions, while trying to maintain the high combat effectiveness of the Grand Army. The Battle of Borodino, the causes of which were concluded in the confrontation between two armies and two outstanding commanders, took place on September 7 (August 26, old style) 1812.

The location of the battle was chosen very carefully. While developing the plan for the Battle of Borodino, Kutuzov paid serious attention to the terrain. Streams and ravines, small rivers that covered the lands adjacent to the small village of Borodino, made them the best option. This made it possible to minimize the numerical superiority of the French army and the superiority of its artillery. It was quite difficult to bypass Russian troops in this area. But, at the same time, Kutuzov managed to block the Old and New Smolensk roads and the Gzhatsky tract leading to Moscow. The most important thing for the Russian commander was the tactic of exhausting the enemy army. The flashes and other fortifications erected by the soldiers played a significant role in the battle.

Here is a condensed description of the Battle of Borodino. At 6 am, French artillery opened fire along the entire front - this was the beginning of the Battle of Borodino. The French troops lined up for the attack launched their onslaught on the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment. Desperately resisting, the regiment retreated beyond the Koloch River. The flashes, which would become known as the Bagrationovs, protected the chasseur regiments of Prince Shakhovsky from encircling. Ahead, the rangers also lined up in a cordon. Major General Neverovsky's division occupied positions behind the flushes.

The troops of Major General Duka occupied the Semenovsky Heights. This sector was attacked by the cavalry of Marshal Murat, the troops of Marshals Ney and Davout, and the corps of General Junot. The number of attackers reached 115 thousand people.

The course of the Battle of Borodino, after the repelled attacks of the French at 6 and 7 o'clock, continued with another attempt to take flushes on the left flank. By that time, they were reinforced by the Izmailovsky and Lithuanian regiments, Konovnitsin’s division and cavalry units. On the French side, it was in this area that serious artillery forces were concentrated - 160 guns. However, subsequent attacks (at 8 and 9 am) were, despite the incredible intensity of the fighting, completely unsuccessful. The French briefly managed to capture flushes at 9 am. But they were soon driven out from the Russian fortifications by a powerful counterattack. The dilapidated flashes stubbornly held on, repelling subsequent enemy attacks.

Konovnitsin withdrew his troops to Semenovskoye only after holding these fortifications ceased to be necessary. The Semenovsky ravine became the new line of defense. The exhausted troops of Davout and Murat, who did not receive reinforcements (Napoleon did not dare to bring the Old Guard into the battle), were unable to carry out a successful attack.

The situation was extremely difficult in other areas as well. Kurgan Heights was attacked at the same time that the battle for taking flushes was raging on the left flank. Raevsky's battery held the height, despite the powerful onslaught of the French under the command of Eugene Beauharnais. After reinforcements arrived, the French were forced to retreat.

The scheme of the Borodino battle will not be complete without mentioning the detachment of Lieutenant General Tuchkov. He prevented Polish units under the command of Poniatowski from bypassing Russian positions. Having occupied the Utitsky Kurgan, Tuchkov blocked the Old Smolensk Road. While defending the mound, Tuchkov was mortally wounded. But the Poles were forced to retreat.

The actions on the right flank were no less intense. Lieutenant General Uvarov and Ataman Platov, with a cavalry raid deep into enemy positions, carried out at about 10 o’clock in the morning, drew off significant French forces. This made it possible to weaken the onslaught along the entire front. Platov was able to reach the rear of the French (Valuevo area), which suspended the offensive in the central direction. Uvarov made an equally successful maneuver in the Bezzubovo area.

The Battle of Borodino lasted all day and began to gradually subside only at 6 o’clock in the evening. Another attempt to bypass Russian positions was successfully repulsed by soldiers of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment in the Utitsky Forest. After this, Napoleon gave the order to retreat to their original positions. The Battle of Borodino, a summary of which is outlined above, lasted more than 12 hours.

Losses in the Battle of Borodino of Napoleon's Grand Army amounted to 59 thousand people, including 47 generals. The Russian army lost 39 thousand soldiers, including 29 generals.

It should be noted that the results of the Battle of Borodino cause heated debate in our time. However, by the end of that day, it was difficult to say even who won the Battle of Borodino, because both Kutuzov and Napoleon declared their victory quite officially. But further developments showed that, despite the huge losses and retreat for the Russian army, the date of the Battle of Borodino became one of the most glorious dates in the country’s military history. And this was achieved through steadfastness, courage and unparalleled heroism of officers and soldiers. The heroes of the Battle of Borodino in 1812 were Tuchkov, Barclay de Tolly, Raevsky and many other warriors.

The outcome of the battle for Bonaparte turned out to be much more difficult. It was impossible to make up for the losses of the Great Army. The soldiers' morale dropped. In such a situation, the prospects for the Russian campaign no longer looked so bright.

The Day of the Battle of Borodino is celebrated today in both Russia and France. Large-scale historical reconstructions of the events of September 7, 1812 are being carried out on the Borodino Field.