Patriotic War of 1812 the course of the war. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory

Official reason The war was a violation of the terms of the Tilsit Peace by Russia and France. Russia, despite the blockade of England, accepted its ships under neutral flags in its ports. France annexed the Duchy of Oldenburg to its possessions. Napoleon considered Emperor Alexander's demand for the withdrawal of troops from the Duchy of Warsaw and Prussia to be offensive. The War of 1812 was becoming inevitable.

Here summary Patriotic War of 1812. Napoleon, at the head of a huge 600,000-strong army, crossed the Neman on June 12, 1812. The Russian army, numbering only 240 thousand people, was forced to retreat deeper into the country. In the battle of Smolensk, Bonaparte failed to win a complete victory and defeat the united 1st and 2nd Russian armies.

In August, M.I. Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief. He not only had the talent of a strategist, but also enjoyed respect among soldiers and officers. He decided to give a general battle to the French near the village of Borodino. The positions for the Russian troops were chosen most successfully. The left flank was protected by flushes (earthen fortifications), and the right flank by the Koloch River. The troops of N.N. Raevsky were located in the center. and artillery.

Both sides fought desperately. The fire of 400 guns was directed at the flashes, which were courageously guarded by the troops under the command of Bagration. As a result of 8 attacks, Napoleonic troops suffered huge losses. They managed to capture Raevsky's batteries (in the center) only at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but not for long. The French attack was contained thanks to a bold raid by the lancers of the 1st Cavalry Corps. Despite all the difficulties of bringing the old guard, the elite troops, into battle, Napoleon never risked it. Late in the evening the battle ended. The losses were enormous. The French lost 58, and the Russians 44 thousand people. Paradoxically, both commanders declared victory in the battle.

The decision to leave Moscow was made by Kutuzov at the council in Fili on September 1. This was the only way to maintain a combat-ready army. On September 2, 1812, Napoleon entered Moscow. Waiting for a peace proposal, Napoleon stayed in the city until October 7. As a result of fires most of Moscow died during this time. Peace with Alexander 1 was never concluded.

Kutuzov stopped 80 km away. from Moscow in the village of Tarutino. He covered Kaluga, which had large reserves of fodder and the arsenals of Tula. The Russian army, thanks to this maneuver, was able to replenish its reserves and, importantly, update its equipment. At the same time, French foraging detachments were subjected to partisan attacks. The detachments of Vasilisa Kozhina, Fyodor Potapov, and Gerasim Kurin launched effective strikes, depriving the French army of the opportunity to replenish food supplies. They acted the same way special units Davydova A.V. and Seslavina A.N.

After leaving Moscow, Napoleon's army failed to get through to Kaluga. The French were forced to retreat along the Smolensk road, without food. Early severe frosts worsened the situation. The final defeat of the Great Army took place in the battle of the Berezina River on November 14–16, 1812. Of the 600,000-strong army, only 30,000 hungry and frozen soldiers left Russia. The manifesto on the victorious end of the Patriotic War was issued by Alexander 1 on December 25 of the same year. The victory of 1812 was complete.

In 1813 and 1814, the Russian army marched, liberating European countries from Napoleon's rule. Russian troops acted in alliance with the armies of Sweden, Austria, and Prussia. As a result, in accordance with the Treaty of Paris on May 18, 1814, Napoleon lost his throne and France returned to its 1793 borders.

June 12, 1812 - the date of the beginning of the Russian-French war. Napoleon's army crossed the border of the Russian Empire, which marked the beginning of hostilities. In the five years preceding this event, French troops marched in triumph throughout Europe. Bonaparte's army was deservedly considered the best, and it was led by talented commanders and, as many believe, a brilliant commander in chief. This allowed Napoleon to count on his quick victory. But six months later, the last French troops were expelled from the territory of the Russian Empire. This is how one can describe the Patriotic War of 1812.

Briefly about the causes of the conflict

The history of the relationship between Napoleon and Alexander I is very confusing. When Bonaparte came to power, relations between Russia and France were very friendly. However, contradictions gradually accumulated, which led to the invasion of the territory of the Russian Empire.

Table of the causes of the Patriotic War of 1812

At the time of the entry of Napoleonic armed forces into Russian territory, their number reached 450 thousand soldiers. Over the next month, reinforcements numbering 200 thousand arrived. It should be borne in mind that Napoleon’s army consisted not only of the French. The emperor's troops united representatives of almost all European countries: Austrians, Poles, Swiss, Italians, Prussians, Spaniards, Dutch and others. It was a victorious army.

The Russian army consisted of 227 thousand soldiers in three directions. Brief list:

Later, mobilization was carried out, which increased the size of the army to 600 thousand. And Active participation received by the partisans. How many were there last? According to some sources, 400 thousand.

First period of the war (southern and northern front)

The start date of the war is considered to be June 12, 1812, when Napoleonic armed forces crossed the Neman. The main attack was directed towards Moscow. Russian troops were fragmented over a vast territory - this is the answer to the question: “why did they retreat deeper into the country?” During the retreat, everything was destroyed. The invaders were left with only scorched earth. The beginning of the War of 1812 was filled more with maneuvers than with battles.

The French army is in the north numbering 32 thousand, headed for the capital of the Russian Empire, on the way to which Riga was to be captured. For defense last defenders The surrounding areas were burned out, and the city itself was fortified. However, after the counterattack of Russian troops on Oudinot, balance was established in the north. There were no active hostilities.

In the south, the French were surrounded and defeated, which forced them to retreat (in one day of battle, almost a quarter of Napoleonic's southern army was destroyed - 5 thousand French died). After the arrival of reinforcements, a balance of forces was also established in the southern direction.

First period of the war (central direction)

The most significant events took place in the central direction. Napoleon's army was significantly superior to the troops of Alexander I in the number of bayonets. To compensate for the difference, the formation of a militia was announced. However, time was needed to organize the defense. Only on July 22, near Smolensk, it was possible to concentrate a significant military contingent - 130 thousand people. While the French had a vanguard of 150 thousand people.

In Smolensk on July 25, immediate plans were discussed. Ideas about a general battle were put forward. However, it is difficult to call such proposals real, since they were adventurous in nature and could lead to defeat in the war. The retreat continued the next day. Russian army to the east, while exhausting the enemy's manpower. However, the emperor considered that the retreat could not last any longer.

On August 17, Suvorov’s student, M.I. Kutuzov, took command of the central front. But, according to eyewitnesses, it also took him a long time to make a decision. However, in the end the plan was developed and adopted. On August 26, a general battle takes place on a field called Borodino. It was difficult for Russian troops to win this battle. Kutuzov's goal was to exhaust the French army. The Russian commander achieved his goal. Napoleon also achieved his goal - the capture of Moscow. But in the old capital, three-quarters of the buildings were burned and all food supplies were destroyed. Instead of rest, Napoleonic troops received ruins.

The French emperor hoped that the loss of Moscow would break Russian resistance. The Russian commander, in turn, knew about the deplorable state of the French supply services. Therefore, I assumed that the content huge amount people in a destroyed city is impossible. Therefore, the weakening of the enemy army and subsequent retreat must begin. Kutuzov with his army was stationed at a point near Tarutin (80 km from Moscow), waiting for an opportune moment.

Napoleon gradually realized the situation into which he had driven himself. Therefore, on September 18, the French emperor sends Alexander I a letter with a peace proposal, according to which Russia gives up Lithuania and resumes the blockade of England. Napoleon received no answer. Twice more he sent a proposal for peace, but the result was the same.

After a month in Moscow, the French army lost 30 thousand soldiers due to partisan actions. A winter campaign against St. Petersburg would be suicide. It was impossible to spend the winter in destroyed Moscow. Therefore, on October 7, preparations for retreat began. The order was given to blow up the Kremlin, but due to damp gunpowder or wet fuses, no explosion occurred.

On October 19, the French left the destroyed city. Napoleon wanted to change the route in order to move through lands not devastated by the war. However, Kutuzov, at the head of an army that was already superior to the enemy, stopped all attempts to turn away. The French were forced to retreat through the scorched territories along which they entered Moscow.

The losses of Napoleon's army grew like an avalanche. The partisans showed particular effectiveness. The recapture of Smolensk did not justify hopes of replenishing supplies. By mid-November, the French approached the Berezina River and were preparing to cross it. But the city of Borisov is captured by Russian troops - Napoleonic army is under threat of encirclement. At the cost of enormous losses, the French managed to cross the river and avoid destruction. It was after these events that abnormally severe frosts struck, which the emperor himself, and later many historians, used to justify the defeat in the Russian campaign.

December 5, the Emperor leaves the troops and goes to the capital of France. And on December 16, the border of the Russian Empire was crossed by a French army, the number of which was 1,600 people.

Outcome of the War of 1812

The death of Napoleon's army is the main result of the War of 1812. This event also marked the collapse of France's ambitions for hegemony in Europe, and for Napoleon personally it was the reason for the loss of the throne. For Russia, the Franco-Russian war also had important consequences:

However, it should be noted that the war caused enormous damage to the country's economy. There was a production decline, agricultural harvests were lost over vast territories, and it is impossible to estimate the losses from the destruction of Moscow. Many lost all their property, and specialists left Russia . It took many years to recover.

The Patriotic War of 1812 is an important page in the history of not only our country, but also the whole of Europe. Having entered a series of “Napoleonic wars,” Russia acted as the intercessor of monarchical Europe. Thanks to Russian victories over the French, the global revolution in Europe was delayed for some time.

War between France and Russia was inevitable, and on June 12, 1812, having gathered an army of 600 thousand, Napoleon crossed the Neman and invaded Russia. The Russian army had a plan to confront Napoleon, which was developed by the Prussian military theorist Fuhl, and approved by Emperor Alexander I.

Fuhl divided the Russian armies into three groups:

• 1st commanded;
• 2nd ;
• 3rd Tormasov.

Fuhl assumed that the armies would systematically retreat to fortified positions, unite, and hold back Napoleon’s onslaught. In practice, it was a disaster. Russian troops retreated, and soon the French found themselves not far from Moscow. Fuhl's plan completely failed, despite the desperate resistance of the Russian people.

The current situation required decisive action. So, on August 20, the post of commander-in-chief was taken by one of the best students of the Great. During the war with France, Kutuzov will utter an interesting phrase: “To save Russia, we must burn Moscow.”

Russian troops will give a general battle to the French near the village of Borodino. There was a Great Slaughter, called. No one emerged victorious. The battle was brutal, with many casualties on both sides. A few days later, at the military council in Fili, Kutuzov will decide to retreat. On September 2, the French entered Moscow. Napoleon hoped that Muscovites would bring him the key to the city. No matter how it is... Deserted Moscow did not greet Napoleon solemnly at all. The city burned down, barns with food and ammunition burned down.

Entering Moscow was fatal for Napoleon. He didn't really know what to do next. The French army was harassed by partisans every day, every night. The War of 1812 was truly a Patriotic War. Confusion and vacillation began in Napoleon's Army, discipline was broken, and the soldiers began to drink. Napoleon stayed in Moscow until October 7, 1812. The French army decided to retreat south, to grain-growing regions that were not devastated by the war.

The Russian army gave battle to the French at Maloyaroslavets. The city was mired in fierce fighting, but the French wavered. Napoleon was forced to retreat along the Old Smolensk Road, the same one along which he had come. The battles near Vyazma, Krasny and at the crossing of the Berezina put an end to the Napoleonic intervention. The Russian army drove the enemy from its land. On December 23, 1812, Alexander I issued a manifesto on the end of the Patriotic War. The Patriotic War of 1812 was over, but the campaign of the Napoleonic Wars was only in full swing. The fighting continued until 1814.

Patriotic War of 1812 - an important event V Russian History. The war caused an unprecedented surge of national self-awareness among the Russian people. Everyone, young and old, defended their Fatherland. By winning this war, the Russian people confirmed their courage and heroism, and showed an example of self-sacrifice for the good of the Motherland. The war gave us many people whose names will be forever inscribed in Russian history, these are Mikhail Kutuzov, Dokhturov, Raevsky, Tormasov, Bagration, Seslavin, Gorchakov, Barclay-De-Tolly, . And how many still unknown heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812, how many forgotten names. Patriotic War 1812 is a Great Event, the lessons of which should not be forgotten today.

In the spring of 1812, Napoleon's army launched a campaign against Russia. The fate of not only Russia, but also numerous European states depended on the outcome of this war, for all of them were directly or indirectly dependent on Napoleonic France.

It seemed that nothing could stop Napoleon's army. However, the campaign against Russia, launched by the invincible commander, ended, as we know, in a defeat unprecedented in history. Napoleon's army of thousands, which invaded Russia, was completely destroyed. Only a few thousand soldiers and officers escaped with Napoleon.

The War of 1812, which ended with the collapse of the Napoleonic empire and a radical change in the entire political situation in Europe, left an indelible mark on world history. There is still debate on many issues in the history of the epic of 1812. Therefore, this topic remains relevant in history. Nowadays, the history of the Napoleonic invasion of Russia includes thousands of works by Soviet and Russian historians.

Pre-revolutionary historiography is clearly divided into two main directions: protective-conservative, which diligently emphasized the “patriotism” of the war in the sense of the unity of all classes around the throne, and liberal, which did not insist on the unity of all layers of society.

Soviet historiography. The development of the theme begins in the 1920s. M.N. Pokrovsky calls Russia the aggressor, he gives a low assessment of the Russian army, and he considered the patriotism of the Russian people only to protect their property from looters. A decisive shift in the field of studying the history of the Napoleonic wars and the events of the Patriotic War of 1812 was observed in the mid-30s, E.V. Tarle "Napoleon", where the academician highly appreciates Napoleon's talents, Tarle very clearly defined Napoleon's plans aimed at subjugating Russia economically. The main obstacle to the advance of Napoleonic troops, as he showed, was the extraordinary strength of resistance of the peoples of Russia.

WWII historiography was aimed at promoting the experience of past struggles. During this period, the War of 1812 is perceived as the heroic struggle of the peoples of Russia against the Napoleonic invasion, and much attention is also paid to the role of commanders, including M.I. Kutuzov. Soviet historians paid much attention to coverage of the Battle of Borodino. The economic, diplomatic and ideological aspects of the war were extremely poorly developed, and mistakes and inaccuracies were made in the coverage of a number of events. Research lagged behind the existing documentary base. Until the end of the Soviet period, the prevailing concept was that Russia's foreign policy was peaceful in nature and was aimed exclusively at containing Napoleonic hegemony and against the aspirations of the French emperor for world domination.

Since 1962, the development of the role begins economic factor in the war of 1812 L.G. Beskrovny was able to comprehensively show the military and economic capabilities of Russia, refuting the myth about the poor equipment of the Russian army. L.P. also agrees with him. Bogdanov. Napoleon's strategic plan for the invasion of Russia was not specifically studied. However, the literature has firmly established the opinion that long before the invasion, the French commander decided to capture Moscow; A.Z. does not agree with this. Manfred. There are still conflicting data on the number of troops.

In the 60s - 80s, the gap in the development of the first stage of the war was largely filled. It is covered most thoroughly in the monographs of L.G. Beskrovny, P.A. Zhilina, I.A. Troitsky.

One of the controversial issues in the history of the War of 1812 is its periodization. L.G. Beskrovny divides the war into two stages, considering the Battle of Borodino as the frontier. I.I. Rostunov proposed a three-stage periodization: the beginning of the war before Tarutino, staying in Tarutino and the transition to pursuing the enemy until the final defeat of the Napoleonic army.

Released since the early 1990s. works are devoted mainly to specific issues of the history of the War of 1812, and if earlier Russian empire appeared as a victim in the question of the causes of the war, now the prevailing opinion is that the war was caused by a complex of political and economic contradictions between Russia and France, the clash of their interests in Germany, Poland, and the Middle East. Napoleon's frank desire for hegemony in Europe is not denied, but what is particularly different is the obvious desire of Alexander I to achieve revenge for the military defeats of 1805-1807. The opinion about the surprise of the attack is also called untenable.

Causes of the war:

• 1. trade and economic. Russia refused to participate in the continental blockade of England, so as not to harm its own trade.
• 2. Polish question. Napoleon supported the Poles' desire for independence, which did not suit Russia.

At the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Napoleonic France successfully carried out a whole series wars of conquest, its army demonstrated the most modern military art, was numerous and combat-ready.

After making peace with Napoleon, Alexander entered into a war with Sweden (1808-1809). As a result, Finland ceded to Russia and became part of Russia as an autonomous principality. On June 12, 1812, Napoleon, at the head of his army, invaded Russian territory. He hoped to defeat the Russian armies and impose peace on Russia on his own terms. The Russian army was led by: M. B. Barclay de Tolly, P. I. Bagration, A. P. Tormasov.

Progress of the war. First stage. (From the beginning of the invasion on June 12 to August 26 of the Battle of Borodino). Second phase. (from Borodino to the battle for Maloyaroslavets on October 12) Third stage: (from Maloyaroslavets to the defeat of the “Great Army” and the liberation of Russian territory on December 25).

Following the plan of M.B. Barclay de Tolly, the Russian army immediately began to retreat. Napoleon's plan was thwarted; he continued his attack on Moscow in the hope of a general battle. Russian society was unhappy. This forced the emperor to appoint M.I. Kutuzov as commander-in-chief. On August 26, a battle took place near the village of Borodino near Moscow. On September 1, a military council was held in the village of Fili, where it was decided to leave Moscow to Napoleon, thereby preserving the Russian army. On September 2, Napoleon entered Moscow. Due to lack of food, he decided to leave the Russian capital. Kutuzov was preparing for a counteroffensive, which he launched on October 6. On October 12, the battle of Maloyaroslavets took place.

The onset of severe frosts and hunger turned the French retreat into flight. On December 25, 1812, the manifesto of Alexander I announced the victorious end of the Patriotic War.

On January 1, 1813, the Russian army crossed the Neman. On October 4-6, 1813, the battle of Leipzig took place, the so-called Battle of the Nations. Soon the Allied troops entered Paris. Napoleon abdicated the throne and was exiled to the island of Elba. On May 28, 1815, during the Congress of Vienna, the Final Act was signed, according to which Russia received Bessarabia, Finland and the territory of the former Duchy of Warsaw. On June 6, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo took place. Napoleon in Once again was defeated and sent to St. Helena.

Reasons for victory.

• 1) National liberation, folk character wars,
• 2) High level military art of Russian military leaders.
• 3) Russia's significant economic potential, which made it possible to create a large and well-armed army.
• 4) The loss of the French army’s best fighting qualities, Napoleon’s reluctance and inability to find support among the peasant masses due to their liberation from serfdom.
• 5) England and Spain made a great contribution to Russia’s victory, diverting Napoleon’s significant forces for the war in Spain and at sea.

Consequences of the war:

• 1. Great economic and national damage. Subsequently, the Moscow province quickly recovered from the devastation, and in Smolensk and Pskov the population was less than in 1811 until the middle of the century.
• 2. Consolidation of the Russian nation.
• 3. Strengthening Moscow as a spiritual center.
• 4. The rise of national culture.
• 5. The war entailed a series of diplomatic agreements between countries opposed to Napoleonic France. In 1815, when the Congress in Vienna ended, the Russian, Prussian and Austrian monarchs signed a treaty of holy alliance. They took upon themselves the obligation to ensure the inviolability of the decisions of the Vienna Congress. Subsequently, most European countries joined the union.

PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1812

Causes and nature of the war. The Patriotic War of 1812 is the largest event in Russian history. Its emergence was caused by Napoleon's desire to achieve world domination. In Europe, only Russia and England maintained their independence. Despite the Treaty of Tilsit, Russia continued to oppose the expansion of Napoleonic aggression. Napoleon was particularly irritated systematic violation her continental blockade. Since 1810, both sides, realizing the inevitability of a new clash, were preparing for war. Napoleon flooded the Duchy of Warsaw with his troops and created military warehouses there. The threat of invasion looms over Russia's borders. In turn, the Russian government increased the number of troops in the western provinces.

In the military conflict between the two sides, Napoleon became the aggressor. He began hostilities and invaded Russian territory. In this regard, for the Russian people the war became a liberation war, a Patriotic war. Not only the regular army, but also the broad masses of the people took part in it.

Correlation of forces. In preparation for the war against Russia, Napoleon gathered a significant army - up to 678 thousand soldiers. These were perfectly armed and trained troops, seasoned in previous wars. They were led by a galaxy of brilliant marshals and generals - L. Davout, L. Berthier, M. Ney, I. Murat and others. They were commanded by the most famous commander of that time, Napoleon Bonaparte. The weak point of his army was its motley National composition. German and Spanish, Polish and; The aggressive plans of the French bourgeoisie were deeply alien to the Portuguese, Austrian and Italian soldiers.

Active preparations for the war that Russia had been waging since 1810 brought results. She managed to create modern armed forces for that time, powerful artillery, which, as it turned out during the war, was superior to the French. The troops were led by talented military leaders M.I. Kutuzov, M.B. Barclay de Tolly, P.I. Bagration, A.P. Ermolov, N.N. Raevsky, M.A. Miloradovich and others. They were distinguished by their great military experience and personal courage. The advantage of the Russian army was determined by the patriotic enthusiasm of all segments of the population, large human resources, food and fodder reserves.

However, on initial stage During the war, the French army outnumbered the Russian one. The first echelon of troops that entered Russia numbered 450 thousand people, while the Russians western border there were about 320 thousand people, divided into three armies. 1st - under the command of M.B. Barclay de Tolly - covered the St. Petersburg direction, the 2nd - led by P.I. Bagration - defended the center of Russia, the 3rd - General A.P. Tormasov - was located in the southern direction.

Plans of the parties. Napoleon planned to capture significant part Russian territory up to Moscow and sign with Alexander new agreement to subjugate Russia. Napoleon's strategic plan was based on his military experience acquired during the wars in Europe. He intended to prevent the dispersed Russian forces from uniting and deciding the outcome of the war in one or more border battles.

Even on the eve of the war, the Russian emperor and his entourage decided not to make any compromises with Napoleon. If the clash was successful, they intended to transfer military operations to the territory Western Europe. In case of defeat, Alexander was ready to retreat to Siberia (all the way to Kamchatka, according to him) to continue the fight from there. Russia had several strategic military plans. One of them was developed by the Prussian General Fuhl. It provided for the concentration of most of the Russian army in a fortified camp near the city of Drissa on the Western Dvina. According to Fuhl, this gave an advantage in the first border battle. The project remained unrealized, since the position on Drissa was unfavorable and the fortifications were weak. In addition, the balance of forces forced the Russian command to choose a strategy of active defense, i.e. retreat with rearguard battles deep into Russian territory. As the course of the war showed, this was the most correct decision.

The beginning of the war. On the morning of June 12, 1812, French troops crossed the Neman and invaded Russia by forced march.

The 1st and 2nd Russian armies retreated, avoiding a general battle. They fought stubborn rearguard battles with individual units of the French, exhausting and weakening the enemy, inflicting significant losses on him. The Russian troops faced two main tasks - to eliminate disunity (not to allow themselves to be defeated individually) and to establish unity of command in the army. The first task was solved on July 22, when the 1st and 2nd armies united near Smolensk. Thus, Napoleon's original plan was thwarted. On August 8, Alexander appointed M.I. Kutuzov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army. This meant solving the second problem. M.I. Kutuzov took command of the combined Russian forces on 17 August. He did not change his retreat tactics. However, the army and the whole country expected a decisive battle from him. Therefore, he gave the order to look for a position for a general battle. She was found near the village of Borodino, 124 km from Moscow.

Battle of Borodino. M.I. Kutuzov chose defensive tactics and deployed his troops in accordance with this. The left flank was defended by the army of P.I. Bagration, covered with artificial earthen fortifications - flashes. In the center there was an earthen mound where the artillery and troops of General N.N. were located. Raevsky. Army M.B. Barclay de Tolly was on the right flank.

Napoleon adhered to offensive tactics. He intended to break through the defenses of the Russian army on the flanks, encircle it and completely defeat it.

Early in the morning of August 26, the French launched an offensive on the left flank. The fight for flushes lasted until 12 noon. Both sides suffered huge losses. General P.I. was seriously wounded. Bagration. (He died from his wounds a few days later.) Taking the flushes did not bring any particular advantages to the French, since they were unable to break through the left flank. The Russians retreated in an orderly manner and took up a position near the Semenovsky ravine.

At the same time, the situation in the center, where Napoleon directed the main attack, became more complicated. To help the troops of General N.N. Raevsky M.I. Kutuzov ordered the Cossacks M.I. Platov and the cavalry corps F.P. Uvarov to carry out a raid behind French lines. Napoleon was forced to interrupt the assault on the battery for almost 2 hours. This allowed M.I. Kutuzov to bring fresh forces to the center. Battery N.N. Raevsky passed from hand to hand several times and was captured by the French only at 16:00.

The capture of Russian fortifications did not mean Napoleon's victory. On the contrary, the offensive impulse of the French army dried up. She needed fresh forces, but Napoleon did not dare to use his last reserve - the imperial guard. The battle, which lasted more than 12 hours, gradually subsided. The losses on both sides were enormous. Borodino was a moral and political victory for the Russians: the combat potential of the Russian army was preserved, while Napoleonic's was significantly weakened. Far from France, in the vast Russian expanses, it was difficult to restore it.

From Moscow to Maloyaroslavets. After Borodino, the Russians began to retreat to Moscow. Napoleon followed, but did not strive for a new battle. On September 1, a military council of the Russian command took place in the village of Fili. M.I. Kutuzov, contrary to the general opinion of the generals, decided to leave Moscow. The French army entered it on September 2, 1812.

M.I. Kutuzov, withdrawing troops from Moscow, carried out an original plan - the Tarutino march-maneuver. Retreating from Moscow along the Ryazan road, the army turned sharply to the south and in the Krasnaya Pakhra area reached the old Kaluga road. This maneuver, firstly, prevented the French from seizing the Kaluga and Tula provinces, where ammunition and food were collected. Secondly, M.I. Kutuzov managed to break away from Napoleon's army. He set up a camp in Tarutino, where the Russian troops rested and were replenished with fresh regular units, militia, weapons and food supplies.

The occupation of Moscow did not benefit Napoleon. Abandoned by the inhabitants (an unprecedented case in history), it burned in the fire. There was no food or other supplies in it. The French army was completely demoralized and turned into a bunch of robbers and marauders. Its decomposition was so strong that Napoleon had only two options - either immediately make peace or begin a retreat. But all the peace proposals of the French emperor were unconditionally rejected by M.I. Kutuzov and Alexander.

On October 7, the French left Moscow. Napoleon still hoped to defeat the Russians or at least break into the unravaged southern regions, since the issue of providing the army with food and fodder was very acute. He moved his troops to Kaluga. On October 12, another bloody battle took place near the town of Maloyaroslavets. Once again, neither side achieved a decisive victory. However, the French were stopped and forced to retreat along the Smolensk road they had destroyed.

Expulsion of Napoleon from Russia. The retreat of the French army looked like a disorderly flight. It was accelerated by the unfolding partisan movement and the offensive actions of Russian troops.

The patriotic upsurge began literally immediately after Napoleon entered Russia. The robberies and looting of French soldiers provoked resistance local residents. But this was not the main thing - the Russian people could not put up with the presence of invaders on native land. Names go down in history ordinary people(A.N. Seslavin, G.M. Kurin, E.V. Chetvertakov, V. Kozhina), who organized partisan detachments. “flying detachments” of regular army soldiers led by career officers were also sent to the French rear.

On final stage war M.I. Kutuzov chose the tactics of parallel pursuit. He took care of every Russian soldier and understood that the enemy’s forces were melting every day. The final defeat of Napoleon was planned near the city of Borisov. For this purpose, troops were brought up from the south and north-west. Serious damage was inflicted on the French near the city of Krasny in early November, when more than half of the 50 thousand people of the retreating army were captured or died in battle. Fearing encirclement, Napoleon hastened to transport his troops across the Berezina River on November 14-17. The battle at the crossing completed the defeat of the French army. Napoleon abandoned her and secretly left for Paris. Order M.I. Kutuzov on the army on December 21 and the Tsar's Manifesto on December 25, 1812 marked the end of the Patriotic War.

The meaning of war. Patriotic War of 1812 - greatest event in Russian History. During its course, heroism, courage, patriotism and selfless love of all layers of society and especially ordinary people for their own were clearly demonstrated. Homeland. However, the war caused significant damage to the Russian economy, which was estimated at 1 billion rubles. About 2 million people died. Many western regions of the country were devastated. All this had a huge impact on further internal development Russia.

What you need to know about this topic:

Socio-economic development of Russia in the first half of the 19th century. Social structure population.

Development of agriculture.

Development of Russian industry in the first half of the 19th century. The formation of capitalist relations. Industrial revolution: essence, prerequisites, chronology.

Development of water and highway communications. Start of railway construction.

Exacerbation of socio-political contradictions in the country. Palace coup 1801 and the accession to the throne of Alexander I. “The days of Alexander are a wonderful beginning.”

Peasant question. Decree "On Free Plowmen". Government measures in the field of education. State activities of M.M. Speransky and his plan for state reforms. Creation of the State Council.

Russia's participation in anti-French coalitions. Treaty of Tilsit.

Patriotic War of 1812. International relations on the eve of the war. Causes and beginning of the war. Balance of forces and military plans of the parties. M.B. Barclay de Tolly. P.I. Bagration. M.I.Kutuzov. Stages of war. Results and significance of the war.

Foreign campaigns of 1813-1814. Congress of Vienna and its decisions. Holy Alliance.

The internal situation of the country in 1815-1825. Strengthening conservative sentiments in Russian society. A.A. Arakcheev and Arakcheevism. Military settlements.

Foreign policy tsarism in the first quarter of the XIX V.

The first secret organizations of the Decembrists were the “Union of Salvation” and the “Union of Prosperity”. Northern and Southern society. The main program documents of the Decembrists are “Russian Truth” by P.I. Pestel and “Constitution” by N.M. Muravyov. Death of Alexander I. Interregnum. Uprising on December 14, 1825 in St. Petersburg. Uprising of the Chernigov regiment. Investigation and trial of the Decembrists. The significance of the Decembrist uprising.

The beginning of the reign of Nicholas I. Strengthening autocratic power. Further centralization and bureaucratization of the Russian state system. Intensifying repressive measures. Creation of the III department. Censorship regulations. The era of censorship terror.

Codification. M.M. Speransky. Reform of state peasants. P.D. Kiselev. Decree "On Obligated Peasants".

Polish uprising 1830-1831

The main directions of Russian foreign policy in the second quarter of the 19th century.

Eastern question. Russo-Turkish War 1828-1829 The problem of the straits in Russian foreign policy in the 30s and 40s of the 19th century.

Russia and the revolutions of 1830 and 1848. in Europe.

Crimean War. International relations on the eve of the war. Causes of the war. Progress of military operations. Russia's defeat in the war. Peace of Paris 1856. International and domestic consequences of the war.

Annexation of the Caucasus to Russia.

The formation of the state (imamate) in the North Caucasus. Muridism. Shamil. Caucasian War. The significance of the annexation of the Caucasus to Russia.

Social thought and social movement in Russia in the second quarter of the 19th century.

Formation of government ideology. The theory of official nationality. Mugs from the late 20s - early 30s of the 19th century.

N.V. Stankevich’s circle and German idealistic philosophy. A.I. Herzen’s circle and utopian socialism. " Philosophical writing"P.Ya. Chaadaeva. Westerners. Moderates. Radicals. Slavophiles. M.V. Butashevich-Petrashevsky and his circle. The theory of “Russian socialism” by A.I. Herzen.

Socio-economic and political prerequisites for bourgeois reforms of the 60-70s of the 19th century.

Peasant reform. Preparation of reform. "Regulation" February 19, 1861 Personal liberation of the peasants. Allotments. Ransom. Duties of peasants. Temporary condition.

Zemstvo, judicial, urban reforms. Financial reforms. Reforms in the field of education. Censorship rules. Military reforms. The meaning of bourgeois reforms.

Socio-economic development of Russia in the second half of the 19th century. Social structure of the population.

Industrial development. Industrial revolution: essence, prerequisites, chronology. The main stages of the development of capitalism in industry.

Development of capitalism in agriculture. Rural community in post-reform Russia. Agrarian crisis of the 80-90s of the XIX century.

Social movement in Russia in the 50-60s of the 19th century.

Social movement in Russia in the 70-90s of the 19th century.

Revolutionary populist movement of the 70s - early 80s of the 19th century.

"Land and Freedom" of the 70s of the XIX century. "People's Will" and "Black Redistribution". Assassination of Alexander II on March 1, 1881. The collapse of Narodnaya Volya.

Labor movement in the second half of the 19th century. Strike struggle. The first workers' organizations. A work issue arises. Factory legislation.

Liberal populism of the 80-90s of the 19th century. Spread of the ideas of Marxism in Russia. Group "Emancipation of Labor" (1883-1903). The emergence of Russian social democracy. Marxist circles of the 80s of the XIX century.

St. Petersburg "Union of Struggle for the Liberation of the Working Class." V.I. Ulyanov. "Legal Marxism".

Political reaction of the 80-90s of the 19th century. The era of counter-reforms.

Alexander III. Manifesto on the “inviolability” of autocracy (1881). The policy of counter-reforms. Results and significance of counter-reforms.

Russia's international position after Crimean War. Changing the country's foreign policy program. The main directions and stages of Russian foreign policy in the second half of the 19th century.

Russia in the system international relations after Franco-Prussian War. Union of Three Emperors.

Russia and the Eastern crisis of the 70s of the XIX century. The goals of Russia's policy in the eastern question. Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878: causes, plans and forces of the parties, course of military operations. Treaty of San Stefano. Berlin Congress and its decisions. The role of Russia in the liberation of the Balkan peoples from the Ottoman yoke.

Foreign policy of Russia in the 80-90s of the XIX century. Formation of the Triple Alliance (1882). Deterioration of Russia's relations with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Conclusion of the Russian-French alliance (1891-1894).

• Buganov V.I., Zyryanov P.N. Russian history: end of XVII- XIX century . - M.: Education, 1996.