The beginning of the foreign campaign of the Russian army. Foreign campaign of the Russian army

Foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814 - the fighting of the Russian army together with the Prussian, Swedish and Austrian troops to complete the defeat of the army of Napoleon I and the liberation of Western Europe from the French conquerors. On December 21, 1812, Kutuzov, in an order to the army, congratulated the troops on the expulsion of the enemy from Russia and urged them to "complete the defeat of the enemy on his own fields."

Russia's goal was to expel the French troops from the countries they had captured, deprive Napoleon of the opportunity to use their resources, complete the defeat of the aggressor on his own territory and ensure the establishment of a lasting peace in Europe. On the other hand, the tsarist government aimed to restore feudal-absolutist regimes in European states. After the defeat in Russia, Napoleon sought to win time and re-create a mass army.

The strategic plan of the Russian command was based on the fact that in the shortest possible time to withdraw Prussia and Austria from the war on the side of Napoleon and make them allies of Russia.

Offensive actions in 1813 were distinguished by their large spatial scope and high intensity. They deployed at the front from the shores of the Baltic Sea to Brest-Litovsk, were carried out to great depths - from the Neman to the Rhine. The campaign of 1813 ended with the defeat of the Napoleonic troops in the Battle of Leipzig on October 4-7 (16-19), 1813 (“Battle of the Nations”). More than 500 thousand people participated in the battle on both sides: allies - over 300 thousand people (including 127 thousand Russians), 1385 guns; Napoleonic troops - about 200 thousand people, 700 guns. Its most important results were the formation of a powerful anti-French coalition and the collapse of the Confederation of the Rhine (36 German states under the protectorate of Napoleon), the defeat of the army newly formed by Napoleon and the liberation of Germany and Holland.

By the beginning of the 1814 campaign, the Allied troops deployed on the Rhine numbered about 460 thousand people, including over 157 thousand Russians. In December 1813 - early January 1814, all three allied armies crossed the Rhine and launched an offensive deep into France.

In order to strengthen the coalition on February 26 (March 10), 1814, the Treaty of Chaumont was signed between Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia, according to which the parties pledged not to enter into separate peace negotiations with France, to provide mutual military assistance and jointly resolve issues about the future of Europe. . This treaty laid the foundations of the Holy Alliance.

The campaign of 1814 ended with the capitulation of Paris on March 18 (30). March 25 (April 6) in Fontainebleau, Napoleon signed the abdication of the throne, then was exiled to the island of Elba.

The wars of the coalitions of European powers with Napoleon I ended with the Congress of Vienna (September 1814 - June 1815), in which representatives of all European powers except Turkey took part. The goals of the Congress were: the international legal formalization of the new balance of power between the European powers; restoration of the political system in Europe, liquidated during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, and ensuring its stability for a long time; creation of guarantees against the return to power of Napoleon I; satisfaction of the territorial claims of the winners; restoration of overthrown dynasties.

As part of this event, treaties were concluded that consolidated the political fragmentation of Germany and Italy; The Duchy of Warsaw was divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria. France is stripped of her conquests.

On September 26, 1815, the decrees of the Congress of Vienna were supplemented by an act establishing the Holy Alliance of European Monarchies, which included Austria, Prussia and Russia. In November 1815, France joined the union, and then a number of other European states. The purpose of the Holy Alliance was to ensure the inviolability of the decisions of the Vienna Congress of 1814-1815.

The fighting of the Russian army together with the Prussian, Swedish and Austrian troops to expel the troops of Napoleon I from Europe.

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Illustrations:

“The battle at Kul-me. The captivity of the ka-for-ka-mi of the French-gen-ne-ra-la D. J. R. Van-da-ma September 16, 1813. Khu-dog-nick I. Ryu-gen-des. Ak-va-tin-ta, ak-va-rel. 1814. Augsburg. Archive of A. L. Kusakin;

“Them-pa-tor Alexander I and the king of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm III after the capture of Paris on March 29, 1814.” Gra-vu-ra cutter, ak-va-rel. 1814. Nuremberg. Archive of A. L. Kusakin;

"Russian ki-ra-sir, dragoon, lancer, horse huntsman and ka-za-ki militia in the way." Ri-so-va-no with na-tu-ry and gra-vi-ro-va-no hu-doge-no-com G. Adam-mom. Ak-va-tin-ta, ak-va-rel. 1814. Nuremberg. Archive of A. L. Kusakin.

Foreign campaigns of the Russian army (1813-1815) became a continuation of the Patriotic War of 1812. Napoleon was expelled from Russia but not yet destroyed and continued to rule France.

Foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813.

After the death of Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov in Bunslau in April 1813, the Russian army began active operations against Napoleon's army in Western Europe. The first battle took place near the town of Gross-Gershen. Almost two centuries later, Russian and French grenadiers again met on the battlefield.

Foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1814-1815.

In 1814, tired of chasing fragments of Napoleon's Great Army all over Europe, the Russian generals decided to end the war in the simplest way - to occupy Paris.

Produced by the studio "Porubezhye".

Brief historical background

At the end of March, the Russian-Prussian troops resumed their offensive. In the rear of the French in Germany, a partisan movement unfolded, the German population greeted the Russian troops as their liberators. On February 20 (March 4), Berlin was liberated by a Russian detachment. By mid-April, Napoleon managed to concentrate 200 thousand people. against 92 thousand Russian-Prussian troops, commanded by Wittgenstein after the death of Kutuzov, and from May 17 (29) by General M. B. Barclay de Tolly. Napoleon defeated the allies on April 20 (May 2) at Lützen and May 8-9 (20-21) at Bautzen, after which a truce was concluded on May 23 (June 4), which lasted until July 29 (August 10). Austria acted as an intermediary in negotiations with Napoleon, which ended in failure, after which Austria severed relations with France. France was opposed by Sweden, bound with Russia by an alliance treaty of 1812. Great Britain signed conventions with Russia and Prussia on granting them subsidies. On August 28 (September 9), the Teplitz Allied Treaties of 1813 were concluded between Russia, Austria and Prussia, to which Great Britain soon joined.

By the autumn of 1813, the allied troops numbered 492 thousand people. (including Russians - 173 thousand), united in 3 armies: Bohemian (about 237 thousand) Austrian Field Marshal K. Schwarzenberg, Silesian (about 100 thousand) Prussian Field Marshal G. Blucher and Northern (over 150 thousand) ) Swedish Crown Prince J. Bernadotte. A separate corps (about 30 thousand) was advanced to Hamburg. Napoleon had 440 thousand. army, the bulk of which was in Saxony. In August, the Allies launched a concentric offensive. Napoleon threw his main forces against the Bohemian army and inflicted a defeat on August 14-15 (26-27) in the Battle of Dresden 1813. The French troops tried to pursue, but the Russian rearguard on August 17-18 (29-30) in the battle of Kulm threw them back. The Silesian army defeated the troops of J. Macdonald, and the Northern Army defeated the troops of S. Oudinot. The allies launched a general offensive and on October 4-7 (16-19) in the Battle of Leipzig 1813 defeated Napoleon's army.

Its remnants retreated beyond the river. Rhine. Corps L. Davout was surrounded in Hamburg. The successes of the allies forced Denmark to abandon its alliance with Napoleon, on January 2 (14) to sign the Kiel Peace Treaties of 1814 with Sweden and Great Britain, and to undertake to enter the war against France. Allied forces began to expel Napoleonic troops from the Netherlands. The most important outcome of the 1813 campaign was the liberation of Germany from the Napoleonic yoke. But, as V. I. Lenin noted, it happened "...not without the help of the robber states, which waged not a liberation war, but an imperialist war with Napoleon ..." (Poln. sobr. soch., 5th ed., vol. 35, p. 382).

By the beginning of the 1814 campaign, the allied forces numbered 900,000, of which 453,000 (including 153,000 Russians) were stationed along the right bank of the Rhine; the rest of the forces were in Spain, Italy and in reserve. Napoleon could only oppose them with 300 thousand people, of which 160 thousand deployed along the left bank of the Rhine. In December 1813 - January 1814, the allied forces crossed the Rhine and launched an offensive deep into France. The allied command acted very indecisively, and Napoleon even managed to achieve a number of private successes. Serious contradictions emerged between the allied powers. In order to strengthen the coalition, on February 26 (March 10), the Chaumont Treaty of 1814 was signed, in which the allies pledged not to conclude either peace or an armistice with France without general consent. The secret articles determined the post-war structure of Europe. At the Châtillon Congress of 1814, the allies once again tried to resolve the conflict with Napoleon peacefully, but he rejected their terms for the return of France to the borders of 1792. ) March. On March 25 (April 6), Napoleon signed his abdication at Fontainebleau and was exiled to Fr. Elbe. Louis XVIII, brother of the executed King Louis XVI, was enthroned. On May 18 (30) the Peace of Paris of 1814 was signed between the Allies and France.

During the campaigns of 1813-14, the Russian army rendered enormous assistance to the peoples of Western Europe in their liberation from Napoleonic domination. It was the main core around which the troops of other coalition members were grouped. However, the reactionary aims pursued by the ruling circles of the allied powers gave the war against Napoleon a contradictory character. K. Marx pointed out: "All the wars for independence that were waged against France are characterized by a combination of the spirit of rebirth with the spirit of reactionary ..." (K. Marx and F. Engels, Soch., 2nd ed., vol. 10, p. 436 ).

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The French army, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, occupies most of Europe, and in 1812 begins a campaign against the Russian Empire. At first, the military formations are lucky: they are rapidly moving deep into Russia. The state of affairs changes the battle on the Borodino field and the burning of Moscow: and now we will talk briefly about the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814.

Foreword

After the successful expulsion of the Napoleonic army from their native country, the Russians, under the command of Kutuzov, head to Paris, the capital of France, freeing the captured European states along the way. The Kutuzov army suffers significant losses, and during the journey from Tarutin to the Neman, it loses two-thirds of the soldiers: dead, sick, killed and wounded. The lack of food has a negative effect: retreating, the Russian army used the tactics of “scorched” earth - crops of cereal crops and other sources of food were destroyed.

Emperor Alexander 1 decides to bring the matter to a victorious end and takes on the noble role of the savior of Europe. Gradually, the Napoleonic coalition breaks up: Prussia breaks away, which joins Russia. In 1813, the Russian commander M. I. Kutuzov dies and the command passes to Wittgenstein.

Rice. 1. Kutuzov.

Companies of 1813

In Germany, Napoleon plans to give a crushing rebuff to the allied forces of Russia and Prussia. In April 1812, at the head of an army of 150,000, Bonaparte went on the offensive against the city of Leipzig, from where he managed to drive out the allied forces. A few days later, an allied formation led by Peter Wittgentein attacks the French corps of Marshal Ney, trying to destroy the enemy army in parts.

Napoleon with the main parts of the army advances to help her. On the battlefield are Alexander the First and King Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. The commander-in-chief of the allied forces, Wittgenstein, has to coordinate actions with the monarchs, which ruins time and does not allow timely initiative to appear.

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Bonaparte, who arrived in time to help, counterattacked the allies and wedged into the defense, threatening to bypass from the flank. After agreement, the two emperors give the order to retreat. The battle raised the morale of Napoleon's army and returned Saxony to the French possessions.

To consolidate the success, Bonaparte sends Ney's 60,000th corps to bypass the Allied army. He plans to surround the main enemy forces and then destroy them. With the remnants of the army, he crosses the river Spree and captures Bautzen. The staunch defense of the Russians does not allow Ney to complete the encirclement and the allies manage to retreat.France and the coalition conclude a short-term truce, during which time reserves are pulled up and Austria and Sweden join the allied forces.

On October 6, the largest battle in the entire Patriotic War unfolds. The total number of participating soldiers exceeds 500 thousand people. Napoleon's army heroically resists: she manages to repulse the attacks of the allies and go on the counteroffensive. However, on October 7, he gives the order to retreat.

Napoleon Bonaparte lost ground in Germany and went with troops to France.

Rice. 2. Troops of Napoleon.

Company of 1814

On January 1, 1814, the Russian army crossed the Rhine and headed for Paris. For two months, Napoleon managed to hold back the onslaught of the Russians - he successfully used the maneuverability of his 40,000-strong army. A series of striking victories helped Bonaparte to delay the time until the complete surrender of France.

Schwarzenberg's army advanced on Paris. Upon learning of this, Napoleon immediately transferred troops to this direction, trying to stop the offensive. The battle for the capital lasted several hours and ended in a crushing defeat for the French army. Thus ended the foreign campaigns of the Russian army of 1813-1814.

The expulsion of the French army from Russia did not remove the threat of a new invasion from the peoples of Europe. The struggle had to continue until the final defeat of the enemy. The Russian army acted disinterestedly. "The matter was first about their own salvation, and then about the salvation of all of Europe, therefore, of the whole world," wrote V. G. Belinsky, emphasizing the just character of the struggle of peoples in 1812-1814.

January 1 (13), 1813, the Russian army crossed the river. Neman and entered the Duchy of Warsaw. The campaign of 1813 began. On February 15 (27), 1813, in the city of Kalisz, Russia and Prussia signed an agreement on peace, friendship, an offensive and defensive alliance, according to which both parties pledged to mutually assist each other in the fight against Napoleon.

Led by M. I. Kutuzov, the Russian army advanced westward, liberating Polish and Prussian cities. Eleven days after the signing of the Kalish Treaty, Russian troops entered Berlin. In uniting the efforts of the Russian and German peoples, the Russian command saw an important means in achieving the main goal of the war - to put an end to Napoleon.
The change in the situation in Prussia, as well as the successes of the Russian army, were perceived with caution by the Prussian government. King Friedrich Wilhelm III tried to restrain the active actions of the Prussian troops and prevent them from joining the Russian army, which contradicted the terms of the Kalisz Treaty and the tactics of M. I. Kutuzov, aimed at combining forces, strengthening the armies with reserves. But the Russian Commander-in-Chief failed to complete the work he had begun. In April 1813, having caught a bad cold, he
died in a small town in Silesia Bunzlau. Later, an obelisk was erected here in his memory.

Headed the Russian-Prussian army General P. X. Wittgenstein, and after his unsuccessful actions, Barclay de Tolly was appointed Commander-in-Chief.

So far, only Prussia has acted together with Russia. Austria continued to play a double game and waited to see which side the scales would tip. She feared both the dominance of Napoleon and the strengthening of Russia, although the accession of Prussia to the anti-Napoleonic coalition had a sobering effect on her.

Napoleon, meanwhile, managed to form a new army. After a number of mobilizations, he gathered almost the same army as Russia and Prussia had together - 200 thousand soldiers. On April 20 (May 4), 1813, he defeated the allies at Luzen and Bautzen, where they lost 20 thousand soldiers and retreated, leaving the left bank of the Elbe. French troops occupied Dresden and Breslau. These Napoleonic successes led the Allies to offer the Emperor of France a truce that both sides needed. It was signed in Pljeswice on May 23 (June 4), 1813 through the mediation of Austria.

The armistice allowed Russia and Prussia to resume negotiations with England on subsidies, and with Austria on joint actions against Napoleon, helped to strengthen the Prussian army with reserves. Napoleon during the armistice expected to bring up fresh forces and prepare for a new offensive.

Napoleon's determination to continue the war, the advance of the allied armies to the Elbe, which created the threat of an invasion of the territory of Austria if she took the side of France, put an end to the Habsburgs' hesitation. On August 28 (September 9), 1813, Austria joined the anti-Napoleonic coalition by signing the Teplitsky Treaty of Friendship and Defensive Alliance with Russia. Both states pledged to act in concert in Europe; in the event of a threat to one of them - to provide assistance with a corps of 60 thousand people; they were not to make peace or armistice without mutual agreement.

From the end of the summer of 1813 the situation changed in favor of the Allies. The states of the Confederation of the Rhine and Sweden went over to the side of the coalition. The Allied army now numbered about 500 thousand people (against 400 thousand of the enemy).

The international and domestic situation of France became more and more tense. Dissatisfaction with Napoleon's policies grew in the country, and his prestige in the army fell. The emperor was left by some of his close associates: General Jomini went into the Russian service; a little later than Napoleon, his brother-in-law Murat left him.

In this situation, on October 4-6 (16-18), 1813, a battle took place near the city of Leipzig, which went down in history as the "Battle of the Nations". Fought on the Allied side Russian, Prussian, Austrian and Swedish troops;

sided with Napoleon French, Poles, Belgians, Dutch, Saxons, Bavarians, Württembergers, Italians. In total, more than 500 thousand people participated in the battle on both sides. This battle continued for three days, which began successfully for the French, but ended in a heavy defeat for the Napoleonic army.

During the fighting, the Saxon army betrayed Napoleon, going over to the side of the coalition. The main role in the Battle of Leipzig was played by Russian and Prussian troops. They were the first to enter Leipzig, putting the enemy to flight.

The Battle of Leipzig was the culmination of the campaign of 1813. In this battle, Napoleon lost more than a third of his army (at least 65 thousand, the allies - about 55 thousand people); France's reserves were depleted: all draft ages were mobilized. The French army with fighting retreated to the Rhine. In November 1813, Napoleon was in Paris and again preparing forces for new battles. The Leipzig defeat did not force the emperor of France to stop fighting and turn to the European powers with a peace proposal. A new war was required already on the territory of France, where the Allies entered in January 1814.

The liberation of Germany and the further retreat of the Napoleonic troops intensified the contradiction in the Allied camp. The Austrian government, wanting to keep France as a counterbalance to Russia, insisted on negotiations with Napoleon, threatening otherwise to withdraw from the coalition.

On February 17 (March 1), 1814, the so-called Quadruple Treaty was signed between Russia, Austria, Prussia and England in Chaumont, containing preliminary peace conditions. differences in the Allied camp. The powers agreed to give France the territory within the borders of 1792 and thereby restore the European balance. The terms of this treaty largely prepared the decisions of the Congress of Vienna. The incessant wars waged by Napoleon caused discontent not only in the conquered states, but also in their own country. This, in particular, manifested itself with the appearance of allied troops on the territory of France. The inhabitants of Paris and even the Napoleonic guards defended the city without much stubbornness. the emperor himself
was not in the capital. Having learned about the surrender of Paris, Napoleon tried to gather troops and recapture the city from the enemy, but, having arrived in Fontainebleau, he was forced, under pressure from the marshals, to sign an act of renunciation.

March 18 (30), 1814 Paris capitulated. The allied armies led by Alexander I entered the capital of France on March 31 and were greeted by a demonstration of supporters of the old order. The Emperor of Russia tried not to offend the national vanity of the French. He ordered to establish control over the behavior of the soldiers and officers of the allied armies, canceled the insulting ceremony of presenting the keys to the city, as if opposing his behavior (worthy of the winner) to the actions of the French emperor in the Russian capital. Bonaparte at the end of April 1814 was sent to about. Elba. A provisional government was formed in Paris, headed by Tale Iran. The Senate convened by him announced the deposition of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty. At the beginning of May 1814, the new King Louis XVIII, the brother of the executed Louis XVI, arrived in the capital.