Foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1815. The beginning of the foreign campaign of the Russian army

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 posed the threat of an invasion of Austrian territory 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 continuous 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.

The catastrophic outcome for Napoleon of the Russian company of 1812 radically changed the balance of power in Europe. The transfer of armed struggle abroad was dictated by the desire to finally crush the armed forces of France, to deprive Napoleon of any opportunity to unleash new wars. That is why the Russian army was faced with the task of further developing strategic success by transferring hostilities abroad and subsequently to the territory of France itself.

The Russian command, developing a strategic plan for the campaign of 1813, set the following priorities for the troops:

1). To finally complete the defeat of the remnants of the French troops retreating to East Prussia and Poland, to prevent them from connecting with the troops located beyond the Vistula and new formations coming from France;

2). Prevent Napoleon from using the human and material capabilities of these states to strengthen his armed forces;

3). Help the German and Polish peoples to join the common struggle.

On the eve of the crossing over the Neman, the Russian army numbered about 100 thousand people, 533 guns (the main army - 37464, the 3rd Western (Chichagova) 24480. The separate corps (Wittgenstein) 34495.

The Napoleonic army, located behind the Neman, numbered up to 70 thousand people. Its main forces were concentrated on the flanks: in East Prussia and in the Warsaw area. These two disparate groups came under the general command of Murat, so it was ordered to organize defense along the Neman and the Bug. But the very first offensive actions of the Russian detachments showed the complete inability of resistance. Murat, convinced of the aimlessness of the defense at this line, gave the order to withdraw troops beyond the Vistula, strengthen the garrisons of the fortresses of Danzig, Thorn, Modlin and, relying on them, leave the further offensive of the Russian armies.

In order to achieve its goals, the Russian army in the last days of December 1812 went on the offensive in three directions: on Koenigsberg - Danzig, on Polotsk and Warsaw.

The fighting of the Russian troops in East Prussia immediately took on an active character. The light cavalry detachments advanced forward delivered swift and sudden attacks on scattered groups of enemy troops and captured settlements one after another. On January 4, 1813, Russian troops broke into Koenigsberg on the move and, after a short but stubborn battle, captured this large stronghold of East Prussia.

The exit of Russian troops to the Vistula in the Polotsk region and the offensive of large forces directly on Warsaw created a threat of encirclement for the troops stationed in the city. On February 7, Russian troops entered Warsaw.

As a result of the successful actions of the Russian army, the first steps were taken to attract Austria and Prussia to the anti-Napoleonic coalition.

The main goal of Napoleon was to use large water lines - the Vistula and Oder and heavily fortified fortresses, to stop the further advance of the Russian army, disperse its forces and draw it into long, protracted battles to besiege fortresses.

Napoleon needed to buy time to create a new army and push it to the Oder, and if possible, then to the Vistula.

M.I. Kutuzov took into account that the capture of fortresses involved both great sacrifices and a significant expenditure of time, while the garrisons of these fortresses themselves were unable to delay the further advance of the Russian army. Therefore, commander-in-chief. Having allocated an insignificant part of the troops to block the fortresses. The main forces sent for the offensive to the Oder.

Strong mobile (“flying”) detachments stood out from the composition of the main forces of the army. They consisted mainly of cavalry, rangers and horse artillery. The detachments were sent forward, made deep raids, overtook and destroyed individual groups of enemy troops. Following the mobile detachments, the main forces of the Russian army moved.

Thus, by the end of February (in two months), the Russian army advanced from the Neman to the Oder by 750-800 km at an average advance rate of 15-20 km. Advancing on a broad front, she defeated the main forces of the French army stationed here, partially captured them, and partially blocked them in the fortresses. The plan of its further offensive actions provided for further movement to Berlin and Dresden. After heavy losses, the French army numbered no more than 40 thousand people. “The superiority of our forces,” wrote Kutuzov, “to which the entire Prussian army is now joining to defeat the common enemy, give us an opportunity to completely defeat this remnant of the enemy troops.”

The plan called for an offensive against Berlin from three directions. From the north, Wittgenstein's troops, with Platov's Cossack corps in front, cross the Oder between Stettin and Kustrin and advance in three columns (two on Berlin, the third bypassing it on Potsdam). From the south, the main army was to move to Crossen and then advance to the Elbe on Magdeburg.

The main idea of ​​the plan was to isolate a large grouping of French troops concentrated in Berlin by an offensive in two converging directions and destroy it before the arrival of fresh forces from France.

Unfortunately, due to the refusal of the Prussian generals to participate in the attack on Berlin, the plan was not fully implemented.

The headquarters of the Russian army understood that until the army received significant reinforcements, it was risky to cross the Oder with the main forces.

The increase in the active army was mainly due to the replenishment of the Russian army with newly formed troops. New regiments, battalions and squadrons moved towards the army along specially designed routes, its strength was to increase to 180 thousand people (154 thousand infantry and 26 thousand cavalry). Napoleon was preparing a new army with great speed and effort. While part of the French troops sought to hold back the advance of the Russian army, the second, much larger part, was preparing to deliver a strong blow. Within three months, Napoleon drafted more than 200 thousand people into the army, in a short time its number could increase to 300 thousand people. Napoleon sought to achieve superiority in strength and, having concentrated his army behind the Elbe in the Dresden and Leipzig region, to launch an offensive.

Strengthening its forces, the Russian army at the same time did not stop active hostilities. Behind the Oder, extensive active operations were launched by the forward detachments of the Russian army. The first major event was the occupation of the Prussian capital of Berlin by the Russian army. “Berlin was necessary to occupy,” Kutuzov pointed out.

Firstly, it inspired the German people in their national liberation struggle, instilled confidence in the victory over Napoleon.

Secondly, it made it possible to launch an offensive and quickly reach the Elbe.

Thirdly, it brought the allied armies together to organize joint offensive operations.

On April 4, Chernyshov's detachment attacked General Moran's corps near Lüneburg. After an eight-hour battle, the Cossacks captured the city, captured Moran, the entire headquarters of more than 2,500 people and all the artillery.

While the advanced troops reached the Elbe, far in the rear, on the Vistula, the siege and destruction of the French troops remaining in the fortresses continued.

Having set before the troops the task of capturing these fortresses, the Russian command proceeded from the need, firstly, to completely secure its rear, and, secondly, to release the troops and attach them to the main forces of the army.

Simultaneously with the fighting on the Vistula and the Elbe, work was carried out to prepare for the offensive of the main forces of the Russian and Prussian armies. The reserves received from Russia, the arrival of numerous militia detachments to the army, the rapid formation of the Prussian army made it possible to significantly increase the forces of the allies and bring them up to 250-280 thousand people.

The advance detachments to the Elbe, a significant numerical increase in the army created the possibility of the main forces of the allied army going on the offensive. The primary task of the allied forces was to forestall the enemy in concentrating the main forces in the most important sector. Based on a thorough assessment of the situation and intentions of Napoleon, Kutuzov makes a decision: the troops located in Magdeburg and Berlin, Kalisz and Breslau, move in converging directions beyond the Elbe and concentrate them in the area of ​​Leipzig, Luzen, Altenburg. Wittgenstein was ordered to ferry his troops across the Elbe and Torgau and advance towards Leipzig. Prussian troops crossed the Elbe at Dresden and advanced on Altenburg. The main army, located in the Kalisz region, moved to the Leipzig region.

Excessive stress, continuous, full of hardships, camp life undermined the strength and health of the field marshal. On April 28, he died in a small Silesian town. The sudden death of the commander-in-chief of all the armies during the tense period of the struggle to deliver the peoples of Western Europe from Napoleonic domination, during the period of imminent major events, was a heavy loss for the troops.

After the death of M.I. Kutuzov, the leadership of the army passed to Alexander I, P.Kh. Wittgenstein, M.B. Barclay de Tolly. This could not but affect the command and control of the troops. In the very first clash with the enemy, in the battle of Lützen on May 2, mistakes were made on the part of the command, which led to serious setbacks.

Russian-Prussian troops lost more than 20 thousand people in this battle and retreated behind the Elbe. Napoleon occupied Dresden, and after winning the battle of Bautzen (May 20-21), his troops entered Breslau.

Such an unexpected turn of military events seriously frightened Alexander I and Friedrich Wilhelm III. They offered Napoleon to conclude a truce, and he agreed. A truce was equally necessary for both the Allies and France.

The Plesvitsky truce lasted almost two months. During this time, the troops received reinforcements, replenished with weapons and ammunition. In August 1813, Austria joined the coalition. This increased her strength. The Allies now had an army of over 500,000 men. Napoleon also increased the army to 440 thousand people.

In October 1813, the largest battle took place at Leipzig, which went down in history under the name “Battle of the Nations”. The battle of Leipzig decided the outcome of the company in 1813 and the entire war. The anti-French coalition consisted of 300 thousand people (130 thousand Russian troops) and 1300 guns.

The French army had about 200 thousand people.

The situation before the Battle of Leipzig was very unfavorable for the French. Before the battle, Napoleon tried to break the enemy in parts - first the Silesian, then the Northern armies, but, throwing his forces against the individual armies of the allies, he was also defeated in parts. To Leipzig, the allied armies advanced concentrically - from three directions, which led to the strategic and tactical encirclement of the French army. In this situation, Napoleon directs the efforts of his troops against the Bohemian army of the allies.

He believed that other Allied armies would not be able to arrive on the battlefield by this time. The plan of defeating the enemy in parts, which Napoleon had succeeded many times in the past, this time could not be implemented.

The allied command decided (three monarchs were with the Bohemian army) on October 16 to attack the enemy with the forces of the main, Bohemian and approaching Silesian armies.

The battle began at dawn with the advance of Barclay de Tolly's group (84 thousand people). South of Leipzig on the first day of the battle, fierce battles that unfolded on different sectors of the front did not lead to success for either side.

The Silesian Allied army, operating north of Leipzig, fought heavy offensive battles throughout the day. Losses on October 16 reached 30 thousand people on each side. Consequently, on the first day of the battle, Napoleon did not fulfill his plan - to defeat the troops of the Bohemian Allied Army. The attacks of the French army were repulsed, which was of decisive importance for the further course of the struggle, depriving the French army of an offensive impulse.

On the second day, October 17, the fighting took place only on the front of the Silesian army, which began the attack in the morning. Napoleon did not take active steps, he unsuccessfully awaited an answer to the peace proposal sent to the headquarters of the monarchs.

On the third day of the battle, October 18, the allied forces launched a decisive offensive. The main attack came from the south. The Allies had a great superiority in forces. On their part, 285 thousand people participated in the offensive against 170 thousand of Napoleon. The offensive came from different directions, the French troops fought heavy defensive battles, being almost surrounded. By evening, the fighting stopped, the French left several villages. Napoleon, seeing that the battle was lost, gave the order to retreat.

On the fourth day of the battle, October 19, at dawn the allied armies resumed their attacks. The organized retreat of the Napoleonic troops was disrupted. Driven out of Leipzig and attacked while crossing the river, they suffered heavy losses. Losses on both sides reached 140 thousand people: the French lost 60 thousand, the allies 80 thousand people (including 38 thousand Russians).

In the battle of Leipzig, the strategic encirclement could have ended with a tactical encirclement of the French troops, if the allied forces had acted more decisively, had firmer command, well-established interaction between armies and military groups, and had not been inactive on enemy communications.

The French army near Leipzig showed to some extent its former fighting qualities. However, many of the newly recruited troops after the death of the "great army" in Russia did not have sufficient experience. The French commander was unable to implement his famous principle - to beat the enemy in parts, leaning on each part of the troops with superior forces.

Near Leipzig, the allied forces use a concentric form of maneuver - a concentric offensive by four armies. This is the most important feature of the battle of Leipzig. The central position in which Napoleon found himself, and which he often used with great success, this time placed him in extremely difficult conditions, threatening with "cannes".

Having been defeated at Leipzig and then surrendering Paris, Napoleon was forced to abdicate and go into exile on the island of Elba on March 1, 1815, from where he soon fled and, having landed in France with a detachment of 1 thousand soldiers, seized power again. The second reign of Napoleon lasted about 100 days.

Having learned about the seventh coalition that had been created, Napoleon marches with an army of 120 thousand people to Belgium, where the allies formed two armies: the Anglo-Dutch army of 100 thousand people under the command of the English field marshal Wellington and the lower Rhine number of 120 thousand people under the command of the Prussian field marshal Blucher. The French commander hoped to separate the armies and smash them separately.

However, having defeated the Prussians on June 16, 1815 at the battle of Ligny and forced them to retreat, he did not pursue them, did not use the victory for a complete defeat. The Battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815) Napoleon prepared against one enemy - the Anglo-Dutch army, and gave it against two. He himself created the conditions for uniting the enemy armies, missed the opportunity to attack him with superior forces. The Anglo-Dutch army, supported at a critical moment by significant Prussian forces, defeated Napoleon's army.

In the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon violated another important position that he adhered to - not to scatter forces. The lack of information about the enemy, the poor organization of intelligence led to the fact that Napoleon incorrectly assessed the situation. During the battle itself, Napoleon used too deep 12-battalion infantry columns, which led to unnecessary losses from the concentration of enemy artillery fire.

The general economic and political state of the country affected the activities of the army and Napoleon.

The main and decisive reason for the collapse of the Napoleonic Empire was the defeat of its troops in Russia in 1812.

In military campaigns after 1812, the Russian army was the core and main support of the coalition army.

In the last period of his activity, when the armies of the coalition countries began to use new tactics based on the action of columns and loose formation, Napoleon opposed them with those methods of battle that he used against troops who fought according to the principles of linear tactics. The French commander in many battles adhered to the same methods, as a result of which some battles resembled one another. Achieving victory, during this period he began to use mainly a frontal attack, trying to make a breakthrough in deep columns. He brought the troops in the last companies in deep columns, achieved victory by the pressure of the closed masses. The enemy brought forward artillery groups against them, sowing death in the ranks of the massed large infantry forces. Failure to understand the changed conditions of the battle led to heavy losses and even to the loss of battles.

The victory of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812 had a huge impact on all aspects of the social, political and cultural life of the country, contributed to the growth of national self-consciousness, and gave a powerful impetus to the development of advanced social thought in Russia.

But the victorious end of the Patriotic War of 1812 did not yet guarantee Russia an end to Napoleon's aggression. He himself believed that the end of the campaign of 1812 did not mean the end of hostilities against Russia. He openly announced the preparation of a new campaign against Russia, feverishly formed a new army.

To consolidate the victory, it was necessary to transfer hostilities outside of Russia. The performance of the Russian army served as a signal for a general uprising against Napoleon. One by one, his former allies fell away from Napoleon and joined Russia. In early May 1813, Napoleon launched an offensive against the Allied forces, winning two victories at Lützen and Bautzen in Saxony. Napoleon put up a 550,000-strong army against the allies (Russia, Prussia and Austria) and on August 15 won a victory near Dresden. Of decisive importance during the campaign of 1813 was the largest battle near Leipzig on October 7, nicknamed the "battle of the peoples." The battle ended with the victory of the allied Russian-Prussian-Austrian troops. After the battle of Leipzig, almost the entire territory of the German states was liberated from the French army. In January 1814, the Allies crossed the Rhine and entered French territory. On March 18, 1814, the last battle took place under the walls of Paris. The next day, the Allies entered the capital of France. On May 18, 1814, a peace treaty between Russia, Austria, Prussia and England was concluded in Paris, according to which France was returned to the borders of 1793. Napoleon and his dynasty were deprived of the French throne. Napoleon himself, with a small garrison of soldiers, was sent to about. Elba in the Mediterranean.

The result of the Patriotic War of 1812 and the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814. was not only the salvation of Russia from foreign invasion, but also the liberation from the Napoleonic yoke of the European peoples. Napoleon's bloody wars of conquest, which had lasted 15 years, were put to an end.

After the collapse of Napoleon's empire, Russia's international prestige increased significantly. Alexander I and other European monarchs took advantage of the victory over Napoleon to restore reactionary regimes. In the course of solving this problem, sharp contradictions arose between the victorious countries, mainly on territorial issues. At the congress of these powers, which met in September 1814 in Vienna, disputes began. At the beginning of January 1815, Austria, England, Bavaria and France entered into a secret "defensive alliance" against Russia. There was a threat of military conflict, and only the coming of Napoleon to power in France at the end of March 1815 pushed these differences into the background and forced the European powers to quickly resolve disputed territorial issues. A declaration was adopted that outlawed Napoleon and laid the foundation for the creation of a new coalition against him. At the final stage of the Congress of Vienna, part of Saxony was transferred to Prussia, and the Duchy of Warsaw to Russia.

June 6, 1815 was followed by the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. The allied troops again entered Paris. Napoleon was deposed and exiled to Fr. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, where he soon died.

September 14, 1815 Alexander I signed the act on the creation of the Holy Union. This union was joined by all the monarchs of Europe with the exception of England. The purpose of the Holy Alliance was to preserve the system of new state borders established by the Congress of Vienna, to strengthen the former feudal dynasties, and to suppress revolutionary and national liberation movements.

Russia became an active member of the Holy Alliance.

The campaign of 1813 was a new, now forgotten by our people, page of the Glory of Russian weapons. The inspirer and organizer, as well as the fastening link of the VI anti-Napoleonic coalition, was undoubtedly Emperor Alexander I.

AlexanderI

Having already completed the victorious campaign of 1812, the Emperor decided for himself that leaving Napoleon in the state in which he was, after the defeat in the Russian campaign of 1812, was unacceptable and dangerous, because. his shaky Throne, like the Throne of any conqueror, was kept only by continuous victories, and Bonaparte, after a year or two, having again gathered troops subject to Europe, would again repeat the invasion of Russia, and would try to avoid his previous mistakes. Thus, the campaign in Europe was not so much the willfulness of Alexander I, but also a state necessity.

In early December 1812, the Russian army concentrated near Vilna (Vilnius). Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov brought only 40 thousand soldiers to the borders of the Russian Empire, and only 200 out of 620 guns were delivered. Thus, the autumn-winter campaign of 1812 cost Napoleon 160,000 people (dead and prisoners), and the Russian army lost up to 80 thousand people in this period (only one-fourth of this composition was killed in combat). By the end of December 1812, units of Admiral P.V. joined Kutuzov’s army. Chichagov and the corps of Count P.Kh. Wittgenstein, thus forming an army of 90,000. Already on December 28, 1812, Kutuzov's army crossed the river. Neman and entered the territory of Prussia and the Duchy of Warsaw.

M.I. Kutuzov-Golenishchev

The main goal of the winter campaign of 1813, Alexander I set the destruction of the flank corps of Magdonald in Prussia and the Austro-Saxon corps of Schwarzenberg and Rainier in Poland. These goals were soon achieved. In January 1813, all of East Prussia was cleared of the French by the army of Count P. Wittgenstein, the Prussians enthusiastically welcomed the Russian liberators. Soon the cities of Thorn and Danzig were besieged by Russian troops. Units under the command of Prince Kutuzov-Smolensky launched an offensive against the city of Polotsk, which forced Schwarzenberg to evacuate units from Warsaw and retreat with Poniatovsky's corps to Galicia. The Saxon corps of General Rainier retreated to Kalisz, where on February 1, 1813 he was defeated by the corps of General Winzingerode.

The actions of the Russian army in East Prussia became the spark from which the fire of the patriotic struggle of the people of Prussia flared up against the Napoleonic occupation. After some hesitation, King Frederick William III concluded on February 16, 1813, a military alliance, according to which Russia was obliged to form an army of 150 thousand, and the decision of the allied monarchs (Russian and Prussian) was made "not to put weapons until the restoration of Prussia within the borders of 1806" . Prussia, for its part, was obliged to put up an army of 80 thousand, but at the beginning of the union, the Prussian army of General Blucher had only 56 thousand soldiers. By the end of February 1813, the Russian army already had 140 thousand, and a reserve army was being formed in Belarus and Ukraine, reaching up to 180 thousand soldiers. On February 27 (March 11), 1813, the army of Count Wittgenstein occupied Berlin, and on March 15 (27), 1813 Dresden was taken by Russian troops.

Pyotr Khristianovich Wittgenstein

On April 16 (28), 1813, His Serene Highness Prince Kutuzov-Smolensky dies in the city of Bunzlau. Count Peter Wittgenstein was appointed the new commander of the united Russian army. His position was quite difficult, because. under his command were more senior and experienced corps commanders, once his direct superiors: M.B. Barclay de Tolly, Tsesarevich Konstantin Pavlovich and Field Marshal Blucher.

Gebhard Leberecht Blucher

Wittgenstein did not have sufficient authority over them. In addition, the Russian army had an imperial headquarters, which also gave its own orders, bypassing the commander-in-chief of the army.

At the cost of enormous efforts, Napoleon gathered during the winter of 1812-13 a new French army, numbering about 200 thousand people, with 350 guns, and in April 1813 invaded Germany. In the new army of Bonaparte there were only 8 thousand cavalry; all the famous cavalry of Marshal Murat died in the Russian company of 1812 (at Borodino and while crossing the Berezina River). The Russian-Prussian army in early April 1813 concentrated south of the city of Leipzig, trying to get closer to the Austrian border, because. secret negotiations were constantly going on with Austria in order to attach it to the anti-Napoleonic coalition. Not knowing about the concentration of allied troops near Leipzig, Napoleon sent his troops to him by echelon. Count Wittgenstein, with 94 thousand and with 650 guns, tried to strike a flank attack on the dispersed parts of the French and attacked Napoleon on April 20 (May 1), 1813 at Lucin.

But this attack was repulsed by the French army, and the allied forces retreated beyond the river. Elba. Out of 72 thousand allies, the losses amounted to 12 thousand people, and out of 100 thousand Frenchmen - 15 thousand. The absence of cavalry deprived Napoleon of the opportunity to build on success and make strategic reconnaissance on the flanks. Despite the attempts of Count Wittgenstein to attack Napoleon from the flanks, the allies were soon forced to leave Dresden and all of Saxony.

On 8 (20) and 9 (21) May 1813, near the town of Bautzen, the allied Russian-Prussian army was again defeated and retreated to upper Selesia. Under Bautzen, the balance of power was as follows: the allied Russian-Prussian army consisted of 96 thousand soldiers and 610 guns, the French had 165 thousand with 250 guns, thus. the French had almost 2-fold superiority in manpower, while the allied army had a two-fold superiority in artillery. On May 8 (20), 1813, Napoleon attacked the units of General Miloradovich and threw him back to the main positions of the Allied army. After that, General M.B. Barclay de Tolly advised not to accept the battle and retreat, but Alexander I supported the arguments of the Prussian generals and insisted on the battle. On May 9 (21), a 100,000 army led by Napoleon attacked the Allied army in front (frontal attack), and Ney's 60,000th corps bypassed the right flank and threatened the rear of the entire allied army. Napoleon carried out a diversionary maneuver on the left flank, forcing the transfer of reserve units there. Count Wittgenstein warned of a possible attack on the right flank, but Alexander I ignored his warning. The situation was saved by the fact that Marshal Ney never fulfilled his task, being carried away by private, rearguard battles and thereby saving the Allied army from complete disaster. The losses of the allied army amounted to: 12 thousand killed and wounded, the French lost 18 thousand soldiers and officers.

On May 23 (June 4), 1813, a 1.5-month truce was concluded between the Russian-Prussian alliance and Napoleon, which was later extended until July 29 (August 9), 1813. On July 30 (August 10), 1813, after the end of the armistice, the Austrian Empire announced a break with France, joining the anti-Napoleonic coalition and thereby declared war on Napoleonic France.

By the end of the truce VI, the coalition numbered up to 0.5 million people, and consisted of three armies: the Bohemian, Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg located near the city of Bautzen - 237 thousand (77 thousand Russians, 50 thousand Prussians, 110 thousand Austrians) , the Silesian General Blucher at Schweidnitz - 98 thousand (61 thousand Russians and 37 thousand Prussians), and the northern army of the former Napoleonic Marshal Bernadotte (then already known as Crown Prince Karl-Johan of Sweden) at Berdin - 127 thousand (30 thousand people). Russians, 73 thousand Prussians and 24 thousand Swedes). Formally, the commanders-in-chief were the monarchs of Russia, Prussia and Austria, but de facto the commander-in-chief of the allied army was the Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg ...

Carl Philip Schwarzenberg

Thus, all Russian units were subordinate to foreign commanders. To defeat Napoleon, the allies adopted the so-called. The “Trachtenberg plan”, according to which the main thing was not to fight, but to maneuver ... The Allied army, which Napoleon attacked, would have to retreat, and the other two should have delivered flank attacks on the stretched communications of the French.

By this time, in Germany, Napoleon concentrated up to 40 thousand active forces, and another 170 thousand were in the garrisons of Hamburg, Dresden, Danzig and Torgau. Thus. Napoleon's active army was slightly over 100,000. Napoleon saw as his main task the entry into Berlin and the surrender of Prussia, for which 70 thousand corps of Marshal Oudinot was sent to the Berlin direction, and parts of Marshal Davout and Girard (about 50 thousand) were supposed to block the retreat of the northern army of Bernadotte. The corps of Ney acted against the army of Blucher, and the corps of General Saint-Cyr against the army of Schwarzenberg. Napoleon himself led the reserve army, which should immediately approach the French corps against which the main blow would be delivered. On August 11 (22), the army of Marshal Oudinot collided with the army of Bernadotte at Grosberene and was defeated, thus. attack on Berlin failed...

Soon another battle took place at Dresden on August 14-15 (26-27), 1813, first on August 13 (25) double (87 against 40 thousand French Saint-Cyr) superiority was with Schwarzenberg, who could not decide to fight the French, and when on August 14 (26) the allied army increased to 130 thousand, then the French reserve army led by Napoleon approached Dresden. Based on this, Emperor Alexander I ordered to retreat, but the order did not reach the army of Count Wittgenstein in time, who launched an attack on the outskirts of Dresden and suffered significant losses. On August 15 (27), Napoleon dealt a crushing blow to the allies, sending his units against the Austrians on the left flank. The battle was accompanied by heavy rain, and the battle was fought with cold weapons. The French lost 12 thousand soldiers, the Allies 16 thousand and 50 guns. After the defeat at Dresden, Schwarzenberg's army began to retreat to Bohemia, his task was to cover the direction to Vienna and prevent the French army from entering the capital of the Austrian Empire.

In order to cut off the retreat path of the allies through the mountain valleys (the region of the Ore Mountains), on August 14 (26), 1813, Napoleon sent the 1st Army Corps of General Vandamme, which was to be supported by the corps of Marshals of Saint- Sir and Marmont (but Vandam never received support). With the successful completion of the task set by Vandamme, an extremely dangerous and even critical situation would have developed for the allies, both in military and political respects. In the military, because in the event that Vandam's corps went to Teplitz, it blocked the narrow path through the Ore Mountains, and then the Bohemian army (with which the Russian Emperor and the King of Prussia were located) was threatened with encirclement and complete defeat. Politically, there was a real threat of the collapse of the coalition of allies. Already after the defeat at Dresden, Austria was inclined to withdraw from the VI anti-French coalition, and its chancellor Mitternich was about to send his representatives to negotiate with the French ...

The path of the 35 thousand French corps of Vandam near the city of Kulm (Bohemia) was blocked by a detachment of the Russian guards of Count Osterman-Tolstoy, which included the 1st Guards Infantry Division of General A.P. Yermolov and the remnants of the 2nd Army Corps of Prince Eugene of Württemberg - a total of 10-12 thousand soldiers of the Russian Guard.

On the first day of the battle, August 17 (29), 1813, the French units, having almost a threefold superiority, constantly attacked, but all their efforts were shattered by the stamina of the Russian guard. The Life Guards Semyonovsky Regiment stubbornly defended itself, but lost almost 1,000 people (out of 1,600 initially). His second battalion lost all its officers. The life huntsmen also distinguished themselves. The commander of the Russian corps, Count Osterman-Tolstoy, was out of action, his left arm was torn off by a cannonball. General A.P. took command of the Russian units. Ermolov. At 1700 hours the French managed to succeed in the center of the position. In the reserve of A. Yermolov, only two companies of Preobrazhenians and Semenovtsy remained, and when it seemed that the French would be able to win, reinforcements came up - dragoon and lancer regiments, under the command of General I.I. Dibich, entered the battle from the march ... Next came the heavy cavalry - 1st and 2nd cuirassier, 1st grenadier and 2nd guards divisions. The Russian units lost about 6 thousand people that day, but the combat mission was completed - the movement of the allied army through the Ore Mountains was ensured.

On August 18 (30) the battle of Kulm continued. Now the allies had a numerical superiority and attacked the French units from three sides. As a result of this attack, Vandam's corps was almost completely destroyed, General Vandam himself with four generals surrendered, and the other two generals of his corps remained in the fields near Kulm. More than 12 thousand French soldiers and officers were taken prisoner. Also captured were 84 guns, two imperial eagles, five banners, and the entire French baggage train. As the Russian military historian in exile A.A. Kersnovsky: "The Kulm victory shines with glory on the banners of our guard - it was the favorite victory of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich." In honor of the victory at Klm, the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilgel III, established the "sign of the Iron Cross", which in Russia became known as the Kulm Cross.

After the victory at Kulm, the allied army moved to Bohemia to replenish reserves. After the end of the war with Napoleon, all the regiments of the Russian guard were given St. George's banners with the inscription embroidered on them: "For the feats rendered in the battle of Kulm on August 17, 1813."

On the eve of the Battle of Kulm, on August 14 (26), the Franco-Prussian battle of the Katzbach took place, as a result of which Blucher's army completely defeated MacDonald's corps (the balance of forces was as follows: 75 thousand allies against 65 thousand French and 200 guns on each side) . Napoleon's army moved to help MacDonald, but Blucher evaded the battle even then.

On August 24 (September 5), the army of Marshal Ney launched a new offensive against Berlin, but was defeated in the battle of Dennewitz and retreated. After the defeat of Ney's army, the position of the French army in Germany became critical. The victories of the Bohemian army at Kulm, the Silesian army at Katzbach, the northern one at Grosberen and Dennewitz undermined the faith of the French army in victory, besides, Napoleon's losses amounted to 80 thousand soldiers and 300 guns ... In September, the army of the VI coalition received reinforcements in the form of a 60 thousandth army (formed in Poland) Count Bennigsen.

In mid-September, the offensive of the allied armies began, which was divided into two groups: the 1st northern and Slesian armies led by Blucher and Bernadotte, the 2nd Bohemian and Polish armies under the command of Schwarzenberg. Napoleon tried to break through to Berlin again, but soon found out about the uprising in the Bavarian Kingdom, which threatened to block the path to retreat and turned to Leipzig. Soon, the main forces of Napoleon and the allies gathered near Leipzig, and from October 4 (16) to October 7 (19), 1813, the “Battle of the Nations” took place at Leipzig.

The balance of forces according to A. Kersnovsky in his "History of the Russian Army" is given as follows: 316 thousand and 1335 guns for the forces of the anti-Napoleonic coalition and 190 thousand and 700 guns for Napoleon. The front of the Battle of Leipzig stretched for 16 kilometers. Despite the rather mediocre command of Schwarzenberg, the Allies managed to break Napoleon's resistance during two days of fighting, but in the heat of battle, Alexander I was almost captured, he was obliged to save the attack of the Life Cossacks of Orlov-Denisov and His Majesty's Own Convoy. After a bloody battle on October 7 (19), Schwarzenberg was unable to cut off the retreat of the French units, but despite this, Leipzig was taken by the Allied forces. The French lost 40 thousand (1/5 of their army), 20 thousand prisoners (10%), and more than 300 guns (40% of artillery). The allies at Leipzig lost 45 thousand (15%), while half of the losses fell on the Russian contingent - 22 thousand, the Prussians lost 14 thousand and the Austrians lost 9 thousand. Beyond the Rhine, Napoleon was able to withdraw only 60,000 soldiers from his 190,000th army. But even these forces were enough for him to defeat the army of the Bavarian King at Hanau, which was blocking his retreat to France. At the same time, Russian units led by Prince Alexander of Württemberg occupy Danzig, thus ending the campaign of 1813 with the liberation of the Kingdom of Prussia.

The campaign of 1813 had the character of a war of mass armies and armed peoples, at the same time the very attitude of opponents to each other was in the nature of the traditions of chivalry, and there could be no question of concentration camps for prisoners of war! Even the attitude towards the prisoners was emphatically polite and respectful, both on the part of the Napoleonic army, but especially on the part of the Russian soldiers. It must be admitted that the entire campaign of 1813 is entirely the merit of the Russian army, it showed miracles of valor and stamina, just as Emperor Alexander I showed enviable persistence in the fight against Napoleon, and did not make any concessions and negotiations with Bonaparte.

After the defeat of Napoleon in the Patriotic War, military operations were aimed at expelling the French from states in Western Europe. Thus began the foreign campaigns of the Russian army. 1812 was the beginning of the military movement. Despite the defeat, the Napoleonic troops were still strong enough.

The foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813 made it possible to clear the territory of the Vistula and Poland from the French. Field Marshal Kutuzov commanded the Russian troops. During this foreign campaign of the Russian army, Kutuzov signed the Treaty of Kalisz on the Russian-Prussian alliance against Napoleon. This agreement marked the beginning of the sixth coalition against the French. This alliance was supported by the European peoples who were fighting against the yoke of Napoleon.

The foreign campaign of the Russian army together with began at the end of March. In Germany, it deployed quite widely in the rear of the French. The local population welcomed the Russian troops as their liberators. In mid-April of the same year (1813), Napoleon concentrated about 200 thousand people against Russian-Prussian soldiers in the amount of about 92 thousand. At that time, Wittgenstein commanded the Russian troops (after the death of Kutuzov), after him the leadership of the army passed to Barclay de Tolly.

The allies (Russia and Prussia) were defeated first on April 20 at Lützen, then on May 8-9 at Bautzen. The foreign campaign of the Russian army then ended with the signing of a truce (May 23). It continued until July 29.

Austria acted as an intermediary in negotiations with Napoleon. However, they ended in failure. As a result, the Austrian government broke off all relations with France. Sweden, connected with the Russian state by an 1812 treaty, opposed Napoleon. Great Britain concluded a convention with Russia and Prussia, which provided them with subsidies. The Teplitsky Treaties were signed between the allies and Austria (in 1813, on September 28), soon Great Britain also joined the union.

Thus, in the next foreign campaign of the Russian army of allied forces, there were about 492 thousand people (173 thousand Russians). All of them were combined into three armies. About 237 thousand soldiers entered the Bohemian army. It was commanded by the Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg. About 100 thousand people formed the Silesian army of Blucher (Field Marshal of Prussia). More than 150 thousand people entered the Northern Army, commanded by Bernadotte (the crown prince of Sweden). A separate corps was advanced to Hamburg, consisting of 30 thousand people.

At the same time, Napoleon's army consisted of 440 thousand soldiers. The main part of his military forces was located in Saxony.

August 1813 was marked by the Allied counteroffensive. The Bohemian army on August 14 and 15 was defeated as a result of hostilities (Battle of Dresden) with the main forces of the French. Napoleonic troops tried to pursue the defeated regiments, but the Russian rear guard threw the enemy back in the battles near Kulm (August 17-18). The French troops under the command of Macdonald were defeated in battle with the Silesian army, and the army of the North defeated the troops of Oudinot.

The defeat of the Napoleonic army occurred after the transition of the allies to the general offensive. This battle (Leipzig) took place from the fourth to the seventh of October in 1813.

The remnants of the French troops went beyond the Rhine. Davout's corps was surrounded in Hamburg.

As a result of the successful military operations of the united armies, Denmark was forced to abandon the alliance with Napoleon and sign with Great Britain and Sweden in 1814. In addition, Denmark was obliged to join the battle with the French.