All language subtitles for 1812. Napoleonic Wars in Russia. Episode 2. Documentary Film. Russian History. (inglés)

Napoleon’s army had already seized Belorussia

by mid June 1812 and was marching towards Moscow.

Henri, get some more potatoes.

The French Emperor was longing a battle

being sure he would defeat the army of Alexander I

and force Russia to make peace on his conditions.

A dispatch for the Emperor!

However, the ambitious plans of the conqueror of Europe never realized.

1812. The Confrontation.

The X Corps of Le Grande Armée under Marshal J. MacDonald was approaching Riga.

The task of the troops was to seize the city,

join the II Corps under Marshal N.-Ch.Oudinot

and march towards St. Petersburg as a joint force.

Baron I. Essen, Governor General of Riga, had burnt down the city’s suburbs,

prepared the city for the siege and was not going to surrender.

MacDonald decided not to launch assault on Riga

but to wait for the arrival of the siege-artillery from East Prussia.

The St. Petersburg axis was defended by the Russian 1st Infantry Corps

under Count P. Wittgenstein.

After the seizure of Polotsk,

the Oudinot corps decided to outflank the Russian troops from the north.

Trying to give his support,

MacDonald seized the Dinaburg fortress on the Daugava River.

Trying to avoid the joining of the French corps,

Wittgenstein decided to meet Oudinot near the town of Sebezh.

A cavalry detachment under Gen. Ya. Kulnev was supposed to deliver

diversionary attacks on the rear of the French troops.

Yakov Petrovich Kulnev (1763-1812). Lieutenant General.

Distinguished himself during the Finnish War against Sweden.

He commanded the vanguard of the Russian Army

during the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812).

Selfless and strict to himself and his subordinates,

he was loved by the soldiers for his paternal care.

The Kulnev hussars were, as usual, charged with the most difficult task:

to be first in attack and the last in retreat.

Using their skill, the hussars crossed the river and attacked the French outpost.

Brigadier General J. de Saint-Geniès, Napoleon’s favorite,

was taken prisoner among others.

The French Emperor was infuriated by this news.

The hussars were a type of light cavalry armed with sabers and pistols.

The main mission of the hussars was reconnaissance, out-guarding,

making turning movements and attacking small detachments of the enemy

and its persecution.

The first hussar units first occurred in Hungary

and proved successful during the Thirty Years’ War.

Their uniform, in the Russian army and in the armies of other states,

preserved the peculiar features of Hungarian national costume.

A dolman was a heavily braided short single-breasted coat

with a stand-up collar.

A shako ornamented with a plume and cords.

A pelisse was a short fur lined and cord braided jacket.

Breeches.

A sabretache was a flat bag worn suspended on long straps. And a waist belt.

The Russian hussars had especially fierce fighting with the Oudinot units

near the village of Kliastitsy.

The Kulnev vanguard not only repulsed the enemy’s attack,

but counterattacked the outnumbering forces of the French,

took prisoner 900 men and seized almost the entire transport.

On 20th July, Kulnev, carried away by the pursuit of the enemy,

overlooked the approach of the main forces of the French corps

and was covered by a heavy artillery bombardment.

A 12-pound cannonball tore off both general’s legs.

When Napoleon learned of the death of Kulnev,

he wrote in his letter to Josephine:

“Kulnev, one of the best generals in the Russian cavalry, died yesterday.”

The Oudinot corps got stuck in the encounters

with the Russian corps under Wittgenstein.

The French suffered considerable casualties in the fights near Kliastitsy

and retreated towards Polotsk.

The French assault on St. Petersburg failed.

At the same time, the main French forces headed by the Emperor

continued pursuing the retreating Russian troops.

The Russian 1st Army of the West under Barclay de Tolly

and the 2nd Army of the West joined their forces in Smolensk on 22nd July.

Smolensk was the last of the big cities on Napoleon’s way to Moscow.

Despite exhausting fights, the Russian soldier’s spirit was not broken.

They marched into the city accompanied by the sounds of regiment orchestras.

The units were eager to fight the enemy immediately.

Passionate P. Bagration also insisted on fighting.

But balanced M. Barclay de Tolly was against,

understanding that the Russians were outnumbered by the French.

The commander presumed that Napoleon’s army numbered 180,000 men.

He, in his turn, could field 78,000 only,

because the Bagration units were to cover the Russian retreat

on the road to Dorogobuzh.

Our task is fighting the enemy, not running away from him!

I cannot command the assault without knowing the enemy’s location and number.

The relationship between Barclay de Tolly and Bagration got strained to the limit.

From a letter by Bagration:

“For God’s sake, send me anywhere —

even to command a regiment in Moldavia or the Caucasus…

I thought I served the Tsar and my country, but it turned that I served Barclay.

I confess – I don’t want to.”

It was a letter to Minister A. Arakcheyev,

and Bagration knew it well that he would show it to the Tsar.

Many of the Russian generals tried to blacken Barclay de Tolly’s reputation

in the eyes of the Tsar,

accusing the Commander-in-Chief of inertness and even in treachery.

The accumulated discord became apparent at the council of war called

by Barclay in Smolensk,

when a decision was taken: not to give up the city without a fight,

but to defend it with a limited force.

The units of the two Russian armies took two roads leading from Smolensk

in the direction of the village of Rudnya to break through the center

of Napoleon’s army and split it into two.

The Russian 27th Division under Lt. Gen. D. Neverovsky

was keeping the Orsha road under surveillance.

Only one regiment was left to protect Smolensk.

The Russian armies were already 30 or 40 kilometers away from Smolensk

when Barclay de Tolly

received reconnaissance of the size of Napoleon’s army.

He was right in his assumptions —

the French outnumbered the Barclay army twice.

From the order of Barclay de Tolly:

“Cancel the order to assault. Urgently. We return to Smolensk.”

But this command could not reach the units

that had made a good advance in a short time.

The Cossack corps under ataman M. Platov

consisting of six regiments of the Don Cossacks

and units formed of the Bashkirs and Crimean Tatars was first on the move.

Matvei Ivanovich Platov (1751-1818).

General of Cavalry, ataman of the Don Cossack Host.

Participated in the storming of Ochakov and Izmail during the Russo-Turkish War.

and the suppression of the Pugachov’s Rebellion.

His Cossacks have captured over 500 French cannons,

70,000 men and 30 banners.

In the early morning of 27 June,

the Platov Cossacks encountered a French cavalry division

at rest near the village of Molevo Boloto and attacked it from the move.

Two Cossack regiments with their lances pointed forward

were darting on the French cavalrymen who were rooted to the spot.

They had never seen such a thing before.

And it was Only a timely arrived German cavalry brigade

that saved the French from total annihilation.

The Cossacks.

Cavalry units formed from the members of a special class liable

for call-up that existed in Russia only.

They usually used a widespread formation during attacks.

Lances and sabers were their main armament.

While units of Barclay de Tolly were on their move from Smolensk to Rudnya,

Napoleon decided to take his rear with the main French forces

to cut off the Russians from retreat.

Three French corps that were on the maneuver

encountered near the town of Krasny

with the Russian vanguard under Gen. Neverovsky.

So, his 7200 men faced 30,000 of Napoleon’s army’s cavalry.

2 August, 1812. The town of Krasny.

Having left several jaeger battalions in Krasny,

Neverovsky with his main forces took the position out of the town.

Your Excellency, the French come in hordes!

Dmitry Petrovich Neverovsky (1771-1813). Lieutenant General.

He ran away from his tutor’s home when he was 15 and joined the army in the field.

He was appointed commander of the first regiment of the Marines,

a new combat arm of the time.

His division suffered the greatest casualties in 1812.

He was severely wounded at the Battle of Leipzig

during the War of the Sixth Coalition and soon died.

The French hussars and chasseurs were trying to take Krashy from the move,

but, suffering heavy losses, had to withdraw.

The French XXIV Light Infantry Regiment approached the town.

Your Excellency, they will not contain them. We need to retreat!

Command the jaegers to leave the town!

Marshal Murat arrived at the battlefield.

The Polish IX Uhlan Regiment and the III Chasseurs

a Cheval Regiment plunged into the attack on the division under Neverovsky.

The Uhlans were a type of light cavalry armed with lances.

The word “uhlan” comes from the Tatar language and means a “mounted warrior”.

This was the name given to the Tatar cavalry in the service of Poland.

Later, the name spread to dente the entire Polish light cavalry.

The uhlans of different countries wore uniforms with Polish national distinctions,

in particular specific square-topped caps.

Form the square!

The Russian infantry formed two large squares,

between which the cannons were placed.

The Kharkov Dragoon Regiment was deployed behind the artillery.

The Dragoons (from the French word meaning “dragon”)

were a type of cavalry armed with the firearms

and able to act in both mounted and dismounted formations.

The Russian dragoons wore high helmets made of japanned leather,

and having hair crests.

The French wore the metal helmets with flowing horsetails.

The French cavalrymen turned backwards. The Russian dragoons darted after them.

But at that very moment the fresh French cavalry units

that came from Krasny appeared to support their comrades.

Under their pressure the dragoons turned around.

Fire!

Belay!

The Russian cannons were silent: where to shoot? At their fellows?

Belay that! Belay!

The forces were unequal, so the nine guns went to the French.

There were about 6,000 infantrymen

and 5 cannons left at the disposal of Gen.Neverovsky.

Almost all his soldiers were newly drafted

and they faced about 15,000 French cavalrymen.

Neverovsky commanded to re-form into a single square.

Brothers! All of you remember being taught to stand in the square!

Grasp the guns and wait for my command!

Form the square! Form the square!

To repel a cavalry attack the line of the regular infantry re-formed into the square.

Each side of the square was a line or a column that faced outwards.

The first line of the soldiers pointed forward long guns

with the bayonets attached, keeping the cavalry away.

At first, the column fired in volleys and then in the “battle fire”, i.e. randomly,

causing considerable losses among the cavalry.

The task of the cavalry was to break the square

and prevent the soldiers from re-forming.

The Wurttemberg mounted jaegers and French chasseurs a cheval and hussars,

Polish uhlans were approaching the silent square of the Neverovsky soldiers.

Retreat!

Neverovsky commanded to retreat preserving the formation.

What is it? To hell with it! The enemy is over there! Attack!

Joachim Murat (1767-1815). Marshal of France.

Distinguished himself during the suppression

of the Royalist mutiny by Napoleon.

Participant to almost all Napoleonic campaigns.

Married to Emperor’s sister.

The Emperor granted him the Kingdom of Naples

for his outstanding bravery and military merits.

Commanded the reserve cavalry in 1812.

After the second abdication of Napoleon

he was trying to start an uprising in Naples,

but was arrested and executed by shooting.

The place of his burial is unknown.

According to different sources, the French cavalrymen

made about 40 attacks on the Neverovsky column that day.

– Hold tight, brothers! – Keep the line!

A Wurttemberg artillery battery arrived to the aid of the French cavalry.

The remnants of Neverovsky’s division

that delayed the French cavalry vanguard

under Marshal Murat for a day covered 10 miles, repulsing attacks.

Your Excellency! If the cannons are used, we will lose our ground!

Belay! See the height?

Take the jaegers and two cannons. We retreat and you will cover us.

Companies 2 and 3! Draw off to the forest! Fall back!

The cannons started firing from the height.

The French decided that reinforcements arrived to aid the Russians

and stopped attacking.

The Neverovsky detachment took their way to Smolensk. It was getting dark.

Here are the captured guns, Sire.

I expected to see the entire Russian division, not 9 captured guns only!

Speed up the advance towards Smolensk!

Line up!

On 2nd August Bagration received a dispatch from Neverovsky

reporting the fight and the French advance towards Smolensk.

He commanded Lt. Gen. N. Rayevsky to immediately move to aid Gen. Neverovsky.

Bagration started to urgently turn his forces around.

A part of the units under Rayevsky and the remnants of the Neverovsky

detachment united 6 miles away from Smolensk

and took up a defensive position.

3rd August, 1812, 4 p.m

A 180,000 French army, after the rest and replenishing food supplies in Vitebsk,

was approaching 15,000 Russian soldiers.

Here’s the French vanguard. Gentlemen, things are rotten.

Rayevsky immediately ordered to retreat behind the city walls.

Smolensk had to be held at any cost.

The situation was so desperate that Rayevsky ordered to call

the lightly wounded soldiers able of holding arms from hospitals.

While Napoleon’s army was approaching Smolensk,

the Russian 1st Army of the West was located 40

and the 2nd Army of the West 30 kilometers to the west of the city.

The fate of Smolensk, Russian garrison and two Russian armies hanged by a thread…

The units under M. Ney were first to approach Smolensk.

– Look there, Henri. – Is this Moscow?

Not yet. I cannot even pronounce the name of this city.

From the memories of Count de Segur:

“The sight of Smolensk inflamed Marshal Ney’s passionate enthusiasm.

It was not without reason that the miracles of the war against Prussia come to mind,

when fortresses would fall before the sabers of our cavalry.”

Michel Ney (1769-1815). Marshal of France.

One of the most talented military leaders of Napoleon.

He actually saved the remnants of the French army

when he led it to Poland during the retreat from Russia.

In 1814 he changed to serve Louis XVIII.

He promised the king to bring Napoleon

who escaped from the island of Elba back in an iron cage.

However, when he saw the Emperor he defected to his side.

He was arrested and executed by shooting after the second abdication of Napoleon.

Napoleon, who celebrated his birthday the day before, came tearing to the city walls.

His generals wished to distinguish themselves

and give him present for his birthday:

to take Smolensk situated in the rear of the Russian armies

and then to defeat it one by one.

The French launched the storm of the fortress on the 4th August morning.

These walls are strong. We’ll wait for the reinforcements. Start the bombardment.

We will end up with this prideful influence of Russia.

The artillery was first to deliver the strike and, covered by it,

the cavalry and infantry plunged into battle.

Napoleon’s main forces were concentrated against the 15,000 force of Rayevsky.

They needed to hold the city until the arrival of the main Russian troops

that were quickly approaching to aid Smolensk.

Commander of the 2nd Russian army P. Bagration wrote to Rayevsky:

“Dear friend, I’m not going — I’m running

and I wish I had wings to join you in the shortest time.”

Napoleon’s delay played a decisive role.

The Russian 2nd Army returned that evening

and the 1st one that night to the city that was ablaze.

There were at least 110,000 men of the Russian army

and about 183,000 of the French near Smolensk.

Napoleon was happy.

His wish to finish both Russian armies at one strike seemed to be coming true.

The French launched their storm in the morning.

Bagration insisted on a general engagement

and the defense of Smolensk to the last ditch.

But in the view of the French numerical advantage,

Barclay de Tolly didn’t take the risk.

The armies were ordered to withdraw towards Moscow through Dorogobuzh.

The defense of the city was entrusted to the corps under Gen. Dokhturov.

Dmitry Sergeyevich Dokhturov (1759-1816). General of Infantry.

He had three severe injuries during his military service.

He was notable for his skilful actions in the defense.

After Bagration was wounded during the Battle of Borodino,

he took the command of the left flank of the Russian army.

Died of the consequences of injuries.

Dokhturov brought his troops outside Smolensk

and lined them along the city walls.

Napoleon immediately ordered to attack the Russian regiments

and, if possible, take them prisoner.

The French darted to storm the Molokhov and Nikolsky Gates.

The French cannonballs were destroying the walls

whose debris were killing hundreds of soldiers.

The crew of the cannons defending the Molokhov Gate was replaced four times.

The French vanguard infantry brigade lost its commanding general,

all regiment commanders and most of senior officers during this fight,

but could press the Russian units back into the city.

The civil population was abandoning Smolensktogether with the Russian army,

setting still standing houses on fire.

The corps under Gen. Dokhturov was the last to leave the city.

He set the bridge over the Dnieper River on fire.

This is an eruption of Vesuvius!

Beautiful sight, isn’t it?

Enemy’s corpse always smells good.

From the memories of Count de Segur:

“A performance with no spectators; a victory that bore no fruit, bloody glory;

smoke surrounding us seemed to be our only acquisition.”

Napoleon continued his offensive wishing to force

a general engagement on the Russian army.

He ordered Ney to cut off the Barclay de Tolly’s

forces from the river crossing

and possibility to join forces with the 2nd Army.

On 7th August the advance of the 40,000 corps under Ney was stopped

by the 3,000 detachment under General Pavel Tuchkov.

The general noted the threat of the breakthrough of the French corps

and by his own decision changed the route he was assigned to follow.

He took up the vantage ground and met the Ney forces with the fire.

Ney’s infantry had been attacking for five hours already.

Bravely repulsing the enemy, the Russian soldiers withdrew behind the river.

The reinforcements that arrived increased the number of Russians up to 22,000.

Attention! Sound the attack!

Ney made another attack that evening.

General Tuchkov himself led the Yekaterinoslav Imperial Guards Regiment

to face the French.

When his horse was killed, he continued fighting dismounted

with a gun in his hands.

Belay! Belay that! This is no soldier! It’s a general! Lift him up! Quickly!

The French Emperor wished to see captured Tuchkov.

Pavel Alekseyevich Tuchkov (1776—1858). Major General.

One of the five Tuchkov brothers, four of which, being generals,

participated in the battles during the French Invasion of Russia.

Two died at the Battle of Borodino.

He distinguished himself during the war against Sweden.

He was sent to Paris as honorable prisoner. Released in 1814.

He became the member of the State Council later.

Napoleon was persuading the Russian general that it was not him who started the war.

Is General Tuchkov, commander of the 3rd Corps, your kin?

He is my brother.

Napoleon proposed general to write a letter to Alexander I

and set forth the French Emperor’s proposal of peace on his behalf.

I will never dare to bother the Emperor with letters,

especially in my present condition.

Right. Then could you write to your brother what I tell you?

All right. It makes difference.

Have apples, they are healthy.

Thank you.

Thus the first letter was written where Napoleon

proposed peace to Alexander via General Tuchkov.

The letter from Tuchkov was delivered to the headquarters of the Russian Army

to his brother Nikolay Alekseyevich who forwarded it to the Tsar.

But Alexander I didn’t respond to Napoleon.

The question arose before the French Emperor again:

Should he move further or stay in Smolensk?

After the Russian army left Smolensk,

the spirits of the soldiers and officers were low.

Backwards and backwards again. Moscow is already stone’s throw away.

They say all Staff generals are Germans, eh?

That’s true…

From the memories of a Russian officer:

“Each of us faced the sad picture of dying motherland after the battles of Smolensk.

The city and town dwellers were leaving most of their properties.

The Cossacks were destroying everything that remained.

In despair, Russia was tearing itself.”

From the letter of P. Bagration to Minister A. Arakcheyev:

“It is painful and sad to see all the army in despair.

The rumors say that you consider concluding peace. God forbid!

You will put all Russia against yourselves

and every one of us will feel shame to wear the uniform.

We need to fight until Russia is able to stand.

So, I’m writing the truth to you: prepare the militia.

Because the Minister is skillfully leading a guest to the capital…”

Barclay de Tolly was steady in implementing his plan of retreat

and preserving of the Russian army.

Years later he wrote:

“I bring my deeds to judgment before all and every one;

let he who wishes point out better measures that might have been found

and taken to save our motherland…”

Under joint pressure of other generals, Barclay de Tolly decided on the battle.

Quartermaster General K. Von Toll was the one who selected

the position near Dorogobuzh.

On 12th August, Barclay de Tolly, Bagration and Grand Duke Konstantin,

brother of the Russian Emperor Alexander,

inspected the selected position and found it absolutely unfit for actions.

This fortification is absolutely unfit. Absolutely. Absolute nothing.

This position cannot have the flaws you find in it.

How dare you talking like this?

Before the Emperor’s brother and Commander-in-Chief.

You’re milksop!

Do you know the potential implications? It’s a prison.

No matter what Bargation and Barlkay de Tolly might feel towards each other,

they acted jointly and in accord in the decisive battle,

bearing in mind the fate of Russia in the first place.

With common displeasure with the actions of Barclay de Tolly,

the Cabinet of Alexander I hesitated to approve

the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army.

Barclay de Tolly, Bagration, L. Bennigsen, D. Dokhturov, P. Palen,

P. Tormasov and M. Kutuzov were proposed as candidates.

The commission created by Alexander I made its choice.

All Alexander I had to do was to agree with its decision

and confirmed Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov in the position of Commander-in-Chief.

67-year old Kutuzov was the most experienced among all Russian generals.

He was esteemed a skilful diplomat able to find a common language

even with his ill-wishers; his soldiers and officers loved him.

In addition, Moscow and St. Petersburg nobles demanded

that Kutuzov was appointed to this position.

The Emperor appointed General of Cavalry Levin August,

Count von Bennigsen Chief of Staff.

Chance brought the two generals together at a post house

in the village of Vyshny Volochyok Several days later.

Kutuzov was heading to the army positions and Bennigsen,

without knowing of his new appointment, was heading to St. Petersburg.

Kutuzov informed him of the Emperor’s order and proposed to proceed together.

Proud Bennigsed accepted the proposition with restrain.

However, tactful Kutuzov persuaded General to go to the positions together.

On 16th August the generals arrived in Gzhatsk.

Kutuzov assumed command over the Russian army

on 17th August in the village of Tsarevo Zaymishche,

having continued Barckay de Tolly and Bagration in his positions.

On estimating the situation,

Kutuzov ordered the troops to withdraw to Mozhaysk

to join forces with the reserve and Moscow militia.

Staff officers were sent forward with the task

to select the location for the coming decisive battle.

The Staff officers were assistants of the division,

regiment and battalion commanders.

Adjutant officers played an important role in the functioning of the Staff.

They were responsible for preparing operational documents

and were dealing with issues of movements, deployment and manpower of troops.

Adjutants often performed duties of aides in the field.

As opposed to ordinary messengers

they were authorized representatives of the Command

and should know the picture of the actions.

They sometimes had to ride tens of miles under fire.

On arriving at the position an adjutant was required

not only to render the text of the order to the commander,

but to help the commander to take the right decision

in the constantly changing situation.

Sometimes the adjutant even assumed the command of this military unit.

The village of Borodino 124 km away from Moscow

was selected as the place of the general battle.

Both Russian armies approached it on 22nd August.

Two roads leading to Moscow from the west were crossing the Borodino Field:

the Great and the Old Smolensk Roads.

The field was also crossed by a small river of Koloch, a tributary of the Moscow River.

The left flank was covered by thick forest.

On the right flank, the Koloch River widened before joining the Moscow River,

so it was extremely difficult to outflank the Russian positions there.

The Great Smolensk Road crossed the field in the middle.

Kutuzov deployed the units under Barclay de Tolly

on the right side and the army under Bagration on the left.

The 3rd Corps under Gen. Tuchkov

and 15,000 men of militia were deployed

on the leftmost flank on the Old Smolensk Road.

The construction of the artillery fortifications and earthen redoubt

in the middle of the positions of the 2nd Army was started on 23rd August.

The main artillery fortifications designed to contain 38 cannons

were located behind the Borodino village, near the village of Gorki.

This was the place where Kutuzov located his command post.

The village of Shevardino was in front of the positions of the Russian 2nd Army.

An earthen redoubt was hurriedly constructed on one of its heights.

A redoubt is a closed rectangular or polygonal

earthen fortification prepared for all-round defense.

A redoubt consisted of an outer ditch and a 2 meter high rampant

with the earthen step for gunners and cannons.

In the morning of 24th August, during another

inspection of the Borodino positions, Kutuzov ordered to pull back the 2nd Army

and to deploy it near the village of Semyonovskoye

and to construct new artillery fortifications.

The Shevardino redoubt was planned to delay the advance of the French vanguard,

allowing for the main Russian forces to consolidate

their defense positions on the Borodino Field.

A detachment consisting of 8,000 infantrymen, 4,000 cavalrymen

and 46 cannons took up defense at the fortification.

Gen. A. Gorchakov was its commander.

Andrey Ivanovich Gorchakov (1779-1855).

General of Infantry, nephew of Gen. A. Suvorov.

Was promoted to Major General when he was 19.

Participant of campaigns led by A. Suvorov.

Brilliantly commanded a division during the 1807 campaign.

He was the commander of infantry of the Russian 2nd Army

in the beginning of the French Invasion of Russia.

Was severely wounded during the battle of Borodino,

awarded with the Order of St. George (3rd Class).

Participated in the War of the Sixth Coalition.

A member of the State Council since 1816.

The cloud of dust was seen on the horizon:

Napoleon’s vanguard was approaching Shevardino,

where the fortifications were being constructed.

Kutuzov ordered Gen. P. Konovnitsin to block the advance of the French.

The units under Konovnitsin faced the attack of the French cavalry

under J. Murat near the Kolotsk Monastery, 8 km away from Borodino.

The French attack was so swift that the Russians had to withdraw

to the Shevardino redoubt.

Napoleon ordered to take the fortification immediately.

The Polish corps under J. Poniatowsky the first to plunge into battle.

They faced resistance of the jaegers who were soon supported

by the Kiev Dragoon and Akhtyrka Hussar Regiments.

The Russian cavalrymen blitzed the Polish infantry:

many of Napoleon’s soldiers died and the survivors fled.

Meanwhile, the French took the village of Fomkino

and put an artillery battery in front of it. An artillery engagement started.

The artillery of the Napoleonic wars was a quite efficient weapon.

The maximum shooting range was 1,500 to 3,000 meters.

A 12-pound cast-iron cannonball could break through a half meter brick wall

from a 500 m distance or a 2.5 m earthen parapet.

After that the cannonball continued its fatal flight, rebounding from the ground.

Hitting the close ranks of the infantry, it killed and injured tens of soldiers.

Grapeshot was an artillery round filled with cast-iron bullets.

The grapeshot fire was employed mainly for shooting from close distances

at the attacking enemy’s cavalry.

A howitzer grenade was a hollow iron-cast ball filled

with gunpowder and equipped with an explosive filled time-fuse.

When exploding, it scattered in approximately 50 pieces

within a range of 10-20 meters.

After the bombardment of the Shevardino redoubt,

the French and Polish infantry moved towards it.

On taking the hill between the redoubt and the village,

the French installed the cannons on it.

There were Only 60 steps between the French and Russian troops.

Cannonballs and grapeshot rained on the redoubt.

The French started the storm about 5 p.m.

They managed to take Shevardino,

but the Russians wrested the village from the enemy with bayonets.

There was no time for respite, so the French rushed to attack again.

Huge French force — almost 40,000 men — attacked the redoubt from three sides,

trying to envelope and fully eliminate the detachment.

Almost unnoticed, they approached the redoubt in the darkness.

However, instead the infantry they encountered

the Russian 2nd Cuirassier Division.

Attention! Cavalry! Form the square!

Stand by! Close the ranks!

I cannot see anything!

The attacks from each side followed one another.

And only at nightfall the fighting started dying out.

The fight for the Shevardino redoubt lasted almost 10 hours.

Casualties on both sides were: 6,000 Russian men and 5,000 French.

No prisoners.

Kutuzov commanded to abandon the redoubt and withdraw to the main positions.

Gen. Gorchakov and the soldiers of the Odessa Infantry Regiment

were the last to abandon the redoubt.

Sound the attack!

The ruse worked. Confused, the Murat cavalry stopped,

and the Russian cuirassiers came in time to support the infantry.

The French withdrew without engaging.

On 25th August the sides were preparing to the battle.

Napoleon was in a very good humor and already considered himself winner.

After examining the Borodino Field

and learning about the positions of the troops under Kutuzov,

he noted that the Russian left flank was weak.

So, he planned to bring down all strength of the main thrust —

the units under Davout, Ney, Junot

and almost all Murat’s cavalry at this direction.

The IV Corps under Beauharnais was supposed to take the village of Borodino

and to attack on the Kurgannaya Height.

The V Corps under Poniatowsky was deployed on the French right flank.

It was to reach the Old Smolensk Road and gain the Russian rear.

The preparations were held in the Russian camp too.

Three fleches were being built near the village of Semionovskoye.

A fleche is an earthen fortification to contain the cannons.

It consists of two faces that form an obtuse angle pointed

with its vertex to the enemy.

A 2 m ditch was dug in front of the fleche

and the height of the fortification reached 2 meters.

Kutuzov and Bennigsen, accompanied by generals,

inspected the positions another more time early in the morning.

Kutuzov was using a cart, and the Commander-in-Chief

didn’t visit the positions where the cart could not reach.

Bennigsen, who was riding a horse, reached every position of the army.

The 3rd Corps under N. Tuchkov was commanded to leave the ambush

where it was deployed following Kutuzov’s order

and come closer to the Russian 2nd Army.

In addition, the construction of a redoubt for 18 cannons

(that entered the annals as the Rayevsky Redoubt)

was started on the initiative of Bagration and Rayevsky on 25th August evening.

Over 12,000 militiamen were involved in the work.

The night before the battle the French were in high spirits.

To inspire his soldiers, Napoleon placed

a portrait of his son François Joseph Charles,

which was delivered to him, for all to see in front of his tent.

And in the Russian camp soldiers

and militiamen were constructing fortifications,

cleaning horses and preparing ammunitions.

The icon of Madonna of Smolensk was carried

around the Russian positions to inspire and encourage the warriors.

The premonition of a great battle for Russia spread in the Russian army.

Soldiers were refusing from their daily glass of vodka.

They were putting on clean shirts, ready to march into their last fight.

All warriors, from general to private, understood

that the coming battle would decide the fate of Moscow and the whole Russia.

Night was falling on the Borodino Field.

Screenplay by Valery Babich, Yaroslav Tinchenko. Directed by Pavel Tupik.

Director of photography: Dmitry Kiptily. Music by Boris Kukoba.

Narrators: Sergey Chonishvily, Yevgeny Sinchukov. Script editor: Liudmila Avdeyeva

Producers: Valery Babich, Vlad Ryashin, Oleg Volnov, Konstantin Ernst.