Who won the Battle of Borodino. Who won the Battle of Borodino

The Battle of Borodino in 1812 is a battle that lasted only one day, but has been preserved in the history of the planet among the most important world events. Napoleon took this blow, hoping to quickly conquer the Russian Empire, but his plans were not destined to come true. It is believed that the Battle of Borodino was the first stage in the fall of the famous conqueror. What is known about the battle that he glorified in his famous work Lermontov?

Battle of Borodino 1812: background

This was a time when Bonaparte’s troops had already managed to subjugate almost all of continental Europe, and the emperor’s power even extended to Africa. He himself emphasized in conversations with those close to him that in order to get world domination, all he had to do was gain control over Russian lands.

To conquer Russian territory he gathered an army numbering approximately 600 thousand people. The army rapidly advanced deeper into the state. However, Napoleon's soldiers died one after another under the attack of peasant militias, their health deteriorated due to the unusually difficult climate and poor nutrition. Nevertheless, the advance of the army continued, the French goal being the capital.

The bloody Battle of Borodino in 1812 became part of the tactics used by Russian commanders. They weakened the enemy army with minor battles, biding their time for a decisive blow.

Main stages

The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was actually a chain consisting of several clashes with French troops, which resulted in huge losses on both sides. The first was the battle for the village of Borodino, which is located approximately 125 km from Moscow. On the Russian side, de Tolly took part in it, and on the enemy side, the Beauharnais corps.

The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was in full swing when the battle took place. It involved 15 divisions of French marshals and two Russians, led by Vorontsov and Neverovsky. At this stage, Bagration received a serious wound, which forced him to entrust command to Konovnitsyn.

By the time the Russian soldiers left the flashes, the Battle of Borodino (1812) had already been going on for about 14 hours. Summary further events: the Russians are located behind the Semenovsky ravine, where the third battle takes place. Its participants are people who attacked flushes and defended them. The French received reinforcements, which became the cavalry under the leadership of Nansouty. Uvarov's cavalry hastened to help the Russian troops, and the Cossacks under the command of Platov also approached.

Battery Raevsky

Separately, it is worth considering the final stage of such an event as the Battle of Borodino (1812). Summary: the battles for what went down in history as the “grave of the French cavalry” lasted about 7 hours. This place really became the grave for many of Bonaparte's soldiers.

Historians remain perplexed as to why the Russian army abandoned the Shevadinsky redoubt. It is possible that the commander-in-chief deliberately opened the left flank in order to divert the enemy's attention from the right. His goal was to protect the new Smolensk road, using which Napoleon’s army would quickly approach Moscow.

Many historically important documents have been preserved that shed light on such an event as the war of 1812. The Battle of Borodino is mentioned in a letter that was sent by Kutuzov to the Russian emperor even before it began. The commander informed the Tsar that the terrain features (open fields) would provide the Russian troops with optimal positions.

Hundred per minute

The Battle of Borodino (1812) is briefly and extensively covered in such quantity historical sources, which gives the impression that it was quite long in time. In reality, the battle, which began on September 7 at half past six in the morning, lasted less than a day. Of course, it turned out to be one of the bloodiest among all the short battles.

It’s no secret how many lives the Battle of Borodino took and its bloody contribution. Exact number Historians have not been able to identify those killed; they call 80-100 thousand dead on both sides. Calculations show that every minute at least a hundred soldiers were sent to the next world.

Heroes

The Patriotic War of 1812 gave many commanders their well-deserved glory. The Battle of Borodino, of course, immortalized a man like Kutuzov. By the way, Mikhail Illarionovich at that time was not yet a gray-haired old man whose one eye did not open. At the time of the battle, he was still an energetic, albeit aging man, and was not wearing his signature headband.

Of course, Kutuzov was not the only hero who was glorified by Borodino. Together with him, Bagration, Raevsky, and de Tolly entered history. It is interesting that the last of them did not enjoy authority among the troops, although he was the author of the brilliant idea to field partisan forces against the enemy army. If you believe the legend, during the Battle of Borodino, the general lost his horses three times, which died under a barrage of shells and bullets, but he himself remained unharmed.

Who has the victory?

Perhaps this question remains the main intrigue of the bloody battle, since both sides participating in it have own opinion on this score. French historians are convinced that Napoleon's troops won a great victory that day. Russian scientists insist on the opposite; their theory was once supported by Alexander the First, who proclaimed the Battle of Borodino an absolute victory for Russia. By the way, it was after him that Kutuzov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal.

It is known that Bonaparte was not satisfied with the reports provided by his military leaders. The number of guns captured from the Russians turned out to be minimal, as was the number of prisoners that the retreating army took with them. It is believed that the conqueror was completely crushed by the morale of the enemy.

The large-scale battle, which began on September 7 near the village of Borodino, has inspired writers, poets, artists, and then directors who covered it in their works for two centuries. You can recall both the painting “The Hussar Ballad” and the famous creation of Lermontov, which is now being taught at school.

What was the Battle of Borodino 1812 really like and how did it turn out for the Russians and French? Buntman and Eidelman are historians who created a laconic and accurate text that covers the bloody battle in detail. Critics praise this work for its impeccable knowledge of the era, vivid images heroes of the battle (both from one side and the other), thanks to whom all events are easy to imagine in the imagination. The book is a must read for those seriously interested in history and military affairs.

The great battle took place on August 26. According to the new style - September 7. The official Day of Military Glory is celebrated on the 8th due to an error in calculations. However, it makes sense to remember such a battle three or four times.

Lermontov’s “Borodino” is a miracle of Russian poetic heroism, we all remember its lines, but we often make mistakes in intonation, starting to recite: “Tell me, uncle, it’s not without reason...” After all, these are bitter lines! Lermontov and his hero mourn that they had to retreat, that they had to give up Moscow, that the heroic generation did not block the enemy’s road to the Mother See. Bitterness lived in Russian hearts throughout the summer of 1812.

Throughout the summer of 1812, Russia languished in anticipation of a general battle. Prince Bagration proposed to lie down with bones on the banks of the Vistula, not allowing the enemy into central Russia. This is in the spirit of Peter the Great’s traditions of offensive war, in the spirit of the Suvorov school to which Bagration belonged. But the emperor approved a different tactic; the main task was to save the army during the loss of territories. Russia is not accustomed to defeats - and society poured out all the bitterness, reaching the point of hatred, on the Minister of War, who commanded the 1st Army - on Barclay.

The emperor, who did not have much confidence in the Russian commanders, was forced to nominate Kutuzov in order to restore the morale of the army and, no less important, the capital’s rear.

Not many people in all circles truly loved the cunning Mikhailo Illarionovich. But there was no more authoritative and politically astute commander in the Russian army at that time. It is generally accepted that he did not add anything to Barclay’s strategy, that he did not make the best use of the army’s capabilities under Borodin... But you can’t rewrite it. And the glory of 1812 is largely associated for us with the image of a cautious but brave old man.

With the dream of a decisive battle, the army retreated closer and closer to Moscow. The warriors were ready to defend Belokamennaya steadfastly and selflessly. The militia was ready to join the army. Kutuzov quietly pacified the impulses of the patriots: he counted on a long campaign and did not even treat the Battle of Borodino as “the last, decisive battle.”

So, by the beginning of the battle, Barclay de Tolly’s 1st Army, consisting of 3 infantry, 3 cavalry corps and reserves (76 thousand people, 480 guns), was located on the right flank; the front of its position was covered by the Kolocha River. The left flank was held by Bagration's smaller 2nd Army (34 thousand people, 156 guns). There the landscape was less suitable for defense. It is not surprising that Napoleon struck the main blow precisely on the left flank.

Napoleon on the Borodino Heights. Artist Vereshchagin (1897)

From the first artillery salvo in the early morning of September 7, the French pressed on the left flank. Who stood that morning on the Borodino field, on the hills, in the copses? Students of the invincible Suvorov - Mikhail Kutuzov, Pyotr Bagration, Mikhail Miloradovich, Matvey Platov, Alexey Ermolov, Ivan Dorokhov. Generals accustomed to victories, eagles of the empire.

Perhaps the best commentator Patriotic War 1812 - Fyodor Glinka. Officer, poet, theologian. He wrote about the great Battle of Borodino in detail and at the same time artistically. Captured the elements of the battle. This is how Glinka described one of the key hours of the Battle of Borodino:

“Imagine a chemist’s working temple, imagine how he pours two hostile moistures from two vials into one vessel. Merged together, they hiss, bubble, swirl, until, both decomposed, they become numb, evaporate, leaving almost no traces behind them. Thus, two forces, two armies, Russian and French, merged into one cup of destruction, and, dare I use the expression: they decomposed chemically, destroying each other.”

We have become unaccustomed to such a writer's view. He has vigilance without posturing.

The Russian land has never known such an intense battle. The bloodiest battle ensued around the Semyonov flushes, which are more often called Bagrationovs. Three fortifications were hastily built shortly before the battle. Artillery batteries were stationed there, and Bagration’s troops took up defensive positions around them.

The battle near the fortifications lasted six hours; Napoleon sent his main forces here. A powerful blow from the troops of Marshals Davout and Ney made the defenders of the flushes tremble. The French captured the fortifications. But there followed a counterattack by Russian grenadiers and cavalry led by Bagration. Flushes are beaten! 35 thousand French on this piece of land advanced like a hurricane. Bagration had 20 thousand.

Here the cavalrymen of General Dorokhov carried out a fierce counterattack. Here General Bagration was mortally wounded. General Tuchkov died here, having picked up the banner from the hands of a wounded standard bearer.

“As Bagration’s troops received reinforcements, they, over the corpses of the fallen, moved forward with the greatest determination to regain their lost positions. We saw how the Russian masses maneuvered like mobile redoubts, studded with iron and throwing down fire... As long as they had any strength left, these brave soldiers began their attacks again,” recalled the French general, a participant in the battle.

In the battle for Bagration's flushes, Napoleon lost about 30 thousand. As a result, the enemy occupied the fortifications, but did not break through the defenses. The Russians retreated only 400 steps.

Attack of the 1st Cavalry Corps of General Uvarov at Borodino. Artist Desarno

The Russian army retreated to Gorki and began to prepare for a new battle. It seemed that the stubborn battle would continue. But at 12 o'clock at night Kutuzov canceled preparations for a new battle. The commander-in-chief, who called the Battle of Borodino victorious, decided to withdraw the army beyond Mozhaisk in order to make up for human losses and better prepare for new battles. To wait, expecting mistakes from Napoleon, who had lost communications...

The French emperor did not feel like a winner: he understood that the Russian army was not defeated, there were very few prisoners, there was no disorderly retreat of the Russians...

Let us turn again to the notes of Fyodor Glinka:

“The hours were running out. The night came into its own more and more. The sun was setting as a red ball without rays. Some kind of sour, vinegary smell spread in the air, perhaps from the great decomposition of saltpeter and sulfur, perhaps from blood evaporation!

The smoke thickened and hung over the field. And in this night, half-artificial, half-natural, between the scattered French columns, still moving with drumming and music, still unfurling their red banners, suddenly (and this was already in last time) the ground rang under the hooves of the rushing cavalry. 20,000 sabers and broadswords crossed in different parts of the field. Sparks fell as if from a fire and faded away, like the lives of thousands who died in battle.

This slaughter, resumed for a minute, was the last outbreak of a dying fire, extinguished by blood. It was the King of Naples who rushed with his cavalry to the Russian line. But the day was gone, and the battle died down. The great question: “Who won?” remained unresolved."

In the next chapter of his narrative, Glinka will answer this question: by winter, the disgraced remnants were leaving Russia Great Army. They looked least like winners. History answered this question.

As you know, August 26 (September 7), 1812 year, the battle took place near the village of Borodino. In Russia for many years the assertion was unshakable that Kutuzov won this one; the genius of Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov as a commander was beyond doubt.

But in Paris Arc de Triomphe, you can still see the wreath in honor of Napoleon’s victory “in the Battle of Moscow.”

Currently and among Russian historianswe have at least two opinions about the outcome of the Patriotic War 1812 g: classical, which is known to every schoolchild and the so-called« Antikutuzovskaya». Let's try to lift the veil of mystery: who won at Borodino?

So, a word to historians:

“There were 154.8 thousand Russians and 640 guns, enemy - 134 thousand and 587 guns. Despite the fact that Napoleon's army was in the minority, the French constantly attacked and by the evening captured many Russian positions.

The field marshal had used up his reserves by the middle of the day, and the enemy still had the "Old Guard" - about 20 thousand people. » The losses were as follows: the Russian defenders lost 55 thousand people, the attacking French - 34 thousand. Our army left the battlefield, which did not prevent Kutuzov from sending a report of victory to St. Petersburg. The troops, however, were not satisfied; after Borodin, mass desertion and looting began among Russian soldiers.

What was Kutuzov’s plan: to defend Moscow or surrender the city to the enemy, wait until winter and freeze the French to death?

Documents show that 28 August, three days before the Council in Fili and the surrender of Moscow, Kutuzov did not accept final decision: he ordered the Kaluga governor to bring food supplies to the city, as if believing that Moscow was a safer place than Kaluga.

While hostilities were approaching Moscow, Moscow Governor-General Fyodor Rostopchin (in our time this position can be attributed to Mayor Luzhkov) asked what would happen to Moscow. After all, as a mayor, he should have known what to prepare for 200- city of a thousand: for defense or evacuation. But Rostopchin did not receive a clear answer from Kutuzov and, at his own peril and risk, began the evacuation of government institutions: the Senate, the sacristy, the Armory, and archives. The people ran in fear, they didn’t have time to leave the city about 10 thousand Muscovites. The worst thing is that during the retreat they abandoned 22.5 thousand wounded.

Rostopchin was not allowed to attend the council in Fili, because probably by this time Kutuzov had firmly decided to leave Moscow and did not want an influential and eloquent opponent to speak. Kutuzov did not consider it necessary to inform even the emperor about the decision to leave Moscow. Rostopchin reported this to St. Petersburg. 1 September Celebrations on the occasion of the Borodino victory continued in St. Petersburg. Therefore, the news of the surrender of Moscow to the French plunged the capital into shock.

But why today is it only Kutuzov who personifies the victory of Russian weapons in the Patriotic War?

Firstly, after the war 1812 year, the Russian people felt their strength and needed their hero. These are the main points of the field marshal's theory of censure.

Still, the situation needs to be examined.« without anger and passion».

In fact, Kutuzov unsuccessfully deployed his forces on the Borodino field, which led to greater losses than the enemy. But after Borodin, Napoleon, who had lost fewer soldiers, was left with virtually no cavalry.

So the answer to the question is« Who won the Battle of Borodino?» - the secret of Her Majesty's History.

The point of view of French historians is this. Napoleon in the war 1812 did not suffer a single defeat for a year. Even on the Berezina he withdrew part of his combat-ready troops. But the paradox of history is that, without losing a single battle, he lost the campaign. And Kutuzov, who did not win a single battle, won the war.

We just have to decide what is more important to us?

Literature:

http://humanities.edu.ru/db/msg

Each of us still remembers the lines of this wonderful poem by Lermontov, memorized at school: “It’s not for nothing that all of Russia remembers Borodin’s Day!” But what kind of day was it? What happened on this day near the village of Borodino, which is located 125 kilometers from Moscow? And most importantly, who ultimately won the Battle of Borodino? You will learn about this and more right now.

Prologue of the Battle of Borodino

Napoleon invaded Russia with large forces - 600 thousand troops. The commander-in-chief of our army, Barclay, avoided decisive battles because he believed that Russian forces were not yet enough. Under pressure from the patriotic mood in society, the tsar removed Barclay and installed Kutuzov, who, however, was forced to continue the strategy of his predecessor.

But social pressure increased, and Kutuzov finally decided to give the French battle. He himself determined the location of the battle with Napoleon - Borodino Field.

The location was strategically advantageous:

The most important road to Moscow passed through the Borodino field.
On the field there was Kurgan Height (Raevsky’s battery was located on it).
Above the field rose a hill near the village of Shevardino (the Shevardinsky redoubt was located on it) and the Utitsky mound.
The field was crossed by the Kolocha River.

Preparation for the Battle of Borodino

On August 24, 1812, Napoleon and his army approached the Russian troops and immediately determined weak points their positions. There were no fortifications behind the Shevardinsky redoubt; this was fraught with the danger of a breakthrough to the left flank and general defeat. Two days later, this redoubt was attacked by 35 thousand French, and defended by 12 thousand Russian soldiers under the command of Gorchakov.

About 200 guns fired at the fortifications, the French constantly attacked, but were unable to take the redoubts. Napoleon chose the following battle plan: attack the left flank - the Semyonov flushes (built behind the Shevardinsky redoubts at the last moment), break through them, push the Russians back to the river and defeat them.

All this was to be accompanied by additional attacks on the Kurgan Heights and the offensive of Poniatowski’s troops on the Utitsa Heights.

The experienced Kutuzov foresaw this enemy plan. On the right he positioned Barclay's army. Raevsky's corps was placed on Kurgan Heights. The defense of the left flank was under the control of Bagration's army. Tuchkov's corps was stationed near the Utitsky mound to cover the road to Mozhaisk and Moscow. However, the most important thing: Kutuzov left a huge reserve in reserve in case of unexpected changes in the situation.

Beginning of the Battle of Borodino

On August 26, the battle began. First, the opponents spoke to each other in the language of guns. Later, the Beauharnais corps unexpectedly invaded Borodino and from its location organized a massive shelling of the right flank. But the Russians were able to set fire to the bridge over Kolocha, which prevented the French advance.

At the same time, Marshal Davout's troops attacked Bagration's flashes. However, here too the Russian artillery was accurate and stopped the enemy. Davout gathered his strength and attacked a second time. And this attack was repulsed by the infantrymen of General Neverovsky.

In this case, infuriated by the failure, Napoleon threw his main striking force to suppress Bagration's flushes: the corps of Ney and Zhenya with the support of Murat's cavalry. Such a force managed to push through Bagration’s flushes.

Concerned by this fact, Kutuzov sent reserves there and the original situation was restored. At the same time, Poniatowski’s French units set out and attacked the Russian troops near the Utitsky Kurgan with the goal of getting behind Kutuzov’s rear.

Poniatowski managed to complete this task. Kutuzov had to weaken the right flank by transferring Baggovut’s units from it to the Old Smolensk Road, which were stopped by Poniatovsky’s troops.

At the same time, Raevsky’s battery passed from hand to hand. At the cost of enormous efforts, the battery was saved. Around noon, seven French attacks were repulsed. Napoleon concentrated at the flushes great forces and threw them into the eighth attack. Suddenly Bagration was wounded, and his units began to retreat.

Kutuzov sent reinforcements to the flushes - the Platov Cossacks and Uvarov’s cavalry, which appeared on the French flank. The French attacks stopped due to the onset of panic. Until the evening, the French attacked and captured all Russian positions, but the cost of losses was so high that Napoleon ordered to stop further offensive actions.

Who won the Battle of Borodino?

The question arises about the winner. Napoleon declared himself such. Yes, it seems he captured all the Russian fortifications on the Borodino field. But main goal did not achieve - did not defeat the Russian army. Although she suffered big losses, but still remained very combat-ready. And Kutuzov’s reserve remained completely unused and intact. The cautious and experienced commander Kutuzov ordered a retreat.

Napoleonic troops suffered terrible losses - about 60,000 people. And there could be no talk of a further offensive. Napoleonic armies needed time to recover. In a report to Alexander I, Kutuzov noted the unparalleled courage of the Russian troops, who won a moral victory over the French that day.

Result of the Battle of Borodino

Reflections about who won and who lost that day - September 7, 1812 do not cease to this day. The main thing for us is that this day will forever go down in the history of our state as the Day of Military Glory of Russia. And literally in a week we will celebrate another anniversary - 204 years since the Battle of Borodino.

P.S. Friends, as you probably noticed, I did not set myself the task of writing this great battle The Patriotic War of 1812 is fully developed. On the contrary, I tried to condense it as much as possible in order to tell you briefly about that day, which, it seems to me, lasted an eternity for the participants in the battle itself. And now I need your help.

Give me please feedback in the comments to the article about in what format it would be better to describe other Days of Military Glory of Russia from now on: briefly or in full, as I did with the battle of Cape Tendra? I look forward to your comments under the article.

Peaceful skies above everyone,

Reserve Sergeant Suvernev.

Tell me, uncle, is it not for nothing that Moscow, burned by fire, was given to the French?
Lermontov

The Battle of Borodino was the main battle in the War of 1812. For the first time, the legend of the invincibility of Napoleon's army was dispelled, and a decisive contribution was made to changing the size of the French army due to the fact that the latter, due to large-scale casualties, ceased to have a clear numerical advantage over the Russian army. In today's article we will talk about the Battle of Borodino on August 26, 1812, consider its course, the balance of forces and means, and study the opinion of historians about this issue and let us analyze what consequences this battle had for the Patriotic War and for the fate of two powers: Russia and France.

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Background of the battle

The Patriotic War of 1812 at the initial stage developed extremely negatively for the Russian army, which constantly retreated, refusing to accept a general battle. This course of events was perceived extremely negatively by the army, since the soldiers wanted to take the battle as quickly as possible and defeat the enemy army. Commander-in-Chief Barclay de Tolly understood perfectly well that in an open general battle the Napoleonic army, which was considered invincible in Europe, would have a colossal advantage. Therefore, he chose a retreat tactic in order to exhaust the enemy troops, and only then accept the battle. This course of events did not inspire confidence among the soldiers, as a result of which Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief. As a result, several significant events occurred that predetermined the preconditions for the Battle of Borodino:

Napoleon's army advanced deep into the country with great complications. Russian generals refused a general battle, but actively got involved in small battles, and also fought very actively fighting partisans. Therefore, by the time Borodino began (late August - early September), Bonaparte’s army was no longer so formidable and significantly exhausted.
Reserves were brought up from the depths of the country. Therefore, Kutuzov’s army was already comparable in size to the French army, which allowed the commander-in-chief to consider the possibility of actually entering the battle.

Alexander 1, who by that time, at the request of the army, had left the post of commander-in-chief, allowed Kutuzov to make his own decisions, insistently demanded that the general take the battle as soon as possible and stop the advance of Napoleon’s army deep into the country. As a result, on August 22, 1812, the Russian army began to retreat from Smolensk in the direction of the village of Borodino, which is located 125 kilometers from Moscow. The place was ideal to take the battle, since excellent defense could be organized in the Borodino area. Kutuzov understood that Napoleon was only a few days away, so she threw all her strength into strengthening the area and taking the most advantageous positions.

Balance of forces and means

Surprisingly, most historians who study the Battle of Borodino still argue about the exact number of troops on the warring sides. The general trends in this matter are such that the newer the research, the more data showing that the Russian army had a slight advantage. However, if we look at Soviet encyclopedias, they present the following data, which presents the participants in the Battle of Borodino:

Russian army. Commander - Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov. He had at his disposal up to 120 thousand people, of which 72 thousand were infantrymen. The army had a large artillery corps, numbering 640 guns.
French army. Commander - Napoleon Bonaparte. The French emperor brought a corps of 138 thousand soldiers with 587 guns to Borodino. Some historians note that Napoleon had reserves of up to 18 thousand people, which the French emperor retained until the last and did not use them in the battle.

Very important is the opinion of one of the participants in the Battle of Borodino, the Marquis of Chambray, who provided data that France fielded the best European army for this battle, which included soldiers with extensive experience in warfare. On the Russian side, according to his observations, they were basically recruits and volunteers, who, in their entirety, appearance indicated that military affairs was not the main thing for them. Chambray also pointed to the fact that Bonaparte had a large superiority in heavy cavalry, which gave him some advantages during the battle.

Tasks of the parties before the battle

Since June 1812, Napoleon had been looking for opportunities for a general battle with the Russian army. Widely known catchphrase, which Napoleon expressed when he was a simple general in revolutionary France: “The main thing is to impose battles on the enemy, and then we’ll see.” This simple phrase reflects the entire genius of Napoleon, who, in terms of making lightning-fast decisions, was perhaps the best strategist of his generation (especially after the death of Suvorov). It was this principle that the French commander-in-chief wanted to apply in Russia. Battle of Borodino gave me such an opportunity.

Kutuzov's tasks were simple - he needed active defense. With its help, the commander-in-chief wanted to inflict the maximum possible losses on the enemy and at the same time preserve his army for further battle. Kutuzov planned the Battle of Borodino as one of the stages of the Patriotic War, which was supposed to radically change the course of the confrontation.

On the eve of the battle

Kutuzov took a position that represents an arc passing through Shevardino on the left flank, Borodino in the center, and the village of Maslovo on the right flank.

On August 24, 1812, 2 days before the decisive battle, the battle for the Shevardinsky redoubt took place. This redoubt was commanded by General Gorchakov, who had 11 thousand people under his command. To the south, with a corps of 6 thousand people, General Karpov was located, who covered the old Smolensk road. Napoleon identified the Shevardin redoubt as the initial target of his attack, since it was as far as possible from the main group of Russian troops. According to the plan of the French emperor, Shevardino should have been surrounded, thereby withdrawing the army of General Gorchakov from the battle. To do this, the French army formed three columns in the attack:

Marshal Murat. Bonaparte's favorite led a cavalry corps to strike Shevardino's right flank.
Generals Davout and Ney led the infantry in the center.
Junot, also one of the best generals in France, moved with his guard along the old Smolensk road.

The battle began on the afternoon of September 5th. Twice the French tried unsuccessfully to break through the defenses. Towards evening, when night began to fall on the Borodino field, the French attack was successful, but the approaching reserves of the Russian army made it possible to repel the enemy and defend the Shevardinsky redoubt. The resumption of the battle was not beneficial for the Russian army, and Kutuzov ordered a retreat to the Semenovsky ravine.

Initial positions of Russian and French troops

On August 25, 1812, both sides carried out general preparations for the battle. The troops were putting the finishing touches on defensive positions, and the generals were trying to learn something new about the enemy's plans. Kutuzov's army took up defense in the form of a blunt triangle. The right flank of the Russian troops passed along the Kolocha River. Barclay de Tolly was responsible for the defense of this area, whose army numbered 76 thousand people with 480 guns. The most dangerous position was on the left flank, where there was no natural barrier. This section of the front was commanded by General Bagration, who had 34 thousand people and 156 guns at his disposal. The problem of the left flank became significant after the loss of the village of Shevardino on September 5. The position of the Russian army met the following tasks:

The right flank, where the main forces of the army were grouped, reliably covered the path to Moscow.
The right flank made it possible to deliver active and powerful attacks on the enemy’s rear and flank.
The location of the Russian army was quite deep, which left ample room for maneuver.
The first line of defense was occupied by infantry, the second line of defense was occupied by cavalry, and the third line housed reserves. A widely known phrase

reserves must be maintained for as long as possible. Whoever retains the most reserves at the end of the battle will emerge victorious.
Kutuzov

In fact, Kutuzov provoked Napoleon to attack the left flank of his defense. Exactly as many troops were concentrated here as could successfully defend against the French army. Kutuzov repeated that the French would not be able to resist the temptation to attack a weak redoubt, but as soon as they had problems and resorted to the help of their reserves, it would be possible to send their army to their rear and flank.

Napoleon, who carried out reconnaissance on August 25, also noted the weakness of the left flank of the Russian army's defense. Therefore, it was decided to deliver the main blow here. In order to divert the attention of Russian generals from the left flank, simultaneously with the attack on Bagration’s position, an attack on Borodino was to begin in order to subsequently capture the left bank of the Kolocha River. After capturing these lines, it was planned to transfer the main forces of the French army to the right flank of the Russian defense and deliver a massive blow to the army of Barclay De Tolly. Having solved this problem, by the evening of August 25, about 115 thousand people of the French army were concentrated in the area of the left flank of the defense of the Russian army. 20 thousand people lined up in front of the right flank.

The specificity of the defense that Kutuzov used was that the Battle of Borodino was supposed to force the French to launch a frontal attack, since the general front of the defense occupied by Kutuzov’s army was very extensive. Therefore, it was almost impossible to get around him from the flank.

It is noted that on the night before the battle, Kutuzov strengthened the left flank of his defense with the infantry corps of General Tuchkov, as well as transferring 168 artillery pieces to Bagration’s army. This was due to the fact that Napoleon had already concentrated very large forces in this direction.

Day of the Battle of Borodino

The Battle of Borodino began on August 26, 1812 in the early morning at 5:30 am. As planned, the main blow was delivered by the French to the left defense flag of the Russian army.

An artillery shelling of Bagration's positions began, in which more than 100 guns took part. At the same time, General Delzon’s corps began a maneuver with an attack on the center of the Russian army, on the village of Borodino. The village was under the protection of the Jaeger regiment, which could not resist the French army for long, the number of which on this section of the front was 4 times greater than the Russian army. The Jaeger Regiment was forced to retreat and take up defense on the right bank of the Kolocha River. The attacks of the French general, who wanted to move even further into the defense, were unsuccessful.

Bagration's flushes

Bagration's flushes were located along the entire left flank of the defense, forming the first redoubt. After half an hour of artillery preparation, at 6 o'clock in the morning Napoleon gave the order to launch an attack on Bagration's flushes. The French army was commanded by generals Desaix and Compana. They planned to strike at the southernmost flush, going to the Utitsky forest for this. However, as soon as the French army began to line up in battle formation, Bagration's chasseur regiment opened fire and went on the attack, disrupting the first stage of the offensive operation.

The next attack began at 8 o'clock in the morning. At this time, a repeated attack on the southern flush began. Both French generals increased the number of their troops and went on the offensive. To protect his position, Bagration transported the army of General Neversky, as well as the Novorossiysk dragoons, to his southern flank. The French were forced to retreat, suffering serious losses. During this battle, both generals who led the army in the assault were seriously wounded.

The third attack was carried out by the infantry units of Marshal Ney, as well as the cavalry of Marshal Murat. Bagration noticed this French maneuver in time, giving the order to Raevsky, who was in the central part of the flushes, to move from the front line to the second echelon of defense. This position was strengthened by the division of General Konovnitsyn. The attack of the French army began after a massive artillery preparation. French infantry struck between flushes. This time the attack was successful, and by 10 o'clock in the morning the French managed to capture the southern line of defense. This was followed by a counterattack launched by Konovnitsyn’s division, as a result of which they managed to recapture the lost positions. At the same time, General Junot's corps managed to bypass the left flank of the defense through the Utitsky forest. As a result of this maneuver, the French general actually found himself in the rear of the Russian army. Captain Zakharov, who commanded the 1st horse battery, noticed the enemy and struck. At the same time, infantry regiments arrived at the battlefield and pushed General Junot back to his original position. The French lost more than a thousand people in this battle. In the future historical information There are contradictions about Junot's corps: Russian textbooks say that this corps was completely destroyed in the next attack of the Russian army, while French historians claim that the general participated in the Battle of Borodino until its very end.

The 4th assault on Bagration's flushes began at 11 o'clock. In the battle, Napoleon used 45 thousand troops, cavalry and more than 300 guns. By that time Bagration had less than 20 thousand people at his disposal. At the very beginning of this assault, Bagration was wounded in the thigh and was forced to leave the army, which negatively affected morale. The Russian army began to retreat. General Konovnitsyn took over command of the defense. He could not resist Napoleon, and decided to retreat. As a result, the flushes remained with the French. The retreat was carried out to the Semenovsky stream, where more than 300 guns were installed. Large numbers of the second echelon of defense, as well as large number artillery forced Napoleon to change the original plan and cancel the attack on the move. The direction of the main attack was moved from the left flank of the Russian army's defense to its central part, commanded by General Raevsky. The purpose of this attack was to capture artillery. The infantry attack on the left flank did not stop. The fourth attack on the Bagrationov flushes was also unsuccessful for the French army, which was forced to retreat across the Semenovsky Creek. It should be noted that the position of the artillery was extremely important. Throughout the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon made attempts to capture enemy artillery. By the end of the battle he managed to occupy these positions.

Battle for Utitsky Forest

The Utitsky forest was of great strategic importance for the Russian army. On August 25, on the eve of the battle, Kutuzov noted the importance of this direction, which blocked the old Smolensk road. An infantry corps under the command of General Tuchkov was stationed here. The total number of troops in this area was about 12 thousand people. The army was located secretly so that right moment suddenly strike the enemy's flank. On September 7, the infantry corps of the French army, commanded by one of Napoleon’s favorites, General Poniatowski, advanced in the direction of the Utitsky Kurgan to outflank the Russian army. Tuchkov took up defensive positions on Kurgan and blocked the French from further progress. Only at 11 o'clock in the morning, when General Junot arrived to help Poniatowski, the French launched a decisive blow on the mound and captured it. Russian general Tuchkov launched a counterattack, and at the cost of his own life managed to return the mound. Command of the corps was taken by General Baggovut, who held this position. As soon as the main forces of the Russian army retreated to the Semenovsky ravine, the Utitsky Kurgan, a decision was made to retreat.

Raid of Platov and Uvarov

At the moment of the critical moment on the left flank of the defense of the Russian army at the Battle of Borodino, Kutuzov decided to let the army of generals Uvarov and Platov into battle. As part of the Cossack cavalry, they were supposed to bypass the French positions on the right, striking in the rear. The cavalry consisted of 2.5 thousand people. At 12 noon the army moved out. Having crossed the Kolocha River, the cavalry attacked the infantry regiments of the Italian army. This strike, led by General Uvarov, was intended to force battle on the French and divert their attention. At this moment, General Platov managed to pass along the flank without being noticed and go behind enemy lines. This was followed by a simultaneous attack by two Russian armies, which brought panic to the actions of the French. As a result, Napoleon was forced to transfer part of the troops that stormed the Raevsky battery in order to repel the cavalry attack Russian generals who went to the rear. The battle of the cavalry with the French troops lasted several hours, and by four o'clock in the afternoon Uvarov and Platov returned their troops to their original positions.

Practical significance, which the Cossack raid led by Platov and Uvarov had, is almost impossible to overestimate. This raid gave the Russian army 2 hours to strengthen a reserve position for an artillery battery. Of course, this raid did not bring a military victory, but the French, who saw the enemy in their own rear, no longer acted so decisively.

Battery Raevsky

The specificity of the terrain of the Borodino field was determined by the fact that in its very center there was a hill, which made it possible to control and shell the entire adjacent territory. This was an ideal place to place artillery, which Kutuzov took advantage of. In this place, the famous Raevsky battery was deployed, which consisted of 18 guns, and General Raevsky himself was supposed to ensure the protection of this height with the help of infantry regiment. The attack on the battery began at 9 am. By striking at the center of Russian positions, Bonaparte pursued the goal of complicating the movement of the enemy army. During the first French offensive, General Raevsky’s unit was deployed to defend Bagrationov’s flushes, but the first enemy attack on the battery was successfully repulsed without the participation of infantry. Eugene Beauharnais, who commanded the French troops in this sector of the offensive, saw the weakness of the artillery position and immediately launched another blow on this corps. Kutuzov transferred all the reserves of artillery and cavalry troops here. Despite this, the French army managed to suppress the Russian defenses and penetrate his stronghold. At this moment a counterattack was launched Russian troops, during which they managed to recapture the redoubt. General Beauharnais was captured. Of the 3,100 French who attacked the battery, only 300 survived.

The position of the battery was extremely dangerous, so Kutuzov gave the order to redeploy the guns to the second line of defense. General Barclay de Tolly sent an additional corps of General Likhachev to protect Raevsky's battery. Napoleon's original plan of attack lost its relevance. The French emperor abandoned massive attacks on the enemy's left flank, and directed his main attack on the central part of the defense, on the Raevsky battery. At this moment, the Russian cavalry went to the rear of the Napoleonic army, which slowed down the French advance for 2 hours. During this time, the battery's defensive position was further strengthened.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, 150 guns of the French army opened fire on Raevsky's battery, and almost immediately the infantry went on the offensive. The battle lasted about an hour and, as a result, Raevsky’s battery fell. Napoleon's original plan hoped that the capture of the battery would lead to dramatic changes in the balance of forces near the central part of the Russian defense. This did not turn out to be the case; he had to abandon the idea of attacking in the center. By the evening of August 26, Napoleon's army had failed to achieve a decisive advantage in at least one sector of the front. Napoleon did not see significant prerequisites for victory in the battle, so he did not dare to use his reserves in the battle. He hoped to exhaust until the last Russian army with their main forces, achieve a clear advantage in one of the sectors of the front, and then bring fresh forces into battle.

End of the battle

After the fall of Raevsky's battery, Bonaparte abandoned further ideas of storming the central part of the enemy's defense. There were no more significant events in this direction of the Borodino field. On the left flank, the French continued their attacks, which led to nothing. General Dokhturov, who replaced Bagration, repelled all enemy attacks. The right flank of the defense, commanded by Barclay de Tolly, had no significant events, only sluggish attempts at artillery bombardment were made. These attempts continued until 7 pm, after which Bonaparte retreated to Gorki to give the army a rest. It was expected that this would be a short pause before decisive battle. The French were preparing to continue the battle in the morning. However, at 12 o'clock at night, Kutuzov refused to further continue the battle and sent his army beyond Mozhaisk. This was necessary in order to give the army a rest and replenish it with human reserves.

This is how the Battle of Borodino ended. Until now, historians different countries they argue about which army won this battle. Domestic historians talk about Kutuzov’s victory, Western historians talk about Napoleon's victory. It would be more correct to say that the Battle of Borodino was a draw. Each army got what it wanted: Napoleon opened his way to Moscow, and Kutuzov inflicted significant losses on the French.

Results of the confrontation

The casualties in Kutuzov's army during the Battle of Borodino are described differently by different historians. Basically, researchers of this battle come to the conclusion that the Russian army lost about 45 thousand people on the battlefield. This figure takes into account not only those killed, but also the wounded, as well as those captured. During the battle of August 26, Napoleon's army lost a little less than 51 thousand people killed, wounded and captured. The comparable losses of both countries are explained by many scholars by the fact that both armies regularly changed their roles. The course of the battle changed very often. First, the French attacked, and Kutuzov gave the order to the troops to take up defensive positions, after which the Russian army launched a counteroffensive. At certain stages of the battle, Napoleonic generals managed to achieve local victories and occupy the necessary positions. Now the French were on the defensive, and the Russian generals were on the offensive. And so the roles changed dozens of times during one day.

The Battle of Borodino did not produce a winner. However, the myth of the invincibility of Napoleonic army was dispelled. Further continuation of the general battle was undesirable for the Russian army, since at the end of the day on August 26, Napoleon still had untouched reserves at his disposal, totaling up to 12 thousand people. These reserves, against the backdrop of a tired Russian army, could have significant influence on the result. Therefore, having retreated beyond Moscow, on September 1, 1812, a council was held in Fili, at which it was decided to allow Napoleon to occupy Moscow.

Military significance of the battle

The Battle of Borodino became the bloodiest battle in the history of the 19th century. Each side lost about 25 percent of its army. In one day, the opponents fired more than 130 thousand shots. The combination of all these facts later led to the fact that Bonaparte in his memoirs called the Battle of Borodino the largest of his battles. However, Bonaparte failed to achieve the desired results. The illustrious commander, accustomed exclusively to victories, formally did not lose this battle, but did not win either.

While on the island of St. Helena and writing out his personal autobiography, Napoleon wrote the following lines about the Battle of Borodino:

The Battle of Moscow is the most important battle in my life. The Russians had an advantage in everything: they had 170 thousand people, an advantage in cavalry, artillery and terrain, which they knew very well. Despite this we won. The heroes of France are generals Ney, Murat and Poniatowski. They own the laurels of the winners of the Moscow Battle.
Bonaparte

These lines clearly show that Napoleon himself viewed the Battle of Borodino as his own victory. But such lines should be studied exclusively in the light of the personality of Napoleon, who, while on the island of St. Helena, greatly exaggerated the events of past days. For example, in 1817, the former Emperor of France said that in the Battle of Borodino he had 80 thousand soldiers, and the enemy had a huge army of 250 thousand. Of course, these figures were dictated only by Napoleon’s personal conceit, and have nothing to do with real history.

Kutuzov also assessed the Battle of Borodino as his own victory. In his note to Emperor Alexander 1 he wrote:

On the 26th, the world saw the bloodiest battle in its history. Never before recent history I haven't seen so much blood. A perfectly chosen battlefield, and an enemy who came to attack but was forced to defend.
Kutuzov

Alexander 1, under the influence of this note, and also trying to reassure his people, declared the Battle of Borodino as a victory for the Russian army. Largely because of this, in the future, domestic historians also always presented Borodino as a victory of Russian weapons.

Main result The Battle of Borodino was that Napoleon, who was famous for winning all the general battles, managed to force the Russian army to fight, but failed to defeat it. The absence of a significant victory in the general battle, taking into account the specifics of the Patriotic War of 1812, led to the fact that France did not receive any significant advantages from this battle.

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