BATTLE OF BORODINO: OFFICIAL AND ADDITIONAL VERSIONS

On September 7, 1812 on the field of Borodino, located 75 miles west of Moscow, the armies of the Russian and French empires clashed, which became one of the key battles of the Napoleonic Wars. This bloody and controversial event still attracts the attention of historians. The survival of the Russian army after Borodino played a decisive role in the final defeat of Napoleon and the complete destruction of the French army in 1812.

The Battle of Borodino, also known as the Battle of Moscow, took place near the village of Borodino and left a mark in history as one of the bloodiest battles. About 280,000 soldiers participated in the clash, with casualties on both sides estimated at around 70,000 - 80,000. Research emphasizes sociological differences, between French and Russian officers, as well as within the Russian officer corps. Particular attention is paid to the diplomatic talents of Mikhail Kutuzov[1] , who replaced Prince Barclay de Tolly as commander-in-chief of the Russian Army. The Battle of Borodino remains a significant event for both Russian and world history, arousing interest and controversy among historians.[2]

Among the infantrymen is 61 - year-old Viktor Penzas, who represents a lieutenant colonel and is an attractive target for the enemy in his ornate triangular cap with plume. He says Russian officers, have shown particular heroism, commanding from the front and suffering significant casualties. Bernhard Schaveck of Germany portrays a soldier of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, which Napoleon himself did not use during the battle. Some historians believe that if Napoleon had utilized them, he could have defeated the Russian army instead of forcing it to retreat. However, the French suffered significant losses, while the Russians also faced serious losses. Napoleon advanced further, aiming to take Moscow, but his army was exhausted and under constant attack on supply lines. As winter approached, Napoleon was forced into a disastrous retreat due to the depletion of his forces. Napoleon's generals repeatedly asked him to send in the Imperial Guard for a decisive blow, but he refused and kept them in reserve due to fears for the safety of his forces. Eventually both sides were so exhausted by the fighting that they stopped advancing and only held their positions. General Kutuzov decided to retreat and allowed the French to take Moscow, which surprised Napoleon. Nevertheless, Kutuzov's army remained ready for battle the next day.

Napoleon did not use the army to its full potential. Some historians argue that if he had deployed it to its full strength, he might have been able to completely destroy the Russian army rather than simply forcing it to retreat. In any case, the French suffered significant losses - at least 30,000 killed and wounded in a single day of battle. Russian losses amounted to about 45,000 men. [3] Napoleon continued toward Moscow, where most of the city was burned by the retreating Russian forces. His army was exhausted, his supply lines were under constant attack, and as winter approached in October he was forced into a disastrous retreat. The great army he had led into Russia was effectively destroyed.[4]

Napoleon's victory turned out to be hollow, as it did not bring the war to an end as he had hoped.[5] Borodino became one of the bloodiest battles in terms of casualties and shells fired.[6] During the Battle of Auerstedt, the French Marshal demonstrated outstanding tactical cunning and tenacity; his troops, despite being vastly outnumbered by twice as many men, not only stopped but defeated the main Prussian army on its way to Berlin, bringing Napoleon a decisive victory over Frederick William III. Another famous corps led by Davout was the I Sixty-thousandth Army, which crossed the Niemen on June 23, 1812, to launch the French invasion of Russia. After a series of battles, only a little over 2,000 men of this corps survived. It can be said that I Corps suffered about 97% casualties in the five months between June 23 and November 29. At the conclusion of the 1812 campaign, this corps effectively ceased to exist and was subsequently absorbed into another unit.

[1] Yaroslavtsev A.B. Kutuzov's strategy in the war of 1812 // Military Thought. - №9. - С.11-25.

[2] Abalikhin B.S., Dunayevsky V.A. 1812 year at the crossroads of opinions of Soviet historians, 1917-1987. - Moscow, 1990. - С. 12.

[3] Vasiliev A.A., Eliseev A.A. Russian combined armies at Borodino August 24-26, 1812: Composition of troops and their numbers. - Moscow, 1997. - С. 89.

[4] Abalikhin B.C. The campaign of the Russian army in Poland at the end of 1812-1813 // From the history of class and national liberation struggle of the peoples of pre-revolutionary and Soviet Russia. - Volgograd, 1975. - С.57.

[5] Abalikhin B.S., Dunayevsky V.A. 1812 year on the crossroads of opinions of Soviet historians, 1917-1987. - Moscow, 1990. - С.15.

[6] Tartakovsky A.G. 1812 and Russian memoiristics : experience of source study : dissertation ... Doctor of Historical Sciences : 07.00.09. - Moscow, 1980. - С.25.