How to prevent the explosion of the Kremlin

In October, 1812, Napoleon ordered the Kremlin to be blown up, but a number of circumstances prevented the destruction of the heart of Russia

Moscow became the last capital of Europe, which was occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte's troops. Rome and Cairo, Lisbon and Madrid, Berlin and Vienna, Amsterdam and Warsaw — the Corsican army was a winner in these cities.

Moscow turned out to be the only city in which there were practically no inhabitants. There were no delegations, there were no curious onlookers, no one Muscovites came to listen to the French march "La victoire est a nous!" ("Victory is ours!").

The only correct way that the Russians considered meeting the European invaders was fire. After placing the Gauls and twenty nations in Moscow, the Russians set the city on fire from all sides. First of all, barns and food stores, warehouses with fodder, arsenals with ammunition, everything that they did not have time to evacuate, were set on fire. The fire was supposed to destroy everything that the opponents could take advantage of and, thereby, drive them into difficult conditions.

Napoleon, watching the glow of the Moscow fire, could only exclaim: “What a terrible sight! That they themselves harness ... What kind of people! These are Scythians. ”

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Cyril Bragin / 23 October 2017, 19: 00
Russian victories, History
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How to prevent the explosion of the Kremlin
How to prevent the explosion of the Kremlin
In October, 1812, Napoleon ordered the Kremlin to be blown up, but a number of circumstances prevented the destruction of the heart of Russia

Moscow became the last capital of Europe, which was occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte's troops. Rome and Cairo, Lisbon and Madrid, Berlin and Vienna, Amsterdam and Warsaw — the Corsican army was a winner in these cities.

Moscow turned out to be the only city in which there were practically no inhabitants. There were no delegations, there were no curious onlookers, no one Muscovites came to listen to the French march "La victoire est a nous!" ("Victory is ours!").

The only correct way that the Russians considered meeting the European invaders was fire. After placing the Gauls and twenty nations in Moscow, the Russians set the city on fire from all sides. First of all, barns and food stores, warehouses with fodder, arsenals with ammunition, everything that they did not have time to evacuate, were set on fire. The fire was supposed to destroy everything that the opponents could take advantage of and, thereby, drive them into difficult conditions.

Napoleon, watching the glow of the Moscow fire, could only exclaim: “What a terrible sight! That they themselves harness ... What kind of people! These are Scythians. ”


Meanwhile, the barbarians behaved precisely "civilized" Europeans. Although Napoleon forbade his soldiers to rob the city, the French did not intend to execute this order, only the Kremlin attempted to preserve order, and the memoirs of the participants in the march to Russia are replete with records of "entertainment" in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Napoleon began to realize that taking the heart of Russia was the beginning of his end. This is true noticed Byron.

Here are the towers of Moscow's semi-wild
Before you in the crowns of gold
Burning in the sun ... But, alas!
That sun of your sunset!

In Moscow, Napoleon organized local self-government, tried to organize cultural leisure for his army, one day was going to reward the “heroes” of the Russian campaign, but after receiving the news of the defeat of the avant-garde of the Great Army in the battle on Chernichka, he decided to leave Moscow.

In retaliation to Alexander I, who did not enter into peace negotiations with the conqueror, he ordered Napoleon to blow up the Kremlin. The execution of this case was assigned to the Governor-General of Moscow, Marshal Mortier.

Mortier ordered his soldiers to seize Muscovites and mine the cathedrals and palaces of the Kremlin, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and other buildings.

“Moscow, October 21 ... The Kremlin towers are filled with gunpowder. The explosion was supposed to happen tonight at 10 at night, as I informed you in the morning letter. I will postpone this operation until 12 hours of night 23 th ... ", - said Mortier in a report to the Chief of General Staff.

The Arsenal building, part of the Kremlin wall, were blown up, and the Nikolskaya Tower was partially destroyed. Fully implement the conceived Mortier failed. In places the smoldering wicks put out the rain, some put out the alert Muscovites and the Cossack patrols who came to the rescue. The Kremlin was saved.

A huge wagon train, the French leaving Moscow, stretched for several miles. As the participant of the campaign, Larrey, "the army of Darius during the exit from Babylon, no doubt, was not carrying so much wealth and luggage." However, soon all the loot will be lost on the way, and the Great Army will cease to exist.

Comments

[Basil50]

Actually, the French burned MOSCOW to melt the gilded domes of churches.
Actually, the French burned other cities. In general, the looters were not shy about either killing, robbing or burning. They blew up the KREMLIN and seemingly not involved in fires and robberies? So what? And the fact that the French then suddenly were embarrassed to admit what they had done was a * common European culture * - to be ashamed of what was done, or even to blame the robbed and killed person for self-robbery or suicide.

[voyaka uh]

Moscow Mayor F.V. Rostopchin a few weeks before the city was commissioned in
letters to Bagration and Balashov threatened to convert when Napoleon entered it
Moscow to ashes [3]. When leaving the city, all “fire-fighting” were taken out of it
shells and fire units, while the urban arsenal was left to the enemy [4].
One of the reasons for the confusion reigning in the city was that Rostopchina was a people
a thousand wells were released from prisons, which rushed to plunder abandoned
residents of houses [4]. Rostopchin ordered to set fire even to his Voronovo estate near Moscow.

[parusnik]

There were no delegations, there were no curious onlookers, no Muscovites came to listen to the French march “La victoire est a nous!” ("Victory is ours!").

... There were no delegations, yes, well .. the Old Believers met with bread and salt as a liberator and onlookers were and listened to the march .. but the French were taken for the British .. the allies thought ..

[Monarchist]

Perhaps you can agree with this. It is known that Rastopchin threatened to burn Moscow, and then several times he either confirmed or denied his involvement

[The centurion]

Quote: Monarchist

Perhaps we can agree with that. It is known that Rostopchin threatened to burn Moscow

The losses of the parties in the battle of Borodino were enormous: the Russian 58 thousands, the French more than 50 thousands. Both the French and the Russians considered themselves winners. According to the results of the battle, Kutuzov reported to the king about the victory and on the same day the king granted him the rank of Field Marshal and 100 thousand rubles, and each soldier received 5 rubles. The great Napoleon later assessed the outcome of the battle: “The French in him proved themselves worthy to win, and the Russians gained the right to be invincible.” But the French army was dealt a mortal blow, from which it never managed to recover. Having counted their losses, Kutuzov realized that the army would not sustain a second battle, reserves had been exhausted. To replenish the army needed time. 1 September 1812 was held in Fili military council, before which almost all the generals were determined to a new battle. But during the council Barclay de Tolly managed to convince some of the generals that it was more important to keep the army, replenish it with reserves and continue the war. After the military council in Fili, the Commander-in-Chief, taking upon himself the entire burden of responsibility, decided to retreat and surrender the enemy to Moscow. This heavy news the emperor received on September 17, just a week after receiving the joyful news of victory at Borodino. In one night, the head of Alexander I turned gray. September 2 Russian army began to leave Moscow. Together with her, “women, merchants and scientists” left Belokamennaya, according to F.V. Rastopchina. Evacuation led Barclay de Tolly. Kutuzov, avoiding meetings, left the capital alone, accompanied by his orderly. He was unbearable to hear reproaches and accusations, to see the tears of old soldiers, moaning was among the people. On this day, the words sounded: "Treason, horror, shame, shame ...". There was no treason, but there was horror, shame and shame. More than 22 thousands of wounded lower ranks remained in the hospitals, only officers and noblemen were evacuated. “My soul was being torn apart by the moans of the wounded who are left in the power of the enemy,” recalled A.P. Ermolov. Miloradovich managed to agree with Murat on a quiet withdrawal of troops from the city. However, the French and were not eager to fight, victory seemed close to them. Murat gave a rejection, allowing the Cossacks to take their wounded, and promised to take care of other wounded. But the fire ignited by the Muscovites themselves did not allow them to render the help that was promised. During the negotiations on the suspension of hostile actions, the Cossacks expressed their admiration and delight to Murat, who was always dressed very effectively and was in front of the avant-garde. In response, Murat gave the Cossacks money and hours. Got a watch and ataman Platov. In response, he said: “I have long recognized Your Majesty, you are the King of Naples. The difference between us is that from the Neman I see you always in front of your army, while I have been behind our three months already ... ”
But the decision of the wise old commander was justified and far-sighted. Entering Moscow, Napoleon was trapped. Most of the population left it, and soon a terrible all-consuming fire began, Moscow residents set fire to themselves. Two antagonistic categories — prisoners released by the order of the mayor from prisons, and Moscow policemen — became the direct performers of the Moscow arsons. The French invaders repeatedly caught firinging the houses of people in police uniforms, who apparently carried out the order of their chief, the town governor F.V. Rostopchina. Of course, the surrender of Moscow is the great self-sacrifice of the country. The French, having entered Moscow, were able to acquire large trophies: 156 cannons, 75 thousand guns, 40 thousand sabers and 22,5 thousands of wounded warriors. But most of this, including food warehouses, hospitals and hospitals, burned down during a powerful Moscow fire. Then the country was unable to appreciate, forgive and understand this great sacrifice, and Moscow mayor F.V., the main inspirer, ideologue and organizer of this great sacrifice trezn. After the war, Rostopchin was subjected to harsh and unpleasant criticism from all sides. As a result, he became seriously ill and was forced to leave the country. Only many years later, when the passions subsided, Count F.V. Rostopchin returned to his homeland where in 1823 and died.
https://topwar.ru/36532-kazaki-v-otechestvennoy-v
oyne-1812-goda-chast-ii-vtorzhenie-i-izgnanie-nap
oleona.html

[Quintus sertorius]

It seems that the contemporary of events Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky already solved this problem, but our historians are ready for another 200 years to break spears over it.

[Roman 11]

More from this topic was struck by the film "War and Peace." So roughly imagined all the actions of that era. Yes, this film was shot with us, not one of ours or a foreign one is standing nearby, all these Hollywood Gone with the Wind and others.

Sometimes individual episodes from a film pop up, for example, in the battle of Shengraben, Prince Bolkonsky (V. Tikhonov) arrives at Tushin’s battery with an order to leave his position ...... and here all the paint of the picture crashes into memory - snow, the rumble of cannonade, quite by accident Caught in the epicenter of the battle are several guns that the French for some reason considered the main redoubt and which during the battle actually saved our rearguard with their fire .... Yes, this is remembered.

[Yarik]

Kremlin explosion. They hurried, now is the time.

[Whispering in the night]

What is "time"? Blow up the Kremlin?

[Victor N]

Flag do not disgrace !!

[The centurion]

Quote: Yarik

The explosion of the Kremlin. That they hurried

Marshal Bertier remained in Moscow with small units, who had the task of blowing up the Kremlin, for which all of its buildings were mined. When it became known, the commander of the curtain corps, General Wintzengerode, arrived with an adjutant and Cossacks for negotiations. He informed Berthier that if this was done, all the captured French would be hanged. But Berthier arrested the parliamentarians and sent to the headquarters of Napoleon. The body of the veil was temporarily headed by a Cossack colonel V.D. Ilovaisky. With the departure of the French followed terrible explosions. But due to the oversight of the French and the heroism of the Russian people, many barrels of gunpowder were not set on fire. After leaving Moscow by the French, Colonel V.D. Ilovaisky with the Cossacks were the first to occupy Moscow.
https://topwar.ru/36532-kazaki-v-otechestvennoy-v
oyne-1812-goda-chast-ii-vtorzhenie-i-izgnanie-nap

oleona.html

[Vadim237]

It’s about time to push dynamite into someone’s head and blow it, to clear their brains.

[Settlement Oparyshev]

Another historical bike. Napoleon and Alexander needed logistic routes to Siberia, Persia and from the Varangians to the Greeks. Some farm Moscow did not interest them at all. The task was completed, Napoleon as an “icebreaker” did his job and received thanks from the British A. 1st defeat and flight. Already the new government began the construction of the Kremlin, taking the Kolomna Kremlin as a model (even the names of the towers are the same). As a result, the Oldenburg (Roma Nova) got a freebie from the East.

[The centurion]

Quote: p-k Oparyshev

Napoleon and Alexander needed logistic routes to Siberia, Persia

In an effort to inflict a mortal blow to the power of the British Empire, Napoleon rushed to India obsessively. They did not give him peace and laurels of Alexander the Great. On the way to India, Bonaparte, in 1798, attempted to wrest Egypt from the Ottoman Empire and break through to the Red Sea, but failed. In 1801, in alliance with the Russian Emperor Paul I, Napoleon made a second attempt to land a breakthrough to India through Astrakhan, Central Asia and Afghanistan. But this insane plan did not come true, and he fell at the very beginning. In 1812, Napoleon, at the head of a united Europe, made a third attempt to land breakthrough to India already through Russia, by forcefully coercing her to faithfully fulfill the conditions of the Tilsit world and the obligations of the continental alliance against the British Empire. But Russia adequately withstood this blow of colossal power, and the empire of Napoleon was crushed. These epochal events and the participation of the Cossacks in them were described in more detail in the article “Cossacks in the Patriotic War of 1812”.
https://topwar.ru/36532-kazaki-v-otechestvennoy-v
oyne-1812-goda-chast-ii-vtorzhenie-i-izgnanie-nap
oleona.html

[Yarik]

Napoleon with Alexander

We had to be friends, but the English lobby, so that everyone would die there. We have kings, Romanovs - stupid people, maybe for excl. A2.

[Gopnik]

"Moscow became the last capital of Europe, which was occupied by the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte"

Moscow was not the capital at that time. I am ashamed not to know this.

[Rey_ka]

Well, even Napoleon knew that!

[Rey_ka]

First, Napoleon wanted to write on the wall: "Bonya was here!" but changed his mind and decided to ruin everything

[Yarik]

Well, the Kremlin is a Kremlin, of course. But if it had been blown up, then the current parasites would have found a place to settle in. And historical value? Hmm .... crusader castles in Palestine. Value. To stop hundreds of times rebuilt, this is unaesthetic, at least.