Amsterdam is ours! How Russian Cossacks liberated Holland
Cossacks camping at the gates of Amsterdam on the night of November 24, 1813. By François Joseph Pfeiffer
prehistory
In 1795, the French Northern Army, led by General Pichegru, defeated the opposing forces of the Dutch, English, Hanoverians, and Austrians, and occupied the Netherlands. The Stadtholder (governor, viceroy) of the Republic of the United Provinces, William V of Orange, who had been head of state since 1751 and whose policies were aligned with England and Prussia, fled to London.
William transferred the Dutch colonies to the control of his cousin, the English monarch. Part of the colonial Dutch Empire—Ceylon, the Cape Colony (South Africa), Malacca, Essequibo, Berbice, and Demerara (now Guyana)—remained under British control. He died in 1806, and his eldest son, William (Willem), succeeded him.
The French, relying on a local "patriot" party who opposed the House of Orange and sought reforms along the lines of France and the United States, easily occupied the Netherlands. The "patriots" proclaimed the Batavian Republic, where all power was vested in a legislative assembly and a five-member governing council. The republic was completely dependent on the Bonaparte regime in France and became its satellite.
J. Gillray's cartoon depicts William, exiled to England, as a carefree Cupid, resting on bags of money, surrounded by pregnant fairies.
The country implemented a number of reforms and introduced a democratic constitution. However, Bonaparte's policy of military and economic confrontation with England undermined the well-being of the Dutch, who were almost entirely dependent on maritime trade and connections with the colonies. The Dutch engaged in active smuggling, becoming a "keyhole to Europe," which undermined Napoleon's sanctions against England.
Bonaparte eventually grew tired of this. First, in 1805, he established the personal regime of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck in Holland, who was ambassador to France and had a good personal relationship with Napoleon. Batavia was transformed into a unitary state headed by a Grand Pensionary. Schimmelpenninck launched an active reform effort, but already in 1806, the French emperor transformed the Netherlands into the Kingdom of Holland and placed his younger brother, Louis Bonaparte, on the throne.
Holland essentially became part of Napoleon's empire. In 1810, Napoleon, dissatisfied with his brother, who was trying to defend the economic interests of Holland, which was weakening under the Continental Blockade and the lack of trade, abolished Dutch statehood and declared the annexation of all of Holland to France.
The French troops in Holland were led by General Gabriel Molitor.
Reception of Emperor Napoleon in Amsterdam, October 9, 1811. Presentation of the Keys to the City. Artist: Matthäus Ignatius van Bree
Gabriel Jean Joseph Molitor (1770–1849) was a French military leader. A divisional general, from September 19, 1810, he was commander of the 17th Military Region in Amsterdam, responsible for the defense of Holland.
Foreign trip
In 1812, Bonaparte made a fatal mistake by invading Russia and burying his "Great Army" there. The Russian army, pursuing the enemy, began the liberation of Europe in 1813. Prussia defected to the Russian side. Then, England, Austria, and Sweden joined the Sixth Coalition against France. After the defeat of Bonaparte's army in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in October 1813, Bavaria and Württemberg defected to the Allies, and the Confederation of the Rhine, which had been subordinate to France, collapsed. The Allies headed for the French border.
The Northern Army, commanded by Bernadotte, was advancing in northern Germany. The main forces were heading for Hanover. Bülow's Prussian corps and Wintzingerode's Russian corps were moving to occupy the Lower Rhine. The Prussians were to reach the borders of the Netherlands and test the waters. Bülow himself decided not to stop there and to continue the offensive in Holland, counting on the support of the Russians and the local population, who were dissatisfied with the French occupiers.
Molitor's 14-strong French corps occupied the most important cities and fortresses of Holland – Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Arnhem, Deventer, Naarden, Breda, Delfzijl, Bergen-op-Zoom, Muiden, and others. MacDonald's corps was also stationed on the Lower Rhine.
Winzengerode, having occupied Bremen, on November 2 (14), 1813, sent Benckendorff's detachment (3500 bayonets and sabres) on a reconnaissance mission to the Dutch border. Alexander Khristoforovich Benckendorff, the future head of the Third Section and chief of the Separate Corps of Gendarmes, had by this time had combat experience in the war with the Turks. During the campaigns of 1812-1813, he commanded separate "flying" detachments (as temporary mobile units were called), which disrupted enemy communications, destroyed individual units, and pursued the enemy.
Benckendorff was joined by the flying detachments of Chernyshev and Naryshkin (eight Cossack regiments in total). Benckendorff sent the former to Doesburg, the latter to Zwolle, where he himself followed.
Alexander Khristoforovich Benckendorff (1782–1844). Work by J. Dawe
Portrait of Lev Alexandrovich Naryshkin (1785–1846) by J. Dawe
Having liberated a number of cities in Lower Saxony, Benckendorff's detachment reached the fortress of Deventer on the Essel River. Here stood a strong French garrison of 3, manned by strong fortifications. artillery and all the necessary supplies. Cavalry alone couldn't take such a fortress, and there was almost no artillery (only 10 light cannons). Benckendorff tried to deceive the enemy, luring them out with the forces of Major Gagarin's Bashkir Regiment. However, the French didn't fall for it and didn't reach the open field. The reconnaissance could have ended there.
But the initial setback didn't discourage the Russian general of German descent. He bypassed Deventer and reached Zwolle (Zwol), whose garrison numbered 200-300 men. Here, the Cossack ruse succeeded. The French advanced beyond the walls to intercept the Russian patrol. The Russians easily routed the French detachment and, riding on its backs, stormed into the city. Zwolle became the Russian troops' base of operations.
Then delegates from Holland arrived to Alexander Khristoforovich, reporting that the country's population, tired of French rule and agitated by news of Bonaparte's defeat, was ready to support the arrival of allied troops. Among the delegates was the Dutch general Balthasar van der Platten, who had previously served in Russia and conveyed precise information about the French forces.
An envoy from Baron Cornelius Krayenhof, a renowned Dutch physicist, engineer, and cartographer, a brigadier general in the French service, and inspector of fortifications in the Netherlands, who remained a secret supporter of the House of Orange, also arrived in Zwolle. He conveyed precise information to Benckendorff about fortifications, communications, and hydraulic structures. Krayenhof also asked the Russians to accelerate their advance and promised the support of the people.
Alexander Khristoforovich sent General Krayenhove's envoy to General Bülow to expedite the advance of the Prussian corps. At this time, the Prussians also reached the Dutch border near the town of Senden on the banks of the Rhine. The advance forces captured Doesburg.
It's worth noting that the situation was favorable for the Russians. Dutch merchants and artisans, ruined first by the wars with England, which Holland lost, and then by the Continental Blockade, "wanted change." The economy was in ruins, and most of the population lived in poverty. Therefore, the population welcomed the Allied troops with great joy.
The Burning of the French Customs House during the Amsterdam Revolt on the Night of November 16, 1813. Artist: Johan Conrad Grieve the Younger
Wintzingerode, considering Benckendorff's force too weak to invade the Netherlands, where superior French forces were stationed, forbade him from crossing the IJssel River. But Benckendorff disobeyed the order.
Alexander Khristoforovich himself recalled:
Colonel Naryshkin's detachment, consisting of three Cossack regiments, and General Chernyshev's detachment, led in his absence by Colonel Balabin, comprising five Cossack regiments, were placed at my disposal. The first of these was positioned on my right flank, and I directed it toward Zwolle; the second, on the left, was sent by me to Duisburg. Thus, I was reinforced by eight Cossack regiments. On November 2, I began moving along the road to Bentheim. My detachment seemed too significant to me to be satisfied with mere observation. I decided to lay my hands on all of Holland.
Cossack outpost in Holland, 1813. Artist: Pieter Gerardus van Os
Benckendorff maneuver
General Molitor, learning of the Allied forces approaching the Dutch border and fearing they would become bogged down in battle with Dutch rebels, withdrew his troops from Amsterdam and other cities and concentrated them near Utrecht. He stationed the advance guard in a fortified camp ahead of Arnhem and left garrisons in some fortresses. Apparently, Molitor was simply unaware of the small number of Allied advance units, otherwise he would not have withdrawn the garrison from the capital and easily nipped the rebellion in the bud.
This sparked a popular uprising, joined by both Orangists (supporters of the House of Orange) and "patriots." On the night of November 16, the uprising began in Amsterdam. Soon, other Dutch cities—The Hague, Verdun, Rotterdam, Leiden, and others—rose in rebellion. The rebels were not successful everywhere. For example, the rebels first occupied Verdun, then, after a fierce battle, the French recaptured it.
French suppression of the uprising at Verdun. Dirk Slater, based on a drawing by van Haatje Pietersz Oosterhuis.
A provisional government was formed in The Hague, whose head, Gijsbert Karel van Hoogendorp, proposed restoring the monarchy and asking Prince Willem (son of the now deceased stadtholder William V) to return to the Netherlands as ruler. Local elites wanted to avoid anarchy and the country's absorption by Prussia or England. Envoys from the provisional government informed Willem of this, and he agreed.
Meanwhile, Russian light detachments advanced rapidly, taking one settlement after another. Naryshkin occupied Harderwijk and Amersfoort, and with Dutch support, forced the capitulation of the Kampen fortress, then entered Elburg. Meanwhile, Bülow's Prussians rushed toward Arnhem.
Cossacks crossing into Kampen on November 20, 1813. Abraham Winckeles, based on a drawing by Jan Willem Pieneman.
Even before the capture of Zwolle, Benckendorff sent a small advance guard of 200 Cossacks to Amsterdam under the command of Marklay's Pavlograd Hussar Regiment. The Cossacks, having successfully bypassed all enemy garrisons and outposts, penetrated Amsterdam on November 12 (24) and supported the rebels. The townspeople formed a national guard and requested Russian reinforcements, knowing that the French still had sufficient forces to crush their uprising.
On November 30, General Graham's 6-strong British force landed in Scheveningen, on the North Sea coast of Holland, with Prince Willem arriving. The British brought weapons and equipment for the 25-strong Dutch army. Residents of Scheveningen and The Hague greeted the prince with flowers, oranges, orange flags, thunderous applause, and dances: "Long live Willem!"
Landing of Prince Willem at Scheveningen, November 30, 1813. Art by Nicolaes Lodewyck Penning
Amsterdam is ours!
Benckendorff himself also set out for Amsterdam. But he still had to get there. Besides the muddy roads, the old fortress of Naarden blocked the road, and the French had already opened the locks, cutting off the Russians from the city. Amsterdam was also protected by the fortifications of the Muiden and Thalweg fortresses. The waterway in the Zuiderzee Bay (South Sea) was protected by a squadron led by the French admiral of Dutch descent, Charles Veruel, who remained loyal to Bonaparte.
To distract the enemy, the Russian general sent Naryshkin's Cossacks and hussars south, where they attacked the French on the road to Utrecht. At the same time, Prussian troops stormed the French positions at Arnhem. Bülow's forces routed the 4-strong French detachment and captured Arnhem on November 18 (30). The French retreated to Utrecht, where Bülow also advanced.
Benckendorff arrived at the port of Harderwijk, where transport ships had arrived from Amsterdam. There were few of them, so the general was able to embark about 600 soldiers. Under cover of night and with a favorable wind, the small detachment slipped into Amsterdam. On December 1, the Russians arrived in Amsterdam.
Benckendorff recalled:
I hurried to General Krayenkhov and informed him of the small number of men with me. He was horrified. But since there was no turning back, we drew up a document attributing 6 men to me and wrote an appeal to the people, calling on them to take up arms.
Cossack bivouac at the gates of Amsterdam in November 1813. Drawing by van Meurs
When news of the Russians' arrival became known, the alarm sounded, and the Dutch guards lined up on Palace Square and marched toward the Royal Palace with music and drums. A huge crowd filled the streets. At 10 o'clock, the Act of Reestablishment of Holland was read to the people. Crowds of citizens joined the soldiers and marched toward the fortresses of Muiden and Thalweg. The garrisons (about 1 soldiers) capitulated.
On December 2, Prince Willem arrived in Amsterdam, accompanied by the English ambassador, Richard Trench, Viscount Clancarty. That same day, van Hoogendorp's provisional government proclaimed the prince sovereign of the Netherlands under the name William I.
In 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, the victorious powers approved the formation of a unified state consisting of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, with two capitals: Amsterdam and Brussels. Prince Willem of Orange became king of this united state.
The Russian general recalled:
The entire population of this vast city came out to greet the Prince, filling the streets and squares. The Russian guard stood at the doors of the Palace, the Cossacks marched before the carriage, and I awaited the Prince with all the officers and city officials at the bottom of the stairs. As he stepped out of the carriage, the Prince could hardly stand due to the crowd swarming around him. I rushed to meet him and extended my hand to help him through the crowd and enter the Palace. The Prince appeared on the balcony, and the din of exclamations resumed with redoubled force. He was moved by this scene... <...> That evening, the Prince, the ambassador, and I boarded the carriage together and went to the theater. The Prince was received there with raucous enthusiasm; the powerful mood of a nation that had not lost its sense of freedom was evident in everything. The Dutch, who had not previously been accustomed to seeing the Prince as their leader, now paid homage to the first citizen of the State; their exclamations were not the cries of servants, but rather a testimony of their choice, identifying the most worthy person to save the State. This was astonishing and lent grandeur to the proceedings.
Meanwhile, small Russian forces continued their advance, occupying settlements, dams, and dikes to prevent their destruction. Naryshkin occupied Amersfoort, and General Zhevakhov's hussars entered Utrecht before the Prussians, who arrived later. The French troops preferred to retreat without engaging in battle, believing the Russians to be more numerous than they actually were. "Courage takes cities." The decisiveness and swiftness of the Russian forces demoralized the enemy.
Thus, on the morning of November 28, General Zhevakhov reached the walls of Utrecht near the Northern Gate and planned to begin the siege. But the French, fearing a complete blockade and distrusting the strength of the fortifications, retreated through the Southern Gate. Interestingly, the day of Utrecht's liberation was made a citywide holiday—"Cossack Day" (Kozakkendag)—and its centenary was celebrated until 1914.
In Holland, the heroism of the Russian soldiers and Cossacks who liberated Holland and restored its monarchy was remembered for about 100 years, until World War I.
Cossacks in Hilversum in 1813. Unknown artist
End of the hike
Major Marclay raided the town of Helder, where Admiral Veruel's Dutch squadron was based. He reached an agreement with the admiral that he would be able to buy provisions for the crews if he remained neutral. Fearing a mutiny by his Dutch sailors, the French admiral made concessions. This allowed the British to begin landing troops.
On November 26, the Russians entered The Hague and Rotterdam. Molitor, unable to stop the enemy advance, retreated behind the Lek and Waal rivers. General von Stahl's Cossacks occupied Breda and Geertruidenberg on December 9. Benckendorff himself, having dispatched one of Balabin's regiments and Naryshkin's entire detachment to Düsseldorf on Winzengerode's orders, also arrived in Breda. The fortress, located at the confluence of the navigable Mark and Aa rivers, was considered the key to Holland.
Cossacks entering Utrecht on November 28, 1813. Art. Pieter Gerardus van Os
Cossacks on a country road near Bergen in North Holland, 1813. Pieter Gerardus van Os
Napoleon, angered by the ease with which Holland had fallen, recalled Molitor and appointed Count Charles Decamps in his place. General François Roguet's Young Guard division was sent to recapture Breda. On December 20, Roguet reached the city with 6 infantry, 800 cavalry, and 30 cannons.
The fortifications were in poor condition, and there were no cannons on the walls. The Russians had only four light cannons. Besides the Russians, the fortress contained Dutch volunteers, a small Prussian cavalry detachment under Major Colombe, and 200 liberated English prisoners. The main forces of the Prussian and English corps were unable to arrive in time to assist Benckendorff's garrison.
The fortress was defended by a true international brigade. General Colomb later recalled:
The defense of Breda resembled the Tower of Babel.
On December 21, this international garrison repelled the first attack. That evening, 18 captured 12-pounder guns were brought by boat from Wilhelmstadt. Local volunteers and Prussians were recruited to serve. With a combined effort, the guns were hauled onto the fortifications.
On December 22, after their offer to surrender was rejected, they launched a decisive assault. Benckendorff decided on a desperate counterattack. The fighting was fierce, but the enemy was driven back. At that moment, reinforcements from Prince Gagarin arrived—the Cossacks struck the enemy rear. The French assumed that a large Prussian force had arrived and retreated.
Thus ended the Benckendorff Maneuver – a 50-day operation in which Russian troops played a major role in liberating Holland from French occupation.
Commemorative medal "Liberation of Amsterdam", 1813. Fyodor Tolstoy.
"The Russian warrior, armed with a sword, with one hand strikes the enemy who has fallen at his feet, with the other, holding a shield, he covers the Dutch capital in a friendly manner, presenting these keys to the city in the form of a wife, and, consoling her, says: rest under my shield."
Information