Russia in the war of 1812.

In

August 1812,

the two

armies had a

terrible battle

in Smolensk.

A lot of people

were killed on

both sides.

All Russian people know the All Russian people know the names, Alexander Suvorov names, Alexander Suvorov and Michael Kutuzov. They and Michael Kutuzov. They are two famous generals. are two famous generals. Alexander Vasilyevich Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov was born in 1729. He Suvorov was born in 1729. He was a noble? Honest man? was a noble? Honest man? Devoted to his country and Devoted to his country and his people his people ..

Suvorov took part in many Suvorov took part in many wars. He had a lot of victories wars. He had a lot of victories because he knew army life because he knew army life very well. Suvorov was not a very well. Suvorov was not a kind general, but he had a kind general, but he had a kind heart. He loved his kind heart. He loved his soldiers and they loved him. soldiers and they loved him. His soldiers were never His soldiers were never hungry and his officers took hungry and his officers took care of the soldiers, though care of the soldiers, though certainly their life was not at certainly their life was not at all easy. all easy.

Suvorov taught his soldiers Suvorov taught his soldiers and officers to be brave; he and officers to be brave; he taught them to win in the taught them to win in the battles against the enemy. battles against the enemy. His soldiers were never His soldiers were never afraid of the enemy, even afraid of the enemy, even when the enemy was very when the enemy was very strong.strong.

Michael Kutuzov

Michael Kutuzov was Michael Kutuzov was Suvorov’s pupil. He was born in Suvorov’s pupil. He was born in 1745 in St Petersburg. His father 1745 in St Petersburg. His father was an engineer in the Russian was an engineer in the Russian army. Little Michael was a kind, army. Little Michael was a kind, clever boy. Their family was very clever boy. Their family was very hospitable. Michael had a lot of hospitable. Michael had a lot of friends and was an excellent friends and was an excellent pupil. He was good at maths, and pupil. He was good at maths, and knew many foreign languages. knew many foreign languages. When he became an officer he When he became an officer he took part in many battles. He was took part in many battles. He was a brave and honest officer. a brave and honest officer. Kutuzov believed in Russian Kutuzov believed in Russian soldiers. He taught them the art soldiers. He taught them the art of winningof winning

When Kutuzov was forty – five years old he became a When Kutuzov was forty – five years old he became a general. During the war of 1812 Kutuzov fought a lot of general. During the war of 1812 Kutuzov fought a lot of battles. He was an old man by then, but he won battles. He was an old man by then, but he won practically all of them. The famous battle of Borodino practically all of them. The famous battle of Borodino was the first Russian victory in that war. After that it was the first Russian victory in that war. After that it took Kutuzov only three months to win the war took Kutuzov only three months to win the war completely. Napoleon ran away from Russia. Russia completely. Napoleon ran away from Russia. Russia again became free and independent.again became free and independent.

At the beginning of the great At the beginning of the great patriotic war 1812, General patriotic war 1812, General Kutuzov was elected in July as Kutuzov was elected in July as head of the Petersburg and head of the Petersburg and Moscow militia. Early in World Moscow militia. Early in World War I-1 and I-2 Western Russian War I-1 and I-2 Western Russian army rolled back under the army rolled back under the onslaught of the superior forces of onslaught of the superior forces of Napoleon. The war prompted an Napoleon. The war prompted an unsuccessful claim appointment unsuccessful claim appointment of the Commander of the nobility of the Commander of the nobility which would command the which would command the confidence of the Russian society. confidence of the Russian society. Even before Russian troops Even before Russian troops leaving Smolensk Alexander I leaving Smolensk Alexander I appointed General-of-infantry appointed General-of-infantry commander Kutuzov all Russian commander Kutuzov all Russian armies and militias. For 10 days armies and militias. For 10 days until the appointment of the King until the appointment of the King of Sweden (July 29) the title most of Sweden (July 29) the title most serene Prince Kutuzov..serene Prince Kutuzov..

The appointment caused The appointment caused a rise in patriotic a rise in patriotic Kutuzov's army and the Kutuzov's army and the people. Kutuzov himself, people. Kutuzov himself, as in the year 1805, was as in the year 1805, was not configured in the not configured in the decisive battle against decisive battle against Napoleon. One of the Napoleon. One of the evidences he expressed evidences he expressed about the methods about the methods would work against the would work against the French: "we will not win French: "we will not win of Napoléon. We take it. of Napoléon. We take it. "[12] 17 (29) August "[12] 17 (29) August Kutuzov took an army of Kutuzov took an army of Barclay de Tolly in Barclay de Tolly in village tsaryovo-village tsaryovo-Zaymishche Smolensk Zaymishche Smolensk GuberniaGubernia..

In the year 1811, when the In the year 1811, when the war with Turkey have stalled, war with Turkey have stalled, and the foreign policy and the foreign policy situation demanded effective situation demanded effective action, Alexander I appointed action, Alexander I appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Commander-in-Chief of the army of Moldova instead the army of Moldova instead of Kutuzov deceased of Kutuzov deceased Kamensky. In the first days of Kamensky. In the first days of April 1811 Kutuzov arrived in April 1811 Kutuzov arrived in Bucharest and took command Bucharest and took command of the army, weakened by the of the army, weakened by the withdrawal of the divisions withdrawal of the divisions defending the western border. defending the western border. He found throughout the He found throughout the conquered lands less than conquered lands less than thirty thousand troops, which thirty thousand troops, which was supposed to break the one was supposed to break the one hundred thousand Turks in hundred thousand Turks in the Balkan mountains.the Balkan mountains. By giving the Russians the By giving the Russians the limits of their enclosure, limits of their enclosure, Napoleon had hoped that an Napoleon had hoped that an alliance with the Sultan, alliance with the Sultan, which he concluded in the which he concluded in the spring of 1812, skuët force of spring of 1812, skuët force of Russians in the SouthRussians in the South..

But 4 (16) may 1812 But 4 (16) may 1812 in Bucharest Kutuzov in Bucharest Kutuzov made peace, with part made peace, with part of Bessarabia, Moldova of Bessarabia, Moldova was moving towards was moving towards Russia (Treaty of Russia (Treaty of Bucharest, 1812). It Bucharest, 1812). It was a major military was a major military and diplomatic victory, and diplomatic victory, smestivšaâ for the smestivšaâ for the better strategic better strategic environment for Russia environment for Russia by the beginning of by the beginning of World War II. On the World War II. On the conclusion of peace the conclusion of peace the Danube army was led Danube army was led by Admiral Chichagov by Admiral Chichagov and Kutusov was and Kutusov was recalled to St. recalled to St. Petersburg, where the Petersburg, where the Emergency Committee Emergency Committee of Ministers has been of Ministers has been appointed commander appointed commander of the forces for the of the forces for the defense of Petersburg.defense of Petersburg.