1812

On August 26, 1812, 124 km west of Moscow, in a field near the village of Borodino, two huge armies were making final preparations for one of the bloodiest battles of the era. A quarter of a million men, over a thousand guns. Here at Borodin the fate of the entire military campaign, the fate of Moscow, the fate of all of Russia was decided.

The events of the this episode of "1812" began in mid-July 1812, when Napoleon's troops had already captured Belarus and were moving towards Moscow. Alexander I and force Russia to make peace on its own terms. However, the plans of the conqueror of Europe were not destined to come to fruition. By decision of the emperor, General Kutuzov becomes commander-in-chief of the army of the Russian. In mid-August, he takes command of the Russian army.

The right flank of the Russian position at Borodino was defended by the 1st Army of Barclay de Tolly - 76 thousand people and 480 guns. It was separated from the enemy by the Kolocha River. This grouping covered the Moscow direction and could, if necessary, strike at the flank and in the rear of the French troops. On the left flank was the 2nd army of Bagration - 34 thousand people and 156 guns. Here there were no such natural obstacles in front of the front as on the right flank. To the right on the mound was the battery of General Raevsky. Napoleon, knowing about the weak position of the Russian left flank, decided to strike the main blow against him. He intended to divert the attention of the enemy by capturing the village of Borodino, and then deliver the main blow.

In Moscow, engulfed in fires, Napoleon waits for an answer from Alexander I. Three times the French emperor has offered to make peace, but the Russian tsar has remained silent. The undefeated Russian army stood a few dozen kilometers from Moscow. In the rear, the partisans attack the French convoys and detachments. With Moscow in ruins, napoleon understands that it is unthinkable to spend the winter in a devastated city, with an army that was only interested in booty. Napoleon decides to leave Moscow and go to St. Petersburg.