Can dragoons and hussars, cuirassiers and artillerymen, lancers and grenadiers, both Russian and French army, get together on the same field these days? This will seem fantastic to some. Well, someone will answer in the affirmative.
Such a meeting takes place once a year on the first Sunday of September, when Borodino Day is celebrated and the fighting of 1812 is being reconstructed. People dressed in military uniforms of past years recreate the picture of the battle that took place. It was not specifically established what date Borodino Day should be celebrated in Russia. Therefore, in each year, the date is different. And why is this day so remarkable? Of course, a victory that was hard for our people.
Hoping to take over the world
Napoleon Bonaparte approached the Russian borders with his head held high. His army of 600 thousand people conquered all European countries. But his plans were to take over the whole world. Russia was the last stumbling block. On June 24, Bonaparte's army crossed the Neman. According to the plan of the commander, she was to quickly defeat the few Russian troops located near the border, and open her way to Moscow. But Bonaparte, of course, could not have foreseen that Commander-in-Chief Kutuzov would decide on a general battle, even though his army would retreat.
Russians don't give up
The terrain for the battle was not chosen by chance. The land near the village of Borodino was covered with ravines, streams and streams. Kutuzov hoped to exhaust the enemy, deprive people of strength, all the more so since the French army was already small in number, although it surpassed the Russian artillery power. Ours had to stand to the end. Otherwise, it would have to open roads to Moscow.
During the battle, the Russians suffered severe losses, even the French were struck by their tenacity. Indeed, despite all the power of the enemy, the army of Kutuzov did not give up its positions.
The tragedy of human lives
Not for nothing in our country celebrate Borodino Day. After all, the victory went dearly. 39 thousand soldiers, 29 generals fell on the battlefield. The French suffered more. Killed, disappeared or injured 59 thousand people and 47 generals. Despite the irreparable losses that his troops suffered, Napoleon disputed the results of the battle and did not consider himself a loser.
But the facts speak for themselves. It was on this day that the spirit of the army was broken, and Bonaparte himself realized that he could not conquer the world. Kutuzov admired the courage and stamina of his soldiers. The heroes of the battle of 1812 are still known. These are Tolstoy, Tuchkov, Raevsky, Bagration, Davydov, Barclay de Toli.
How to celebrate now
Now Borodino Day is considered a holiday not only in honor of the victory, but also as a reminder of how much it cost: how many victims, how hard the Russians and French fought on the field. It was not just a battle, but the tragedy of many lives. Participants of military-patriotic clubs and other people who are not indifferent to the history of their country gather on the Borodino field . They dress up in costumes of that era and show the audience how everything really happened. When Borodino Day came two hundredth, representatives of different countries, including Canada, the USA, and Europe, came to reconstruct the battle. No one was indifferent to the stamina and courage of the warriors of those years.
Every year, Borodino Day is also celebrated by reconstructing the battle of the two great armies. People who come to take part in it, make costumes, equipment and weapons with their own hands. The horses of sports clubs that are not afraid of shots also participate in the battle. The celebration begins with the laying of wreaths and honoring the participants in the battle of 1812. At the end, a parade and rewarding of the most distinguished are held. In addition to the participants in the reconstruction, ordinary spectators who love their homeland or are interested in the history of that era are also present on the Borodino field.
Borodino Day is a celebration of victory, fortitude and fortitude. Schools sometimes hold courage classes. It would be nice if one of them was dedicated to the battle of 1812, which occurred on the Borodino field. This would be a good lesson in patriotism for the younger generation.