Foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814, the fighting of the Russian army together with the Prussian, Swedish and Austrian troops to complete the defeat of the army of Napoleon I and the liberation of Western Europe from the French conquerors. On December 21, 1812, Kutuzov, in an order to the army, congratulated the troops on the expulsion of the enemy from Russia and urged them to "complete the defeat of the enemy on his own fields."
Russia's goal was to expel French troops from the countries they have captured, deprive Napoleon of the opportunity to use their resources, complete the defeat of the aggressor on his own territory and ensure the establishment of a lasting peace in Europe. On the other hand, the tsarist government aimed to restore the feudal-absolutist regimes in European states. After the defeat in Russia, Napoleon sought to win time and re-create a mass army.
The strategic plan of the Russian command was based on the fact that in the shortest possible time to withdraw Prussia and Austria from the war on the side of Napoleon and make them allies of Russia.
Offensive actions in 1813 were distinguished by their large spatial scope and high intensity. They deployed at the front from the shores of the Baltic Sea to Brest-Litovsk, were carried out to great depths - from the Neman to the Rhine. The campaign of 1813 ended with the defeat of the Napoleonic troops in Leipzig battle in October 1813 ("Battle of the Nations"). More than 500 thousand people participated in the battle on both sides: allies - over 300 thousand people (including 127 thousand Russians), 1385 guns; Napoleonic troops - about 200 thousand people, 700 guns.
Its most important results were the formation of a powerful anti-French coalition and the collapse of the Confederation of the Rhine (36 German states under the protectorate of Napoleon), the defeat of the army newly formed by Napoleon and the liberation of Germany and Holland.
By the beginning of the 1814 campaign, the Allied troops deployed on the Rhine numbered about 460,000 people, including over 157,000 Russians. In December 1813, early January 1814, all three allied armies crossed the Rhine and launched an offensive deep into France.
March 4, 1813 (February 20, 1813, old style), p In the early morning, the French rearguard, under the command of Divisional General Grenier, began to withdraw from Berlin along the Wittenberg road to Magdeburg. The townspeople informed the nearest Cossack patrols that the French were leaving Berlin.
The entry of Russian troops into Berlin 1813. Hood. A. Kotzebue
A detachment of Adjutant General Chernyshev approached Berlin at 6 o'clock in the morning, his horse artillery fired at the outpost and the Cossacks broke into the streets of the city, where they managed to capture several hundred people from the French rearguard.
Following Chernyshev's Cossacks, other Russian light detachments and the vanguard of Wittgenstein's corps under the command of Major General Prince Repnin-Volkonsky entered Berlin.
Flying detachments of Adjutant General Chernyshev and Colonel Tettenborn were sent to pursue the retreating enemy on the road to the Magdeburg fortress. Detachments of Major General A.Kh. Benckendorff and the vanguard cavalry under the command of Major General Baron Dibich followed the enemy along the road to Treyenbrizen and Ueterbock to the Wittenberg fortress.
Adjutant General Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev
On the same day, the main body of the corps of the cavalry general of Count Wittgenstein arrived in Landsberg.
Wittgenstein reported: On the third day, with the troops entrusted to me, I arrived in Berlin. The friendly reception of these from the inhabitants of this capital was extraordinary and indescribable ... Both sides of the road were covered with an innumerable multitude of people of all ranks, and entering the city along the streets, in all houses, the roofs, fences and windows were filled with spectators, and all this time from a hundred thousand mouths were heard insanely silent exclamations: "Long live Alexander, our deliverer!" - on the face of each one could see a feeling of lively joy and friendliness, any brush would be weak in expressing this delightful picture ... In the evening the whole city was illuminated, and at the big theater a play called "Fedora - a Russian anecdote" was given, which was constantly interrupted the same exclamations."
The headquarters of the Italian Viceroy was located in Treyenbrizen, the vanguard of his troops in Belitz. Remains " great army"About 10 thousand people gathered in the fortress of Wittenberg.
The Austrian emperor appointed Field Marshal Count Kolowrat as commander of the Austrian observation army, which is being formed in Bohemia. The Austrians still remain allies of Napoleon, although they do not conduct any military operations against the Russian troops.
This day in history:
Episode Seven Years' War. The capture of the city was due to the surrender of the city to the Russian and Austrian troops by the commandant Hans Friedrich von Rochov, who sought to avoid the destruction of the Prussian capital. The capture of the city was preceded by military operation Russian and Austrian troops.
background
The activation of Prussia, led by King Frederick II, who hatched ambitious conquest plans in Central and Eastern Europe led to the Seven Years' War. In this conflict, Prussia and England opposed Austria, France, Sweden and Russia. For Russian Empire it was the first Active participation in a major European conflict. Entering into East Prussia, Russian troops occupied a number of cities and inflicted 40,000 Prussian army defeat in the town of Gross-Egersdorf near Königsberg. In the battle of Kunersdorf (1759), the forces of Field Marshal P.S. Saltykov defeated the army under the command of Prussian king. This put Berlin in danger of being taken.
The vulnerability of the capital of Prussia became apparent back in October 1757, when the Austrian corps of General A. Hadik broke into the suburbs of Berlin and captured it, however, then chose to retreat, forcing the magistrate to pay indemnity. After the Battle of Kunersdorf, Frederick II expected the capture of Berlin. The anti-Prussian forces had a significant numerical superiority, but, despite this, almost the entire campaign of 1760 was unsuccessful. On August 15, Prussian troops inflicted a serious defeat on the enemy at Liegnitz. All this time, however, Berlin continued to be undefended, and french side invited the allies to make a new raid on the city. The Austrian commander L. J. Daun agreed to support the Russian troops with the auxiliary corps of General F. M. von Lassi.
The Russian commander P. S. Saltykov ordered General G. Totleben, who was at the head of the vanguard of the Russian corps Z. G. Chernyshev (20 thousand soldiers), to completely destroy all royal institutions and such in Berlin important objects like an arsenal, a foundry, powder mills, cloth manufactories. In addition, it was assumed that a large contribution would be taken from Berlin. In case the magistrate did not have enough cash, Totleben was allowed to accept bills guaranteed by the hostages.
Beginning of the Berlin expedition
On September 16, 1760, the corps of Totleben and Chernyshev set out for Berlin. October 2 Totleben arrived in Wusterhausen. There he learned that the garrison of the enemy capital had only 1,200 people - three infantry battalions and two hussar squadrons - but General Johann Dietrich von Huelsen from Torgau and Prince Friedrich Eugene of Württemberg from the north came to their rescue. Totleben did not refuse a sudden assault and asked Chernyshev to cover him from the rear.
In terms of fortification, Berlin was almost an open city. It was located on two islands surrounded by a wall with bastions. The branches of the river Spree served as ditches for them. The suburbs on the right bank girded Earthworks, and on the left - a stone wall. Of the ten city gates, only one was protected by a flush - an obtuse field fortification. The population of Berlin at the time of the Russian occupation was, according to the historian A. Rambaud, approximately 120 thousand inhabitants.
The head of the Berlin garrison, General Rokhov, whose forces were inferior to the enemy both quantitatively and qualitatively, thought about leaving the city, but under pressure from retired military leaders who were in Berlin, he decided to resist. He ordered to build flashes in front of the gates of the city suburbs and placed guns there. Loopholes were punched in the walls, and the crossing over the Spree was taken under protection. Couriers were sent to General Hülsen at Torgau and at Templin to the Prince of Württemberg asking for help. Preparations for the siege provoked panic among the townspeople. Some rich Berliners fled to Magdeburg and Hamburg with valuables, others hid their property.
Assault on the outskirts of Berlin
On the morning of October 3, Totleben went to Berlin. By 11 o'clock, its units occupied the heights opposite the Cottbus and Gallic gates. The Russian commander sent Lieutenant Chernyshev to General Rokhov demanding to surrender and, having received a refusal, began to prepare for the bombardment of the city and the storming of the gates. At 2 o'clock, Russian troops opened fire, but due to the lack of large-caliber howitzers, they could not penetrate city wall failed to cause fires. Only red-hot cores helped to provoke a fire. The defenders of Berlin responded with cannon fire.
At 9 pm Totleben decided to simultaneously storm the gates of both suburbs. Prince Prozorovsky with three hundred grenadiers and two cannons was ordered to attack the Gallic Gates, Major Patkul with the same forces - Cottbus. At midnight, the Russian units went on the attack. Both attempts were unsuccessful: Patkul did not manage to take the gate at all, and Prozorovsky, although he reached the goal, did not receive support and was forced to retreat by dawn. After that, Totleben resumed the bombardment, which continued until the morning. next day: Russian guns fired 655 shells, including 567 bombs. On the afternoon of October 4, the vanguard of the forces of the Prince of Württemberg arrived in Berlin, numbering seven squadrons; the rest, the infantry units, were also approaching the city. Totleben withdrew most of his forces to the village of Köpenick, and by the morning of October 5, under the onslaught of Prussian reinforcements, the rest of the Russian units also left the approaches to Berlin.
Totleben blamed Chernyshev for the failure of his plan, who simply did not have the opportunity to arrive in the vicinity of Berlin before October 5th. Chernyshev occupied Fürstenwalde on October 3, and the next day he received a request from Totleben for help with people, guns and shells. On the evening of October 5, the forces of the two generals joined in Köpenick, Chernyshev assumed overall command. All day on October 6, they were waiting for the arrival of Panin's division. The Prince of Württemberg, meanwhile, ordered General Huelsen to speed up the movement towards Berlin via Potsdam.
On October 7, Chernyshev received a dispatch from Panin, who arrived in Fürstenwalde and then proceeded in the direction of Berlin. The commander decided to attack the forces of the Prince of Württemberg and, if successful, storm the eastern suburbs of the city. Totleben was instructed to organize a diversionary maneuver, but he was not satisfied with this role and on the same day resumed the assault on the western suburbs. Having forced the troops of the Prince of Württemberg to take cover behind the walls of Berlin, Totleben attacked parts of Hülsen that had approached from Potsdam, but were driven back. At this time, on the outskirts of Berlin, appeared, on the one hand, the enemy vanguard of Kleist, and on the other, the allied corps of the Austrian General Lassi. Not wanting to wait for the help of the Austrians, Totleben attacked Kleist. The Russian units suffered heavy losses, and the outcome of the battle was decided by the intervention of the Lassi corps. This irritated Totleben, who did not want to share the glory of the conqueror of Berlin with the Austrian commander, and the general returned to his positions in front of the gates of the suburbs. As a result, Huelsen's corps was able to enter Berlin by evening. Chernyshev, who at the same time was operating on the right bank of the Spree, managed to occupy the heights of Lichtenberg and begin shelling the Prussians, forcing them to take refuge in the eastern suburbs.
On October 8, Chernyshev planned to attack the Prince of Württemberg and storm the eastern suburbs, but the arrival of the Kleist corps violated this plan: the number of Prussian units increased to 14 thousand people, and at the same time they were more mobile than the Allied forces. The latter numbered about 34 thousand (almost 20 thousand Russians and 14 thousand Austrians and Saxons, but were separated by a river, while the defenders of Berlin could easily transfer troops from one bank to another.
Negotiations and surrender
While Chernyshev was planning the further actions of the allied forces, Totleben, without his knowledge, decided to enter into negotiations with the enemy on surrender. He did not know that a corresponding decision had also been made at the military council in Berlin. Fearing the destruction of the city during the assault, the Prussian military leaders decided that the troops of Kleist, Huelsen and the Prince of Württemberg would retreat to Spandau and Charlottenburg on the night of October 9, while Rochov, meanwhile, would begin negotiations on surrender, which would concern only his garrison. Totleben sent Rokhov a new demand for the surrender of the city and by one in the morning was refused. This perplexed the Russian general, but at three o'clock the Prussian representatives themselves appeared at the Cottbus Gate with proposals from Rokhov. By this time, reinforcements had already left Berlin. At four o'clock in the morning the head of the garrison signed the surrender. Together with soldiers and military equipment, he surrendered. At five o'clock in the morning, Russian troops accepted civilian surrender. On the eve of the townspeople gathered in the town hall, they discussed whether to capitulate to the Austrians or the Russians. The merchant Gotzkowski, an old friend of Totleben, convinced everyone of the preference for the second option. First, Totleben demanded an astronomical sum as an indemnity - 4 million thalers. But in the end he was persuaded to cede up to 500 thousand in cash and one million bills under the guarantee of the hostages. Gotzkowski promised the town hall to achieve an even greater reduction in indemnity. Totleben guaranteed the townspeople security, inviolability of private property, freedom of correspondence and trade, and exemption from camping.
The joy at the capture of Berlin by the Allied forces was overshadowed by Totleben's act: the Austrians were outraged that in the battles near Berlin the Russians actually assigned them the role of spectators; Saxons - too favorable terms of surrender (they expected to avenge the cruelties of Frederick II in Saxony). There was neither a solemn entry of troops into the city, nor a thanksgiving service. Russian soldiers clashed with the Austrians and Saxons, which undermined discipline in allied forces. Berlin almost did not suffer from robberies and ruin: only royal institutions were plundered, and even then not to the ground. Totleben opposed Lassi's idea to blow up the arsenal, citing his unwillingness to cause damage to the city.
Results and consequences
The capture of the Prussian capital produced a great resonance in Europe. Voltaire wrote to I. Shuvalov that the appearance of Russians in Berlin “produces a significant greater impression than all the operas of Metastasio." Union courts and envoys brought congratulations to Elizaveta Petrovna. Frederick II, who suffered heavy material losses as a result of the ruin of Berlin, he was annoyed and humiliated. Count Totleben was presented with the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the rank of lieutenant general, but as a result, his success was only noted with a diploma for his duty. This prompted the commander to publish a "Relation" about the capture of Berlin with an exaggeration of his own contribution to the success of the operation and unflattering comments about Chernyshev and Lassi.
The occupation of the capital of Prussia by the Russians and Austrians lasted only four days: having received information about the approach of the troops of Frederick II to Berlin, the allies, who did not have sufficient forces to hold the city, left Berlin. The abandonment of the capital by the enemy allowed Frederick to turn his troops to Saxony.
The real threat of the capture of the Prussian capital by the Russians and their allies continued to persist until the end of 1761, when, after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, he ascended the Russian throne Peter III. The so-called "miracle of the House of Brandenburg" happened - the accession of a great admirer of Frederick II in Russia saved Prussia from defeat. The new monarch radically changed the vector of the Russian foreign policy, having concluded peace with Prussia, returning to it all the conquered territories without any compensation, and even concluding an alliance with the former enemy. In 1762, Peter was overthrown as a result of palace coup, but his wife and successor Catherine II maintained a neutral position with respect to Prussia. Following Russia, Sweden also stopped the war with Prussia. This allowed Frederick to resume the offensive in Saxony and Silesia. Austria had no choice but to go on peaceful agreement. The peace signed in 1763 at Hubertusburg Castle sealed the return to the pre-war status quo.
Copy of someone else's materials
In the section on the question How many times did Russian troops take Berlin? given by the author Vasya Pupkin the best answer is Seven Years' War 1756-63.
Report of General Z. G. Chernyshev
to the Empress about the occupation of Berlin by Russian troops (commander-in-chief Saltykov)
September 28, 1760
With the transition of the Russian army western border the immediate liberation of the peoples of Europe began. In March 1813, Russian troops stood in Berlin, Dresden and other cities, occupying German territory east of the Elbe. The rapid advance of the Russians led to the collapse of the Napoleonic coalition.
Russian troops stormed Berlin in 1945.
On the morning of June 17, many Berlin workers followed the call for a general strike. They formed columns and from their own companies and construction sites headed towards shopping center East Berlin where they put forward their political demands. The workers demanded free elections, admission of Western parties to the elections, and the reunification of Germany. The public number of demonstrators reached an impressive number of 100 thousand people. In other cities the strike was no less violent than in Berlin. In Dresden, Görlitz, Magdeburg and in some other places, armed clashes took place, first with the people's militia, and then with Russian military units. In particular, in Dresden, a similar development of events was caused by the fact that criminals who were serving sentences were released from prisons, many of whom immediately joined the more aggressive part of the demonstrators. In Berlin, the situation was aggravated by the fact that not a single representative of the East German government came out to the protesters, who shifted the heavy burden of dispersing the demonstration onto the Russian troops and police. Meanwhile, some pre-formed groups began to storm the party and government buildings, state trade companies. In some places, excited people began to disrupt Russian and national state flags. In connection with the sharp aggravation of the situation on the streets of the German capital, Russian tanks appeared from the 12th Panzer and 1st Mechanized Divisions. At the forefront of the conflict was again the Group of Russian Occupation Forces, which from May 26, 1953 was headed by Colonel General A. Grechko.
Russians and Prussians. History of the Seven Years' War Rambo Alfred
Chapter Fourteen The Capture of Berlin (October 1760)
Chapter Fourteen
Capture of Berlin (October 1760)
So, for ten whole weeks, from August 4 to September 12, in the most precious time for military operations, nothing happened except marches and counter-marches. The numerous Austrian army (180 thousand people) and the magnificent Russian army (70 thousand) only watched the maneuvering of two small Prussian armies and the provocative demonstrations of Frederick II, who thus hid his firm decision do not deviate from the defensive strategy. The Russians, by no means through their fault, had no opportunity either to give battle or to take any fortress. As for the Austrians, they could only boast of two skirmishes and the capture of the insignificant Glatz.
Discontent was great both in St. Petersburg and in the Russian army. Baron de Breteuil quite rightly wrote to Louis XV that the Russians had "the most insignificant of all campaigns". Bolotov writes about the feelings of young officers: “Both commanders-in-chief themselves were ashamed of what they had done”. However, the greatest shame fell on the Conference, which, contrary to the opinion of Saltykov, stubbornly sought to drive the army into Silesia.
Now they remembered the field marshal's plan, rejected by her at the very beginning, who proposed to conduct a campaign in Pomerania, meaning the capture of Kolberg and sabotage against Berlin. The siege of Kolberg was supposed to be carried out separate building main army and amphibious assault. The attack on Berlin was entrusted to light troops supported by the main forces. The Austrians were only required to keep Frederick II and Prince Henry in Silesia - by the Daun demonstration on Schweidnitz and the siege of Glogau (Loudon).
On September 14, Fermor informed the Conference of Saltykov's decisions, taken even before the transfer of command: the need to take the main forces of Korolat; about sending Totleben to the left bank of the Oder to maintain communications with Laudon and, finally, about preparing a "secret" expedition against Berlin. The Conference objected - it needed Glogau at all costs. However, Fermor did not yield, he personally reconnoitered this fortress and made sure that there was nothing to do there without heavy artillery. Only after this did the Conference return to Saltykov's plan.
On September 18, the main forces concentrated at the Oder between Corolat and Buiten and remained there for the entire time necessary to prepare operations against Berlin and Kolberg. On September 21, at the military council, it was decided to send the Olitz corps to Kolberg to join with the landing detachment of Admiral Mishukov; Chernyshev's corps and Totleben's cavalry stood out against Berlin. The main forces were to go down both banks of the Oder to Crossen, and then act "according to circumstances." On September 22, Olitz set out from Korolat for Pomerania.
The expedition of Totleben was also being prepared, who, in his promemoria, argued that success depended on three conditions: correctly chosen time and speed of action (and not numbers); covering the cavalry column; other measures to prevent enemy reinforcements from approaching Berlin. He asked to reinforce his 7-8 thousand hussars and Cossacks with two regiments of dragoons, two thousand horse grenadiers and a detachment of horse artillery. Nothing but cavalry for speed and surprise. Chernyshev's corps, which consisted of all three branches of the military, was supposed to follow through Crossen to Frankfurt, and from there an infantry brigade was allocated from it for Berlin.
The only change in this plan was that Chernyshev was ordered to go through Beuten, Freistadt, Christianstadt, Sommerfelde and Gaben, and then after Totleben.
Fermor was put in the rearguard with the 1st and 2nd corps, and the 3rd corps (Rumyantsev) was to firmly occupy the Middle Oder.
Thus, the entire Russian army was echeloned from Korolat in the direction of the Prussian capital for three consecutive strikes: Totleben, Chernyshev and the main army.
But this was not the first time that Berlin had been threatened. As early as October 16, 1757, the Austrian general Gadik with a fourteen thousandth corps broke into his suburb of Köpenick, chopped two Prussian battalions to pieces and forced General Rokhov to clear the city (the queen and ministers took refuge in Spandau). An indemnity of 600 thousand thalers was imposed on the magistrate. Of this money, Gadik managed to collect only 185 thousand, since on the morning of the 17th he considered it best to retreat, taking cash, 6 banners (from the arsenal) and 426 prisoners. In 1758, even before Zorndorf, the capture of the capital was one of Fermor's prescribed goals. And, as we have seen, after Palzig and Kunersdorf, Frederick II himself expected the capture of Berlin by the victors.
In the instructions received by Totleben, it was ordered to take a large contribution from Berlin, and in case of a shortage of cash, to accept bills guaranteed by hostages, on the list of which were two ratmans and several of the richest merchants. In addition, it was necessary to completely destroy all royal institutions, the arsenal, the foundry, military and food stores, gunpowder mills and uniform cloth manufactories. And this was supposed to be only "just retribution for the cruelties of the Prussian king in Saxony, especially in Leipzig."
On September 16, the corps of Totleben and Chernyshev marched without pipes and drums. Totleben walked very quickly, putting his infantry on carts, and on October 2 arrived in Wusterhausen, almost under the very walls of Berlin. There he learned that in the Berlin garrison of General Rokhov there were only three infantry battalions and two squadrons of hussars, but Huelsen from Torgau and the Prince of Württemberg from the north came to their aid.
Nevertheless, Totleben did not at all refuse a sudden assault and asked Chernyshev to cover him in order to have a "free back".
Berlin was then located on the two islands of the Spree, and its suburbs occupied both banks of this river. One of the islands was the ancient Berlin - Verolin of the Venedian Slavs, which arose from the settlement of fishermen. On another island, Cologne, there was also a fishing village in ancient times. In 1452, the Margrave of Brandenburg Friedrich the Iron Tooth built a castle here, which served as the basis for the future capital.
Both islands were walled with bastions, for which the branches of the Spree served as natural moats. The suburbs on the right bank were surrounded by a more extensive earthen rampart, and on the left - by a stone wall. Of the ten city gates, only one (Cottbus) was protected by a very weak profile flash, armed with only one three-pounder cannon.
Thus, militarily, Berlin was almost an open city. From an architectural point of view, it was a cluster of inconspicuous buildings and suburban houses. Then nothing foretold that artistic, albeit unoriginal splendor, which later glorified him thanks to industrial prosperity and military victories. There was none triumphal gate, no columns military glory, no heroic statues, no museums filled with loot from Greece. Frederick I built the Royal Castle on the site of the old margrave, as well as the Arsenal, the Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts. Friedrich Wilhelm I planned the squares, paved new streets and built palaces on the Wilhelmstrasse. Berlin was then primarily a city of the military, officials and courtiers. However, thanks to Frederick I and partly Frederick II, he gradually became the intellectual capital of Germany, and he was already called Intelligenz Stadt and Athens on the Spree. Lessing came here three times, who in 1758-1760. I happened to be a witness of the Russian occupation. Moses Mendelssohn stood here at the head of literary and philosophical life.
Since Berlin's trade and industry, which subsequently developed so much due to the position of the capital in the center of a whole network of lakes and rivers, were still in their infancy, the city could not boast of large capitals. He was simply poor, like all of Prussia and its king. As for the population, by the end of the Thirty Years' War it was reduced to 6 thousand people, but under the first king it increased to 50 thousand, and under the second to 90 thousand. By the end of the reign of Frederick II, 145 thousand souls already lived in Berlin. Without fear of making a mistake, we can say that by the time of the Russian invasion it had 120 thousand inhabitants.
When the enemy appeared, General Rokhov almost completely lost his head. His three battalions, totaling 1,200 people, by no means compensated for their small number with quality - they included many deserters and even prisoners of war: Saxons, Swedes, French and Russians. Rokhov was already thinking about leaving the city. But in Berlin there were then retired generals, for example Lewald, and injured (Seidlitz, Knobloch). They began to shame him for his cowardice and persuaded him to resist. He ordered that fleches be hastily erected in front of the gates of the suburbs on the model of the Cotbusks, and there they placed cannons with disabled servants. Loopholes were punched in the walls, and 30 soldiers occupied the Köpenick citadel to defend the crossing over the Spree. Rochow sent couriers everywhere asking for help: to Hülsen at Torgau, on the border of Saxony, and to Templin, to the Prince of Württemberg, who was about to attack the Swedes. Both generals responded to his call: when Totleben entered Wusterhausen, Huelsen was no more than seven miles from Berlin, and the prince was six.
The preparations of the military authorities sowed panic among the inhabitants: wealthy citizens fled to Magdeburg and Hamburg with all their money and valuables. True, at some point everyone calmed down, mistaking the vanguard of Totleben for the reinforcements that had approached. This is where it started outstanding activity Gotzkovsky, a “patriotic merchant”, who left precious memories of the events. He urged the inhabitants to collect money for provisions for the defending troops, and they bought bread, beer, branntwein and meat. This limited the role of the population in the defense of Berlin. The house of Gotzkowski himself, whose relationship with Totleben was known, served as a refuge for everyone who feared for their property. The Jews even hid gold there.
On the night of October 3, Totleben moved to Wusterhausen. On the morning of the 3rd, he sent Croatian hussars to Potsdam to destroy military stores there. He himself went to Berlin, having Turoverov's Cossacks in the forefront.
By 11 o'clock they were already occupied by the heights opposite the Cotbus and Gallic gates. He sent Lieutenant Chernyshev to General Rokhov with a demand to surrender, but was refused, after which preparations began to bombard the city and storm the gates in the suburbs.
At 2 o'clock fire was opened, but since only small-caliber howitzers were available, it was not possible to ignite any strong fires. In addition, the shells did not break through the city wall. Then they resorted to red-hot cannonballs, which caused a fire that lasted until the morning. Rokhov, for his part, responded with cannon fire, and during the day the Russians could not achieve the dominance of their artillery.
At 9 pm Totleben decided to storm both gates at the same time. Prince Prozorovsky with three hundred grenadiers and two cannons was supposed to attack the Gallic Gates, and Major Patkul with the same forces - Kotbus. Each of these columns had 200 foot and two squadrons of mounted grenadiers in reserve.
At midnight the signal for attack was given, despite very little artillery preparation. Prince Prozorovsky nevertheless took the Gallic Gates and entrenched himself there, but, having not received support, was forced to withdraw by dawn. As for Patkul, the attack on the Cotbus Gate was unsuccessful.
After that, the bombardment resumed, which continued until the morning. 655 shells were fired, including 567 bombs. In the afternoon it became known that the vanguard of the Prince of Württemberg (7 squadrons) had entered the city, and his infantry was marching towards Berlin in forced marches. This reinforcement was 5 thousand people.
Totleben retreated to the village of Köpenik, and on the evening of October 4, only the Cossacks of Tsvetinovich and Turoverov remained at the Cotbus and Gallic gates. But by morning, under the onslaught of the Prince of Württemberg, they also had to retreat.
In this failed raid, the Russians lost 92 people. and they lost 8 howitzers. The responsibility for the failure lies primarily with Totleben. Why, having so little infantry, did he also divide it into two assault columns? Trying to justify himself, in his reports he exaggerated own losses, then claimed that 6.5 thousand shells were fired at the city, and accused Chernyshev of not helping him, although he knew perfectly well that this general could only come to Köpenick on October 5, and Totleben himself asked only that " cover his back." The hasty assault was undoubtedly due to the unwillingness to share the glory of success with anyone. Subsequently, Totleben claimed that he did not force the assault, fearing that the soldiers would scatter around the city and he would not be able to collect them. However, all his reports relating to this siege are a mixture of lies and contradictions. According to our military agent in the Russian army, the Marquis de Montalembert, Totleben "blew his nose on the Berlin walls."
On October 3, Chernyshev occupied Fürstenwalde and, realizing all the difficulties ahead, requested Gaugreven's cavalry as reinforcements from the main apartment, while reporting that a strong cannonade was heard from Berlin. On the 4th, he received a request from Totleben for help with men, guns and shells. All this was sent to him that night, accompanied by two regiments of infantry. On the evening of the 5th, Chernyshev joined up with Totleben at Köpenick and assumed overall command - doubtful and disputed, given difficult character this last one. At the same time, a dispatch was received from Fermor, reporting that Panin's division was coming towards him with forced marches.
Panin was expected all day on the 6th, since Fermor ordered that nothing be done until he arrived. In addition, it was reported about the imminent arrival of the Austro-Saxon corps under the command of Lacy. Therefore, the Russian general limited himself to reconnaissance of the right bank of the Spree.
The Prince of Württemberg, in turn, ordered General Huelsen to speed up the movement to Berlin through Potsdam, and soon the Cossack patrols discovered the approach of the first Prussian detachments with a force of 5 battalions and 12 squadrons.
On October 7, Chernyshev received a dispatch from Panin, who, after crossing 30 miles, arrived in Fürstenwalde and was supposed to approach Berlin the same evening. Chernyshev decided to attack the Prince of Württemberg and, if successful, storm the eastern suburbs. Totleben, he assigned only an auxiliary role for a distracting maneuver on the left bank. But Totleben, in order to preserve his independence, took advantage of the fact that between him and his immediate supervisor, Chernyshev, Spree flowed. On the same day, without waiting for the arrival of Lacy, he resumed the assault on the western suburbs and again divided his squadrons and battalions between the Cottbus and Gallic gates. However, the heights that dominated them were already occupied by the Prince of Württemberg. Nevertheless, after a three-hour cannonade, Totleben forced him to take refuge behind the city walls.
Just at that moment, Huelsen approached from the direction of Potsdam, and Totleben attacked him with his cavalry and grenadiers, leaving part of the troops to watch the city gates. In a battle impulse, he was far ahead of his infantry and, without their support, was thrown back. Totleben was about to resume the attack when Kleist's advance guard and Lacy's corps appeared simultaneously. But he did not want to wait for the help of the Austrians and rushed to Kleist. Not far from Tempelhof, a chaotic fight ensued, which did not bring an advantage to either side. The Russians lost four cannons, which were later repulsed by the Cossacks, but the outcome of the battle was decided by the Austrian squadrons, who threw back Kleist.
Totleben was furious when he saw the appearance of Lasi - it turned out that, although he managed to act almost independently of Chernyshev, he received an Austrian general as commander, since this latter, having 14 thousand people, quite naturally became a senior commander and took away he has the glory of the conqueror of Berlin. All he had to do was return to his position in front of the gates of the suburbs and ignore Laci's first orders. Thanks to this, Huelsen's entire corps was able to enter the city by evening.
Meanwhile, Chernyshev was operating on the right bank of the Spree. Having occupied the heights of Lichtenberg, he placed a six-gun battery there and began to fire on the Prussians, who, under the threat of a cavalry attack, did not wait for a bayonet strike and took refuge in the eastern suburbs.
In the evening, Panin appeared, bringing 5 squadrons of cuirassiers and 6 grenadier companies. He reported that his main forces would not arrive until the morning of October 9th.
On October 8, Moldavian hussars and Krasnoshchekov's Cossacks took up positions on the wooded and swampy right bank of the Spree. Totleben remained on the left bank, still in the same place, in front of the Cotbus and Gallic gates. 14 thousand Austrians camped at Lichtenfelde.
On this day, Chernyshev intended to attack the Prince of Württemberg and storm the eastern suburbs. However, the arrival of the Kleist corps increased the forces of the Prussians to 14 thousand people, of which 16 battalions and 20 squadrons of the prince were on the right bank, and 10 battalions and 21 squadrons under the command of Huelsen were on the left. The Allies had 15.5 thousand Russians against them on the right bank, and on the left - another 4.4 thousand Russians, along with 14 thousand Austrians and Saxons. Possessing Berlin, the Prussians could easily transfer their troops from one bank to another, so that the allies, separated by the river, always found themselves in front of the enemy in equal number. In addition, they were weakened by the disagreements between the Russians and the Austrians, as well as the rivalry of the commanders - Totleben with Lacy and Chernyshev.
Chernyshev was completely depressed. He assembled a council of war, which was attended only by General Panin, Quartermaster General Baron Elmpt and the French military agent Marquis de Montalembert. It is from this latter that we borrow the description of what happened during the meeting of the council. Chernyshev, worried about the strengthening of the Prussians and fearing an attack by all their forces tomorrow, with difficult communication with the Russians and Austrians who were standing on the left bank, “offered to immediately retire to Köpenick in order to gain time for an agreement with the Comte de Lacy; besides this, he had only one day's provisions left. Finally, he asked me what my opinion was on this matter.. Here is what the marquis answered him:
“I said that the continued presence in the position in front of Berlin, in my opinion, is fraught with many inconveniences, especially after the arrival of Generals Huelsen and Kleist. However, the retreat to Koepenick seems to me much more disadvantageous, not to mention the shamefulness of such a maneuver, since it will put the Comte de Lacy under the blow of all enemy forces and will inevitably force him to retire in order to avoid a too unequal battle. And in such a case, the whole operation is at risk. Finally, I added that I believe it would be best to attack the enemy at dawn, having anticipated such a decision of the Comte de Lacy ... The opinion of the other two participants was more in favor of a retreat than a battle, without, however, final certainty. This made me return to my opinion several times, and in the end I managed to prove my case. Count Chernyshev decided to storm and immediately wrote about this to Count de Lacy ... "
Chernyshev prepared for tomorrow's assault, dividing the troops of the right bank into four columns: 1st Palmenbach, 2nd Lebel, 3rd Prince Dolgoruky and 4th Nummers. At the head of each column, built as in the days of Field Marshal Munnich and the siege of Danzig, were grenadier companies. First, it was necessary to capture the gates adjacent to the fortress wall and then storm the eastern suburbs. The cavalry was to cover the columns against the attacks of the Prussian squadrons, and the field artillery was to conduct intense fire on all enemy positions; regimental guns were to follow their regiments. The heavy convoy and all non-combatant units took refuge in the forest of Friedrichsfelde, the horses were in full readiness harnessed to wagons and carts in case of a hasty retreat. The signal for the attack with three brandkugels was scheduled for seven o'clock in the morning. It was recommended to all corps commanders “to carry out this attack in the most perfect way, and each in its part the most capable of providing for this and executing ...”, thereby earning the highest favor of the Empress and “to keep that glory and honor that the arms of the Russian monarchy through for a long time saved". Both commanders and soldiers were full of fighting spirit. "Impossible to describe enough, - writes Chernyshev in his report, - with what impatience and greed the troops expected this attack; hope on everyone's face was indicated ... " The soldiers approached communion with a deep sense of reverence, after which they took out white shirts from the bags to "meet death according to Russian custom".
A completely opposite change took place at the council of the Prussian generals. On October 8, the Prince of Württemberg decided to start a battle with Chernyshev. But on the following night, he and his colleagues were afraid of the numerical superiority of the enemy if it was impossible to get any new reinforcements, as well as all the horrors for the city in the event of a successful assault. It was decided that the troops brought by Kleist, Huelsen and the Prince of Württemberg would retreat under cover of night to Spandau and Charlottenburg. General Rokhov was entrusted with negotiations for military surrender, but only in relation to his own weak garrison. Fate civilian population and his property was left in the care of the town hall.
Totleben still occupied positions in front of the Cotbus and Gallic gates, serving as a barrier between the city and the Austrian army, and did not leave the thought of revenge from Count Lacy, who could take away from him the glory of the only winner. Taking advantage of his favorable position, without the knowledge of the Austrian general and even Chernyshev himself, he entered into negotiations for surrender. Undoubtedly, he had his own people in the city, not to mention his friend, the rich merchant Gotzkovsky. But it seemed that the approach of Huelsen and the Prince of Württemberg deprived him of any hope of success, because he still did not know about the decision taken at the Prussian military council. How could he have imagined that Huelsen and the prince had gone so far (from Saxony and Pomerania) solely to admit the impossibility of defending Berlin?
On the same night of October 9, Totleben sent Rokhov a new demand for the surrender of the city, but he was too hasty, since the commandant had to hold out until all the reinforcements left. Therefore, by one o'clock in the morning the trumpeter returned with a new refusal. Totleben, having come to complete bewilderment, ordered several cannon shots to be fired at the city. At three o'clock, Major Weger and Captain Wagenheim approached the Cottbus Gate with Rokhov's proposals - by this time the reinforcements had already left the city. The question remains: how did the commander of intelligence and forward detachments Could Totleben see nothing and know nothing about all these movements?
Meanwhile, the townspeople, warned by the commandant, gathered in the town hall. The military council left the municipality the right to choose - to whom to capitulate, the Austrians or the Russians. It was the same merchant Gotzkovsky, who boasted of his good relations with Totleben, inclined everyone in favor of the latter. Totleben really lived in Berlin for a long time, and he had many friends there. Moreover, the Prussian capital served as a refuge for many wounded and captured Russians, including not only soldiers and officers, but even generals. The inhabitants humanely treated them, and they were placed in the houses of Gotzkowski himself and other noble citizens. They hoped that this would serve as a kind of safe-conduct in the eyes of their compatriots.
At four o'clock in the morning, Rokhov signed a military surrender: he surrendered, along with all his garrison and military property. All prisoners, regardless of nationality, were released. The Prussians who laid down their arms also remained free on bail or on the word, although out of 1200 people. 700 were sent to Russia.
At five o'clock came the turn of civilian surrender. First, Totleben stunned the townspeople with his demands for money - 4 million thalers, or, as Gotzkowski says, "40 large barrels of gold." But he conceded first up to 1.5 million, and then up to 500 thousand in cash and one million bills under the guarantee of the hostages. In exchange for this indulgence, the townspeople laid out 200 thousand thalers as douceur geld, that is, awards for soldiers. The town hall submitted, obeying Gotzkowski, who promised to use all his influence with the Russian generals in order to achieve an even greater reduction in contributions due to the extreme poverty of the inhabitants of Berlin. In addition, Totleben guaranteed them personal security and the safety of private property, freedom of trade and mail forwarding, and exemption from camping. In addition, it was promised not to deploy irregular units so terrible for the townsfolk even in the suburbs.
Totleben managed to successfully complete these negotiations thanks to the observance of the greatest secrecy and the mediation of General Bachmann. It was truly a triumph of his dexterity and art of intrigue. In the Chernyshev camp, as well as in the Lacy camp, they were completely unaware of anything when, at five o'clock in the morning, Bachmann's grenadiers occupied the Cotbus, Gallic, Potsdam and Brandenburg Gates.
The first to feel that something new was happening were the Austrians standing on the left bank. Noticing the Russian sentries at the gates of the western suburbs, they ran there in a rage, and they managed to force out the Russian post at the Gallic Gates. Then Lacy sent a complaint to Chernyshev demanding that the Potsdam and Magdeburg Gates be ceded to him, as well as the Austrian share of the indemnity and douceur geld. As we shall see, his irritation went even further. He considered the surrender invalid for himself, brought troops into the city and placed them in the houses of the inhabitants.
Almost simultaneously, a courier from Totleben and Lasi's demands arrived at Chernyshev's. His troops were already under arms, built in assault columns, waiting for three brandkugels - a signal to attack. At about 5 o'clock, the commanders of the columns sent their adjutants to him for final orders. The army trembled with impatience. Approaching 7 hours - the time of the assault. Suddenly, the news swept through the front of the affected troops - Berlin capitulated!
One of Chernyshev's first concerns was the one that Totleben neglected - the pursuit of the Prussian army. He ordered Count Panin, along with the Moldavian hussars and Krasnoshchekov's Cossacks, to gallop along the road to Spandau. But the bulk of the Prussians were already far away, Panin caught up only with Kleist's convoy and rearguard, which consisted of 10 cuirassier squadrons, one infantry regiment, a battalion of volunteers and several jaeger companies - only 3 thousand people. The hussars and Cossacks bravely rushed to the cuirassiers, overturned them, but were detained by the Prussian infantry, who sat in the roadside defile. Here, at last, the Serbian hussars sent by Totleben appeared, and then the cuirassiers with horse grenadiers. The enemy was shot down from all positions, and the encircled battalion of volunteers surrendered. The defeated were pursued to the walls of Spandau. The Russians had 25 killed and 21 wounded; the Prussians lost 2 thousand dead or wounded, a thousand prisoners (of which more than a dozen officers), 2 guns, 30 wagons and many horses. The entire rearguard of Kleist was destroyed. And if Totleben had warned his senior commander in time, the same fate would have befallen Huelsen's corps.
The turning point of the 1760 campaign was the capture of Berlin, the capital of the Margraves of Brandenburg and first three kings of Prussia. Nevertheless, the joy in the troops was overshadowed by other feelings. Totleben's behavior looked very doubtful. Irritated Austrians considered his success a hoax; the Saxons were indignant at such favorable terms of surrender, complaining that they could not now obtain just retribution for the cruelties of Frederick II in Saxony. Even Russian generals and officers felt that Totleben was too lenient towards the Prussian capital. Such a capture did not at all resemble a victory: there was neither a thanksgiving service, nor a solemn entry of troops. Chernyshev limited himself only to the fact that, together with Count Lacy, he traveled around the pickets in the eastern part of the city, and for the rest he seemed to leave Totleben to do as he saw fit. Lacy complained that Totleben had become the master of Berlin, relegating the Austrians to the role of either spectators or servants. Totleben divided as follows douceur geld(200 thousand thalers): 75 thousand expeditionary corps, 25 thousand Panin's corps and 50 thousand each for the troops of Chernyshev and Lasi. The Austrians and Saxons were dissatisfied, and in the city they began to have conflicts with the soldiers of Totleben. Such strife weakened discipline. Contrary to the ban, the troops of all armies entered the city. Here is what Bolotov says:
“The soldiers, being dissatisfied with food and drink, forced money, clothes from the townsfolk and took everything that they could grab with their hands and drag with them. Berlin was then filled with Cossacks, Croats and Hussars, who broke into houses in the middle of the day, stole and robbed, beat and stung people with wounds. Those who were late on the streets were stripped from head to toe, and 282 houses were looted and devastated. The Austrians, as the Berliners themselves said, far surpassed ours in this handicraft. They did not want to hear about any conditions and surrender, but followed their national hatred and the desire for theft, for which Totleben was forced to bring even more into the city. Russian troops and several times even shoot at predators. They broke like mad into the royal stables, which, by the force of capitulation, were guarded by the Russian guard. The horses were dragged out of them, the royal carriages were stripped, torn off and then chopped into pieces. The very hospitals, almshouses and churches were not spared, but everywhere it was plundered and ruined, and the greed for this was so great that the very Saxons, these best and most decent soldiers, became barbarians at this time and were completely unlike themselves. They got to lodge in Charlottenburg, a town a mile from Berlin, remote and glorious for the royal pleasure palace, located in it. They attacked this palace with ferocity and brutality and broke everything that came across their eyes. The most precious furniture was torn, broken, mangled, mirrors and china were broken, expensive wallpapers were torn to shreds, paintings were cut with knives, floors, panels and doors were chopped with axes, and many things were pulled and plundered; but most of all, the king of Prussia was sorry for the beautiful cabinet of rarities kept here, made up of only antiques or antiquities and assembled with great labor and cost. The idlers did not leave him alone, but all the statues and everything were twisted, broken and spoiled. The inhabitants of Charlottenburg thought they could buy themselves off by paying 15,000 thalers, but they were deceived in that. All their houses were emptied, everything that could not be taken into account was hacked, broken and broken, the men were beaten and wounded with sabers, the women and girls were raped, and some of the men were so beaten and wounded that they expired in front of their eyes. tormentors.
Many other places in the vicinity of Berlin suffered the same evil and misfortune, but more from the Caesars than from our Russians, for these really observed such great discipline in the city itself ... "
Berlin suffered less than its suburbs. Totleben managed to establish some order thanks to the strengthening of Russian guards. Only the royal institutions were plundered, but even those were not razed to the ground, as prescribed by the instructions of Saltykov and Fermor. The Russians and Austrians disputed the arsenal from each other, and the latter wanted to take everything only for themselves. Totleben gave them only 12 guns and also returned the guns captured from them by the Prussians. In total, there were 143 guns and 18 thousand guns. Lacy intended to blow up the arsenal, but Totleben opposed this so as not to harm the city. He had already destroyed the powder mills and flooded the gunpowder stores. The royal manufactories of uniform cloth were devastated, and the cloth was sold at bargain prices. The mint and foundry were also destroyed. 60-100 thousand thalers were found in the royal treasury. “There were also such scoundrels who pointed out to the enemy the storage places of military property, however, a much larger number of townspeople zealously sought to protect royal property”.
Totleben quite clearly patronized the Berliners. There was no doubt that he was influenced by Gotzkowski. When, on the day of the surrender, General Bachmann entered the city through the Cottbus Gate, he met there a deputation from the town hall; The “patriot-merchant” preserved for us the curious dialogue that took place:
“The officer, who was riding ahead of the regiment, entered the gate, asked us who we were, and, hearing that we were elected from the Duma and the merchants and that we were ordered to come here, he said:“ Is the merchant Gochkovsky here? Barely recovering from my surprise, I stepped forward, introduced myself, and with polite boldness turned to the officer: what does he want? “I must,” he replied, “to give you a bow from the former brigadier, now General Sievers. He asked me to be as helpful to you as possible. My name is Bachmann. I have been appointed commandant of the city during our stay here. If you need me for anything, tell me."
When Gotzkowski was able to continue this conversation elsewhere, he asked the adjutant Totleben to be placed in his house, and thanks to this he gained easy access to the commandant of Berlin himself. However, he used his influence only to prevent excesses, maintain discipline, protect residents and their property. Gotzkovsky achieved the punishment of one Russian officer who stole 100 thalers - the guilty one was tied to the muzzle of a cannon for 48 hours. At his request, it was possible to save hunting rifles, which they wanted to confiscate along with military weapons. Only a few hundred were given away, and even then the worst. He saved two careless journalists from punishment with rods - they limited themselves only to burning their writings by the hand of the executioner. He also dissuaded Totleben from a special indemnity for the Jews. Gotzkovsky also ensured that officials, cashiers and two poor Jews, Itzka and Ephraim, were taken hostage instead of two ratmans and noble merchants to guarantee a million-dollar bill. Bolotov says that the “patriot merchant” spent day and night on the streets or in the hallway of Totleben. His influence was such that he could persuade this general to violate most of the existing instructions. Perhaps, for all his indulgence, Totleben received a round sum from the Prussian king? We shall see later that this seems highly probable.
In his notes, Gotzkowski writes only that this general behaved more like a friend than an enemy. But he nevertheless speaks of the departure of the Russian army with a joyful feeling of liberation: “In the evening of October 12, Count Totleben and his troops finally left the city and liberated my house, which looked more like barnyard than on a dwelling, after the Russians filled it day and night. All the time I had to be content with food and drink for everyone who came to me. Many more gifts must be added, without which I would not have been able to fulfill what I have done. What all this cost me remains written in the book of oblivion..
Another person, the Dutch envoy Dietrich Verelst, helped to alleviate the hardships of the occupation quite significantly. He shamed the Russian and Austrian authorities for the disturbances of the first day and stopped the looting. Subsequently, Frederick II thanked him and even honored him with the title of count.
Let us return, however, to Fermor and the main Russian army.
On September 28, she crossed the Oder and moved to Berlin. Even on the way, Fermor sent Gaugreven's cavalry to reinforce Chernyshev's corps. On the 29th, Rumyantsev left Korolat for Züllichau, and on October 8 he joined Fermor in Frankfurt, who two days later handed over command to Saltykov.
The field marshal, concerned about the too risky position of his expeditionary force in Berlin and the news of the march of Frederick II with a seventy thousandth army to the Spree, fearing that his troops would be defeated in parts, ordered Chernyshev to retreat to Frankfurt. On the night of October 12, Panin's corps set out from Berlin, and the next day Chernyshev and Lacy followed under the cover of Totleben. The last to leave was General Bachmann. Here is what Bolotov writes about this:
“... the inhabitants of Berlin, at the time of our speech and the departure of the former Berlin commandant for a while, brigadier Bachman brought 10 thousand thalers through the magistrate as a gift, in gratitude for his good and generous behavior; but he did a glorious deed - he did not accept this gift, but said that he was quite awarded with the honor that he was the commandant in Berlin for several days.
During the retreat, Saltykov stayed in constant fear- he himself had no more than 20 thousand people in Frankfurt. Finally, on October 14, the entire army with all the Berlin trophies gathered in this city.
The capture of the Prussian capital made a splash throughout Europe. Voltaire wrote to Count Ivan Shuvalov: "The arrival of your army in Berlin makes a much greater impression than all the operas of Metastasio". Allied courts and envoys were not slow to present their congratulations to Elizabeth, however, hardly sincere. The Austrians hoped that for the sake of the honor and glory of the imperial army, it would remain in Berlin and in the magnificent winter quarters in Brandenburg. Congratulations came even after the city was abandoned by Russian troops.
However, the Russians retained some pride in this risky campaign. In the Winter Palace, one of the paintings dedicated to the Seven Years' War depicts the entry of the army into Berlin, and in the Kazan Cathedral you can see the keys of this city. The Marquis L'Hopital writes in his dispatch of 5 November that “after the raid on Berlin, this court took on a tone of excessive courage, not to say insolence”. In his opinion, the chances of concluding peace are further distant. Chancellor Vorontsov would have willingly inclined to this, but the young favorite Ivan Shuvalov and the Conference were pulling the tsarina in the opposite direction.
Frederick II suffered heavy losses: an arsenal, a foundry, finally, shops - all this, which cost so much labor and money, was ruined. He was especially humiliated and annoyed by the fact that at first he himself did not believe in the possibility of taking his capital. It was not in vain that Katt wrote: "You can simply die from his incredulity."
The same Katt makes it clear that this misfortune was acutely felt in the environment of the king. "Berlin has become just a sad shadow of what it was before". Totleben was praised: "The commander of the Cossacks, fortunately, kept Generals Chernyshev and Lasi in check"; the Dutch envoy was even more praised; The king spoke of him with tears in his eyes: “The whole royal family, myself and all Prussians must erect altars to this most worthy minister”; finally, a praise to the merchant Gotzkovsky, "who, at the risk of life, at the risk of prison, did everything possible to prevent excesses". However, they did justice to the Russians: "They saved the city from the horrors that the Austrians threatened". It was against the Austrians that the king's wrath was directed for "unheard-of outrages committed in the metropolitan area", for example, the pollution of the chambers of the king and queen in Charlottenburg with sewage. They even smashed statues: "Barbarian Goths did the same thing in Rome". But they were even more outraged by the Saxons, in advance justifying their atrocities in Berlin for what they themselves intended to do again in Saxony and Poland.
The Petersburg court was proud of the Berlin success. And when it was considered appropriate to justify the accusations of Frederick II, who complained about the barbarism of the Russian army, then in the note "to Mr. Keith, the extraordinary envoy of His British Majesty" with irony and some affectation, the crimes of the accuser himself were depicted, opposed to such moderate and humane actions of Russia. And all this with a feeling of some gloating over his triumph both over the king of Prussia and over his ally England:
“... Saxony lost most of its inhabitants, who were recruited by force or taken away for other reasons to the Brandenburg Possessions. Contrary to this, neither one person was not taken from Prussia (Eastern. - A.R.), and the inhabitants of this Kingdom were paid even from Her treasury Imperial Majesty for the fallen cattle, so that there is not the slightest stop in the production of work.
The king of Prussia, by beating, starving and other cruelties, forces the prisoners to transfer to his service in violation of their original oath. Her Imperial Majesty, on the contrary, releases these forcibly taken people into the wild and returns them to the legitimate authorities.
The capture of Berlin, which, apparently, again angered the King of Prussia, once again distinguishes Her Majesty's army and serves as a monument to her generosity and goodwill, as well as an incentive for the King of Prussia to show the same generosity as Her Majesty and not think of retribution. . Undoubtedly, all this population deserved punishment for the futile resistance they had undertaken, but they were spared, and the soldiers were not even allowed to stay in the townsfolk's houses, not counting the protection that was given at their own request. In contrast, Leipzig, which had never defended itself against the Prussians, never had such a happy fate.
Indeed, in Berlin the arsenals, foundries and gun manufactories were destroyed, but it was precisely for this purpose that this expedition was undertaken.
The taking of indemnity is merely a repetition of common custom, and, to tell the truth, it is not worth the trouble even to speak of it after the huge sums taken by the Prussians in Saxony and in the city of Leipzig alone.
Until now, the Almighty has invariably blessed the weapons of Her Imperial Majesty, and although the Empress fully relies on divine help, she herself has never yet allowed her troops to be used to destroy cities taken from the enemy. But if the king of Prussia, not wanting to follow the example of Her Imperial Majesty, decides to abuse any short-term success for the sake of revenge and especially begins to force his subjects to military service those who are not, take up arms, in such cases the consequences can be very detrimental and, no doubt, will delay, rather than bring closer, the restoration of much-desired tranquility.
And inasmuch as Mr. Envoy, under all circumstances, showed a laudable zeal for the reign of peace, it is hoped here that from all of the above he will make the appropriate use, both at his own and at the Prussian court, in order to prevent, by at least, turning an already so disastrous war into an even more brutal one.
Another Russian expedition - against Kolberg, was not as brilliant as the Berlin one. On August 12, General Olitz, with a corps of twelve thousand men, left Corolat and was to stop at Drizen to await further orders. Meanwhile, Admiral Mishukov led a flotilla of transports with a 5,000-strong landing force to the Kolberg raid. The fortress was defended by Colonel Geyde, against 17 thousand Russians he had two battalions of Land Militia and 800 people. garrison. However, the Russian squadron, which began the landing and bombardment of Kolberg on August 27, was hindered by a severe storm. On September 6, shelling resumed and a trench was opened. Quite unexpectedly, General Werner appeared under the walls of the fortress (5 battalions and 8 squadrons). He maneuvered with such courage and skill that he managed to pass into the city. The discouraged Russians lifted the siege and plunged back onto the ships, leaving the enemy with 22 cannons. This angered the Conference so much that it took the Russian commanders to court martial. However, on November 21, they were all acquitted.
After the concentration of the Russian army in Frankfurt on October 13 and 14, Saltykov transferred it back to the right bank of the Oder. He expected an attack by Frederick II, irritated by the ruin of his capital. However, as we have seen, the king turned against Dawn. Having waited in vain for him at a favorable position near Zilenzig, on October 17 Saltykov decided to give the order to retreat to the Warta, and then to the Vistula. This caused protests from the Polish king and Daun: they insisted that, at least to Austrian army Chernyshev's corps was sent to Saxony. However, the Conference did not agree to this. During the campaign of 1760, the Russian army suffered great hardships. As usual, there was a shortage of forage. Due to the extreme shortage of horses, 55 wagons and 54 pontoons had to be burned, as their horses were given to artillery. On October 26, the troops stopped on the other side of the Warta. On the 30th, Saltykov, who fell ill again, again handed over command to Fermor. However, his successor, Count Alexander Borisovich Buturlin, had already been appointed. Very close to the queen, he did not reach, however, high officials and had only the first seniority among the general-generals. Since they did not want to appoint Fermor, and Rumyantsev was considered too young, there was no one else left. Buturlin was a member of the Conference and a commander in Ukraine. However, he was appointed, of course, not by Elizabeth herself, but by the Conference.
From the book Beginning Horde Russia. After Christ. Trojan War. Foundation of Rome. author13. The siege and capture of Tsar-Grad by the crusaders in 1204 are reflected in Russian chronicles as the capture of Iskorosten by Olga, and in Homer - as the capture of Troy by the Greeks 13.1. The story of the Russian chronicle Having described the three revenges of Olga to the Drevlyans, the Russian chronicles turn to the story of the capture by Olga
From the book The Foundation of Rome. Beginning of Horde Russia. After Christ. Trojan War author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich13. The siege and capture of Tsar-Grad by the crusaders in 1204 are reflected in the Russian chronicles as the capture of Iskorosten by Olga, and from Homer - as the capture of Troy by the Greeks 13.1. The story of the Russian chronicle Having described the three revenges of Olga to the Drevlyans, the Russian chronicles move on to the capture of the Drevlyanskaya by Olga
Chapter 21. ACTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS (OCTOBER 1936 - OCTOBER 1937) Spanish Republic bought weapons, equipment and military equipment in a number of countries (mainly in the USSR, Mexico and the USA). These cargoes were delivered by Spanish, Soviet, British,
author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich14. The Capture of Kazan and the Capture of "Ancient" Artaxata The Roman Corbulon is Prince Kurbsky One of the most outstanding deeds of Ivan the Terrible is the capture of Kazan in 1552. We talked about this in detail in the books “Biblical Russia” and “The Conquest of America by Yermak-Kortes and the Rebellion
From the book The Split of the Empire: from the Terrible-Nero to Mikhail Romanov-Domitian. [The famous "ancient" works of Suetonius, Tacitus and Flavius, it turns out, describe Great author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich7. The capture of Jerusalem by the "ancient" emperor Titus is the capture of Moscow in early XVII century As follows from our previous results, on the pages of Josephus Flavius Moscow is presented as two different cities. Namely, as "imperial Rome" and as "Jewish Jerusalem."
From the book 500 famous historical events author Karnatsevich Vladislav LeonidovichCAPTURE OF BERLIN AND GERMANY'S CAPITULATION IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR Soviet soldiers hoist the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag The capture of Berlin is another controversial page in the history of the Second World War. In a swift operation to finally defeat the Third Reich
From the book Russians and Prussians. History of the Seven Years' War author Rambo AlfredChapter Thirteen The Campaign of 1760 In Silesia The war was already beginning to take a heavy toll on some powers: and not only on the King of Prussia, in whose eyes all his resources were consistently destroyed, or on Austria or Russia, who passionately clung one to Silesia, and the other to
From the book Book 1. Biblical Russia. [ Great empire XIV-XVII centuries on the pages of the Bible. Russia-Horde and Osmania-Atamania are two wings of a single Empire. bible fx author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich2.5. The capture of Tsar-Grad in 1453, in the era of Ivan III Terrible, is the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar The capture of Jerusalem is one of the main acts of Nebuchadnezzar. “The servants of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, approached Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And came
From the book Luftwaffe Night Squadrons. Notes German pilot author Jonen WilhelmCHAPTER 11 THE DEFENSE OF BERLIN In January 1944, the battle for Berlin reached its climax. The British wisely used their bomber aircraft. Their bombers took off and headed for their targets when the sky shone over the British Isles, and over Germany
author Hopton RichardChapter nine. High tide – duels in Georgian and early Victorian England, 1760–1860 IT IS OFTEN BELIEVED that highest point a tide of dueling activity on British Isles refers to a long reign George III(1760–1820). During this period, the duel knew new heights
From the book Duel. The World History author Hopton RichardChapter Eleven. Reign of the Pistol – Dueling in Ireland, 1760–1860 THE TIME THAT DUELS in Ireland reached their peak was the last 30 years of the eighteenth century. 1770s and 1780s were the era of the so-called "fire-eaters" - a group of young people who did not have clear forms
From the book Volume 24. Reign of Empress Elisaveta Petrovna, 1756–1761 author Solovyov Sergey MikhailovichCHAPTER FIVE CONTINUED REIGN OF EMPRESS ELISAVETA PETROVNA. 1760 New Year celebration. - Preparations for the campaign. - Testimony of artillery. - Campaign plan. - Soltykov's movement. - His correspondence with the conference. - Soltykov's retreat and
From the book History Soviet Union: Volume 2. From Patriotic War to the position of a second world power. Stalin and Khrushchev. 1941 - 1964 author Boff GiuseppeCapture of Berlin The attack on Berlin began on 16 April. Three days earlier, the Soviet troops, fighting on the southern flank of the front and shortly / 233 / before repelling the last German counteroffensive in Hungary, entered Vienna. In the storming of the German capital, the plan
