What a Patriotic War it was. The beginning of the Great Patriotic War. Chronology of hostilities

The first Patriotic War in Russian history occurred in 1812, when Napoleon I Bonaparte, following his bourgeois ideas, attacked the Russian Empire. All segments of the population rose up against a single enemy, both old and young fought. For such a rise in the national spirit and the entire population with hostility, the war was officially dubbed the Patriotic War.

This event is firmly imprinted in the history of our country and the whole world. The bloody battle between the two great empires was reflected in literature and culture. Napoleon Bonaparte planned to quickly bleed the Russian Empire through quick and deliberate attacks on Kyiv, St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Russian army, led by the greatest leaders, took the battle in the very heart of the country and won, driving the French back beyond the Russian border.

Patriotic War of 1812. Minimum for the Unified State Examination.

At the end of the 18th century, an incident occurred in France that claimed thousands and thousands of lives and brought Napoleon I Bonaparte to the throne of the overthrown Bourbon dynasty. He glorified his name during the Italian and Egyptian military campaigns, establishing his fame as a valiant military leader. Having secured the support of the army and influential people, he disperses Directory, the main ruling body of France at that time, and appoints himself consul, and soon emperor. Having taken power into his own hands, the French emperor quickly launched a campaign aimed at the expansion of European states.

By 1809, almost all of Europe had been conquered by Napoleon. Only Great Britain remained unconquered. The dominance of the British fleet in the English Channel made the peninsula virtually invulnerable. Adding fuel to the fire, the British took away colonies in America and India from France, thereby depriving the empire of key trading points. The only correct solution for France would be to deploy a continental blockade to cut off Britain from Europe. But to organize such sanctions, Napoleon needed the support of Alexander I, Emperor of the Russian Empire, otherwise these actions would have been meaningless

Map: Napoleonic Wars in Russia 1799-1812. "The path of the Napoleonic wars before the war with Russia."

Causes

It was concluded in the interests of Russia World of Tilsit, which was, in essence, a reprieve for the accumulation of military power.

The main points of the agreement were:

support for the continental blockade of Britain;
recognition of all French conquests;
recognition of the governors appointed by Bonaparte in the conquered countries, etc.

The deterioration of relations was caused by non-compliance with the points of the peace agreement, as well as the refusal to allow Napoleon to marry Russian princesses. His proposal was rejected twice. The French emperor needed to marry to confirm the legitimacy of his title.

Occasion

The main reason for the Russian-French war was the violation of the border of the Russian Empire by French troops. You need to understand that Napoleon did not intend to conquer the entire country. His worst enemy Great Britain was impregnable. The purpose of the campaign against Russia was to inflict military defeat on it and make peace on its own terms against the British.

Participants

"Twenty Language", this is what the troops of the captured states who joined the French army were called. The name itself makes it clear that there were many countries participating in the conflict. There were not many allies on the Russian side.

Goals of the parties

The main reason for this war, as indeed for all conflicts, was the problem of dividing influence in Europe between France, Britain And Russia. It was in the interests of all three to prevent absolute leadership of one of the countries.

The goals were the following:

		Great Britain
Make peace with Russia on your own terms.	Throw back the enemy army beyond your borders.
Capture British colonies in India and win back their own, passing through Russian Asia.	Exhaust the enemy through the tactic of constant retreat into the interior of the country.	Keep Russia on your side, even after the Peace of Tilsit.
Weaken Russia's influence in Europe.	Do not leave any resources in the path of Napoleon's army, thereby exhausting the enemy.	Provide allied states with support in the war.
Use the Russian Empire as a source of resources.	Prevent France from setting up a continental blockade of Great Britain.
Return the old borders with Russia to the form they were before the reign of Peter I.	Deprive France of absolute leadership in Europe.
Block Great Britain on the island in order to further weaken it and seize territories.

Balance of power

At the time Napoleon crossed the Russian border, military power both sides could be expressed in the following figures:

At the disposal of the Russian army there was also a Cossack regiment, which fought on the side of the Russians with special rights.

Commanders and military leaders

The commanders-in-chief of the Grand Army and the Russian Army, Napoleon I Bonaparte and Alexander I, respectively, had the most talented tacticians and strategists at their disposal.

From the outside France The following commanders are especially noteworthy:

Louis-Nicolas Davout- “Iron Marshal”, Marshal of the Empire, who did not lose a single battle. He commanded the Guards Grenadiers during the war with Russia.

Joachim Murat- King of the Kingdom of Naples, commanded the reserve cavalry French army. He took direct part in the Battle of Borodino. Known for his ardor, courage and hot temper.

Jacques MacDonald- Marshal of the Empire, commanded the French-Prussian infantry corps. Served as the reserve power of the Grand Army. Covered the retreat of the French military forces.

Michelle Ney– one of the most active participants in the conflict. The Marshal of the Empire earned the nickname “bravest of the brave” in battle. He fought desperately in the Battle of Borodino, and then covered the retreat of the main parts of his army.

Russian Army She also had many outstanding military leaders in her camp:

Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly- at the beginning of the Patriotic War, Alexander I gave him the opportunity to be Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, with the words, - “I have no other army”. He held this post until the appointment of Kutuzov.

Bagration Pyotr Ivanovich- Infantry General, commanded the 2nd Western Army at the time the enemy crossed the border. One of Suvorov's most famous students. He insisted on a general battle with Napoleon. In the Battle of Borodino he was seriously wounded by a fragment of an exploding cannonball and died in agony in the infirmary.

Tormasov Alexander Petrovich- Russian general who commanded the cavalry of the Russian Army. In the south of the Empire, the 3rd Western Army was under his command. His task was to contain France's allies - Austria and Prussia.

Wittgenstein Peter Christianovich- Lieutenant General, commanded the first infantry corps. He stood in the way of the Great Army, which was moving towards St. Petersburg. With skillful tactical actions, he seized the initiative in the battle with the French and pinned down three corps on the way to the capital. In this battle for the north of the state, Wittgenstein was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield.

Golenishchev-Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich- Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in the War of 1812. An outstanding strategist, tactician and diplomat. Became the first full holder of the Order of St. George. During World War II, the French nicknamed him "The old fox from the North." The most famous and recognizable person of the war of 1812.

Main stages and course of the war

Division of the Great Army into three directions: Southern, Central, Northern.

March from the Neman River to Smolensk.

March from Smolensk to Moscow.

Reorganization of command: approval of Kutuzov to the post of commander-in-chief of the Russian army (August 29, 1812)

Retreat of the Great Army.

Flight from Moscow to Maloyaroslavets
Retreat from Maloyaroslavets to the Berezina
Retreat from Berezina to Neman

Map: Patriotic War of 1812

Peace treaty

While in burning Moscow, Napoleon I Bonaparte tried three times to conclude a peace agreement with the Russian Empire.

The first attempt was made with the help of the captured Major General Tutolmin. Feeling his dominant position, Napoleon continued to demand from the Russian emperor a blockade of Great Britain, an alliance with France and the renunciation of lands conquered by Russia.

For the second time, the commander-in-chief of the Great Army sent a letter to Alexander I with the same negotiator offering peace.

The third time Bonaparte sent his general Lauriston to the Russian emperor with the words, “ I need peace, I need it absolutely, at all costs, save only honor».

All three attempts were ignored by the command of the Russian Army.

Results and consequences of the war

The Great Army lost about 580 thousand soldiers during the six months of the war on the territory of the Russian Empire. These include deserters, allied troops who fled to their homeland. Some 60 thousand people were sheltered by local residents and the nobility alone from Napoleon's army in Russia.

The Russian Empire, for its part, also suffered considerable losses: from 150 to 200 thousand people. About 300 thousand people were injured to varying degrees of severity and about half of them remained disabled.

At the beginning of 1813 The foreign campaign of the Russian army began, which passed through the lands of Germany and France, pursuing the remnants of the Great Army. By pinning Napoleon on his territory, Alexander I achieved his surrender and capture. In this campaign, the Russian Empire annexed the Duchy of Warsaw to its territory, and the lands of Finland were again recognized as Russian.

Historical significance of the war

Patriotic War of 1812 immortalized in the history and culture of many peoples. A large number of literary works are dedicated to this event, for example “War and Peace” by L.N. Tolstoy, “Borodino” by M.Yu. Lermontova, O.N. Mikhailov "Kutuzov". In honor of the victory, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built, and in the hero cities there are memorial obelisks. On the Borodino field, a reconstruction of the battle is held every year, where an impressive number of people who want to plunge into the era take part.

References:

Alexey Shcherbakov - “Napoleon. The winners are not judged."
Sergey Nechaev – “1812. An hour of pride and glory."

Patriotic War of 1812- This is a war between the French and Russian empires, which took place on the territory of. Despite the superiority of the French army, under the leadership, the Russian troops managed to show incredible valor and ingenuity.

Moreover, the Russians managed to emerge victorious in this difficult confrontation. To this day, the victory over the French is considered one of the most significant in Russia.

We bring to your attention a brief history of the Patriotic War of 1812. If you want a brief summary about this period of our history, we recommend reading.

Causes and nature of the war

The Patriotic War of 1812 occurred as a result of Napoleon's desire for world domination. Before this, he managed to successfully defeat many opponents.

His main and only enemy in Europe remained. The French Emperor wanted to destroy Britain through a continental blockade.

It is worth noting that 5 years before the start of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Tilsit Peace Treaty was signed between Russia and Russia. However, the main point of this agreement was not published then. According to him, he pledged to support Napoleon in the blockade directed against Great Britain.

However, both the French and the Russians were well aware that sooner or later a war would also break out between them, since Napoleon Bonaparte was not going to stop at subjugating Europe alone.

That is why countries began to actively prepare for a future war, building up their military potential and increasing the size of their armies.

Patriotic War of 1812 briefly

In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the territory Russian Empire. Thus, for this war it became Patriotic, since not only the army, but also the majority of ordinary citizens took part in it.

Balance of power

Before the start of the Patriotic War of 1812, Napoleon managed to assemble a huge army, which included about 675 thousand soldiers.

All of them were well armed and, most importantly, had extensive combat experience, because by that time France had subjugated almost all of Europe.

The Russian army was almost as good as the French in the number of troops, which numbered about 600 thousand. In addition, about 400 thousand Russian militia took part in the war.

Russian Emperor Alexander 1 (left) and Napoleon (right)

Moreover, unlike the French, the advantage of the Russians was that they were patriotic and fought for the liberation of their land, thanks to which the national spirit rose.

In Napoleon’s army, with patriotism, things were exactly the opposite, because there were many hired soldiers who did not care for or against what to fight.

Battles of the Patriotic War of 1812

At the height of the Patriotic War of 1812, Kutuzov chose defensive tactics. Bagration commanded the troops on the left flank, Raevsky’s artillery was located in the center, and Barclay de Tolly’s army was on the right flank.

Napoleon preferred to attack rather than defend, since this tactic repeatedly helped him emerge victorious from military campaigns.

He understood that sooner or later the Russians would stop retreating and they would have to accept battle. At that point in time, the French emperor was confident of his victory and, I must say, there were good reasons for this.

Before 1812, he had already managed to show the whole world the power of the French army, which was able to conquer more than one European country. The talent of Napoleon himself, as an outstanding commander, was recognized by everyone.

Battle of Borodino

From Moscow to Maloyaroslavets

The Patriotic War of 1812 continued. After the Battle of Borodino, the army of Alexander 1 continued its retreat, getting closer and closer to Moscow.

Crossing of the Italian Corps of Eugene Beauharnais across the Neman, June 30, 1812

The French followed, but no longer sought to engage in open battle. On September 1, at the military council of Russian generals, Mikhail Kutuzov made a sensational decision, with which many did not agree.

He insisted that Moscow be abandoned and all property in it destroyed. As a result, this is exactly what happened.

Entry of the French into Moscow, September 14, 1812

The French army, exhausted physically and mentally, needed replenishment of food supplies and rest. However, bitter disappointment awaited them.

Once in Moscow, Napoleon did not see a single inhabitant or even an animal. Leaving Moscow, the Russians set fire to all the buildings so that the enemy could not take advantage of anything. This was an unprecedented case in history.

When the French realized the deplorability of their stupid situation, they were completely demoralized and defeated. Many soldiers stopped obeying their commanders and turned into gangs of robbers running around the outskirts of the city.

Russian troops, on the contrary, were able to break away from Napoleon and enter the Kaluga and Tula provinces. They had food supplies and ammunition hidden there. In addition, the soldiers could take a break from a difficult campaign and join the ranks of the army.

The best solution to this absurd situation for Napoleon was the conclusion of peace with Russia, but all his proposals for a truce were rejected by Alexander 1 and Kutuzov.

A month later, the French began to leave Moscow in disgrace. Bonaparte was furious at this outcome of events and did everything possible to engage the Russians in battle.

Having reached October 12, near the city of Maloyaroslavets, a major battle took place, in which both sides lost many people and military equipment. However, the final victory did not go to anyone.

Victory in the Patriotic War of 1812

The further retreat of Napoleon's army looked more like a chaotic flight than an organized exit from Russia. After the French began to loot, local residents began to unite into partisan detachments and engage in battles with the enemy.

At this time, Kutuzov carefully pursued Bonaparte’s army, avoiding open clashes with it. He wisely took care of his warriors, fully aware that the enemy’s forces were melting before his eyes.

The French suffered serious losses in the battle of the city of Krasny. Tens of thousands of invaders died in this battle. The Patriotic War of 1812 was coming to an end.

When Napoleon tried to save the remnants of the army and transport them across the Berezina River, he once again suffered a heavy defeat from the Russians. It should be understood that the French were not prepared for the unusually severe frosts that struck at the very beginning of winter.

Obviously, before the attack on Russia, Napoleon did not plan to stay in it for so long, as a result of which he did not take care of warm uniforms for his troops.

Napoleon's retreat from Moscow

As a result of an inglorious retreat, Napoleon abandoned the soldiers to their fate and secretly fled to France.

On December 25, 1812, Alexander 1 issued a manifesto, which spoke of the end of the Patriotic War.

Reasons for Napoleon's defeat

Among the reasons for Napoleon's defeat in his Russian campaign, the most often cited are:

popular participation in the war and mass heroism of Russian soldiers and officers;
the length of Russia's territory and harsh climatic conditions;
military leadership talent of the commander-in-chief of the Russian army Kutuzov and other generals.

The main reason for Napoleon's defeat was the nationwide rise of Russians to defend the Fatherland. In the unity of the Russian army with the people we must look for the source of its power in 1812.

Results of the Patriotic War of 1812

The Patriotic War of 1812 is one of the significant events in the history of Russia. Russian troops managed to stop the invincible army of Napoleon Bonaparte and show unprecedented heroism.

The war caused serious damage to the economy of the Russian Empire, which was estimated at hundreds of millions of rubles. More than 200 thousand people died on the battlefields.

Battle of Smolensk

Many settlements were completely or partially destroyed, and their restoration required not only large amounts, but also human resources.

However, despite this, victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 strengthened the morale of the entire Russian people. After it, many European countries began to respect the army of the Russian Empire.

The main result of the Patriotic War of 1812 was the almost complete destruction of Napoleon's Grand Army.

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Date of publication or update 11/01/2017

Patriotic wars in the history of Russia.

Every June for us Russians smells more of gunpowder smoke and the smoke of fires than of flowering meadows and the honey aroma of linden trees. The genetic memory of the people forever linked June with the two most terrible foreign invasions of our land. The whole country freezes on June 22, Memorial Day, when we bow our heads to those who, without sparing their lives, defended the independence of the Fatherland.

What does the history of these two great wars teach us? What are their similarities and what are their differences? What are their consequences: immediate and remote? Why are we the only ones calling these wars Patriotic? This term is not known in the West, and you will not find its translation in any dictionary.

The invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte's army began on June 24, 1812, and the troops of Hitler's Germany crossed our borders on June 22, 1941. Almost to the day, both times at dawn. Napoleon I and Adolf Hitler equally believed that this was the optimal day to attack Russia. The daylight hours are the longest, the roads are dry and suitable for fast marches, and there is enough time before the winter cold to complete the campaign in a few months. “Lightning victory” (“blitzkrieg”) beckoned to both strategists.

Napoleon I, like Hitler, at the time of the start of their campaigns against Russia, were, of course, the most outstanding and successful politicians in the world, where Europe was the main and dominant center. It doesn’t matter to us now that Napoleon, through the efforts of his apologists, is still considered a great political figure, and Hitler has become the personification of evil. For us, they are both criminals who wanted death Russian state and enslavement of the Russian people. Before the aggression against Russia, all of continental Europe humiliatedly lay at the feet of these conquerors.

Both Patriotic wars were not wars between two states. They were frontal battles between the entire united Western Europe and Russia. In Napoleon's Grand Army, only half of the soldiers and officers were French, the rest were from other European countries. It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that countries such as Austria and Prussia, for whose independence the Russians shed blood on the fields of Austerlitz, near Friedland and Preussisch-Ellau, provided Bonaparte with 50 thousand soldiers for the campaign against Russia and pledged to provide supplies for his army.

And Hitler brought Italians, Finns, Romanians, Hungarians, Spaniards (“Blue Division”) and “various other Swedes” to our borders under the guise of volunteer units and formations.

Russia's only formal "ally" - England - was holed up, as always, on its island in so-called "brilliant isolation", waiting to see how the clash between the two colossi would end.

In both Patriotic Wars, the decisive factor in victory was the Russian (in the broad sense of the word) people, their willingness to endure enormous difficulties and overcome obstacles due to incredible tension of spirit. L. Tolstoy in “War and Peace” spoke about the “club of the people’s war.” I. Stalin expressed the same thought in his famous toast to the Russian people at a reception in honor of the front commanders in 1945. In all failures (political or military), we can easily find and see the miscalculations and mistakes of specific responsible persons, but the people as a whole turned out to be worthy of the great victories Of course, we were helped by the immensity of our geographical spaces, the harsh climate for aliens, and the unusual off-road conditions for them. The German politician Bismarck was right when he said: “Russia is great: the more you eat, the more remains!”

Both Patriotic Wars ended the same way: Russian troops defeated the conquerors and paraded through the streets of their capitals. Hitler committed suicide, Napoleon went into exile on the island of Elba. As a result of these victories, Russia turned into an influential world power.

In Europe, post-war peace and security began to be guaranteed Holy Alliance European monarchs, among whom Emperor Alexander I occupied the undisputed leading position. In 1945, the United Nations and the Security Council assumed responsibility for preserving the peaceful post-war order. Russia (then the USSR) became a permanent member of the Security Council with the right of veto.

But with all the variety of similar features of the Patriotic Wars we experienced, we must not forget about the serious differences between them. Very often propaganda clichés are driven into heads by means mass media, distort historical truth. I remember well how journalists, wanting to belittle Hitler, wrote that he “in comparison with Napoleon is nothing more than a kitten next to a lion.” To this day, the Fuhrer is portrayed as a possessed maniac, cruel, but narrow-minded. But how then can a sane person explain to himself that the Patriotic War of 1812 ended in 6 months, and the Great Patriotic War lasted almost 8 times longer, almost four years.

Why did we lose 210 thousand soldiers and militias in the war against Napoleon, and paid with the lives of 25-27 million people for the victory over Hitler’s hordes? How did it happen that in Paris in 1812 our Cossacks were greeted with flowers, and in surrounded and doomed Berlin in 1945, fifteen-year-old youths fired “Faust cartridges” from the basements at our tanks. You cannot simply paint a portrait of Hitler and thereby diminish the value of our Great Victory.

The main slogan of the Patriotic War of 1812 was “For God, the Tsar and the Fatherland!” In the Second Patriotic War the slogan sounded: “For the Motherland! For Stalin!" There was no place for God in 1941-1945. An atheist Red Army soldier and a Russian Orthodox soldier differ significantly from each other in moral fortitude and combat effectiveness. The conviction that death in battle with the enemy is not the final phase of existence, but only a transition to eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven strengthens the warrior’s spirit. In the second half of the Great Patriotic War, the authorities began to understand the meaning of A. Suvorov’s words: “We are Russians. God is with us!"

The role of Orthodoxy in the War of 1812 was also emphasized by the monuments erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon. The main ones were the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and the Alexander Column on Palace Square in St. Petersburg, crowned with the figure of an angel holding a cross in his hands. It is worth recalling that, according to the rescript of Emperor Alexander I, it was the holiday of the Nativity of Christ that became Victory Day and was celebrated as such until 1917. Russia's victories in the Patriotic Wars, unfortunately, had a number of similar negative consequences for our country. Europe began to treat Russia's sharply increased authority and political weight with caution and suspicion. In both cases, a kind of cold war began. In the 19th century, it bore the character of numerous literary lampoons.

In France, in 1825, A. Rabbe’s book “Review of Russian History” appeared, where not only our history, but also the national traits of the Russian people were vilified. Two years later, a book by a certain Jacques Anselot, “Six Months in Russia,” was published, which spoke about our inability to govern independently, about the barbarity of the Russians, etc. In 1829, a book by the French officer Victor Magnier, who was an instructor in Turkish army, was captured by the Russians and spent some time in Russia. He unleashed a stream of lies and dirty fabrications against our army. It is interesting that the Russian officer Yakov Tolstoy, who was then in France, not only publicly exposed the slanderer, but also challenged him to a duel, which he cowardly refused.

The history of the Cold War, declared in February 1946 by Winston Churchill in his speech in the American town of Fulton, is well known. It was not limited to the literary and journalistic war, but spread to the economy, humanitarian ties, etc. An “iron curtain” was erected around our country - by the way, this term was coined in the West.

The victorious euphoria and the sharp increase in Russia's status in the world after the Patriotic Wars to a certain extent contributed to the growth of conservative sentiments in society. IN Western Europe The evolution of the political system in the post-Napoleonic period is characterized by democratization, the transformation of absolute monarchies into constitutional ones. In Russia, this process stalled, especially after the Decembrists in 1825. Moreover, the Russian army more than once acted as an instrument for suppressing revolutionary uprisings in Europe. Our troops under the command of Field Marshal I. Paskevich defeated the military formations of Polish insurgents in 1830, and in 1848, at the request of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, they defeated the Hungarian rebels, whom the Austrians could not cope with on their own.

Russia (then the USSR) became the same conservative force in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe after the Great Patriotic War. The suppression of the uprising in Berlin in 1953, the defeat of the uprising in Hungary in 1956 - an operation carried out by the joint forces of the Warsaw Pact in 1968-1969. a rebellion was prevented in Czechoslovakia in order to prevent the collapse of the socialist system in this country.

The political and social stagnation that took shape after the victorious Patriotic Wars inevitably spilled over into scientific, technical and economic stagnation. Conservatism is especially dangerous in production, in the evolution of tools. How can one not recall the immortal “Lefty” N. Leskov, who just after the war with Napoleon visited England and, according to the “Aglitsky” experience, ordered people to stop cleaning gun barrels with brick powder, because this makes the barrel wider and the bullet’s flight range greater and aiming accuracy drop sharply.

We will not escape the recognition of the fact that we entered the Patriotic War of 1812 with weapons that were in no way inferior to the weapons of Napoleon’s army, and in some ways superior, especially in artillery. But 40 years later, during the Crimean War, we faced an enemy who was better armed than the Russian army. Our sailing fleet was no longer suitable for naval battles, the armies of the British and French were armed with rifled weapons (“shtutser”), and our soldiers had mostly old-style smoothbore guns. The shameful defeat forced us to seriously engage in social (abolition of serfdom) and military reforms.

A similar situation arose after the Victory in 1945. We ended the Great Patriotic War with weapons that were advanced at that time. Was created in the USSR best tank in the world - T-34, excellent fighter aircraft, rocket artillery, Kalashnikov assault rifle, etc. But after many years of stagnation, Soviet troops in Afghanistan no longer had weapons that met the requirements of modern warfare. They did not have electronic countermeasures, we suffered huge losses from portable anti-aircraft missiles, and our armored forces were not suitable for fighting Mujahideen detachments.

All these shortcomings were fully manifested during the years of the Chechen wars. All independent observers note that in service Russian army The equipment is mostly outdated from the 60s and 70s of the last century. Modern views weapons are available in single copies and do not affect combat effectiveness armed forces generally. Having never previously purchased weapons abroad, today's Russia is purchasing ships in France, armored vehicles in Italy, and equipment also in other countries.

One gets the impression that the political leaders of Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries were not strategically perceptive enough to properly evaluate the results of the victorious Patriotic Wars, lost enormous political advantages over a relatively short historical period and were not prepared to confront the new challenges of the time. I, a Russian person, am ashamed to realize that defeated Napoleonic France 40 years later defeated Russia in the Crimean campaign and dictated to us the humiliating conditions of the Peace of Paris. But many military historians are embarrassed to call the Crimean War a war; they consider it a simple landing operation. And it is even more bitter to realize that after so many victims and the Great Victory of 1945, my country, 45 years later, accepted humiliating humanitarian aid from Germany to save its population from starvation.

It’s a paradox - the Russian people, invincible in wars, suffer fatal failures in peaceful life, in peaceful competition with their yesterday’s opponents. The people are not at all to blame for these failures, but the demand from politicians should be different.

Not long ago I had the opportunity to become acquainted with materials concerning the medical care of top officials of the Russian state. It was striking that in the personal medical file of Emperor Nicholas I, back in the distant pre-revolutionary times, sheets concerning last days life of the emperor. This gave rise to a number of speculations regarding the reasons for his death. The option of the emperor’s voluntary departure from life under the influence of defeats in the Crimean War was not excluded. Now no one will solve the riddle of the torn sheets.

The politicians responsible for the destruction of historical Russia, primarily M. Gorbachev and B. Yeltsin, tediously talked about their historical contribution to the renewal of the country. With manic persistence they argued and continue to maintain that their activities should have led to the all-round flourishing of the Russian state. Such outright deception is difficult to find in world history.

Such self-esteem of leaders is the cause of national disasters.

Finally, the time has come to look for an explanation for the very term “Patriotic War”, which is not found in the history of other countries and is difficult to translate into foreign languages. The Patriotic War means a national liberation war against foreign invasion in the name of saving one’s state and one’s people. Home and characteristic feature A Patriotic War is the participation in it of the entire people, united in their desire to defeat the enemy. Not only regular troops take part in the Patriotic Wars, but also army units deployed behind enemy lines and partisan formations from the civilian population. In such wars, the regular army receives human reinforcements in the form of the people's militia. All classes, classes and social strata of the population are fighting against the enemy. “Everything for the front, everything for Victory!” - this was the main state slogan during the Great Patriotic War.

V.M. Molotov, speaking on June 23, 1941, for the first time in Soviet time used the word “domestic”. He said: “The Red Army and all our people will once again wage a victorious Patriotic War for the homeland, for honor, for freedom.” On the same day, the Pravda newspaper published a full-page article entitled “The Great Patriotic War.” I. Stalin, in a speech on July 3, 1941, used the phrase “National Patriotic War.”

Patriotic wars have left in the history of our people examples of the immense courage of the sons of Russia, collective courage, perseverance and invincibility. The heirs of the creators of victories should not only mourn at the memorial “eternal flames”, but, rolling up their sleeves, rallying together, begin to dismantle the ruins of the dilapidated historical Motherland, and rebuild the building of the Fatherland.

Nikolai Sergeevich Leonov

Magazine "Russian House", No. 6 2012

Domestic goods.

Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949-1992 .

See what “Patriotic War” is in other dictionaries:

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Books

Patriotic War, P.A. Niva. The book of the military historian, Colonel Pyotr Andreevich Nive, The Patriotic War, is a commemorative edition of 1912, which was aimed at restoring an accurate historical history in all its details...
Patriotic War, P.A. Niva. The book of the military historian, Colonel Pyotr Andreevich Nive “Patriotic War” is a commemorative edition of 1912, which aimed to restore the accurate historical history in all its details...

143,000,000 killed Soviet citizens, 1,800,000 killed in captivity or immigrated - the Great Patriotic War broke into every home on June 22, 1941. Over the course of 4 terrible years, fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, mothers and wives remained “bones” at the fronts. The Second World War is called a “terrible lesson of the past,” “a political miscalculation,” and a “bloody massacre.” Why did the terrible war begin, what was its course, what were the results?

Background of the Second World War. Where do “legs grow” from?

The prerequisites are hidden in the Versailles-Washington system established after the First World War. Germany and its ambitions were humiliated and brought to its knees. In the 1920s, the National Socialist German Workers' Party, promoting far-right views, entered the political arena. Party supporters proclaimed the ideas of “revenge for defeat in the First World War” and the establishment of world domination of the German nation. European politicians looked at a "rising Germany" and thought they could govern it. France and Great Britain “pushed” the country towards the borders of the Union, pursuing their own benefits. But they could not think that on September 1, 1939, German troops would invade Poland (the Second World War would begin).

ATTENTION! The Second World War lasted more than 6 years (September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945). WWII - June 22, 1941 - May 9, 1945.

Why did the Great Patriotic War begin? 3 reasons

Historians talk about dozens of factors that influenced the outbreak of the war. Let's face it, the war began with the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939. “Behind Europe” Germany and Soviet Union they agree that they will be “on the same side.” After the outbreak of World War II, the USSR invaded Poland on September 17, 1939. On September 22, 1939, a parade of the Wehrmacht and the Red Army solemnly took place in Brest.

Joseph Stalin did not believe that Hitler would “stab him in the back” and attack the USSR. Moreover: when Minsk fell on June 28, 1941, the leader was in a panic (and even thought that he would be arrested for a crime against the people). The first days of the Second World War, the Red Army retreated, and the Germans easily took one city after another.

Let’s not forget that there were massive repressions in the USSR: during the last “purge” in June 1941, experienced military leaders were killed (shot, expelled).

The causes of the Second World War lie in:

Hitler's desire for “domination of the whole world” (“Germany from sea to sea”). Resources were needed for conquest, and the territory of the USSR with its natural resources seemed like a “tidbit.”
The desire of the Soviet authorities to “crush” Eastern Europe.
Contradictions between the socialist system and capitalism.

What plans did Germany have?

German tacticians and strategists had several plans on the territory of the Soviet Union.

War plan "Barbarossa". In the summer of 1940, a “blitzkrieg” plan was developed: in 10 weeks (i.e., 2.5 months), German troops were supposed to paralyze the industry of the Urals, crush the European part of the country and reach the Arkhangelsk-Astrakhan line. On June 17, 1941, Hitler signed the very order that launched the offensive.
"Ost." Jews and Gypsies were completely destroyed; Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians turned into “slaves” who served the German invaders. Up to 140,000,000 people were to be destroyed. Mass genocide, violence, murder, concentration camps, torture, medical “experiments” - all this awaited those who live today in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
"Oldenburg" and "Goering's Green Folder". Cultural and historical values were to be exported to Germany. Soviet museums were simply robbed, and gold, precious stones, art and antiques were sent to the West by the trainload.

By the summer of 1941, there were 5,500,000 soldiers trained to kill at the borders of the USSR, versus 2,900,000 Soviet (this is the number of military personnel concentrated in the border districts). It’s not worth talking about weapons: one rifle for three, a limited number of bullets, “rusty iron” - all this “came up” more than once in the memories of veterans.

The Soviet Union was not ready for war:

Stalin ignored the memos about “pulling up” the German armies to the lines. It seemed to the leader that Germany would not invade and fight on 2 fronts.
Lack of talented military leaders. The “Little Blood War” technique turned out to be a failure. The idea that the Red Army would move to the West, and the workers of the whole world would join its ranks, also turned out to be unfounded.
Problems with army supplies. According to some information, the Wehrmacht had 16 times more rifles (not to mention tanks and aircraft). The warehouses were located close to the borders, so they were quickly captured by the enemy.

Despite all the miscalculations and problems, Soviet soldiers snatched victory with sweat and blood. In the rear, women, children, old people, and disabled people produced weapons day and night; The partisans risked their lives trying to collect as much information as possible about enemy groups. The Soviet people stood up to defend their Motherland.

How did events develop?

Historians talk about 3 main stages. Each of them is divided into dozens of small stages, and behind every success of the Red Army there are shadows of dead soldiers.

Strategic defense. June 22, 1941 – November 18, 1942

At this time, the Barbarossa plan collapsed. In the first stages, enemy troops took Ukraine, the Baltic states and Belarus without any problems. Moscow was ahead - an important geopolitical and economic goal. The capture of Moscow would automatically mean the fragmentation of the Red Army and the loss of control.

September 30, 1941 – January 7, 1942, i.e. For almost 4 months there were heavy battles with varying success, but Soviet troops were able to push back the enemy.

The Battle of Moscow was Hitler's first failure. It became clear that the Blitzkrieg had failed; the Western world saw that the “invincible Adolf” could lose; The morale and fighting spirit of the people rose.

But ahead were Stalingrad and the Caucasus. The victory near Moscow provided a “respite.” The partisan struggle gradually unfolds, and an anti-Hitler coalition is formed. The USSR is transferring the economy to a military footing, so the supply of the army is improving (KV-1 and T-34 tanks, Katyusha rocket launcher, IL-2 attack aircraft).

Radical fracture. November 19, 1942 – end of 1943

Until the fall of 1942, victories were either on the side of the USSR or on the side of Germany. At this stage, the strategic initiative passes into the hands of the Soviet Union: 26 strategic operations (23 of them offensive), assistance from allies and Lend-Lease, “first news” of the collapse of the Hitler coalition, strengthening the authority of the USSR.

All results were given with sweat and blood. At this stage, there are a number of major battles that “turned” the course of the war.

The Battle of Stalingrad and the defeat of German troops;
battle for the Dnieper;
Kursk Bulge.

The stage ends at the end of 1943 with the liberation of Kyiv and the “crossing of the Dnieper.”

Europe liberated from Nazism. January 1944 – May 9, 1945

Let us remember that World War II ended on September 2, 1945. But Europe freed itself from the shackles of Nazism in the spring.

In the fall of 1944, the Soviet command carried out a series of operations to liberate the country from enemy armies: Korsun-Shevchenkovskaya, Lvov-Sandomierz, Yassko-Kishinevskaya. Siege Leningrad, which found itself “cut off” from food and security, was liberated. Thanks to the East Prussian, Vistula-Oder, and West Carpathian operations, it was possible to create all the conditions to “go to Berlin.”

On May 1, 1945, Adolf Hitler takes poison and leaves the people “to their fate.” The provisional government, which “by chance” was headed by K. Doenitz, in its “death convulsions”, tries to negotiate a separate peace with Great Britain and France, but fails. There are tribunals, high-profile scandals, trials and verdicts ahead. On May 8, 1945, the Act of Unconditional Surrender was signed in Karlshorst (a suburb of Berlin). Germany is defeated.

May 9, 1945 becomes Victory Day, a symbol of endless courage, unity and the ability to repel the enemy.

The Great Patriotic War is a terrible lesson in history, for which the Soviet Union paid too high a price. The exact number of deaths is impossible to calculate (figures vary from source to source). But the Soviet people were faced with another task - to raise the destroyed economy from its knees.