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Author Topic: Back to the Napoleonic Wars  (Read 11299 times)
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Lt. Campers
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« on: June 19, 10:31 PM »

For those of you who are looking for something completely different and need to know where the action is during your stay in Ukraine and Russia.
Forget about corruption - the ongoing ( and never ending politcal crisis in Kiev ), the consrtant visa checks from the Russian border guards.
Its time to take up arms against a sea of troubles and mount your trusty steed and turn back the clock to the time of the Napoleonic wars.

The battle at Pravdinsk near Kaliningrad, Russia - sunday 17th June on Russia NTV news:

http://news.ntv.ru/111486

On Channel One news:
http://www.1tv.ru/news/n104385

More Russian TV coverage - this is an old link and the video has since been replaced by still pics, see below.
http://www.vesti.ru/videos?vid=104078&cid=7&doc_type=news&doc_id=126531

Still pics of the TV coverage on Vesti.ru

 

 


« Last Edit: March 01, 10:58 PM by Campervan » Logged

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« Reply #1 on: September 05, 01:10 PM »

Yet another blast from the past - as those crazy Russian re-enactors refought the Battle of Borodino last weekend. All no doubt in the name of charity.
This great battle fought against Napoleons invading French army back in 1812 was one of the most decisive battles in Russian history - which inevitably led to his retreat from Moscow.
Anyway a great day out for the kids with cannons roaring, muskets firing and cavalry charging about the battlefield.
These re-enactments take place every year with the big one 1812 only 5 years away now.

Russia Today - History comes to life at Borodino:
http://www.russiatoday.ru/features/news/13448

Russia Today - tv video of the event - includes 1812 overture.
http://www.russiatoday.ru/features/news/13448/video



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« Reply #2 on: September 05, 01:59 PM »

supported by the Russian nationalists for sure~!
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« Reply #3 on: September 06, 09:15 AM »

No Russia Today has also been broadcasting Napoleons victories over the Russians - such as at the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Friedland near Kaliningrad- as mentioned in my earlier post - where the ruskies suffered a humiliating defeat back in 1807.

See:
http://russiatoday.ru/features/news/9245
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« Reply #4 on: October 08, 10:10 PM »

During my time in Odessa last month - I had a run in with the cossacks presently up in arms over the erection ( or should it be re-erection ) of a monument to Catherine the Great in Ekaterininskaya square.
As some of you may ( or may not ) know the monument to the sailors of the battleship Potemkin has been moved to a square opposite the dock gates of Odessa and a new monument to Catherine the Great ( commisioned by the mayor of Odessa ) erected in its place.
Now I don't want to get into the politics of why the Cossacks are revolting - something to do with them blaming Catherine ( Ekaterina ) for subjecting them to the russian empire.
Anyway it seems some of them like to re-enact the freebooting glory days of the napoleonic wars when they harried Napoleons 'grand armie' during its retreat from Moscow.

Therefore a battle from Napoleons campaign in Russia will be refought at the town of Maloyaroslavets in the Kaluga region of Russia, south-west of Moscow this month.

Details are as follows:
Saturday October 20th
Inspection and dress rehersal for Battle of Maloyaroslavets.

Sunday October 21st
10.00 ? 10.30 Ceremony at a monument to General Delzonu (participate
The French armies)
11.00 ? 11.50 Opening of a historical exhibition ( Russian and French
armies participate )
12.00-12.30 Ceremony at a monument to heroes of Maloyaroslavets
Battles (Russian and French armies participate)
12.40 ? 13.20 Parade through Maloyaroslavets
14.00 ? 15.15 Reconstruction of battle of Maloyaroslavets
15.30 ? End of battle parade
18.00 - Time of departure.

« Last Edit: October 08, 10:49 PM by Campervan » Logged

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« Reply #5 on: October 21, 06:22 AM »

As regular readers of my - Back to the Napoleonic Wars in Russia feature will know a bitter battle is raging near the town of Maloyaroslavets in the Kaluga region of Russia today. As the russians under General Kutuzov fall upon a retreating corps of the French army under General Delzons ( following their retreat from Moscow ) this will be preceded by a parade in Maloyaroslavets itself, highlights of which might appear on Russian tv.



Of course for expats living in Kiev the dramatic events being played out in Russia may seem remote as you snuggle up in your warm centrally heated apartments; after a hard day at the office after commuting home on some dilapidated marshrutka's, during a cold frosty evening.

So you will be glad to hear that Russia Today have the 'inside story' of preperations that took place for this years Battle of Borodino, refought 140 kilometers west of moscow.

As General Kutuzovs, Imperial Russian army squares off against Napoleon Bonapartes, French Army advancing towards Moscow. Russia Today goes behind the scenes with candid interviews with the many people involved, including Napoleon Bonaparte himself, who took part in this years re-enactment.
Heres the Russia Today documentary.

History Alive - Borodino documentary tv video.
http://www.russiatoday.ru/documentary/release/815/video


It all goes to show - theirs never a dull moment in Russia !!!
« Last Edit: February 18, 06:10 AM by Campervan » Logged

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« Reply #6 on: October 22, 06:34 PM »

Early reports of the Battle of Maloyaroslavets are coming in but first a candid shot of just what its like for some of you to wake up one morning and find French napoleonic cavalry parked outside your stalinist apartment block.
Yes your right - its only a dream . . . . nevertheless . . .

Heres that view:


Well the battles well publicised, the posters on the wall:


But some of the publicity goes a bit too far:


Time to march off:


Ah! nothing like an artillery barrage to clear the air on a cold October autumn afternoon:


Suffice to say the audience enjoyed it too - it only goes to show you theirs more to do in the countryside, than just retiring to your dacha:


Of course its all on tv this week.
« Last Edit: October 22, 07:12 PM by Campervan » Logged

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« Reply #7 on: October 23, 04:52 PM »

A few more photos of the military parade at Maloyaroslavets:

Tres bien mes soldats - you have all served your emperor well today - so who's turn is it to the serve the coffee ??




Please, Irina as I've told you before don't call me when I'm on parade !!













« Last Edit: March 16, 07:40 AM by Campervan » Logged

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« Reply #8 on: October 24, 02:55 PM »

Well with the UK being 3 hours behind Red Square. Watched it at 10:30pm tuesday evening.
General impression was its pretty good and although cramped by the 30 minute schedule - it did try to cover all aspects of the napoleonic re-enactment scene in Russia and the annual Borodino event in particular.
Opening scene was with Oleg Sokolov showing off his uniform and his Legion of honour and then moved on to do a case study of two other russian re-enactors as they prepared for this years battle of Borodino.
Anyway lets not bore you with the details but list the good and bad points.

Good points:
You cannot mention the Battle of Borodino in Russia without the epic film - War and Peace produced in the Soviet Union back in 1968 by Sergei Bondarchuk - it was and still is - the best War and Peace film ever - with the battle scenes with a cast of over 120,000 extras from the Soviet army - it rightfully won a US Acadamy award.
Anyway History Alive, Borodino includes clips from the film as well as some behind the scenes film shots of the battle scenes from War and Peace.



Filming includes work in a re-enactors supplier workshop in Russia making Shakos and brass plates. Say some of their products are made to order for the Swedish Royal Guards.

Camp scenes and battle.

Bad points:
Not much footage of the Battle re-enactment itself and perhaps tried to be all things to all people with cramming in the historical background, why people take up historical re-enactments, getting your gear together, etc - all within the 30 minute time slot.
Still all in all - ok for a documentary.

Finally don't worry if you missed it. As RT's documentaries are archieved, heres the link.
http://www.russiatoday.ru/documentary/release/815/video

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« Reply #9 on: October 26, 10:03 AM »

Campervan, you are the man!  I won't be back in Kiev until December, so you have this history buffs thanks for providing such great pictures and info (especially the link)

War and Peace is a great movie, provided you watch the un-butchered version at nearly 7 hours, RusCiCo version.  I believe they also came out with a new version earlier this year, have yet to see it though, supposed to be better then the other DVD version with the horrible dubbing.
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« Reply #10 on: November 01, 02:40 PM »

Well you all seem to have liked those pics of the Battle of Maloyaroslavets that took place a couple of weeks ago in Russia.
Now the fighting moves to Belarus where Napoleons retreating French army - ravaged by the onset of winter and fighting a series of rearguard actions at Maloyaroslavets & Krasnoi. Has to cross the river Berezina in Belarus to effect their escape from Imperial Russia with 3 Russian armies closing in on the french emperor.
The Russians have a force blocking Napoleons escape on the west bank of the Berezina while the main russian army under general Kutuzov closes in on its foe from the east.

Well thats the historical background to the Battle of Berezina in 1812 - which is far more interesting than the usual modern day confrontations between Russia and Belarus over unpaid gas bills to Gazprom.

So the battle commences near the town of Borisov in Belarus on saturday and sunday 24th & 25th November 2007 with the usual french & russian infantry, cavalry and artillery. Although how many will turn up is anyones guess - as it will certainly be very cold.
Please remember to bring your thermos flasks as its likely to be freezing cold at this time of year !!!!


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« Reply #11 on: November 09, 09:42 PM »

Heres a complete set of amateur videos of the early Battle of Borodino re-enactments back in 1995.

Part 1:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/4fbqS1TfwH4&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/4fbqS1TfwH4&rel=1</a>

Part 2:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcZZOxfwVuY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/UcZZOxfwVuY&rel=1</a>

Part 3:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/JKc8UhmVrA4&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/JKc8UhmVrA4&rel=1</a>

Part 4:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/1rcv0ONECSY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/1rcv0ONECSY&rel=1</a>

Part 5:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/FvGIXETLSF0&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/FvGIXETLSF0&rel=1</a>

Part 6:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/wwj_3L0xHsg&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/wwj_3L0xHsg&rel=1</a>

Part 7:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pMG1Rx7i3Dk&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/pMG1Rx7i3Dk&rel=1</a>

Part 8:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZI6TwAArWTg&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ZI6TwAArWTg&rel=1</a>

The 2005 Battle of Borodino re-enactment as seen on Russian TV
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z_rzKQL3Oxw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Z_rzKQL3Oxw&rel=1</a>

They are certainly an impressive collection of videos.

Russian Infantry charging forward in 2007 re-enactment in Russia:


Smoke obscures the field:


« Last Edit: March 04, 02:23 PM by Campervan » Logged

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« Reply #12 on: November 10, 01:47 AM »

You know, this series is making me wish we had a few of the "old-fashioned" boardgames from the years before PC's.  I am fondly remembering playing Waterloo, Axis and Allies, Midway, 2nd Fleet, yada, yada, yada....  I love my WOW but confess that the variety of available boardgames was interesting.

Thanks for the info Camp.  Maybe Admin could set a picture Gallery up for postings like this though.  It would let the forums load faster and might spark some interest in posting our pics.  I just brought some good stuff back form Warsam and have pics from West Ukraine, Sozopol, Prague and around town that might help someone figure out where they want to take their next vacation.

Ed
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« Reply #13 on: November 10, 03:59 PM »

Those old boardgames were great - published by Avalon Hill and Simulations Publications Inc or SPI for short using counters and dice. These historic battle boardgames were well though out in teaching you the strategy and tactics of the time.
Still have a few of the old SPI boardgames at home - but of course its all old hat these days with multimedia PC games being easier to setup and play.
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« Reply #14 on: November 10, 04:31 PM »

Yeah, you know, it seems like Waterloo was a freebie included in the larger Napoleanic Campaign.  Could swear I remember cossack unit counters and playing through Poland into Western Russia (and vice versa). 

I owe you one if we ever stop in the same coffeehouse or bar Camp. Good memories and a bit of renewed appreciation for being one of the few to venture this way.

Thanks.

Ed

P.S. Hope you aren't embarassed being around those old, nostalgic guys who get all emotional and misty eyed as they ponder life, fate and such....

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