On September 8, 2012, Russia will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, which took place in 1812 under the command of Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov. Preparations for the anniversary of the Day of Military Glory have been in full swing for several years now. Back in August, the first festive events dedicated to the victory over Napoleon began in Moscow.
The battle near the village of Borodino near Moscow took place on August 26, 1812 according to the old style (Julian calendar), 125 km from the capital. According to the new chronology, which was established by the Soviet government in 1918, the significant date was postponed 12 days ahead (August 7). According to the federal law of 1895, the official holiday of the Day of Military Glory of Russia is celebrated annually on September 8.
The Battle of Borodino (the French call it Bataille de la Moskova) was the largest milestone in the Patriotic War of 1812. The bloody massacre lasted for 12 hours, as a result of the loss on each side amounted to about 45 thousand people. The Battle of Moscow ended with an uncertain result: the French army was unable to win a decisive victory, but the Russian troops, albeit for strategic reasons, retreated. Napoleon himself wrote about the battle as follows: "The French showed themselves worthy to win in it, and the Russians acquired the right to be invincible."
The preparation program for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodin was approved by the Government of the Russian Federation back in 2009. According to the official website of the specially created public council, the federal plan provided for the restoration of monuments, the construction of the Moscow Museum of the War of 1812, the decoration of the city and the holding of various cultural, sports and military-historical events.
On August 12, 2012, a unique horse trek dedicated to the heroism of the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War of 1812 started from the Alley of Russian Glory in Moscow. It consists of 23 Cossacks riding rare Don trotters. The riders plan to go through all the famous places of battles of the troops of Ataman Matvey Platov, get to Paris and end the procession on October 22 with a concert in Fontainebleau, the ex-residence of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The event is watched by residents of six European countries; the hike is accompanied by an interesting cultural program. Thus, performances by the Cossack choir, theatrical performances of the Kremlin riding school and exhibitions of historical uniforms of 1812 and other exhibits from private and public collections are organized for the audience.
By the day of the celebration of the Day of the Battle of Borodino, the construction of the Museum of the War of 1812 in the courtyard of the former City Duma was finally completed - a project that was conceived for the 100th anniversary of the battle with Napoleon. According to RIA Novosti, the museum is currently assembling showcases and forming an exposition.
Citizens will be able to attend dozens of scientific, educational and entertainment events in Moscow. So, after a long break, the Kutuzovskaya Hut Museum, dedicated to the Military Council in Fili, a key moment of the Patriotic War of 1812, was recreated again. On August 30 (City Day), the opening of the Triumphal Arch is expected on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, which has been under restoration for a long time.
On September 1, the festival “1812 Year. Epoch and People”, which will include a carnival procession and a costume ball. The event organizers expect at least 3,000 people to attend. On the same day, another festival starts in Moscow - "Spasskaya Tower" for Russian, European and American military bands. In the morning they will start a march along Tverskaya Street, and the next day the bands will perform in twelve Moscow estates and parks.
On Borodin's Day - September 7 - flags of Moscow and Russia will be hung on all houses of the capital, after which a patriotic action "Moscow is behind us" will be held in Luzhniki. It is designed for about 5,000 people. Here, on the Day of Military Glory of Russia, September 8, the battles of the Russian and French armies of the 1812 model will be reconstructed.
Lovers of stylized historical events can celebrate the victory of the Russians over the French at the Borodino field itself. Here, on the day of the anniversary of the Battle of Moscow, a grandiose military-historical performance is organized. It is possible that on holidays for the residents of the capital there will be additional trips on the Moscow-Mozhaisk and Moscow-Borodino electric trains. Travel companies offer bus excursions to the Mozhaisky district.
