The myths of the ancient Sumerian. The mythology of ancient Mesopotamia

We all know from school years about the heroic campaign of the Russian army through the Alps, we all saw Surikov's picture. But, I think, most of us have a bad idea of ​​what actually happened there, how the Russians got there, and what is the greatness of the feat of the Russian soldiers and Suvorov. At a solemn meeting in Andermatt in honor of the 200th anniversary of the famous transition, a high-ranking Russian official quietly asked the historian: "And how, in fact, Suvorov got here?" And my friend admitted that, only having covered the entire route with his own feet, he realized why this transition remained in military history as unparalleled.

Therefore, when I read on the Alpindustriya website that a hike along Suvorov's path through the Alps is planned, I was among the first to sign up. This was my second trip with the Alpindustria Team. Two years earlier, I went with her to the Italian and French Alps, where we climbed Mont Blanc. That trip became one of the most exciting of my travels, and I was glad to have the opportunity to go back to the Alps, now Swiss. For the first week of the trip, a hike was planned in the footsteps of Suvorov's army, for the second - moving to and climbing the alpine peaks of Monte Rosa and.

Exactly a week before our departure, Western Europe was flooded. The unprecedented flood affected many countries, including Switzerland. Roads were blocked, people were evacuated from some areas, there were human casualties. Friends and acquaintances urged me to give up the trip. Having called my comrades, I realized that no one was going to give up the trip. I calmed down too.

Indeed, having arrived in Zurich, we did not find any traces of destruction. In Lucerne, indeed, some of the streets were flooded, sandbags lay on the embankment, and wooden platforms were on the streets. Swans swam around the gazebo sticking out of the water. The water in the river rushed in a swift, powerful stream. The element has just entered the shores.

Consequences of flooding in Lucerne:

From cloudy, half-flooded Lucerne, we went south and in the evening found ourselves in the Italian canton of Switzerland - Ticino, in the city of Lugano, among the palm trees, under the scorching sun. This is where our transition began.

Our campsite in Lugano

Our team consisted of 20 people. A minibus with a trailer was hired to travel around the country. We stayed in campsites, spent the night in tents. In addition to the guide and organizer of the trip, Sasha Yelkov, we were also accompanied by a member of the patriotic society, who was engaged in military history, who, as we proceeded along the route, told us about the Suvorov campaign.

In short, the events unfolded as follows.

Napoleon conquered all new spaces in Europe. Part of our troops under the command of Suvorov was sent to assist the Austrians in Italy. In four months, Suvorov returned to Austria everything that Napoleon had taken from her during the two years of the war.

In Lombardy, Suvorov was no longer needed, besides, he greatly annoyed the Austrians with his popularity and the honors shown to the commander by the Italians and the British. They asked Pavel I to send Suvorov to Switzerland, where the Austrian army had been fighting the French for a long time and unsuccessfully. And they pledged to supply the Russian army with provisions and weapons. Suvorov was supposed to link up with the main parts of the Russian army under the control of Rimsky-Korsakov in the Zurich area and act according to the situation.

It was decided to go to the connection by the shortest route, through the Saint-Gotthard Pass. The Austrians were supposed to prepare fifteen hundred pack mules and provisions for the Russians' march at Tavorn, but they did not.

Arriving at Tavorna and not finding the promised wagon train, the Russians were forced to create a wagon train from their own reserves (even the officers had to give up their horses and go on foot) and spent five days on this. This delay turned out to be fatal and decided the outcome of the military campaign. The advantage of speed and surprise was lost.

The wagon train and field artillery were sent to Switzerland in a roundabout way, and they themselves came out with light cannons. Found a guide - the hunter Antonio Gump.

At Lake Lugano, Russian troops crossed the border with Switzerland.

We also spoke. Early in the morning, having collected our camp on the shore of the lake, we drove towards Saint-Gotthard, on the way turning into the capital of the canton of Ticino - Bellinzon... Through it there are paths to three alpine passes: Saint-Gotthard, Saint-Bernard and Lucamanir.

On the streets of Bellinzona

The city is very harmoniously inscribed in the mountainous terrain; on the hills there are three powerful castle-fortresses, reminiscent of the times when armed troops passed through the passes, and at the very approach to the Alps it was necessary to have a fortified settlement.

Three fortresses of Bellinzona

We went up to the oldest fortress - Castelgrande. From there, a wide view of the surrounding mountains and the valley of the Ticino River opened up.

Saint Gotthard Pass

A few kilometers beyond Bellinzona, right behind the military base, the ascent to the pass began (the day before we drove it in the opposite direction through an underground tunnel). The forest ended quickly, we climbed a grassy slope along a good path.

The entire pass was pierced by tunnels, bridges were thrown across the crevices, and there were occasional guards.

A black stagecoach with a coachman in antique clothes rolled past us unhurriedly.

And finally - the first reminder of the campaign - a copper bas-relief near a large stone with the inscription "Alexander Suvorov - grateful Europe" in four languages.

At first we stopped, attracted by a commemorative sign, then we could not get out of the lingonberry that grew among the rocks.

By four o'clock we reached the wide Saint-Gotthard Pass.

By the way, the Russian army was there at about the same time. At first, all our attacks were successfully repulsed by the French, until the detachment under the control of Bagration climbed around the rocks and attacked the enemy from above. About 2 thousand of our soldiers died in the capture of the St. Gotthard Pass. The mass grave was made in a mountain crevice filled to the brim with bodies.

Now at the Saint-Gotthard Pass there is a national museum. In front of the museum there is a mountain lake with a raft in the middle, on it there are artificial horses harnessed to a carriage.

Slightly off to the side is a monument to Suvorov (sculptor Tugarinov, 1999), where the field marshal is presented in an unusual way, by no means a victorious hero, with a wheel proudly raised and his chest, but an exhausted old man riding a downcast horse, which is led by the bridle of mountain guide Antonio Gumpa ...

We descended from the pass through the town of Hospental, where the house in which Suvorov spent the night after taking the pass was preserved.

We reached Andermatt, where we camped on the outskirts, on a wide grassy area at the foot of the mountain. We were the only guests there that night.

We had supper in a clearing at a long table. Soon a car drove up to the campsite, from which two men got out, one of whom turned out to be the mayor of Andermatt, Ferdinand Muheim.

The next morning, for breakfast, we were brought as a gift from the mayor two trays with slices of sausage and cheese (the mayor was also the owner of a butcher's shop in Andermatt).

Devil's bridge

In the morning we drove into a narrow, deep gorge with steep walls and got off at the famous Devil's Bridge. Now a modern bridge passes through the gorge. The remains of the old, destroyed bridge are much lower. A train tunnel was cut right there in the rock.

The Battle of the Devil's Bridge took place the day after the capture of Saint Gotthard. The bridge is narrow, and everyone passing over it inevitably came under fire from a French cannon installed in the tunnel and aimed at the bridge. Therefore, some of the soldiers were sent on horseback over the rocks, others went down, crossed the stormy river and climbed up the steep slope. Having dropped the cannon into the river, the French retreated.

In the rock, opposite the Devil's Bridge, a huge stone cross was carved in memory of the Russian soldiers who died while crossing the Alps in 1799.

This piece of land (495 sq. M) was presented to Russia by grateful Switzerland, and now it is considered Russian territory.

To the left of the memorial cross begins the "via ferrata" - a rocky route with fixed ropes. Easy climbing, beautiful views.

Very quickly, a shady gorge with a turbulent river remained below. From time to time, a red rushing train would slip out of a dark hole in the rock, or, conversely, disappear inside the mountain.

Then a convoy of armored personnel carriers crawled along the road.

At the top of the mountain, among the fragrant herbs, the flag of the canton of Uri is installed: a black bull's head on an orange background (the border of the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino and the German-speaking Uri runs along the Saint Gotthard Pass).

Then we went down through the shady forest. On each loop of the serpentine, there are posters describing the plants and animals found in this corner. Avalanche fences were built in open areas.

We dined at the historical restaurant "Suvorov" on the Devil's Bridge.

The restaurant stands on a ledge, on a small rocky platform that drops down with steep walls, and, approaching the edge of the cliff, you can watch the unrestrained stream of the river, somersault flying down the steep stone steps.

In the restaurant itself there is a small museum, on the walls there are crossed sabers, bayonets (found on the slopes and the bottom of the river), a portrait of Suvorov and paintings dedicated to the battle on the Devil's Bridge. A special wine "Suworof" is served.

In the evening we walked around Andermatt. Calm, quiet town, almost deserted in the evening. Black swans in a small pond, an adorable fountain with a faun, a bull mounted on a motorcycle. In the center of the city is the imposing Suworofhaus, the house in which Suvorov's headquarters was located with a commemorative plaque.

The evening silence was broken by a detachment of firemen, who came out in full uniform, with long ladders and hoses. Leading a ladder to one of the houses, they began to climb back and forth, pulling hoses. It turns out that the city's fire brigade consists of volunteers who go to training in the evening after their main work.

After a while, young guys in military uniform walked down the street. These are the servicemen who went down from their military unit to the disco in the city (the military unit is located quite high, we saw it during the day when we climbed the via ferrata. I think the guys are well trained if at night after the disco they run to their unit on such a high ).

Altdorf. Pass Kunzig-Kulm

We left Andermatt the next morning. At parting, we were photographed with local residents waiting for the stagecoach.

In the morning with the residents of Andermatt

By noon we were in Altdorf.

In Altdorf, the Russian army was trapped. According to Austrian maps, there was a passage from Altdorf to Schwyz along the shores of Lake Lucerne. In reality, there were sheer cliffs. All ships, including fishing boats, were taken by the French to Lucerne. The provisions ran out.

The way back was cut off by the French.

It was decided to break through the Roshtok ridge. Until now, on Swiss maps, this path through the Kunzig-Kulm pass is called "the Suvorov path in 1799".

Altdorf is a pretty, provincial town, the capital of the canton of Uri (formally, it does not have the status of a city, since its population is less than 10 thousand). Beautiful, painted buildings, a theater, the Suvorov Museum (was closed), fountains, flower beds.

Local theater in Aldorf

Swiss graffiti

Wilhelm Tell once lived here, who led the struggle of local residents against the Austrians. A monument to him was erected in the center of Altdorf.

We arrived in Altdorf on September 1st and the streets were overrun with kids. Each one has an orange diamond on the neck with reflectors on the chest and back.

A few kilometers from Altdorf, the ascent begins to the Kinzig-Kulm pass. First, we took a chair lift to the mountain village of Bel. There they waited for a trailer upstairs for some time, surrounded by local children: schoolchildren living in the mountains, having studied at school in Altdorf, returned to their home in the mountains by cable car. Soon the trailer arrived.

And the pointed spruces swam down, then the slopes overgrown with thick grass, with grazing cows, with rare houses.

From the upper station, the cable cars went to the pass. The ascent is relatively gentle, along a good path. On the pass itself there is a wooden cross, a chapel and a pole with signs to mountain villages and farms, scattered in the vicinity.

On the descent - the same soft, smooth, falling slopes.

On the left is a beautiful rock wall with protruding peaks, very reminiscent of the Italian Dolomites.

On the right is a rocky island.

Lonely cows, walking independently among the thick grass and seeing us off with serene looks.

It smells like heated grass and flowers. Fir trees appeared.

Suddenly, a strange, pungent smell arose among the mountain forest, and at the next turn, its source was discovered - a cheese factory in a large wooden house. Through the open door of the dairy, rows of shelves of ripening cheese were visible, which two young men were turning over with wooden shovels.

Even lower our speed of movement dropped dramatically due to thickets of raspberries growing along the path.

Muotatal and Pragel Pass

Finally, we left the forest, where our minibus was waiting for us in the parking lot, on which we had already reached the town of Muotatal.

It took the Russian army two days to cross from Aldorf to the Muota River valley through the Rostok ridge. A fine autumn rain was drizzling, the muddy clay was replaced by snow above. There was no food, no firewood to warm up and dry a little on the halts, they walked all night and only by the end of the second day did they descend into the valley of the Muota River.

There, heavy news awaited Suvorov. The Austrians, having learned that Suvorov was coming to their aid, immediately withdrew their troops from Switzerland, leaving the Russians to continue to fight alone. Taking advantage of this, the French general Massena defeated Rimsky-Korsakov's corps near Zurich, with which Suvorov was in such a hurry to join. The Battle of Zurich was one of the most difficult defeats of the Russian army in the 18th century - more than half of our army was lost (this happened on the day when the Suvorovites fought for the Devil's Bridge). Now the French were pressing on Suvorov from the direction of Schwyz and cut off the path along the Muota valley towards Austria. The campaign was practically lost.

It was necessary to save the remnants of the exhausted army, take people out of the mountains and make their way to Russia.

A solid, old house in Muototal with a sign that Suvorov stayed here two centuries ago. "How old is the house itself?" - we asked the owner who had leaned out of the window. “Four hundred,” an elderly, good-natured uncle replied, looking at us with interest.

We came to the monastery of St. Joseph, where Suvorov gathered a council of war. At this council, it was decided to fight their way into the Rhine Valley through the Pragel and Paniks passes.

The abbess of the monastery came down to us and led us into a large room with antique furniture and a table in the center, the very room where the historical council of war took place. The abbess took out a huge tome "Protocolum", in which she showed us a note from 1799 about the events of those days, about the looting of the French. It was also mentioned with German meticulousness that the Russians had paid for the provisions provided.

When we left the monastery, nuns, pretty, fashionably dressed girls, came back from the city, from the "leave". They hurriedly went to their cells in order to have time to change their clothes and appear at the evening service in appropriate attire and mood.

At first we wanted to spend the night at a local hostel, but found it stuffy there and went to a campsite on the river bank. Campgrounds in Switzerland are well equipped with hot showers, kitchens, washing machines. There was also a khassok kennel in this, and we spent the morning at the enclosures photographing cute dogs. In winter they are used for dog sledding for tourists.

The way to the Pragel pass was recaptured by Bagration's detachment. While the vanguard was making its way to Glarus from the Muota Valley, the rearguard fought off the advancing French in Muotatale, and then dispersed and went on the offensive itself, drove them to Schwyz and captured 1,200 French.

The ascent to the Pragel pass goes along a wide gorge, the slopes of which are covered with thickets of raspberries. The pass itself is very low (1551 m) and implicitly expressed, so if it were not for the commemorative plaque that Suvorov's army passed through this pass in 1799, I would not have noticed him.

The forest and thickets of raspberries ended, we walked through alpine meadows, along which independent, well-groomed and well-fed cows walked. The meadows, however, were fenced off with wires with a weak current, and the paths were blocked with "fishing rods" so that the cattle would not wander much over the mountains.

Near the austere chapel with a bell tower, built of rough-hewn stones, our minibus was waiting for us, into which we loaded and went down.

This valley has been significantly affected by the recent natural disaster. Several village houses were destroyed by mudflows. A barn with hay prepared for the winter was completely blown apart, and the space between the houses was littered with hay. Now a tractor was working there, and people were clearing the rubble.

Among the forested slopes, Lake Klenthal, deep blue-green in color, suddenly opened up in front of us. It was overflowing with water, the coastal bushes were semi-flooded. We landed on the shore. The water was cool, but nevertheless everyone swam with pleasure.

Then we went down to the small town of Glarus, where the Russian army rested for several days and waited for its rearguard. And from there we moved to the city of Elm, where there is a very small sculpture: Suvorov on horseback. And also the "Suworowhaus" has survived - the house in which the field marshal stayed on October 5, 1799 before the most difficult crossing over the Paniks pass.

Pass Paniks

The only way to save the remnants of the army and lead it into the Rhine Valley was through the Ringenhopf mountain range. In October 1799, the mountains were covered with snow. On October 6, the army set out for the Paniks pass. The guns were thrown down below. Half-naked, barefoot, hungry soldiers, using bayonets as ice axes, under the gusts of wind, climbed onto the snow-covered slopes. The descent was even harder. Many soldiers died, falling to the icy rocks. It is the dramatic moment of descent from the Paniks pass that is depicted in Surikov's painting.

In the afternoon, we began our ascent to the Paniks pass. A lone, abandoned tank stood right at the start of the trail.

At first the trail was wide and gentle, but soon narrowed and zigzagged along the steep rocky slopes.

Grass and trees remained below. Just before the exit to the pass, there is a wide section of the path neatly laid out with stone.

And now - a small lake and a hut on the pass.

The hut was occupied by hunters.

It was planned that we would spend the night in tents, but it was terribly cold and windy on the pass, I instantly froze, and yet a few hours ago I suffered from the heat in Elma. She pulled on all the warm clothes, and still chattered her teeth.

Slowly, we nevertheless infiltrated into the hut, under the pretext that we needed to cook dinner for the group. The "head of the hut" was a lanky Swiss man with glasses, who looked with great suspicion at our entire company, who had crawled out of nowhere. Nevertheless, our guide agreed with him that the girls would spend the night in the hut, and the men went to set up tents just below the pass so that the wind would not blow.

The hunters snored all night, and at 4 in the morning they began to gather to hunt. Our tents also got up early, ran to the hut: they would have a tea, to get warm.

The mountains were still covered with gray dawn dusk when we began to descend from the pass. At first the path was just narrow and steep, then the rocky walls began, from which you had to go down facing the rock, holding onto the holds with both hands and feeling the step below with your foot.

There were walls 3-4 meters long, and there was room to fall. I can't imagine how horses and carts could be lowered here. The guide said that by this time little remained of the carts.

Subsequently, it turned out that no one had taken a single photograph on this site. There was no time for that. Only when the trail became flat and grass appeared, we stopped and took out our cameras.

At the edge of the cliff near the path stood a tall, unnamed cross.

Liechtenstein. Visiting Baron von Falz-Fein

After descending from the pass, we boarded our minibus, and at noon we crossed the Rhine and ended up in the independent state of Liechtenstein, in its capital Vaduz. Our guides agreed that Baron von Falz-Fein would receive us at his Villa Askania-Nova.

Eduard von Falz-Fein is one of the notable personalities of the last century. His uncle founded the Askania-Nova nature reserve in the Crimea. His other relative, General Yepanchin, organized a pages corps in St. Petersburg. Many of his ancestors left a noticeable mark on the history of Russia and increased its glory.

After the revolution, the family left Russia. Edward was then 4 years old. He lived a stormy life, in many areas he achieved success: in journalism, business, sports, patronage. He did a lot for the return of cultural values ​​to Russia. Preserving the memory of the feat of Suvorov's army is largely his work. He allocated money for the installation of monuments, the maintenance of museums.

Before our meeting with the baron, we had little idea who we were going to see, and later I read about him on the Internet and watched a program dedicated to him on the Kultura TV channel. While we were waiting for a reception in the courtyard in front of the villa, someone asked the guide: "Sash, what category does the upcoming event belong to?" - "To the category of historical," - he simply answered.

The Baron was 93 years old at the time. He received us, reclining on the sofa, near a wide window, from which a view of the Vaduz lying below was opened. A beautiful, thoroughbred face, exquisite Russian speech, without a sign of an accent.

In the halls there are many paintings and photographs, the grand piano and tables are filled with all sorts of interesting gizmos.

The Baron talked about his recent trip to St. Petersburg to open the page building, about his ties with Russia, about the enthusiasts who here in Switzerland support and create museums dedicated to Suvorov, erect commemorative plaques. He signed cards for each of us.

That evening, on Lake Constance, a meeting of the remaining members of the Romanov family was to take place, where the baron was also invited, as having a relationship with the royal dynasty. At parting, we took a picture with the owner. It was time for him to get ready for the appointment. Soon they were supposed to pick him up. Looking out the window, I saw that our minibus had blocked the passage to the villa, so that the Romanovs could not get here.

We left the villa in a completely different mood. As if you have touched history.

Our visit to Baron von Falz-Fein ended our trip along the path of Suvorov. A few hours later, having cut across the whole of Switzerland, we were already in Zermatt.

What to say in conclusion. In this campaign, Suvorov did not win loud victories. And the feat of the Russian army was different. Sent into a trap, in fact, to certain death, facing the betrayal and betrayal of the Austrians at every step, people have done the impossible.

Winning local battles, escaping from under the enemy's nose through untrodden mountain paths, wading through mountain ranges that were considered impassable, the Suvorovites showed the world an example that one can get out of the most losing situation with valor. After completing a 400-kilometer crossing, they reached the Rhine, taking 1,400 French prisoners. Russian losses amounted to 5 thousand from a 20-thousand army (according to other sources - 8 out of 22).

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At the time of the end of the reign of Catherine II, Russia was in an alliance with Austria, England and Prussia, directed against France. Catherine even ordered A.V. Suvorov to begin the formation of a 60-thousandth corps to fight the French revolution and restore the monarchy there.

Paul I abandoned this plan, announcing the impossibility of war with France to the allies, since the Russian army, being in a “continuous” war since 1756, needed rest. But he failed to adhere to the policy of non-interference, and for almost the entire reign of Paul, Russia either waged a war with France, or was in a state of war with England and Austria, quite often changing its political interests. The foreign policy activity of Paul I was distinguished by the same inconsistency as the internal one.

A series of actions by the French government made Paul pay attention to European affairs. He was worried about Napoleon's preparations for the Egyptian campaign, the arrest of the Russian consul in the Ionian Islands, France's patronage of Polish emigrants, and rumors about the intention of the French to attack the northern coast of the Black Sea. However, the immediate reason for the start of the war with France was the events associated with the Order of Malta. In 1797, Emperor Paul I took Malta under his patronage. This fact was ignored by Napoleon, and, going on an Egyptian campaign, captured the island. The Master of the Order of Malta fled. The offended Pavel assumed the title of Grand Master of the Order. This circumstance spurred him to participate in the new (second) anti-French coalition, which was formed in 1798. In addition to Russia, it included Austria, the Ottoman Empire, England and the Kingdom of Naples.

Military operations unfolded both on land and at sea. The united Russian-Ottoman fleet under the command of F.F. Ushakov, passing through the Black Sea straits, entered the Adriatic Sea and in the summer of 1798 captured the Ionian Islands and the fortress of Corfu. (At the end of March 1800, a convention was signed in Constantinople on the formation there of the Republic of the Seven United Islands under the vassalage of the Ottoman Empire, but with internal self-government and the right to have its own fleet). In 1799, landed by F.F. Ushakov, the landing successfully waged military operations against the French army on the Apennine Peninsula, liberating Naples and Rome from the French.

Napoleon conquered Italy in a brilliant military campaign with Austria in 1796-1797. The army of the talented 27-year-old general, unexpectedly for the enemy, passed along the coastal edge of the Alps, where the entire road was under fire from the sea.

During the Italian and Swiss campaigns, Napoleon was in Egypt, which at that time was part of the Ottoman Empire. During this campaign, the French army won a famous victory at the Battle of the Pyramids on July 20, 1798. However, soon the English fleet under the command of Admiral Nelson at Aboukir destroyed the French squadron that brought Napoleon's troops to Egypt. Thus, the French army was trapped - its exit from Egypt was cut off. When news of the success of the second coalition in Italy reached Egypt, Bonaparte decided to take a risky step: leaving the army to its own devices, he managed to break through the ring of the English blockade on two ships with a group of loyal generals and on October 16, 1799 arrived in Paris. On 18 Brumaire (November 9), 1799, he staged a coup d'état, overthrowing the Directory government. Power passed into the hands of three consuls. The main role in this triumvirate belonged to Napoleon, who established a personal authoritarian regime.

At the beginning of 1799, the command of the land allied Russian-Austrian troops sent to the aid of the Neapolitan king Ferdinand VI was entrusted to A.V. Suvorov. The main theater of operations was Northern Italy, which in a month and a half was cleared of French troops. In a stubborn three-day battle on April 15-17, 1799, Suvorov defeated the French army at the r. Add. After that, Turin and Milan were captured without a fight. On June 4, the allied army made an unprecedented march, having overcome about 80 miles in 36 hours and immediately began the battle at the river. Trebbia, during which the French army under the command of General MacDonald was defeated. The appointment of a new French commander, Joubert, did not improve the situation: his army was defeated by Suvorov near Novi, and Joubert himself was killed. With the fall of the fortress of Mantua, northern Italy finally passed into the hands of the Russian army.

The successes of A.V. Suvorov discovered the true goals of Austria - the desire to seize the territory liberated from the French. In these conditions, the presence of the Russian army was undesirable for the Austrians. Suvorov was ordered to go to Switzerland to join the Rimsky-Korsakov corps in order to transfer hostilities to French territory. Suvorov chose the shortest, but most difficult path through the Saint-Gotthard Pass.

Suvorov began his trek on September 21, when real winter had already begun in the Alps. To make the transition in winter conditions seemed outright suicide, since most of the passes turn into impregnable snow fortresses, mountain paths disappear under a thick layer of snow, and endless blizzards do not allow you to see anything beyond an outstretched arm.

The first serious obstacle, apart from weather conditions, was the French brigade under the command of Loison, which covered the passage through the Saint Gotthard Pass. Skillfully operating in three columns, the Russian-Austrian troops under the command of Suvorov were able to push back the enemy and reach the village of Ursern.

The next obstacle on the way of Suvorov's troops was the Devil's Bridge (Teufelsbruecke), which was thrown across the river. Reuss. Wanting to prevent the excessive strengthening of the French on the left bank, Suvorov ordered General Kamensky to pursue the troops of the retreating General Lekurb, exhausting the French units with constant rearguard battles. As a result, the French were unable to fortify at the Devil's Bridge, but dismantled its central part, making the passage impossible. Then the Russian soldiers under the command of P.I. Bagration was dismantled a nearby shed into logs, and, tying them together with officer's scarves, threw them across the gap. Under the onslaught of the Russians, the French were forced to retreat, and most of them were sent south for evacuation. In total, Lekurba had 3,000 people left, after the evacuation no more than 900.

Already on September 29, Suvorov's troops descend into the Mutenskaya valley through the Kinzing-Kulm pass. At the same time, the field marshal receives a report about the defeat of the forces of Rimsky-Korsakov and the Austrian commander Hotz from André Massena, the future Marshal of France. As a result, Massena succeeded in encircling the Russian forces in the valley. Suvorov perfectly understood the position of the troops. On the eve of this battle, he turned to the officers: “We are surrounded by mountains ... surrounded by a powerful enemy, proud of victory ... Since the time of the Prut, under the Emperor Peter the Great, the Russian troops have never been in such a death-threatening position ... No, this is no longer treason, but a clear betrayal ... a reasonable, calculated betrayal us, who shed so much of our blood for the salvation of Austria. Now there is no one to expect help from, one hope is in God, the other is for the greatest courage and the highest self-sacrifice of the troops led by you ... We are faced with the greatest, unprecedented labors in the world! We are on the edge of the abyss! But we are Russians! God is with us! Save, save the honor and heritage of Russia and her Autocrat! .. Save his son ... "

The senior officer Otto Derfolden replied to the field marshal: “We will endure everything and not shame Russian weapons, and if we fall, we will die in glory! Lead us wherever you want, do what you know! We are yours, father, we are Russians! "

On October 1, Russian troops of 14 thousand people met in the Mutenskaya valley under the command of General A.G. Rosenberg with a 24-thousandth corps under the command of General Massena. Realizing their desperate situation, Russian troops began to attack the French positions and started a general hand-to-hand combat. The onslaught of Russian soldiers was such that the French center could not hold out even half an hour - the French began an indiscriminate retreat. At the entrance of the extermination of the French troops, the Russian non-commissioned officer Ivan Makhotin reached Massena himself and tore off his golden epaulette, although the general managed to escape. As a result, the Russians lost 700 killed and wounded. The losses of the French ranged from 3,000 to 6,000 people. 1,200 soldiers and officers were taken prisoner, including General La Curc. Seven guns and one banner became the trophies of the Russians.

Suvorov's crossing of the Alps became unprecedented in history. No one, either before or after Suvorov, did it in the winter. The Russian troops valiantly fulfilled their allied obligations to the Austrians, which cannot be said about the latter.

The transition, which amazed all of Europe, was successfully completed, however, help was late and the Rimsky-Korsakov corps operating in Switzerland was defeated by the French at Zurich. Having entered Switzerland after a difficult transition, the Russian troops were not supported in time by the Austrians and were surrounded in the Muten Valley. With great difficulty, Suvorov managed, having won several victories, to leave for southern Germany. He rightly attributed the failure of the campaign to the bad orders of the Austrian military council, which wanted to direct the entire theater of war from Vienna. Emperor Paul I shared this opinion of Suvorov and, blaming the Austrians for the defeat of Rimsky-Korsakov's detachment, withdrew his troops to Russia. Suvorov was awarded the rank of Generalissimo and the honorary title of Prince of Italy.

Taking advantage of the withdrawal of Russian troops, Bonaparte again went to Italy, on June 14, 1800, he defeated the Austrian army at the village of Marengo, thereby forcing Austria to conclude a peace treaty in February 1801. At the same time, the Turkish army was defeated in Egypt. After Russia and Austria left the war, England in March 1802 was also forced to sign the Amiens peace treaty with Napoleon. The second anti-French coalition collapsed completely.

The collapse of the second coalition was facilitated by the change in the foreign policy priorities of Paul I. The overthrow of the Directorate government meant a clear desire of Bonaparte to restore the monarchy. He turned to Paul with a flattering letter and returned all Russian prisoners. On the other hand, the British troops, having taken Malta from the French, were in no hurry to return the island to the Order of Malta. The result of all these events was the peace of Paul with Napoleon, and the break of the alliance with Austria and England. In 1800, he entered into an alliance directed against Austria with Prussia, and a whole coalition was formed against England, consisting of Russia, Denmark, Sweden and Prussia.

Particularly active preparations were made for military operations against England. Wanting to inflict a sensitive blow on her, Pavel sent 40 regiments of Don Cossacks to conquer India. The army set out on a campaign without accurate maps, without a definite plan of action, without knowledge of the terrain and, probably, would have been doomed to death in the Central Asian deserts, if Paul's death had not stopped this enterprise (on the night of the coup, Alexander gave the order to return the Cossacks home).

I would give all my victories for one Swiss campaign of Suvorov.
Marshal Massena

The Swiss campaign of the Russian troops under the command of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (September 10 (21) - September 27 (October 8) 1799) was an outstanding crossing of the army across the Alps. This is a classic example of warfare in mountainous conditions and the crown of glory of the great Russian commander.

Prehistory of the hike

The campaign across the Alps was a continuation of the Italian campaign: by the end of August 1799, as a result of the actions of A. Suvorov's army in Italy, our troops were supported from the sea by the squadron of Vice-Admiral F.F. Ushakov (Mediterranean campaign), almost the entire peninsula was liberated from the French forces. The remnants of the 35 thousandth French army of General Jean Moreau (about 18 thousand people), it was defeated at Novi, retreated to Genoa. The Genoa region remained the last region of Italy under French control. Therefore, the operation to defeat the Genoese grouping of the French by the Russian-Austrian army under the command of Alexander Suvorov (about 43 thousand people), which would have led to complete control over Italy, seemed a natural next step.

After that, Suvorov planned to carry out a campaign against Paris. And Napoleon, another military genius of that time, was at that time in Egypt, there was no one to stop the Russian commander, who had not yet lost a single battle.

But the brilliant victories of the Russian caused alarm in Vienna and London - among our "allies" in that war. After the complete liberation of Italy and the capture of Paris, the Russian positions in Europe became too strong, moreover, Russia could leave its military forces on the Apennine Peninsula on a permanent basis. For London, the strengthening of the position of the Russian Empire in the Mediterranean region was like a knife in the chest.

That is why the "allies" began to demand from Russia to go to Switzerland in order to free it from the French forces. Although it is clear that an attack on Paris would automatically solve this problem. It is now clear that Austria and England did not want to destroy the French in Switzerland, but the Russian army of "miracle heroes" Suvorov and our military genius. Suvorov himself understood this, saying the following: “They drove me to Switzerland to destroy there”. Unfortunately, the Russian emperor, the romantic knight Paul I, did not understand this at that time, he realized only later, breaking off relations with the "allies", concluding an alliance with Napoleon and starting preparations for an attack on England - a campaign in India.

André Massena, titles: Duke de Rivoli, Prince of Eslingen (May 6, 1758, Nice - April 4, 1817) - military leader of the French republican wars, and then the empire of Napoleon I.

The Austrians planned to withdraw all their forces from Switzerland (58 thousand people) and throw them to the aid of the Anglo-Russian landing (30 thousand) planned in Holland. They wanted to replace the Austrian troops with the army of Suvorov (about 21 thousand) and the Russian corps of Alexander Rimsky-Korsakov located in Switzerland (24 thousand). Paul agreed, but demanded from Vienna, before the withdrawal of the Austrian forces, to clear Switzerland of French troops. The Austrians made a promise to do this, but did not fulfill it and began to withdraw their troops. The Russian corps was left alone against the French army under the command of Massena (84 thousand). True, it should be noted that the Archduke Karl, on August 18 (29), 1799, having begun the withdrawal of the Austrian forces, realizing that after the Austrian army left, the Russian troops fell into a desperate situation, temporarily under their personal responsibility, until the arrival of Suvorov's army, left on the Swiss front 22 thousand troops under the command of General Friedrich von Hotze.

The Russian army under the command of Suvorov set out towards Switzerland at 7 a.m. on August 31 (September 10), 1799, after the surrender of the French garrison in Tortona. On September 10, the actual Swiss campaign began, which resulted in a series of large and small battles, skirmishes, and the constant feat of Russian soldiers.

Main events

From the very beginning, problems began - the Austrians had to prepare pack animals, provisions and fodder. But when the Russian army approached the mountains - there was nothing, they had to spend several days collecting the missing food and ammunition. Considering that the entire trip lasted 17 days, the loss of this time was very important.

On September 12, Russian forces attacked the French troops of the right wing, which were defending Saint-Gotthard and the Reuis Valley, under the command of C.J. Lecourbe. The Guden brigade (4.3 thousand people) and the Luazon brigade (of the same size) supported it directly against the Russian troops. Our forces have occupied Saint Gotthard. At this time, Andrei Grigorievich Rosenberg (he commanded the forward column), starting at dawn on September 13 from Tavech, walked along the Reisk valley, crowding the French troops, and by the evening drove them to the village of Ursern.

On September 14 (25), after joining the Rosenberg column in Urzern, Alexander Suvorov sent a regiment under the command of General Kamensky to the left bank of the Reuss (Royce) river, his task was to go to the rear of the enemy at the Devil's Bridge. The commander led his forces on the right bank to the north, but met natural obstacles - the so-called Urzern hole and the Devil's bridge. The Ursernskaya hole was a narrow and low gallery, which was punched in the rocks surrounding Reuss, 64 meters long and wide, which made it possible for only one person with a pack to pass. Then the road descended steeply to the bridge - a 20-meter-long narrow stone arch without railings, thrown across the Reuss River at an altitude of 22-23 meters. But the "miraculous heroes" of Suvorov, under the command of Colonel Trubnikov, were able to bypass the tunnel guarded by the French through the mountains and a gorge of the river and with a sudden blow defeated the French detachment. Then the French, who were on the opposite bank, began to destroy the bridge, but did not have time to completely break it, since Kamensky's soldiers appeared in the rear. Russian soldiers dismantled a nearby shed and closed the hole with logs. The first who entered this crossing was officer Meshchersky-third, he was struck by French fire, but the French could not stop the Russian soldiers, they forced the barrier under enemy fire and threw the enemy back. Then the Devil's Bridge was repaired more thoroughly in a few hours, and the main forces of Suvorov began to cross it.

The problem of further movement

On September 15, tired, frozen and hungry Russian units, according to the plan, arrived in the town of Altdorf. There a new unpleasant "surprise" awaited them. It turned out that there is simply no further road from here! It was not destroyed by the French and the natural elements did not destroy it - the road never existed, the Austrian allies simply "forgot" to inform Suvorov about it. Schwyz, where the army was heading, could only be reached by Lake Lucerne, but on it the French captured all the crossing means. There were only 2 roads from Altdorf - from the Schahen Valley to the upper Lint River and from the Maderan Valley to the upper Rhine. But neither the one nor the other road led to Shvits and to the connection with the Rimsky-Korsakov corps.

The situation was critical. Suvorov learns about the presence of two mountain trails, along which one can currently walk with climbing equipment. They led through the passes Rose-Alp-Kulm (2,172 meters) and Kinzig-Kulm (2,073 meters), through the snowy Rostok ridge to the village of Muten, and from there the road went west to Schwyz. It was a difficult choice: food supplies were already depleted, shoes were worn out, the troops were tired of a week's march and fighting in the mountains. What was needed was a will of steel and confidence in their strengths and people, Alexander Suvorov had all this. The commander decides to follow the shortest path - 18 km, through the Kinzig-Kulm pass.

At dawn on September 16 (27), the Russian army set out. Bagration was walking with the vanguard, followed by parts of Generals Derfelden and Aufenberg, then packs. The rear remained to cover Rosenberg. And it was not in vain that Rosenberg's units during the transition of the main forces of Suvorov repulsed two attacks by the French corps of Lekurb. Rosenberg's units in two columns left on September 17 and 18, and Lecourbe only in the morning of the 18th realized where Suvorov's army had gone, and sent messages to Massenet and other French commanders. It was an unparalleled transition, a real feat of the Russian Spirit. That is why the local Swiss then erected monuments to the Russian army. After 12 hours, the vanguard went to the village of Muten and without a fight captured the French post (150 people). By the evening of the 17th, the tail of the army approached.

The last parts of Rosenberg's rearguard arrived in the Muten Valley on 18 September. On the same day, Alexander Suvorov received a written report from General Linken about the defeat of the Rimsky-Korsakov corps (September 14-15) and the Austrian Hotse detachment (September 14).

Getting out of the environment

It turned out that, having accomplished one unparalleled feat, the army was on the verge of death or shameful surrender. Rimsky-Korsakov's corps was defeated in a desperate two-day battle with superior enemy forces. Suvorov then wrote to Archduke Karl: "You will answer before God for the blood shed near Zurich."

It was pointless to go to Schwyz, occupied by the main French forces. The Russian army was surrounded in the Mutenskaya valley, one on one with the superior forces of the enemy, with a limited amount of ammunition and food, exhausted by the difficult passage through the mountains. Suvorov held a council of war in the refectory of the Franciscan convent of St. Joseph. There were spoken words, in many respects consonant with the speeches of Prince Svyatoslav before the decisive battle (see Appendix), and a decision was made to break through from the encirclement to the town of Glarus.

On the 18th, the army moved: the Austrian brigade of Aufenberg climbed Bragelberg, shot down the French security units and descended into the Klenthal Valley, behind it moved parts of Bagration, the Shveikovsky division and the main forces. Rosenberg with 4 thousand stood at Muten and covered the rear.

The French were inspired by their successes, and victorious moods reigned in the French army, but soon they would have to wash themselves in blood and forget about the victory over the great Suvorov and his “miracle heroes”. Massena planned to firmly lock the Russian army in the valley. And then force her to surrender. Part of the French forces were directed towards the exit from the Klenthal Valley. The commander himself with 18 thousand. corps went to Schwyz to strike at Muten, on the rear of Suvorov's army.

On September 19 (30), the Austrian brigade of Aufenberg entered into battle with the French brigade of General Gabriel Molitor and was on the verge of defeat. But Bagration rescued her: the French were defeated, they fled, more than 200 people drowned in Lake Ruten. On September 20, a counter battle of approximately equal forces (5-6 thousand people) took place, the French were defeated, suffered heavy losses, the way to Glarus was opened. But soon the situation changed: Gazan's division approached the defeated Molitor. Now the French had superiority in forces, the battle flared up with renewed vigor, the village of Nefels passed from hand to hand 5-6 times, but in the end remained behind Bagration.

Suvorov, in order to avoid large losses, ordered Bagration to withdraw to Nezstal, in the evening of the 20th the main forces of the Russian army were concentrated at Glarus.

Battle in the Muten Valley

At the same time, there was a battle in the rear between the forces of A. Rosenberg and the troops of Andre Massena. September 19 10-thous. Massena's forces attacked 4 thousand Rosenberg. The first Russian line under the command of Maxim Rebinder (Suvorov called him by name as a sign of great respect) stopped the enemy; when the second line approached - under the command of Mikhail Miloradovich, the Russian troops launched a counterattack. The French were overturned and driven 5 kilometers to Schwyz, where they stopped by order of Miloradovich.

At night, the last supplies were lowered to Muten from the pass and three regiments approached. Rosenberg's forces grew to 7 thousand bayonets. On the 20th, Massena decided to inflict a new decisive blow and threw about 15 thousand people into battle, they marched in three columns, with a dense chain of riflemen in front. The Russian advance detachment under the command of Miloradovich fought a firefight with the enemy and retreated. Suddenly, the Russian detachment dispersed to the sides, and the main forces were in front of the French, they were built in two three-rank lines at a distance of 300 meters from each other. There were two regiments in reserve. And then the Russians attacked the stunned French. They quickly closed the gap, and hand-to-hand fighting began. They attacked so fiercely and desperately that some battalions of the second line were ahead of the first line. The French could not withstand the onslaught, they were seized by panic, and soon the battle escalated into the extermination of the French troops. Massena himself was almost captured: non-commissioned officer Ivan Makhotin pulled him off his horse and grabbed him by the collar. He was saved by the fact that a French officer attacked Makhotin, and while Makhotin was stabbing him, Massena fled, leaving only his golden epaulette in the hands of the Suvorov hero.

It was a complete defeat, the French soldiers, pursued by the Cossacks, surrendered in droves: only 3-6 thousand were killed, more than a thousand prisoners, our total losses were about 700 people. Shaken, Massena did not dare to organize a new attack.

Rosenberg also misled Massena: the commander gave an order to the population of Schwyz to procure provisions for two days for the entry of 12 thousand Russian forces. Massena knew about the capture of Glarus, but decided that this was an auxiliary blow, and the main blow would be through Schwyz to Zurich. Therefore, he handed over command at Schwyz to Soult and went to Zurich to organize a defense against the blow of the restored corps of Rimsky-Korsakov. As a result, Massena, who had a significant numerical superiority, abandoned active operations. Rosenberg was able to connect with Suvorov for 3 days, without enemy opposition.

Andrey Grigorievich Rosenberg (01.21.1739, Riga - 08.25.181, Black Podolsk province) - Russian infantry general.

Further movement of the Russian army

Arriving in Glarus, Alexander Suvorov saw that the last hope for the help and assistance of the Austrian forces had disappeared. The Austrian general Linken with his detachment left the Lint Valley for no reason and retreated to Graubünden. On September 21 (October 2), Aufenberg's brigade separated from Suvorov's forces and retreated behind Linken. Then, in order to save his troops, Suvorov decided to turn south and go to the town of Ilants (through Schwanden, Elm, Ringenkopf, to the valley of the Rhine river). The final decision was made at the military council on 23 September.
The army left on the night of September 23-24, the formation was changed: the leading forces were led by Mikhail Miloradovich, the units of Andrei Rosenberg and Wilhelm Derfelden followed him, and the rear was covered by Peter Bagration, who distinguished himself as an excellent rearguard commander, who repeatedly threw back the enemy who attacked from the rear.

After midnight on September 25 (October 6), the Russian forces, no longer pursued by the enemy, set out across the Ringenkopf Pass (2.4 thousand meters high). It was a very difficult transition: the path could only be walked alone, there was a thick fog, they walked with snowfall and strong winds, the snow cover reached half a meter. During the transition, up to 200 Russian soldiers died, even higher losses were among the captured French - up to 1400 people. I had to abandon all the guns. I had to spend the night on the pass, on the 26th there was a descent, in the evening of that day, Russian troops reached Ilants, and on September 27 - the city of Chur. There people were able to rest and eat normally, in Kura the army stood for 2 days. This concludes the Swiss campaign.

Outcomes

Alexander Suvorov once again proved his military genius, which remained unimpressed, and the Russian soldiers their excellent fighting qualities.

Russia has learned yet another lesson about trusting its “allies”.

The objectives of the operation - the complete defeat of the French army and the cleansing of Switzerland from the French - were not achieved due to the betrayal or stupidity of the Austrians. Although the troops of Alexander Suvorov single-handedly inflicted defeat first on the right wing of the French under the command of J. Lecourbe, who defended in practically impregnable positions, and then on the center of the enemy under the command of Andre Massena.

The largest researcher of the Swiss campaign, D. Milyutin, estimated the total losses of A. Suvorov's army in the Swiss campaign at 5.1 thousand people, of which 1.6 thousand were killed, including those who died not in battle, but frozen, crashed while crossing the passes, and about 1,000 wounded. This is out of 21 thousand. army, which went on a campaign. Thus, Suvorov withdrew more than 3/4 of the troops from the encirclement. The total losses suffered by the French forces are not known exactly, but it is clear that they were significantly higher than the Russian losses. So, only their damage in the battle in the Mutenskaya valley was comparable to the total losses of the entire army of Suvorov. The Russian commander himself believed that the French suffered 4 times more losses than his army. 2.8 thousand Frenchmen were captured - half of them died while crossing the Ringenkopf pass. And this despite the fact that, having descended into the Mutenskaya valley, Suvorov sought not to destroy the French army, but to withdraw the army from the encirclement.

The Swiss campaign of Suvorov's army was one of the largest examples of military operations in the mountain theater for its time.

This campaign became a real crown of military glory for the Russian commander, the highest point of victories for Russian weapons in the 18th century. Pavel highly appreciated the work of Suvorov - "Defeating the enemies of the Fatherland everywhere and throughout your life, you lacked one thing - to overcome nature itself, but you have now gained the upper hand over it." The commander received the highest military rank of the Russian Empire - Generalissimo. The troops were supposed to give Suvorov honors equal to those of the imperial, even in the presence of the tsar.

Paul I flew into a rage at the meanness of the "allies", recalled the ambassador from Vienna, terminated the alliance with Austria. In the same year he recalled the ambassador from England, the Russian corps in Holland, which was under the command of the British, literally "disappeared" due to hunger and disease. Paul abruptly changed the orientation of his foreign policy, began rapprochement with France and challenged the British Empire.

Unfortunately, Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov could not enjoy well-deserved awards and honors, bring Russia new victories, on May 6 (18) he went to the heavenly squad ... Eternal memory to the greatest Russian military leader and his miracle heroes! We must remember that our ancestors had to shed rivers of blood and sweat, correcting other people's mistakes and betrayal of "allies".

Appendix. Suvorov's speech, recorded from the words of Bagration at the military council in the monastery of St. Joseph.

“We are surrounded by mountains ... surrounded by a powerful enemy, proud of victory ... Since the time of the Prut, under the Emperor Peter the Great, the Russian troops have never been in such a death-threatening position ... No, this is no longer treason, but a clear betrayal ... a reasonable, calculated betrayal us, who shed so much of our blood for the salvation of Austria. Now there is no one to expect help from, one hope is in God, the other is for the greatest courage and the highest self-sacrifice of the troops led by you ... We are faced with the greatest, unprecedented labors in the world! We are on the edge of the abyss! But we are Russians! God is with us! Save, save the honor and property of Russia and its Autocrat! .. Save his son ... "The elder after Suvorov, General Derfelden, on behalf of the entire army, assured Suvorov that everyone will fulfill his duty:" We will endure everything and not shame Russian weapons, but if we fall then we will die in glory! Lead us where you think, do what you know, we are yours, father, we are Russians! " “Thank you,” Suvorov replied. “I hope! Glad! God have mercy, we are Russians! Thank you, thank you, let's smash the enemy! And the victory over him, and the victory over deceit will be a victory! "

Important events not only in Russian but also in world history were recalled in Switzerland. Exactly two hundred and ten years have passed since the legendary passage of Suvorov's army across the harsh Alps. Two centuries ago, this event changed the fate of the Old World, and it was Russia that played a key role in this.

Until this day, neither tsars, nor Soviet leaders, nor Russian presidents have visited the Alpine republic on a state visit, and this is despite the fact that Russia and Switzerland have historical dates that can be celebrated together.
The heroic passage of Suvorov's army across the Alps, the 210th anniversary of which we will celebrate, and the cherished memory of him in Switzerland, is another evidence of the solid historical basis of our relations.
In September 1799, the Russian army needed to get to Switzerland as soon as possible to help General Rimsky-Korsakov. Suvorov chose the shortest, but most difficult path - through the Saint Gotthard pass, occupied by the French. Having won and defeated the enemy, the commander was awarded the highest military rank - Generalissimo.

Dmitry Medvedev took advantage of the invitation he received last year in Zurich on his way to a security conference in Evian, France. Then the president brought to Europe a Russian plan of action - a counterbalance to the American missile defense program in Eastern Europe. It has not lost its meaning, despite the fact that Washington changed its mind about deploying radar and missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland.

And on the eve, Dmitry Medvedev and Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz discussed cooperation between the two countries and signed a package of bilateral agreements. At a press conference following the talks in Bern, the Russian leader, among other things, raised the issue of European security. http: // www. / doc. html? id = 316351

Suvorov's Swiss campaign

http: // ru. wikipedia. org /
After the liberation of Northern Italy, Suvorov planned to launch an offensive against France, striking the main blow in the direction of Grenoble, Lyon, Paris. But this plan was thwarted by the allies, who feared an increase in Russia's influence in the Mediterranean and Italy. Great Britain and Austria decided to remove the Russian army from Northern Italy. Suvorov was ordered, leaving the Austrian troops in Italy, at the head of the Russian troops to go to Switzerland, unite with the Korsakov corps operating there and from there advance against France.

... "Field Marshal Suvorov at the top of Saint Gotthard on September 13, 1799" Russian troops covered 150 km from Alessandria to Taverno in six days. Upon arrival at Taverno, it was discovered that the Austrians, in violation of the agreements reached, to deliver there 1,429 mules necessary for the transport of provisions and artillery, did not do this. Meanwhile, the Russian army sent its artillery and carts in a different way. The mules were delivered only 4 days later and only 650 pieces. Austrian officers also gave incorrect information about the size of the French army (understating it by almost a third) and about the topography of the route (arguing that there is a footpath along Lake Lucerne, which in fact did not exist.

On August 31 (September 11), Russian troops finally set out in two columns. The heroic Swiss campaign of Suvorov in 1799 began, which became a great page in Russian history. The first major clash with the French was the storming of the Saint Gotthard Pass, which opened the way to Switzerland. The French division of Lekurba, which defended it, numbered up to half of the entire Russian army. Taking the villages of Ursern and Hospental, Russian troops began their assault at dawn in September. From the third attack, the pass was taken. September Russian troops, joining in one detachment, moved to Schwyz, where on the way they again had to storm the French fortifications in extremely difficult conditions: in the area of ​​the Devil's Bridge, which was thrown over a gorge along which the Reis River flowed. A narrow tunnel (Urnzernskaya hole) went out to the bridge, pierced in huge, almost sheer cliffs.

Suvorov's crossing over the Devil's bridge. Artist In the Swiss campaign, both the military leadership genius of Suvorov and the tactical skill of Russian commanders were manifested. Bypassing the French along the bottom of the gorge, the Russian troops managed to throw them back from the exit from the tunnel, and the battle began for the Devil's Bridge itself. They managed to take it without allowing destruction. With battles and hard struggle with unfavorable natural conditions, the army advanced further. The hardest test on the St. Gotthard Road was crossing the highest and steepest snow-covered mountain Bintnerberg, opposite and in the middle of the waterfall. During the crossing, many Russian soldiers died. Finally, crossing the mountain and entering Altdorf, Suvorov discovered the absence of a road along Lake Lucerne, which the Austrians had told him about, which made it impossible to go to Schwyz. All boats on the lake used the remnants of the Lekurba division pressed to the lake for retreat.

Monument to Suvorov in the Swiss Alps Meanwhile, provisions began to run out, French troops were concentrating near Lake Firwalsted, and Suvorov decided to send troops through the powerful Rosstock ridge and, crossing it, go to the Mutten Valley, and from there go to Schwyz. During this difficult transition, Suvorov (who was already 70 years old) fell seriously ill. The crossing of Rossstock took 12 hours. Having descended to the village of Mutten, occupied by the French, the Russians began an assault on it, which came as a complete surprise to the French. By the evening of September, all Suvorov's troops were concentrated in the Mutten Valley and here they learned about the defeat of Rimsky-Korsakov's corps, to whose help they were in a hurry. Suvorov's troops were blocked by the French.

The Russian army managed to break through the French positions and fought forward through the snow-capped mountains and passes. There were practically no provisions and cartridges left, clothes and shoes were worn out, many soldiers and officers were barefoot. On September 20, in the Mutten Valley, the 7-thousandth rearguard of the Russian army under the command of Rosenberg, covering Suvorov from the rear, defeated the 15-thousandth group of French troops under the command of Massena, who was almost captured. In this battle alone, from 4 to 5 thousand Frenchmen died and 1 thousand, including General Lekurb, was taken prisoner (the Russians lost 650 killed). After the last Austrian brigade left the Russians (in Glaris), the generals of the Russian army decided to break through the Pankis ridge (Ringenkopf) into the Reisy river valley to join the remnants of the Rimsky-Korsakov corps. This was the last and one of the most difficult transitions. All the guns, both our own and captured from the French, were thrown into the abyss; about 300 mules were lost. The French attacked the rearguard of the Russian army, but, even with a supply of bullets and artillery, fled the Russians in bayonet attacks. The last test was the descent from Mount Pankis (depicted in Surikov's painting "Suvorov's Crossing the Alps").

Stamp "Suvorov in the Alps" (from a drawing by Nikolai Avvakumov, 1941, Moscow, State Museum of Fine Arts named after) At the beginning of October 1799, Suvorov's Swiss campaign ended with his arrival to the Austrian city of Feldkirch.

In the Swiss campaign, the loss of the Russian army, which emerged from the encirclement without food and ammunition and defeated all the troops on its way, amounted to approx. 5 thousand people (up to 1/4 of the army), many of whom were killed during the transitions. However, the losses of the French troops, who had an overwhelming numerical superiority, exceeded the losses of the Russian troops by 3-4 times. 2778 French soldiers and officers were captured, half of whom Suvorov managed to feed and bring out of the Alps as evidence of a great feat.

For this campaign, unparalleled in difficulties and heroism, Suvorov was awarded the highest military rank of Generalissimo, becoming the fourth Generalissimo in Russia

When we hear about crossing the Alps, we immediately remember the feat of the invincible Alexander Suvorov and his soldiers. The fearless Russian army has forever inscribed itself in history, but was it the first army of many thousands to cross the Alps? In fact, we often undeservedly forget the legendary Punia commander Hannibal, whose life story has inspired and continues to inspire descendants.

If with the help of a time machine we returned to the times of the Roman Empire, then the question "Who was the main enemy of Rome?" any Romei, without hesitation, would answer: "Hannibal." The cunning Carthaginian military leader inflicted crushing defeats on the Romans so many times that fear of him remained for many centuries later, and the children were frightened by Hannibal for disobedience. Once the Carthaginian commander was close to capturing the Eternal City, but something stopped him from ordering an assault. Who knows how the history of the whole world would have developed if Rome had fallen?

As a young man, Hannibal Barca (translated "Barca" means "Lightning") swore an oath to destroy the hated Roman Republic. It was clear to both Rome and Carthage that it would not be possible to avoid a new war - the two superpowers were too cramped in the Mediterranean. Therefore, the military leaders on both sides were preparing for a prolonged war.

It was 217 BC. When an impressive army gathered under the command of Hannibal, the question arose before him: to wage war on the territory of Carthage or to try to invade the Apennine Peninsula and bring war to the enemy's house? And if you fight on the territory of Rome, then how to get there: by a proven route through Sicily or try to somehow surprise the enemy and impose your own conditions on him? In a difficult situation, Hannibal made a brilliant strategic decision: to get to Rome via Spain. At first glance, an absurd idea gave the Punyans a number of advantages: the ability to replenish their army with warriors from friendly Gallic and Spanish tribes; the army secured itself from the enemy fleet, which was waiting for it on the outskirts of Rome; factor of surprise.

Having set a goal, Hannibal moved step by step towards it, until an armada of mountain peaks with snow-capped mountains ascended before his army. African wars, who had not seen anything like it, were amazed, and the local Gauls just shrugged their shoulders in confusion. In this situation, the only way out was to go forward, keeping the factor of surprise. And Hannibal with his army went on the most risky assault in his life - the assault on the Alpine peaks.

Without maps and roads, without warm clothes, knee-deep in snow, with beasts of burden and war elephants, the Carthaginian army made its way farther and farther.

The greatest problems were caused by the warlike tribes of the highlanders, who always fought against everyone who came to their land. They set up ambushes in the most unexpected places, attacked the Carthaginians from afar, taking advantage of the mountainous terrain. But their most favorite technique was a loud cry, which they uttered near the soldiers passing along the narrow paths. No, their screams did not leave an avalanche, as one might think. Animals and war elephants were afraid of harsh sounds, which, together with people, made their way through the snow. Frightened, they ran in all directions, not paying attention to the commands, crippling people and falling off the cliffs along with provisions. Another enemy - hunger and cold - took away from the army no less people than raging animals and wild mountaineers. The Gaul guides, who did not know the area well, lost their tracks many times, leading the army to dead ends. Warriors and animals suffered from hunger, and it was possible to replenish scarce food supplies only when rare mountain settlements were ravaged.

People were at the limit of their capabilities, when in front, finally, the cherished descent into the valley appeared. The condition of the troops is eloquently indicated by the number of losses, which were greater during the descent than during the ascent.

Hannibal lost almost all of the animals. Only one elephant out of twenty survived. One third of the army remained forever in the alpine valleys. But the unexpected appearance of the Carthaginian troops in Italy affected the Romans like a bolt from the blue, and for several more years they could not come to their senses and suffered defeat after defeat.

Hannibal Barka was the favorite commander of Alexander Suvorov. The future generalissimo at a young age read all the books he could find about his idol. He sat for hours on maps of battles, studying Hannibal's tactics and strategic maneuvers. In the future, Suvorov more than once resorted to the advice of the ancient commander. Tactical techniques that worked before our era, forged the glory of Russian weapons in the 18th century! History can surprise! Suvorov, like his idol Hannibal, was challenged to lead an army across the Alps. Who knows, Suvorov did not lead his miraculous heroes along the same roads, along which Hannibal Barka led his troops two millennia ago?