In glory of the Russian weapon

Kobrin → Outstanding persons → Alexey Mikhaylovich Martynov

K to the 175 anniversary of Patriotic war of 1812

Three weeks later after invasion of Napoleonic hordes into Russia military operations were developed in the southwest of Belarus. Here parts of the 3rd Russian army under command of the general A. P. Tormasov operated. They were resisted by the 7th case of "great army" headed by the general Ge. Rainier and the Austrian case of the general K. Schwarzenberg.

15 on July (27) in Kobrin there was a fight with the group of the general Klengel occupying the city which ended with full defeat of the opponent who lost up to one thousand killed. In captivity there were two generals, 76 officers and 2.382 soldiers. Winners got eight guns and four a banner. In honor of this first considerable victory from walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress the first in that war victorious salute was given. Second, battle, larger on scales, happened on July 31 (on August 12) at the villages of Gorodechno — Poddubnoye of the Kobrin County (nowadays Pruzhansky district).

Ten years ago on the northwest suburb of Kobrin in the natural boundary "Shevnya" rose the artificial hill called in the people by "Battery". Here in the earth found fragments of the weapon, a kernel, a bullet, a button. When the hill was dug out, found the mixed gun kernels contributed then to funds of the museum of Suvorov. Apparently, this "Battery" visited fighting fire of 1812.

100-year anniversary of Patriotic war which is solemnly celebrated in Russia gave a reason for a construction of a set of monuments on places of battles. The decision to immortalize the Kobrin victory and Gorodechensky battle was made. For fund raising on a Kobrin monument the subscription among staff of military units which ancestors took part in fight was carried out. Laying of a monument which author was an architect D. Markov took place in anniversary of fight whereas opening happened in the fall of the same year in very solemn situation.

Built in the central part of Kobrin, the monument from a granite pedestal reminds the rock topped with a big bronze eagle with widely open wings. A beak and claws the eagle breaks off a laurel wreath with a Latin letter "H" in the middle, simvolizuyushchiya the beginning of the end of victorious progress of the self-confident Corsican. On a front marble board it is cut: To "The Russian soldiers who won the first victory over Napoleon's troops within Russia on July 15, 1812". One of two lateral boards is devoted to the list of regiments — participants of fight whereas on the second the list of the military units constructing a monument is given. On a pedestal four heavy mortars of that time with pyramids of five-pood bombs are established in a row.

However in original state the monument was fated to stay only before World War I. In 1951 the monument was restored with little changes. The sculptor M. Kerzin created new option of an eagle with the intact laurel wreath without Napoleon's monogram.

In 1912 near the village Poddubnaya, in the natural boundary "High Mountain", the highly artistic memorial chapel was put. Inside on its walls marble slabs with the list of the military units which were taking part in battle and a long line of names of the soldiers buried in a mass grave settled down. However World War I which began in 1914 interfered with official opening of a monument. And in days of the Great Patriotic War the chapel in general was destroyed, only the six-sided socle escaped.

The 150 anniversary of Patriotic war of 1812 was celebrated at us by new memorable signs. At Pruzhana Highway — High, at turn to the village of Poddubnoye, the seven-meter concrete stele reminding of the bloody battle which took place here is established. The similar stele is built in the center of the village of Strigovo of Kobrin district where on march to Kobrin the Russian parts conducted rearguard actions.

In Kobrin two memorial boards are in addition established. One is strengthened on the building of the former cathedral built on a mass grave of the Russian soldiers heroes who fell in Kobrin fight. The second — on the house of the former Spassky monastery near which the capitulating fighters of the general Klengel laid down arms to legs of winners.

"Nice this year passed, but there will not pass sodeyanny feats in it" — is written on a commemorative medal of participants of Patriotic war of 1812.

 A. Martynov

Martynov, And. In glory of the Russian weapon: to the 175 anniversary of Patriotic war of 1812. Martynov//Dawn. – 1987. – August 6.



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