Who took the spit. The defeat of the Turkish army of Osman Pasha and the fall of Plevna

The capture of Plevna by the troops of Alexander II turned the tide of the war against the Ottoman Empire.

The long siege claimed the lives of many soldiers on both sides. This victory allowed the Russian troops to open the road to Constantinople and free them from Turkish oppression. The operation to capture the fortress went down in military history as one of the most successful. The results of the campaign forever changed the geopolitical situation in Europe and the Middle East.

Prerequisites

Up until the middle of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire controlled most of the Balkans and Bulgaria. Turkish oppression extended to almost all South Slavic peoples. The Russian Empire has always acted as the protector of all Slavs, and foreign policy was largely aimed at their liberation. However, following the results of the previous war, Russia lost a fleet in the Black Sea and a number of territories in the south. Allied treaties were also concluded between the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. In the event of a declaration of war by the Russians, the British pledged to provide military assistance to the Turks. This situation ruled out the possibility of expelling the Ottomans from Europe. In return, the Turks promised to respect the rights of Christians and not persecute them on religious grounds.

Oppression of the Slavs

However, the 60s of the 19th century were marked by new persecutions of Christians. Muslims had great privileges before the law. In court, the voice of a Christian against a Muslim had no weight. Also, most of the local government posts were occupied by the Turks. Dissatisfaction with this state of affairs caused mass protests in Bulgaria and the Balkan countries. In the summer of 1975, an uprising begins in Bosnia. And a year later, in April, popular riots engulf Bulgaria. As a result, the Turks savagely suppress the uprising, killing tens of thousands of people. Such atrocities against Christians cause discontent in Europe.

Under the pressure of public opinion, Great Britain abandons its pro-Turkish policy. It unties the hands Russian Empire, which is preparing a campaign against the Ottomans.

The beginning of the war

On the twelfth of April, the Capture of Plevna began; in fact, it will be completed in six months. However, there was a long way to go before that. According to the plan of the Russian headquarters, the troops were to attack from two directions. The first group to go through the Romanian territory to the Balkans, and the other to strike from the Caucasus. In both directions there were insurmountable obstacles. prevented a quick strike from the Caucasus, and the "quadrangle" of fortresses from Romania. The situation was also complicated by the possible intervention of the UK. Despite public pressure, the British still continued to support the Turks. Therefore, the war had to be won as soon as possible so that the Ottoman Empire capitulated before reinforcements arrived.

fast advance

The capture of Plevna was carried out by troops under the command of General Skobelev. In early July, the Russians crossed the Danube and reached the road to Sofia. In this campaign they were joined by the Romanian army. Initially, the Turks were going to meet the allies on the banks of the Danube. However, the rapid advance forced Osman Pasha to retreat to the fortresses. In fact, the first capture of Plevna took place on June 26th. An elite detachment under the command of Ivan Gurko entered the city. However, there were only fifty scouts in the unit. Almost simultaneously with the Russian Cossacks, three battalions of Turks entered the city, which forced them out.

Realizing that the capture of Plevna would give the Russians a complete strategic advantage, Osman Pasha decides to occupy the city before the arrival of the main forces. At this time, his army was in the city of Vidin. From there, the Turks were to advance along the Danube in order to prevent the Russians from crossing. However, the danger of encirclement forced the Muslims to abandon the original plan. On July 1, 19 battalions set out from Vidin. In six days they covered more than two hundred kilometers with artillery, baggage, provisions, and so on. At dawn on July 7, the Turks entered the fortress.

The Russians had the opportunity to take the city before Osman Pasha. However, the negligence of some commanders played. Due to the lack of military intelligence, the Russians did not learn in time about the Turkish march on the city. As a result, the capture of the fortress of Plevna by the Turks passed without battles. Russian General Yuri Schilder-Schuldner was only a day late.

But during this time, the Turks had already managed to dig in and take up defense. After some deliberation, the headquarters decides to storm the fortress.

First seizure attempt

Russian troops attacked the city from two sides. General Schilder-Schuldern had no idea about the number of Turks in the city. He led the right column of troops, while the left marched on four kilometers. According to the original plan, both columns were supposed to enter the city at the same time. However, due to an incorrectly drawn map, they only moved away from each other. At about one in the afternoon, the main column approached the city. Suddenly, they were attacked by the advance detachments of the Turks, who had occupied Plevna only a few hours before. A battle ensued, which escalated into an artillery duel.

Schilder-Schuldner had no idea about the actions of the left column, so he ordered to move away from the shelled positions and set up a camp. The left column under the command of Kleinghaus approached the city from the side of Grivitsa. Cossack intelligence was sent. Two hundred soldiers advanced along the river in order to reconnoiter the nearest villages and the fortress itself. However, when they heard the sounds of battle, they retreated to their own.

Offensive

On the night of July 8, a decision was made to storm. The left column was advancing from the side of Grivitsa. The general with most of the soldiers came from the north. The main positions of Osman Pasha were near the village of Opanets. About eight thousand Russians marched against them at a front of up to three kilometers.

Because of the lowlands, Schilder-Schuldner lost the ability to maneuver. His troops had to go on a frontal attack. Artillery preparation began at five o'clock in the morning. The Russian vanguard launched an attack on Bukovlek and drove the Turks out of there in two hours. The road to Plevna was open. The Arkhangelsk regiment went to the enemy's main battery. The fighters were at a distance of a shot from the artillery positions of the Ottomans. Osman Pasha understood that the numerical superiority was on his side, and gave the order to counterattack. Under pressure from the Turks, two regiments withdrew into the ravine. The general requested the support of the left column, but the enemy advanced too quickly. Therefore, Schilder-Schuldner ordered a retreat.

Strike from the other flank

At the same time, Kridener was advancing from the side of Grivitsa. At six o'clock in the morning (when the main troops had already begun artillery preparation), the Caucasian Corps hit the right flank of the Turkish defense. After the unstoppable onslaught of the Cossacks, the Ottomans in a panic began to flee to the fortress. However, by the time they took positions at Grivitsa, Schilder-Schuldner had already retreated. Therefore, the left column also began to retreat to their original positions. The capture of Plevna by Russian troops was stopped with heavy losses for the latter. In many ways, the lack of intelligence and the inept decisions of the general affected.

Preparing a new offensive

After an unsuccessful assault, preparations began for a new attack. Russian troops received significant reinforcements. Cavalry and artillery units arrived. The city was surrounded. Surveillance began on all roads, especially those leading to Lovcha.

For several days, reconnaissance in force was carried out. Constant shootings were heard both day and night. However, it was not possible to find out the number of the Ottoman garrison in the city.

New assault

While the Russians were preparing for the assault, the Turks were rapidly building defenses. Construction took place in conditions of lack of tools and constant shelling. On the eighteenth of July, another assault began. The capture of Plevna by the Russians would mean defeat in the war. Therefore, Osman Pasha ordered his fighters to fight to the death. The attack was preceded by a long artillery preparation. After that, the soldiers rushed into battle from two flanks. Troops under the command of Kridener managed to capture the first lines of defense. Near the redoubt, however, they were met by overwhelming musket fire. After bloody skirmishes, the Russians had to retreat. The left flank was attacked by Skobelev. His fighters also failed to break through the Turkish defense lines. The fight went on all day. By evening, the Turks launched a counteroffensive and drove the Krinder soldiers out of their trenches. The Russians had to retreat again. After this defeat, the government turned to the Romanians for help.

Blockade

After the arrival of the Romanian troops, the blockade and the capture of Plevna became inevitable. Therefore, Osman Pasha decided to break out of the besieged fortress. On the thirty-first of August, his troops made a diversionary maneuver. After that, the main forces left the city and hit the nearest outposts.

After a short battle, they managed to push back the Russians and even capture one battery. However, reinforcements soon arrived. A close fight ensued. The Turks faltered and fled back to the city, leaving almost one and a half thousand of their soldiers on the battlefield.

To complete it was necessary to capture Lovcha. It was through her that the Turks received reinforcements and provisions. The city was also occupied by auxiliary detachments of bashi-bazouks. They did an excellent job with punitive operations against the civilian population, but quickly left their positions at the prospect of meeting with the regular army. Therefore, when the Russians attacked the city on August 22, the Turks fled from there without much resistance.

After the capture of the city, the siege began, and the capture of Plevna was only a matter of time. Reinforcements arrived for the Russians. Osman Pasha also received reserves.

The capture of the Plevna fortress: December 10, 1877

After the complete encirclement of the city, the Turks remained completely cut off from the outside world. Osman Pasha refused to capitulate and continued to strengthen the fortress. By this time, 50 thousand Turks were hiding in the city against 120 thousand Russian and Romanian soldiers. Siege fortifications were built around the city. From time to time Plevna was shelled by artillery. The Turks were running out of provisions and ammunition. The army suffered from disease and hunger.

Osman Pasha decided to break out of the blockade, realizing that the imminent capture of Plevna was inevitable. The breakthrough date was set for December 10th. In the morning, Turkish troops set up scarecrows in the fortifications and began to break out of the city. But the Little Russian and Siberian regiments stood in their way. And the Ottomans came with looted property and a large convoy.

Of course, this complicates maneuverability. After the start of the battle, reinforcements were sent to the breakthrough site. At first, the Turks managed to push back the forward detachments, but after a blow to the flank, they began to retreat into the lowland. After the inclusion of artillery in the battle, the Turks randomly ran and eventually capitulated.

After this victory, General Skobelev ordered that December 10 be celebrated as the Day of Military History. The capture of Plevna is celebrated in Bulgaria in our time. Because as a result of this victory, Christians got rid of Muslim oppression.

Siege of Plevna Siege of Plevna

SIEGE OF PLEVNA in 1877. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. for the city of Plevna (Pleven) there were stubborn battles from July 8 (20) to November 28 (December 10), 1877. Three assaults by Russian and Romanian troops in July-August were unsuccessful, after which Plevna was taken into the blockade ring. On November 28 (December 10), 1877, the Turkish troops, led by Osman Pasha, after an unsuccessful attempt to break through, surrendered.
Beginning of the siege of Plevna
After the successful forcing of the Danube by Russian troops near Sistovo, the Turkish command on July 2 (14) began the transfer to Plevna from Vidin (north-west Bulgaria) of Osman Pasha's corps, which was tasked with hitting the right flank of the Russian troops.
On July 4, 1877, the 9th Army Corps of Lieutenant General N.P. Kridener captured the Nikopol fortress (cm. NIKOPOL in Bulgaria) on the banks of the Danube north of Plevna.
The Russian command assigned a nine thousandth detachment of Lieutenant General Schilder-Schuldner to occupy Plevna, which on the evening of July 7 went to the outskirts of the city and attacked Turkish positions the next morning. The 15,000-strong garrison of Plevna repulsed the scattered attacks of the Russian regiments, inflicting serious losses on them (2.5 thousand people).
After the concentration of Kridener's entire corps under the city (26 thousand soldiers, 140 guns), on July 18 a second assault on Plevna was undertaken. By this time, Osman Pasha had concentrated about 23 thousand people and 58 guns in the city. Kridener had no information about the forces of the Turks, exaggerated their numbers and acted indecisively. Attacks were carried out from the east and southeast in the forehead against the most fortified areas, the troops were brought into battle in parts. The assault ended in failure. The losses of the Russians amounted to 7 thousand people, the Turks - about 4 thousand people.
Plevna was of great strategic importance, its strong garrison threatened crossings across the Danube, could attack the advancing Russian army in the flank and rear. Therefore, the Russian command postponed the transfer of the main forces through the Balkan Mountains (Shipka Pass was captured on July 8) and during July-August concentrated an 83,000-strong army with 424 guns at Plevna, of which 32,000 people and 108 guns of the allied Romanian army.
Third assault on Plevna
The allies surrounded Plevna from the south and east. On the right flank, opposite the Grivitsky redoubts, the Romanians were located. From the east, the city was besieged by the corps of Kridener, from the southeast - by the 8th corps of General Krylov. In the southern direction was the left-flank detachment of General M. D. Skobelev (cm. SKOBELEV Mikhail Dmitrievich). From the north, the Turkish garrison was securely covered by the heights of Yanyk-Bair, and from the west it was supplied along the Sofia-Plevna road. By the end of the summer, the Turks increased the strength of the Plevna garrison to 34 thousand people with 72 guns.
The nominal commander of the allied army near Plevna was the Romanian king Carol I (cm. KAROL I), in fact, his chief of staff, Lieutenant General P. D. Zotov, ordered. But near Plevna there was also the headquarters of the Russian Emperor Alexander II (cm. ALEXANDER II Nikolaevich) and Commander-in-Chief of the entire Danube Army, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich Sr. (cm. NIKOLAY Nikolaevich (Senior)).
The third assault on Plevna took place on August 26-31. The Turks foresaw the direction of the attacks of the Russian and Romanian troops and managed to hold their line of defense, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. The decisive day was August 30, when the Romanians, with the support of the Russian 18th Infantry Regiment, managed to capture one of the two Grivitsky redoubts. On the same day, Skobelev's detachment, inflicting an auxiliary strike, found a weak spot in the positions of the Turks, broke through their defenses in the Green Mountains region, captured the Issa and Kavanlyk redoubts and reached the southern outskirts of the city. The Turks hastily transferred reserves against Skobelev from the north and east.
On August 31, the Russian command did not take offensive actions and did not support Skobelev with reserves. As a result, under the onslaught of superior forces, Skobelev's detachment was forced to return to their original positions. In the third assault on Plevna, Russian and Romanian troops lost 16 thousand people, the Turks - about three thousand.
Blockade and capture of Plevna
On September 1, it was decided to move on to a thorough siege of Plevna, for the leadership of which the best specialist in siege work in Russia, engineer-general E. And Totleben, was called (cm. TOTLEBEN Eduard Ivanovich). For the successful conduct of the siege, the Russians needed to cut the Sofia-Plevna road, along which the Turks received reinforcements. To solve this problem, a shock detachment of General I.V. Gurko was created from the guards units (cm. GURKO Iosif Vladimirovich). He managed to capture Gorny Dubnyak on October 12, Telish on October 16, and Dolny Dubnyak on October 20 - strongholds on the Sofia road, thereby completely closing the ring of blockade of the Pleven garrison, which by that time amounted to 50 thousand people.
The lack of food forced the Turkish commander Osman Pasha to make an attempt to unblock Plevna on his own. On November 28, having removed the troops from defensive positions, he attacked the Russian troops in the northwest of Plevna. Parts of the 2nd and 3rd grenadier divisions and the 5th infantry division of the Russian army repulsed the attack of the Turks. Having lost 6 thousand soldiers and unable to escape from the encirclement, Osman Pasha surrendered with 43 thousand soldiers. The fall of Plevna freed the 100,000-strong Russian-Romanian army for a subsequent offensive into the Balkans.
In the fighting near Plevna received further development forms and methods of siege of fortresses. The Russian army developed new methods of infantry combat tactics, a combination of movement and fire of rifle chains, the use of self-entrenching infantry in the offensive began. Under Plevna, the importance of field fortifications, the interaction of infantry with artillery, the role of heavy artillery in preparing an attack on fortified positions, and the possibility of controlling artillery fire when firing from closed positions were determined.
In memory of the battles for Plevna, a mausoleum in memory of the fallen Russian and Romanian soldiers (1905), a park-museum of M. D. Skobelev (1907), and an art panorama complex “The Liberation of Plevna in 1877” were built in the city. In Moscow, at the Ilyinsky Gate, there is a monument to the grenadiers who fell near Plevna.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

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From the appeal of the Bulgarian Central Committee to the Bulgarian people

Brothers! The hordes of Turkish monsters drowned our protest in blood and carried out those unheard-of atrocities for which there is no justification, atrocities that shook the whole world. Our villages were burned: mothers, loved ones, children dishonored and slaughtered without pity; priests are crucified; the temples of God were defiled, and the fields were strewn with innocent bloody victims. For a whole year we carried the martyr's cross, but in the midst of indescribable oppression and suffering, hope gleamed, strengthening us. The hope that never left us for a moment was the great Orthodox Russia.

Brothers! It was not in vain that we waited for her powerful support, a year has passed, she comes and asks for an account for the blood of the martyrs.

Soon victorious Russian banners will dawn in our country, and under their shadow the beginnings of a better future will be laid.

The Russians are going disinterestedly, like brothers, to help, to do now the same thing that they did earlier to liberate the Greeks, Romanians, Serbs.

Bulgarians! We will all meet the liberator brothers as one and help the Russian army...

COURSE OF EVENTS

During the siege of Plevna, four battles were given: the first three were attacks on the tour. fortifications, the fourth - the last attempt by Osman Pasha to break through the battle formations of the besiegers. July 20, 1877 the vanguard of the corps of General. Schilder-Schuldner numbering 6500 people. attacked defensive fortifications north and east of Plevna; the Russians lost two-thirds of their officers and approx. 2000 soldiers. The second battle took place on July 30, when Gen. Kridener with two Russian divisions (30,000 people) attacked the tour. redoubts to the north and east of the city; gene. Shakhovskoy commanded the offensive. The attack on the Grivitsky redoubt (north of Plevna), which turned out to be completely unsuccessful, was led by Kridener himself; Shakhovskoy by 17.30 captured two redoubts located to the east of the fortress, but before dark they were again taken by the Turks, and the Russians retreated, suffering defeat along the entire front. Their losses amounted to 169 officers and 7136 soldiers, including 2400 left lying dead on the battlefield. 11 and 12 Sept. an army besieging the city of 95,000 people. under the command of Grand Duke Michael attacked Plevna from three sides. Osman Pasha at that time had under his command 34,000 people. 11 Sept. the attack on the Omerbey redoubt was repulsed, the Russian losses amounted to 6000 people. Skobelev captured two of the six internal redoubts that protected the corner of the fortress from the southwest. 12 Sept. an attack on the second Grivitsky redoubt was repelled, and after a fierce battle, two redoubts captured by Skobelev were again occupied by the Turks. As a result of a two-day battle, Russian losses amounted to 20,600 people, including 2,000 prisoners, from the tour. sides - 5000. 10 Dec. Osman Pasha, at the head of a 25,000-strong detachment, with 9,000 wounded and recovering in wagons, tried to break through the Russian army besieging the city, which by that time amounted to 100,000 people. (under the nominal leadership of the Roman prince Karol, chief of staff - General Totleben). Having successfully crossed the river Wit, Osman attacked the Russian troops on a two-mile front and captured the first line of field fortifications. However, Totleben hastily sent reinforcements there, and the Turks, in turn, were attacked and thrown back in disorder across the river; Osman was seriously injured. Here the Turks last tried to gain a foothold, but were crushed and pushed back to Plevna; the city capitulated before the evening after 143 days of defense. In this battle, the Turks lost 5000, the Russians - 2000 killed and wounded. The Russian army continued its movement deep into the Balkan Peninsula.

SKOBELEV UNDER PLYEVNA

... He was exceptionally popular in Russian society. “Our Achilles,” I.S. said about him. Turgenev. The influence of Skobelev on the mass of soldiers could only be compared with the influence. The soldiers idolized him and believed in his invulnerability, since he, who spent his whole life in battles, was never wounded. The soldier's rumor "certified" that Skobelev knew the conspiracy word against death ("in Turkestan he bought from a Tatar for 10 thousand gold pieces"). Near Plevna, a wounded soldier told his comrades: “The bullet went through him (Skobeleva. - N.T.), nothing for him, but wounded me.”

N. Troitsky

IRREGULAR "HOORAY!"

At the end of November, the Turks left the fortress and tried to break through the Russian defense lines in one of the sections and join up with the main forces of their army. But they failed. With the reserves of Russian troops quickly approaching from other sectors, they were stopped, attacked and surrounded.

On command, the troops quickly moved apart, and as soon as the Turks rushed into the open space, forty-eight copper mouths threw fire and death into their continuous and crowded ranks ... Buckshot with an evil whistle burst into this living mass, leaving another mass along the way, but already either motionless, lifeless, or writhing in terrible agony ... Grenades fell and exploded - and there was nowhere to escape from them. As soon as the grenadiers noticed that the fire on the Turks had the proper effect ... they rushed at a quick step with a bang. Once more the bayonets crossed, once again the copper mouths of the guns roared, and soon the innumerable crowd of the enemy overturned into disorderly flight... The attack was brilliant. The retreating almost did not shoot back. Redif and Nizam, bashi-bouzuks and cavalrymen with Circassians - all this mixed up in one sea of ​​horses and lavas, irresistibly rushing back ...

At the head of his best camps, himself in front, Osman Pasha rushed to try to break through our lines for the last time. Each soldier following him fought for three ... But everywhere ... a wall of formidable bayonets grew in front of him, and an uncontrollable “hurray!” thundered right in the face of the pasha. Everything was lost. The duel was coming to an end... The army must lay down its arms, fifty thousand of the best combat troops would be expelled from Turkey's already significantly depleted resources...

Nemirovich-Danchenko V. I. Year of the war. Diary of a Russian correspondent, 1877-1878, St. Petersburg, 1878

ALL RUSSIA JOYS

The battle on November 28 with Osman Pasha decided the fate of his army, which so staunchly resisted all the efforts of our weapons for almost 8 months. This army, with its worthy commander at the head, among 40 thousand, surrendered to us unconditionally ...

I am proud to command such troops and I must tell you that I cannot find words to adequately express my respect and admiration for your fighting prowess.

Bearing with full consciousness of sacred duty all the difficulties of the blockade service near Plevna, you completed it with a battle on November 28, like real heroes. Remember that I am not alone, but all of Russia, all her sons rejoice and rejoice at your glorious victory over Osman Pasha ...

Commander of the Grenadier Corps, Lieutenant General P.S. Ganetsky

A. Kivshenko. Surrender of Plevna (Wounded Osman Pasha before Alexander II). 1880. (Fragment)

RUSSIAN WINNERS

Emperor Alexander, who was in Tuchenitsa, having learned about the fall of Plevna, immediately went to the troops, congratulated them ... Osman Pasha, the "Plevna lion", was received by the sovereign and his senior commanders with distinction and delicacy. The emperor said a few flattering words to him and returned the saber. Russian officers rendered the captured marshal high reverence at every opportunity.

On December 11, the Russians entered the conquered city, surrounded on all sides by mountains, lying completely in a hollow, opening only to the west ... The sanitary situation of the city was simply terrifying. Hospitals, mosques and other buildings were overflowing with corpses, dying sick and wounded. These unfortunates were left without help and charity; it required great energy and dedication to separate the living from the dead and establish even the slightest bit of some kind of order.

On December 15, the emperor left the theater of operations, returning to St. Petersburg, where he was received with indescribable enthusiasm.

MONUMENT TO THE HEROES OF PLEVNA

From an appeal to the troops about the opening of a voluntary subscription to the monument to the heroes of Plevna

Serving as a tribute of deep respect to the memory of those who died in this battle, the erected monument will serve to maintain high military feelings in future descendants: valor, courage and courage, and for the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula - a reminder that they owe their freedom, new life to the Christian generosity of the Russian people, who redeemed their release by the blood of faithful sons.

Ilyinsky Square in the very center of Moscow, next to the Kremlin. Old Military Cemetery in Minsk. It would seem that these areas of the two capitals, separated by hundreds of kilometers, can be connected. It turns out a lot. General history. Common pride in the exploits and heroism of our ancestors. In these iconic places there are monuments to our soldiers and officers who died 135 years ago during the heroic siege of the Bulgarian city of Plevna, occupied by the Turkish army.

In Moscow - this is a famous chapel, popularly called simply - a monument to the heroes of Plevna. In Minsk, this is the temple of Alexander Nevsky, where the remains of Belarusian heroes are buried, who gave their lives for the freedom of the Slavic brothers in distant Bulgaria. And both beautiful monuments were erected almost at the same time, with a difference of 10 years. In Minsk in 1898, in Moscow in 1887.

Monument to the heroes of Plevna in Moscow

There is an old soldier's song from those times.

CAPTURE OF PLEVNA

It wasn't the fog that rose from the sea,
It rained heavily for three days in a row -
The great prince crossed
He marched across the Danube with an army.
He walked with a cross-prayer,
To win the Turks
To win the Turks
Release all Bulgarians.
We walked for three nights,
Blurred in our eyes.
The sovereign gave us freedom
Walk for three hours.
We walked these three hours,
Only heaven knew about us.
Suddenly, fire opened in the troops
And a strong thunder struck -
The whole city was covered in smoke
The city was not visible for three hours!
Our Plevna cried,
Lost Turkish glory
And there will never be again!

Church of Alexander Nevsky in Minsk

The next Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), and there were countless of them in our common history, quickly acquired the character of a people's war. Because the goals were set high and noble. Free fellow believers, Orthodox brothers of the Bulgarians from Turkish enslavement. A monstrous genocide of Christians was going on in Bulgaria. Orthodox brothers were mercilessly slaughtered by entire villages, sparing no one. In Europe, the best minds of that time openly opposed the atrocities perpetrated by the Turks. Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Charles Darwin published angry articles in the newspapers. But these were just words. In reality, only Russia could help the Bulgarians.

And so war was declared on Turkey. A patriotic upsurge reigned in Russia. Thousands signed up as volunteers for the army, collecting donations throughout the country to help the army and the Bulgarian militias. Many prominent people of that time, the cultural elite of the country, such as the writer V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, (brother of director V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko), famous doctors N.I. Pirogov, S.P. Botkin, N.V. Sklifosovsky, writers V.A. Gilyarovsky and V.M. Garshin volunteered for the Russian army. Leo Tolstoy wrote: "All Russia is there, and I must go." F.M. Dostoevsky saw in this war the fulfillment of a special historical mission of the Russian people, which consisted in rallying the Slavic peoples around Russia on the basis of Orthodoxy.

The army was led by the brother of Tsar Alexander II, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. Such iconic words as the Shipka Pass, crossing the Danube were known to everyone. And of course, the siege of Plevna.

On November 28 (December 11), 1877, the Turkish fortress of Plevna was taken by the Russian army. After three bloody unsuccessful attacks, after a four-month siege, the denouement of the military drama approached. Everything was ready in the Russian main apartment. It was known that almost all food supplies had gone out in the locked army of Osman Pasha, and, knowing the nature of this commander, it was possible to foresee that surrender on his part would not be without bloodshed and that he would make a last attempt to break through the besieging army.

Osman Pasha gathered his fighting forces to the west of Plevna. On the morning of November 28, at 7 o'clock, the besieged Turkish army attacked the Russian troops with fury. The first furious pressure forced our troops to retreat and hand over the advanced fortifications to the Turks. But now the Turks came under concentrated artillery fire from the second line of fortifications. Under the weight of this gunfire, balance was restored. General Ganetsky sent his grenadiers to attack, who were able to push back the Turks.

“On command, the troops quickly moved apart, and as soon as the Turks rushed into the open space, forty-eight copper mouths threw fire and death into their solid and crowded ranks ... Buckshot with an evil whistle burst into this living mass, leaving another mass along the way, but already either motionless, lifeless, or writhing in terrible agony ... Grenades fell and exploded - and there was nowhere to escape from them. As soon as the grenadiers noticed that the fire on the Turks had the proper effect ... they rushed at a quick step with a bang. Once more the bayonets crossed, once again the copper mouths of the guns roared, and soon the innumerable crowd of the enemy overturned into disorderly flight... The attack was brilliant. The retreating almost did not shoot back. Redif and Nizam, bashi-bazouks and cavalrymen with Circassians - all this mixed up in one sea of ​​horses and lavas, irresistibly rushing back ... ".

Meanwhile, the Romanians (allies) from the north were advancing on the retreating line of the Turks, and from the south, the legendary General Skobelev launched an attack, capturing the poorly defended Turkish trenches, and entered with his army into Plevna itself, thus cutting off Osman Pasha's path to retreat .

Vasily Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko:

“... At the head of his best camps, himself in front, Osman Pasha rushed - to try to break through our lines for the last time. Each soldier following him fought for three ... But everywhere ... a wall of formidable bayonets grew in front of him, and an uncontrollable “hurray!” thundered right in the face of the pasha. Everything was lost. The duel was over... The army must lay down its arms, fifty thousand of the best fighting troops will be struck out of Turkey's already significantly depleted resources...”.

Osman Pasha was seriously wounded in the leg. Realizing the hopelessness of his situation, he suspended the battle and threw out the white flag at many points. The capitulation has taken place. The Plevna Turkish army surrendered unconditionally. This last struggle at Plevna cost the Russians 192 killed and 1252 wounded, the Turks lost up to 4000 people. the wounded and the dead. There were 44 thousand prisoners, among them Gazi ("victorious") Osman Pasha, 9 pashas, ​​128 headquarters and 2000 chief officers and 77 guns.

Artist A. D. Kivshenko. Surrender of Plevna (Wounded Osman Pasha before Alexander II). 1878". 1880

Many Belarusians fought under the banner of the legendary General Mikhail Skobelev and the Belarusian Prince General Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky. By the way, General N. Svyatopolk-Mirsky is the last owner of the famous Mir Castle, not far from Minsk. The Belarusian soldiers especially distinguished themselves near Plevna. They fought both in the militia and in the regular units. As part of the Mogilev Infantry Regiment, the Belarusian Lancers, the Belarusian Hussars, the 119th Kolomna Infantry Regiment and the 30th Kolomna Artillery Brigade. Named after the place of formation in the city of Kolomna. It is to these soldiers who died in battles and died of wounds in the Minsk military hospital that the church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Minsk is dedicated.

Inside this beautiful church, marble plaques are placed on the columns, on which the names of 118 soldiers of the Kolomna regiment and artillery brigade are inscribed in gold. To the left of the altar there are still military relics of those years - a wooden marching church and regimental banners of the 119th Kolomna Regiment. Behind the altar wall of the temple, the remains of the dead soldiers are buried. From the day of the consecration of the temple to the present, four times a year on Ecumenical Saturdays, as well as on March 3, funeral services are performed here, at which all the soldiers are commemorated by name.

This is one of the most beautiful churches in Minsk. It has a kind of tender simplicity and sincerity. A huge green array of a well-groomed cemetery, as if hiding it from prying eyes. Makes it somewhat detached from the everyday bustle of the street. Probably, the Kingdom of God is the same way, it is another world, calm and bright.

So, two buildings separated by hundreds of kilometers are united by a common great story. Which we all carry into the future.

Vladimir Kazakov

140 years ago, on November 28 (December 10), 1877, the Russian army took Plevna after a long siege. The Turkish army of Osman Pasha was defeated while trying to break out of the encirclement and capitulated. The capture of Plevna by the Russian troops became the key event of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, which predetermined the successful completion of the campaign on the Balkan Peninsula and the defeat of the Turkish Empire.

background

After forcing the Danube at Zimnitsa, the Russian Danube Army advanced its Western Detachment (9th Corps of Lieutenant General N.P. Kridener) to capture Nikopol and Plevna. After the successful assault on Nikopol on July 4 (16), the Russian command did not take any action for two days to capture Plevna, located 40 km from it, although there were no serious enemy forces there. The Russians could actually just enter the enemy's strategic fortress. While the Russian troops were inactive, the army of Osman Pasha advanced from Vidin. She made a forced march, having covered 200 km in 6 days, at dawn on 7 (19) she went to Plevna and took up defense on the outskirts of the city. The Ottomans immediately began to strengthen the defense of the fortress, turning it into a fortified area.

On the morning of July 8 (20) a Russian detachment under the command of Lieutenant General Yu. I. Schilder-Schuldner attacked the fortress. But the Turks repelled the attack. On July 18 (30), the second assault on Plevna took place, which also failed and cost the Russian troops about 7 thousand people. In the meantime, the Ottomans quickly restored the destroyed defenses, erected new ones and turned the nearest approaches to Plevna into a heavily fortified area with over 32 thousand troops defending it with 70 guns. The grouping of Osman Pasha created a threat to the Danube army from the flank. This failure forced the Russian command to suspend offensive operations in the main direction of Constantinople.

The Western detachment had to be increased to an entire army, more than three times - 84 thousand people, 424 guns, including the Romanian troops - 32 thousand people, 108 guns. Here was located the supreme leadership of Russia and Romania - Alexander II, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich and Minister of War D. A. Milyutin, the Romanian prince Karl (he was formally the commander of the Western Detachment). In the middle of the day on August 30 (September 11), the third assault on the Turkish stronghold began. Skobelev's detachment in the 2nd half of the day managed to break through the enemy defenses and open the way to Plevna. But the Russian high command refused to regroup forces to the south and did not support Skobelev's detachment with reserves, which the next day, repelling strong counterattacks by the Turks, was forced to retreat under the onslaught of superior enemy forces to their original position. Thus, the third attack on Plevna, despite the high military prowess, dedication and stamina of Russian and Romanian soldiers and officers, ended in failure. There were errors in management. In particular, the intelligence of the Turkish troops and their defense system was weak, which caused the enemy to be underestimated; strikes were delivered in the same directions, where the enemy was already waiting for an attack and was well prepared; the interaction between the troops advancing on each of them was not organized; artillery preparation was ineffective; the breakthrough of the Skobelev detachment could not be used, etc.

The unsuccessful outcome of the offensive forced the Russian high command to change strategy. On September 1 (13), Tsar Alexander II arrived near Plevna and convened a military council, at which he raised the question of whether the army should remain near Plevna or whether troops should be withdrawn from the fortress. The chief of staff of the Western Detachment, Lieutenant General P. D. Zotov, and the chief of artillery of the army, Lieutenant General Prince N. F. Masalsky, spoke out in favor of the retreat. For the continuation of the struggle for the fortress, Major General K. V. Levitsky, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Danube Army, and Minister of War D. A. Milyutin advocated. Milyutin suggested abandoning direct assaults and breaking the enemy's resistance with a siege. Milyutin noted that the troops, not having large-caliber artillery of mounted fire, could not reliably destroy the defensive structures of the Ottoman army and succeed in an open attack. In the event of a complete blockade, success is guaranteed, since the Turkish garrison does not have enough supplies for a long struggle. Indeed, the enemy was already short of supplies. On September 2 (14), Osman Pasha reported to the high command that shells and food were running out, there were no reinforcements, and the losses had greatly weakened the garrison, forcing him to a dangerous retreat.

Alexander II supported Milyutin. The council members decided not to retreat from Plevna, to strengthen their positions and wait for reinforcements from Russia, after which they planned to start a proper siege of the fortress and force it to surrender. To direct the siege work, the well-known engineer-general E. I. Totleben, who became famous during the defense of Sevastopol, was appointed assistant commander of the detachment of the Romanian prince Charles. Arriving at the theater of operations, Totleben came to the conclusion that the Plevna garrison was provided with food for only two months, and therefore could not withstand a long blockade. General Zotov returned to his former duties as commander of the 4th Corps. All cavalry was subordinated to I. V. Gurko. These changes have improved command and control of troops. The western detachment was again reinforced - the newly arrived Guards Corps (1st, 2nd, 3rd Guards Infantry and 2nd Guards Cavalry Divisions, Guards Rifle Brigade) joined it.

Departure from Plevna. December 1877. Painting by an unknown artist published in the English illustrated magazine The Illustrated London News in February 1878.

Siege

General Totleben skillfully led the siege work. To reduce losses in the troops, he ordered to dig strong trenches, build comfortable dugouts, and bring far-flung hospitals closer to the front. Artillery was to carry out a thorough sighting, and then move on to the methodical destruction of enemy fortifications.

Russian-Romanian troops surrounded Plevna from the north, east and south. In the west and southwest, the enemy had the opportunity to pass. Especially important for the Turkish garrison was the Sofia Highway, through which Osman Pasha's army received the main supplies. For the defense of this communication, the Turks fortified the points of Gorny Dubnyak, Dolny Dubnyak and Telish. To completely block the enemy garrison, it was necessary to cut his communication with Sophia. First, small cavalry detachments of Krylov and Loshkarev were sent here. However, this was not enough. It was necessary to take enemy strongholds on the highway. This task was to be solved by the newly formed detachment under the command of I.V. Gurko.

E. I. TOTLEBEN. Engraving from a photograph (1878)

The Gurko detachment was a very powerful force, the whole army - 50 thousand people with 170 guns. It was based on the guards, who had recently arrived at Plevna. They decided to strike the first blow at Gorny Dubnyak, where 4.5 thousand Turkish garrison sat with 4 guns. Turkish troops occupied good positions on the hills, fortified with two redoubts and trenches. To attack enemy positions, 20 battalions, 6 squadrons and 48 guns were allocated. The troops were to attack simultaneously in three columns - from the north, east and south. At 8 o'clock on 12 (24) October, the Russians attacked the enemy. It was impossible to attack the enemy at the same time. The right column was the first to move forward, the other columns moved late. The guardsmen, participating in the battle for the first time, bravely went on the offensive in close formation and suffered unreasonably large losses. The Turks were able to repel individual attacks by Russian columns. As Gurko noted: “... followed whole line individual attacks. All parts found in the highest degree destructive fire, they could not reach the main redoubt. By 12 o'clock, our troops took the Small Redoubt and surrounded the Big Redoubt, but due to heavy fire, they could not break through further and lay down.

Gurko decided to resume the offensive in the evening. At this time, our soldiers, using dashes and crawls, singly and in small groups accumulated near the redoubt. For movement, the soldiers used the folds of the terrain, ditches, ditches and pits. By 6 p.m., enough troops had accumulated in the ditch to attack. They were in the dead zone, could not fall under enemy fire. When dusk came, our troops stormed the redoubt. During the bayonet battle, the enemy was defeated and capitulated. However, the victory came at a high price. The losses of Russian troops amounted to 3.3 thousand killed and wounded. The Turks lost about 1.5 thousand killed and wounded and 2.3 thousand captured.

The second blow was inflicted on Telish. On October 13 (25), our troops attacked an enemy stronghold, but without success. Then Gurko decided to take the fortification with an "artillery attack". The fortifications of the Turkish garrison and the surrounding area were studied. Artillerymen prepared firing positions, the corresponding engineering training offensive. Artillery preparation was thorough - 6 hours. A strict order of artillery preparation was established: from 12 to 14 hours - a powerful fire strike with all artillery; at 14 and 14 hours 30 minutes - three volleys with all artillery, and then methodical fire; at 1630 hours - three volleys, then methodical fire again; at 18 o'clock - the last three volleys. Ammunition consumption was provided for 100 shells per gun. It was planned that if the enemy did not lay down after such a powerful fire strike, then the troops would storm with three sides. Such careful preparation led to success.

On October 16 (28) the assault on Telish began. The attack involved 4 brigades and 72 guns. The powerful and well-aimed fire of the Russian batteries demoralized the Ottoman troops. After a 3-hour artillery preparation, 5 thousand. The Turkish garrison capitulated. Russian losses did not exceed 50 people. On October 20 (November 1), the enemy surrendered Gorny Dubnyak without a fight. On the same day, the advanced units of the 3rd Grenadier Division, which arrived in Bulgaria, approached the settlement northwest of Plevna - Gorny Metropol, interrupting communications with Vidin. Thus, the blockade of Plevna became complete.

The Turkish command decided to release the army of Osman Pasha. For this, 25 thousand groups began to concentrate in the Orkhaniye region. However, this plan of the enemy was destroyed by the actions of the Gurko detachment. The general began to move towards Orkhanie with the aim of defeating the enemy corps and securing a path to the Trans-Balkan region. The Turkish command, not daring to enter into an open battle with the Russians (the steadfastness of the Turkish troops in open battle was doubtful), withdrew troops from Orkhaniye to the fortifications near Arab-Konak. Our troops, having reached this line, stopped. They completed their main task. The blockade of Plevna was secured and our troops took up a convenient position for the future movement for the Balkans.

The location of the Western Detachment by October 24, 1877 and the completion of the blockade of Plevna. Map source: N. I. Belyaev. Russo-Turkish War 1877-1878

Surrender

By the beginning of November, the number of Russian-Romanian troops near Plevna reached 130 thousand people, 502 field and 58 siege weapons. The troops were divided into six sections: 1st - Romanian General A. Chernat (consisted of Romanian troops), 2nd - Lieutenant General N. P. Kridener, 3rd - Lieutenant General P. D. Zotov, 4 th - Lieutenant General M. D. Skobelev, 5th - Lieutenant General V. V. Kataleya and 6th - Lieutenant General I. S. Ganetsky.

The position of the Turkish army became more and more difficult. Stocks of ammunition and food came to an end. From 13 (25) October, Turkish soldiers were given 0.5 rations each. The fuel has run out. Thousands of soldiers were sick. October 22 (November 3) the high command in Constantinople allowed to leave Plevna, but it was too late. However, it was no longer possible to stay in the fortress - the supplies ran out, and the demoralized soldiers were afraid of the Russian offensive, they left their posts for the night, hiding in the city. Osman Pasha on November 19 (December 1) convened a military council. Its members made a unanimous decision to break through from Plevna. The Turkish commander expected to cross to the left bank of the Vid River, strike at the Russian troops in a northwestern direction on Magaletta, and then move, depending on the situation, to Vidin or Sofia.

On the night of November 27-28 (December 9-10), his troops set out from Plevna. Wagon trains followed the troops. Osman Pasha was also forced to take with him about 200 families from among the Turkish inhabitants of Plevna and most of the wounded. The division of Tahir Pasha crossed the river. View and, lining up in deep columns at 7 hours and 30 minutes, attacked the positions of the 3rd Grenadier Division in the 6th sector. Despite all the precautions taken, the crossing of the Turkish army was a complete surprise for the Russian command. 7 companies of the 9th Siberian Grenadier Regiment could not withstand the attacks of 16 Turkish battalions. The Turks drove the Russian grenadiers out of the trenches, capturing 8 guns. By 08:30, the first line of Russian fortifications between Dolny Metropol and Kopana Mogila was broken. Under the pressure of desperately attacking, superior forces, the 9th Siberian Regiment withdrew to the second line of defense. The 10th Little Russian Regiment moved to help him, but he also could not stop the enemy and was overturned. Ottoman troops captured the second line of defense around 9 o'clock.

However, the Turks were already exhausted, they fell under the crossfire and could not develop the offensive. At the beginning of 11 o'clock, the 2nd brigade of the 3rd grenadier division (11th Fanagoria and 12th Astrakhan regiments) approached from the Mountain Metropol. As a result of the ensuing counterattack, the Russian grenadiers recaptured the second line of fortifications occupied by the enemy. The 3rd brigade was supported by the approaching 7th Grenadier Samogitsky and 8th Grenadier Moscow Regiments of the 2nd Division. The Russian reserves arrived in time and brought down on the enemy from three sides. The Turks retreated to the first line. Osman Pasha was waiting for the arrival of the second division from the right bank of the Vid, but its crossing was delayed by convoys. The Turkish troops lost even the appearance of mobility, taking with them carts with civilians and the wounded, having lost even a minimal chance of breaking out of the encirclement of the most combat-ready part of the army. The defeated Turkish troops, having not received reinforcements, could not hold on to the first line. By 12 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy was driven out of the first line of fortifications. As a result of the counterattack, the Russian troops not only repulsed 8 guns captured by the Turks, but also captured 10 enemy ones. Turkish troops lost about 6 thousand killed and wounded in this battle. Russian losses left about 1,700 people.

Unsuccessful attempt to break through the army of Osman Pasha

General Ganetsky, still fearing a new attack by the Turks, did not plan to pursue the enemy. He ordered to occupy advanced fortifications, bring artillery here and wait for a new enemy offensive. However, the situation was radically changed by the initiative of junior commanders. The 1st brigade of the 2nd grenadier division, which occupied the fortified position of the Dolne-Dubnyaksky detachment, seeing the retreat of the Turks, went forward and began to cover them from the left flank. Following her, the rest of the troops of the 6th sector went on the offensive. Under the pressure of the Russians, the Turks at first slowly and in relative order retreated to Vid, but soon the retreating ran into their carts. Panic began among the civilians following the carts, and it spread to the soldiers. At that moment Osman Pasha was wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Pertev Bey, commander of one of the two regiments covering the baggage train, tried to stop the Russians, but to no avail. His regiment was overturned, and the retreat of the Turkish army turned into a disorderly flight. Soldiers and refugees, guns, wagons and pack animals crowded in a dense mass at the bridges. The grenadiers approached the enemy at 800 paces, firing aimed rifle fire at him.

It was a disaster. In the remaining sectors, the Russian troops also went on the offensive and, having captured the fortifications of the northern, eastern and southern fronts, occupied Plevna and reached the heights to the west of it. The 1st and 3rd brigades of the Turkish division of Adil Pasha, covering the retreat of the main forces of Osman Pasha's army, laid down their arms. The wounded Osman Pasha, having lost hope of a successful breakthrough, at 13 o'clock on November 28 (December 10), 1877, sent his adjutant Neshed-bey to the Russian command with an announcement of surrender. 10 generals, 2128 officers, more than 41 thousand soldiers surrendered.

Dmitriev-Orenburgsky N. D. The last battle near Plevna on November 28, 1877

Osman Pasha presents a saber to General I. V. Ganetsky

Results

The fall of Plevna was of strategic importance. Turkey lost an entire army, which fettered the further offensive of the Russian troops beyond the Balkans. This made it possible for the Russian command to release more than 100,000 people for an offensive in the Balkans, which on the whole predetermined Turkey's defeat in the war.

The Romanian army also released the main forces and was regrouped. A large group was thrown at Vidin and Belgradchik. On December 10 (22), Romanian troops took Arnar-Palanki, located on the Danube. The main forces of the Romanian army in January 1878 blocked Vidin. On January 12 (24), the Romanians took the outer fortifications of the fortress. Vidin himself capitulated after the armistice.

Skobelev Park in Plevna

Monument to the Heroes of Plevna at the Ilyinsky Gates in Moscow

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