220 years ago, on September 21, 1799, Suvorov's Swiss campaign began. The transition of Russian troops under the command of Field Marshal A. V. Suvorov from Italy through the Alps to Switzerland during the war of the 2nd coalition against France. Russian miracle heroes showed courage, endurance and heroism, making an unparalleled march across the Alps. Suvorov showed the highest level of military leadership, fighting in the mountains in the most unfavorable conditions, the techniques of capturing mountain heights and passes through a combination of decisive attacks from the front and skillful detours.
Background. End of the Italian campaign
During the Italian campaign of the Russian-Austrian troops under the command of Suvorov and the Mediterranean campaign of the Russian fleet led by Ushakov, almost all of Italy was liberated from the French invaders. Defeated in the decisive battle at Novi (Defeat of the French army at Novi), the French army under the command of Moreau fled to Genoa. Only the fortresses of Tortona and Koni remained in the hands of the French in Northern Italy. Suvorov laid siege to Tortona and planned a campaign to France.
However, the gofkriegsrat (Austrian high command) stopped the Austrian troops. England and Austria, alarmed by the success of the Russians in Italy, developed a new war plan. London and Vienna wanted to use the Russians as "cannon fodder", get all the benefits, and at the same time prevent Russia from strengthening its position in Europe. Back in July 1799, the British government proposed to the Russian Tsar Paul the First to conduct an Anglo-Russian expedition to Holland and change the entire war plan. After the amendments made by the Austrians, the following plan for the further military campaign was adopted: the Austrian army under the command of Archduke Charles was transferred from Switzerland to the Rhine, besieged Main, occupied Belgium and had to establish contact with the Anglo-Russian landing in Holland; Russian troops led by Suvorov left Italy for Switzerland, where the Russian corps of Rimsky-Korsakov and the French émigré corps of Prince Condé (royalists hostile to the French Republic) were also supposed to operate, all these troops were to undertake an invasion of France through Franche-Comté; the Austrian army under the command of Melas remained in Italy and was to launch an offensive into France through Savoy.
Thus, the British and Austrians changed the course of the war in their own interests, but violated common interests. After all, Suvorov's troops had already liberated Italy and could begin a campaign against Paris. England sought to capture the Dutch fleet and thereby achieve the position of ruler of the seas, and to achieve the removal of the Russians from Italy and the Mediterranean region. Vienna wanted to get rid of the Russians in Italy, and establish its rule here instead of the French.
The Russian Emperor Pavel accepted this plan, but made it a condition for the transfer of Russian troops to Switzerland its preliminary cleansing of the French by the forces of the Austrian army. On August 16 (27), Suvorov received an order from the Austrian Emperor Franz to march to Switzerland. However, he wanted to complete the capture of the French fortresses in Italy, so he was in no hurry. Meanwhile, the Austrian high command, in spite of the promise to Petersburg, began the withdrawal of Charles's army from Switzerland. As a result, the Austrians exposed the Rimsky-Korsakov corps, which had just arrived from Russia to the Zurich region, under the attack of the superior forces of the French army under the command of Massena. Despite the vigorous protests of Suvorov, the Austrians left only 22 thousand corps of General Hotze in Switzerland.
On August 31 (September 10), 1799, as soon as Tortona surrendered, Suvorov's troops (21 thousand people) set out from the region of Alessandria and Rivalta to the north. Thus, the Italian campaign of the Russian army ended.
Forces of the parties in Switzerland
By the beginning of September, the forces of the allies (Russians and Austrians) were located in Switzerland in the following main groupings: 24 thousand. Rimsky-Korsakov's corps stood on the river. Limmat near Zurich, 10.5 thousand Hotze detachment - along the Zurich and Wallenstadt lakes and on the Lint River, 5 thousand F. Elachich's detachment - at Zargans, 4 thousand Linken's detachment - at Ilants, 2, 5 thousand Aufenberg's detachment - at Disentis. The Austrian detachments of Strauch, Rogan and Hadik (up to 11.5 thousand people in total) were located on the southern approaches to Switzerland. The main forces of the French army of General Massena (38 thousand people) were against the corps of Rimsky-Korsakov, the division of Soult and the brigade of Molitor (15 thousand soldiers) - against the detachment of Hotze, the division of Lekurb (11, 8 thousand people) - in the valley of the r … Reuss, on the Saint-Gotthard pass, the Turro detachment (9, 6 thousand people) - west of the lake. Lago Maggiore, against Rogan's squad. As a result, the French troops had superiority in strength and were in advantageous positions. Massena was distinguished by decisiveness and energy, in the conditions of the departure of the main forces of the Austrians, the offensive of the French was inevitable.
Suvorov's breakthrough to Switzerland
On September 4 (15), 1799, Russian troops arrived at Taverno, at the foot of the Alps. The Austrians hurried the Russians in every possible way, and at the same time interfered. In particular, they sent an insufficient number of mules (necessary for the transport of artillery and ammunition) and food for a mountain campaign, because of which the performance had to be postponed. When the mules were delivered, it turned out that they were missing. The Austrians also gave incorrect information about the size of the French army (significantly understating it) and about the route. From Taverno, there were two ways to connect with Korsakov's corps: a round one - to the valley of the upper Rhine, and a short and occupied by the enemy - to Bellinzona, Saint-Gotthard, the Reuss valley. At the suggestion of the Austrians, Suvorov chose a short route to reach Schwyz and find himself in the rear of the French army. At the same time, the Austrians, who advised the Russian field marshal to choose a short route, concealed that there are no roads to Schwyz along Lake Lucerne. The Russian army inevitably fell into a dead end.
It was known that there were no good roads, only mountain trails, and there were few mules. Therefore, the artillery and carts were sent in a roundabout way to Lake Constance. Only 25 mountain guns were left with the troops. On September 10 (21), 1799, the Russian army set out on the Swiss campaign. In the vanguard was the Bagration division (8 battalions and 6 guns), in the main forces under the command of Derfelden - the weak divisions of Povalo-Schweikovsky and Ferster (14 battalions and 11 guns), in the rearguard - the Rosenberg division (10 battalions with 8 guns). A total of 32 battalions and Cossacks. The Russian commander ordered the divisions to go in echelons: in front were scouts from the Cossacks and pioneers (sappers), followed by a head battalion with one cannon, the main forces and a rearguard. Faced with the enemy, the forward battalion had to crumble and quickly occupy heights, the main forces, remaining in the columns, follow the forward arrows and attack with bayonets.
The Russian commander sent a column of General Rosenberg around the Saint Gotthard Pass on the right through Disentis to the Devil's Bridge to the rear of the enemy, and on September 13 (24) he attacked the pass with his main forces. The French repulsed two attacks, then Bagration's arrows went to the rear of the enemy. As a result, in the battle of Saint Gotthard, our troops defeated the division of Lecourbe and opened their way to the Alps. On September 14 (25), the French tried to detain the Russian troops at the Ursern-Loch tunnel and the Devil's Bridge, but were outflanked and withdrew. Our troops, in front of the astonished enemy, crossed the stormy Reisu. On September 15 (26), Russian troops reached Altdorf. Here it turned out that there was no passage from here to Schwyz, and the ships for the crossing of Lake Lucerne were captured by the French. The army was at an impasse. There is no news of Korsakov, food is running out (it was expected to be received in Schwyz), people are exhausted by the week-long march and fighting, their shoes are torn, the horses are exhausted.
From here there were two roads - through the Shekhen Valley to the upper reaches of the Lint River, where our troops could join up with the detachment of the Austrian General Linken, and through the Maderan Valley to the upper Rhine. But these roads did not lead to Shvits, that is, it was impossible to connect with the detachments of Korsakov and Hotse. Suvorov learned from local residents that there are mountain trails (they were used only in summer) through the Rostock pass to the Mutenskaya valley. Suvorov decided to move to Schwyz through the Rostock (Rossstock) ridge and the Mutenskaya valley. At dawn on September 16 (27), the army set out. The Russian soldiers covered the difficult 18-kilometer path to the Mutenskaya Valley in two days. The transition was extremely difficult, the soldiers walked in places where no army had ever marched. The ascent turned out to be much more difficult than on St. Gotthard. They walked along the path one by one, each step threatened with death. Cossack horses and mules fell off, and people died. Below was a viscous, loose clay, above the stones and snow. The descent turned out to be even more difficult than the ascent - everything was slippery from the rain.
The battle in the Muten Valley and the breakout from the encirclement
Russian troops marched through Rostock for two days. The vanguard of Bagration was in the Mutenskaya valley by the evening of the same day, and the tail of the column - only by the evening of September 17 (28). The packs with breadcrumbs and cartridges dragged on for two more days. There was a French post in front of the village of Muten, Bagration knocked it down. Next was a strong French corps. In Muten, Suvorov was waiting for an even stronger blow than in Altdorf. The position of the Russian troops was desperate. The news came that Korsakov's corps (24 thousand soldiers) was destroyed in the Battle of Zurich on September 14-15 (25-26). He scattered his forces on both banks of the Rhine and did not take the necessary precautions. Massena concentrated forces (38 thousand people) attacked the Russians. Our troops fought back stubbornly, the battle went on with varying success. On September 15 (26), the French launched a general attack against the center and the right wing of the Russian troops, which fiercely defended, despite the great superiority of the enemy forces. However, when the news was received about the defeat on September 14 (25) by the division of General Soult (15 thousand soldiers) of the Austrian detachment of General Hotse (8 thousand people), which was stationed on the river. Lint to the left of the Russian corps, Korsakov gave the order to withdraw to Winterthur. The retreat took place in difficult conditions along mountain paths, as a result of which about 80 guns and most of the convoy were abandoned. The losses of our troops amounted to 15 thousand people, the French - 7 thousand people. This was one of the most severe defeats of the Russian army.
Thus, the position of Suvorov's army seemed hopeless. The corps of Korsakov and Hotse were defeated, the Austrian detachments of Jelachich and Linken retreated. Schwyz had the superior forces of Massena's army. Suvorov had only about 18 thousand people, the French were three times more. Russian troops were exhausted by extremely heavy marches through the mountains, had no provisions and limited ammunition. The soldiers did not sleep for days, did not see hot food, they walked with torn shoes, barefoot, hungry and cold, cartridges were running out. Only mountain artillery.
It was clear that the Swiss campaign had been lost, thanks to the treachery of the Austrians. Suvorov's troops on the edge of the abyss. It is necessary to save a small army. You cannot go to Schwyz - Massena has almost 60 thousand army. It was also impossible to go back through Rostock: the army could die in such a passage, and Suvorov could not retreat either. The honor of the Russian army did not allow. The choice was: win or die. At the military council on September 18 (29), 1799it was decided to break through to Glaris: “We will move everything, we will not shame Russian weapons! And if we fall, we will die in glory! Bagration had to pave the way. Rosenberg's rearguard performed a miracle: cover the breakthrough from Massena's army, which was already descending from Schwyz from the Muten Valley.
September 18-20 (September 29 - October 1) 1799 Rosenberg's troops fought an unequal battle in the Muten Valley. 4 thousand Russian fighters, then 7 thousand Russians, hungry, ragged, exhausted, defeated the advanced forces of the French army, 15 thousand people. Massena himself was nearly captured. The French lost in these battles more than 5 thousand people killed and captured, 12 guns and 2 banners. At this time, the main forces of Suvorov climbed the icy steeps, which were considered impregnable. On September 20 (October 1), having shot down the French division of Molitor, Bagration broke through to Glaris. Other units followed him. On September 23 (October 4), Rosenberg's rearguard joined the main force at Glaris.
Traffic to Ilants
There were no Austrian troops in Glaris, the Austrians had already retreated. Suvorov, saving the troops, decided to go to Ilants. The army set out on the night of September 23-24 (October 5). Miloradovich was in the vanguard, followed by the main forces of Derfelden and Rosenberg, brave and indefatigable Bagration was in the rearguard, repulsing the enemy who was trying to attack from the rear. The Ringenkopf Pass (Paniks) became an even more terrible test for our troops than others. The path allowed to walk only one by one, the movement was hampered by fog, blizzard and strong wind. The snow cover reached half a meter. The guides fled, the soldiers made their way by touch, died in dozens. The artillery had to be abandoned by riveting the cannons. Many French prisoners died.
On the evening of September 26 (October 7), Russian troops reached Ilants, and on September 27 (October 8) - the city of Kur, where the army was able to rest normally. Suvorov's Swiss campaign ended. 15 thousand miracle heroes remained in the ranks, the rest died, froze, crashed in the mountains or were wounded. Suvorov received the order of Tsar Paul to go to Russia. The alliance with the treacherous Vienna was dissolved. For his amazing campaign, Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov received the rank of Generalissimo and the title of Prince of Italy. He was entitled to royal honors even in the presence of the sovereign.
Thus ended the first war with France, which Russia was waging for other people's interests and which did not have any positive results for the Russians. Russian blood was poured in the interests of Vienna and London. Pavel understood this and withdrew the Russian troops. He also understood all the danger England posed to Russia. He made peace with Napoleon, preparing to march against England. Unfortunately, he was killed (Russian aristocrats for British gold), and his heir Alexander did not use this experience. Russian miracle heroes will continue to shed blood for the interests of Vienna, London and Berlin.
However, the brilliant campaigns of the miraculous heroes of Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland, politically unsuccessful, still have enormous educational value for the Russian people. This is one of the most magnificent, brilliant pages in our military history. Unfortunately, these pages were used to educate the people, young people only in the Soviet period. Nowadays there is not a single strong artistic picture that would describe this feat.
The campaign of 1799 was the last in the history of the great Russian commander. Perhaps this was his most brilliant victory. A bright, majestic victory of the Russian spirit over matter!
