Falling chaff. “The fall of Plevna decided the whole issue of the war

December 10, 1877 during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Russian troops, after a difficult siege, captured Plevna, forcing the surrender of the 40,000-strong Turkish army. This was an important victory for Russia, but it came at a considerable price.

“Defeated. Memorial Service"

Heavy battles near Plevna, which cost the Russian army tens of thousands of killed and wounded, are reflected in painting. The famous battle painter V.V. Vereshchagin, who was a participant in the siege of Plevna (one of his brothers was killed during the Third assault on the fortress, and the other was wounded), dedicated the canvas “The Vanquished. Requiem service." Much later, after the death of V.V. Vereshchagin himself in 1904, another participant in the events near Plevna, scientist V.M. Bekhterev, responded to this picture with the following poem:

The entire field is covered with thick grass.
Not roses, but corpses cover it
The priest stands with his head naked.
While swinging the censer he reads....
And the choir behind him sings together, drawn out
One after another prayers.
He rewards eternal memory and sorrow
To all those who fell for their homeland in battle.

Under a hail of bullets

One of the factors that determined the high losses of the Russian army during the three unsuccessful assaults on Plevna and a number of other battles for the capture of Turkish strongholds around this fortress was the high density of fire from the Turkish infantry. Often, Turkish soldiers had two types of firearms at the same time - an American Peabody-Martini rifle for long-range shooting and Winchester repeating carbines for close combat, which made it possible to create a high density of fire at a short distance. Of the famous battle paintings where the Turks are depicted simultaneously with rifles and carbines is the painting by A. N. Popov “Defense of the Eagle’s Nest by the Oryol and Bryants on August 12, 1877” (events at the Shipka Pass) - the appearance of the Turkish soldiers near Plevna was similar .

In the 16th division

A number of striking episodes of the Russian-Turkish war are associated with the name of Mikhail Dmitrievich Skobelev. Noteworthy is the preparation of Skobelev's 16th division for the crossing of the Balkans after the capture of Plevna. Firstly, Skobelev rearmed his division with Peabody-Martini rifles, which were taken in huge quantities from the Plevna arsenals. Most Russian infantry units in the Balkans were armed with the Krynka rifle, and only the Guard and the Grenadier Corps had more modern Berdan rifles. Unfortunately, other Russian military leaders did not follow Skobelev’s example. Secondly, Skobelev, using the shops (warehouses) of Plevna, provided his soldiers with warm clothing, and when moving to the Balkans also with firewood - therefore, moving along one of the most difficult sections of the Balkans - the Imetli Pass, the 16th Division did not lose a single person to frostbite .

Troop supply

The Russo-Turkish War and the siege of Plevna were marked by enormous difficulties in military supply, which, under very dark circumstances, was entrusted to the Greger-Gerwitz-Cogan Partnership. The siege of Plevna was carried out in extremely difficult conditions of the beginning of the autumn thaw. Diseases increased and there was a threat of famine. Up to 200 people were out of action every day. During the war, the size of the Russian army near Plevna constantly increased, and its needs increased. Therefore, in September 1877, two civilian transports were formed, consisting of 23 departments of 350 horse-drawn carts each, and in November 1877, two more transports, consisting of 28 departments of the same composition. By the end of the siege of Plevna in November, 26 thousand 850 civilian carts and a large number of other vehicles were involved in the transport. The fighting in the autumn of 1877 was also marked by the first appearance of field kitchens in the Russian army much earlier than other European countries.

E. I. Totleben

After the Third unsuccessful assault on Plevna on August 30-31, 1877, the famous engineer, hero of the defense of Sevastopol E. I. Totleben was called to lead the siege work. He managed to establish a tight blockade of the fortress, destroy Turkish water mills in Plevna by releasing streams of water from open dams, depriving the enemy of the opportunity to bake bread. The outstanding fortifier did a lot to improve the life of the troops besieging Plevna, preparing the Russian camp for the inclement autumn and the approaching cold weather. Refusing frontal attacks on Plevna, Totleben organized constant military demonstrations in front of the fortress, forcing the Turks to maintain significant forces in the first line of defense and suffer heavy losses from concentrated Russian artillery fire.

Totleben himself noted: “The enemy is only defensive, and I conduct continuous demonstrations against him so that he assumes on our part the intention to storm. When the Turks fill the redoubts and trenches with men, and their reserves approach, I order volleys of a hundred or more guns to be fired. In this way I am trying to avoid losses on our part, thereby inflicting daily losses on the Turks.”

War and diplomacy

After the capture of Plevna, Russia once again faced the threat of war with England, which was extremely sensitive to any Russian successes in the Balkans and the Caucasus. Back in July 1877, the English fleet was introduced into the Dardanelles. And after the fall of Plevna, English Prime Minister Disraeli even decided to declare war on Russia, but did not receive support from the cabinet. On December 1, 1877, a memorandum was sent to Russia threatening to declare war if Russian troops occupied Istanbul. In addition, active efforts were launched to organize collective international mediation (intervention) to conclude peace. However, at that time, Russia rejected such a development of events, indicating agreement only to direct Russian-Turkish negotiations.

Results

The siege and capture of Plevna by Russian troops became one of the key events of the war of 1877-78. After the fall of this fortress, the path through the Balkans was opened for Russian troops, and the Ottoman Empire lost its first-class 50,000-strong army. Further rapid actions of the Russian troops made it possible to carry out a rapid transition through the Balkan Mountains and achieve the signing of the San Stefano Peace Treaty, which was beneficial for Russia. And yet, the siege of Plevna went down in Russian military history as one of the bloodiest and most difficult. During the siege, the losses of Russian troops amounted to more than 40 thousand people killed and wounded.

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 Russian troops to open the road to Constantinople and liberate 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

Until the mid-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, as a result of the previous war, Russia lost its fleet in the Black Sea and a number of territories in the south. Treaties of alliance were also concluded between the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. If the Russians declared war, the British pledged to provide military assistance to the Turks. This situation excluded 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 persecution of Christians. Muslims had great privileges before the law. In court, the voice of a Christian against a Muslim carried no weight. Also, most local government posts were occupied by 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 engulfed Bulgaria. As a result, the Turks brutally suppress the uprising, killing tens of thousands of people. Such atrocities against Christians cause outrage in Europe.

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

Beginning of the war

On the twelfth of April the capture of Plevna began and it would actually be completed in six months. However, there was a long way to go before this happened. According to the plan of the Russian headquarters, the troops were supposed to attack from two directions. The first group will go through Romanian territory to the Balkans, and the other will strike from the Caucasus. In both these 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 possible British intervention. Despite public pressure, the British still continued to support the Turks. Therefore, the war had to be won as quickly as possible so that the Ottoman Empire would capitulate before reinforcements arrived.

Fast attack

The capture of Plevna was carried out by troops under the command of General Skobelev. At the beginning of July, the Russians crossed the Danube and reached the road to Sofia. On 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 offensive forced Osman Pasha to retreat to the fortresses. In fact, the first capture of Plevna took place on June 26. An elite detachment under the command of Ivan Gurko entered the city. However, the unit had only fifty scouts. Almost simultaneously with the Russian Cossacks, three battalions of Turks entered the city and drove them out.

Realizing that the capture of Plevna would give the Russians complete strategic advantage, Osman Pasha decided 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 had to advance along the Danube to prevent the Russians from crossing. However, the danger of encirclement forced the Muslims to abandon their original plan. On July 1, 19 battalions set out from Vidin. In six days they covered more than two hundred kilometers with artillery, convoys, 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 a role. 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 Plevna fortress by the Turks took place 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 defensive positions. After some deliberation, the headquarters decides to storm the fortress.

First attack attempt

Russian troops marched on the city from both 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 at a distance of 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 up map, they only moved away from each other. At about one o'clock in the afternoon the main column approached the city. Suddenly they were attacked by the advance troops of the Turks, who had occupied Plevna just a few hours earlier. 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 positions under fire and set up camp. The left column under the command of Kleinhaus approached the city from Grivitsa. Cossack reconnaissance was sent. Two hundred soldiers advanced along the river with the aim of reconnaissance of the nearest villages and the fortress itself. However, hearing the sounds of battle, they retreated to their own.

Offensive

On the night of July 8, a decision was made to attack. The left column was advancing from the direction of Grivitsa. The general and most of the soldiers came from the north. Osman Pasha's main positions were near the village of Opanets. About eight thousand Russians marched against them on a front up to three kilometers away.

Due to the low ground, Schilder-Schuldner lost the ability to maneuver. His troops had to launch a frontal attack. At five o'clock in the morning artillery preparation began. 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 reached the main enemy battery. The fighters were within shooting distance of the Ottoman artillery positions. Osman Pasha understood that the numerical superiority was on his side, and gave the order to counterattack. Under pressure from the Turks, two regiments retreated into the ravine. The general requested support for 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 Grivitsa. At six o'clock in the morning (when the main troops had already begun artillery preparation), the Caucasian Corps struck the right flank of the Turkish defense. After the unstoppable onslaught of the Cossacks, the Ottomans began to flee to the fortress in panic. However, by the time they took positions at Grivitsa, Schilder-Schuldner had already retreated. Therefore, the left column also began to retreat to its original positions. The capture of Plevna by Russian troops was stopped with heavy losses for the latter. The lack of intelligence and the general’s inept decisions had a lot to do with it.

Preparations for a new offensive

After the 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.

Reconnaissance in force was carried out for several days. Constant gunfire was heard both day and night. However, it was never possible to find out the size of the Ottoman garrison in the city.

New assault

While the Russians were preparing for the assault, the Turks were rapidly erecting defensive structures. Construction took place in conditions of a 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 soldiers to fight to the death. The attack was preceded by a long artillery preparation. After this, the soldiers rushed into battle from two flanks. The troops under the command of Kridener managed to capture the first lines of defense. However, near the redoubt they were met with overwhelming rifle fire. After bloody skirmishes, the Russians had to retreat back. The left flank was attacked by Skobelev. His fighters also failed to break through the Turkish defense lines. The battle continued all day. By evening, the Turks launched a counter-offensive and drove Krinder's 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 Romanian troops, the blockade and capture of Plevna became inevitable. Therefore, Osman Pasha decided to break out of the besieged fortress. On August 31, his troops carried out a diversionary maneuver. After which the main forces left the city and struck the nearest outposts.

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

To complete it, 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 coped well with punitive operations against civilians, but quickly abandoned their positions at the prospect of meeting with a 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.

Capture of the Plevna fortress: December 10, 1877

After completely encircling 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 food 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 installed effigies 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 complicated maneuverability. After the start of the battle, reinforcements were sent to the breakthrough site. At first, the Turks managed to push back the advanced detachments, but after being hit on the flank they began to retreat into the lowlands. After bringing artillery into the battle, the Turks ran randomly and eventually capitulated.

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

“Defeated. Memorial Service"

The entire field is covered with thick grass. Not roses, but corpses cover him. The priest stands with his head naked. While swinging the censer he reads... And the choir behind him unanimously, drawlingly sings one prayer after another. He pays eternal memory and sorrow to all those who fell for their homeland in battle.

Under a hail of bullets

Often, Turkish soldiers had two types of firearms at the same time - an American Peabody-Martini rifle for long-range shooting and Winchester repeating carbines for close combat, which made it possible to create a high density of fire at a short distance.

Of the famous battle paintings where the Turks are depicted simultaneously with rifles and carbines is the painting by A. N. Popov “Defense of the Eagle’s Nest by the Oryol and Bryants on August 12, 1877” (events at the Shipka Pass) - the appearance of the Turkish soldiers near Plevna was similar .

In the 16th division

Most Russian infantry units in the Balkans were armed with the Krynka rifle, and only the Guard and the Grenadier Corps had more modern Berdan rifles. Unfortunately, other Russian military leaders did not follow Skobelev’s example.

Secondly, Skobelev, using the shops (warehouses) of Plevna, provided his soldiers with warm clothing, and when moving to the Balkans also with firewood - therefore, moving along one of the most difficult sections of the Balkans - the Imetli Pass, the 16th Division did not lose a single person to frostbite .

Troop supply

Up to 200 people were out of action every day. During the war, the size of the Russian army near Plevna constantly increased, and its needs increased. Therefore, in September 1877, two civilian transports were formed, consisting of 23 departments of 350 horse-drawn carts each, and in November 1877, two more transports, consisting of 28 departments of the same composition. By the end of the siege of Plevna in November, 26 thousand 850 civilian carts and a large number of other vehicles were involved in the transport. The fighting in the autumn of 1877 was also marked by the first appearance of field kitchens in the Russian army much earlier than other European countries.

E. I. Totleben

Refusing frontal attacks on Plevna, Totleben organized constant military demonstrations in front of the fortress, forcing the Turks to maintain significant forces in the first line of defense and suffer heavy losses from concentrated Russian artillery fire. Totleben himself noted: “The enemy is only defensive, and I conduct continuous demonstrations against him so that he assumes on our part the intention to storm.

When the Turks fill the redoubts and trenches with men, and their reserves approach, I order volleys of a hundred or more guns to be fired. In this way I am trying to avoid losses on our part, thereby inflicting daily losses on the Turks.”

War and diplomacy

On December 1, 1877, a memorandum was sent to Russia threatening to declare war if Russian troops occupied Istanbul. In addition, active efforts were launched to organize collective international mediation (intervention) to conclude peace. However, at that time, Russia rejected such a development of events, indicating agreement only to direct Russian-Turkish negotiations.

Results

SIEGE OF PLEVNA SIEGE OF PLEVNA

SIEGE OF PLEVNA in 1877. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. There were stubborn battles for the city of Plevna (Pleven) 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, Turkish troops led by Osman Pasha surrendered after an unsuccessful breakout attempt.
Beginning of the siege of Plevna
After the successful crossing of the Danube by Russian troops at Sistovo, the Turkish command on July 2 (14) began the transfer of Osman Pasha’s corps to Plevna from Vidin (northwest Bulgaria), which was tasked with striking 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 allocated a nine-thousand-strong detachment of Lieutenant General Schilder-Schuldner to occupy Plevna, which on the evening of July 7 reached the outskirts of the city and the next morning attacked Turkish positions. The 15,000-strong garrison of Plevna repelled scattered attacks by Russian regiments, inflicting serious losses on them (2.5 thousand people).
After the concentration of Kridener's entire corps (26 thousand soldiers, 140 guns) near the city, a second assault on Plevna was launched on July 18. By this time, Osman Pasha concentrated about 23 thousand people and 58 guns in the city. Kridener had no information about the Turkish forces, exaggerated their numbers and acted indecisively. The attacks were carried out from the east and southeast head-on against the most fortified areas, troops were brought into battle in parts. The assault ended in failure. Russian losses amounted to 7 thousand people, Turks - about 4 thousand people.
Plevna was of great strategic importance; its strong garrison threatened the crossings of the Danube and 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 (the Shipka Pass was captured on July 8) and during July-August concentrated an 83,000-strong army with 424 guns near Plevna, of which 32,000 people and 108 guns were from the allied Romanian army.
Third assault on Plevna
The Allies besieged Plevna from the south and east. On the right flank, opposite the Grivitsky redoubts, the Romanians settled down. From the east the city was besieged by Kridener's corps, from the southeast by General Krylov's 8th corps. In the southern direction there was a left-flank detachment of General M.D. Skobelev (cm. SKOBELEV Mikhail Dmitrievich). From the north, the Turkish garrison was reliably covered by the heights of Yanyk-Bair, and from the west it was supplied along the Sofia-Plevna road. By the end of summer, the Turks increased the size 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), his chief of staff, Lieutenant General P. D. Zotov, actually ordered. But near Plevna there was also the headquarters of the Russian Emperor Alexander II (cm. ALEXANDER II Nikolaevich) and the commander-in-chief of the entire Danube Army, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Sr. (cm. NIKOLAI Nikolaevich (Senior)).
The third assault on Plevna took place on August 26-31. The Turks predicted the directions of attack 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, delivering an auxiliary attack, found a weak point in the Turkish positions, broke through their defenses in the Green Mountains area, captured the Issa and Kavanlyk redoubts and reached the southern outskirts of the city. The Turks hastily transferred reserves from the north and east against Skobelev.
On August 31, the Russian command did not take offensive actions and did not support Skobelev with reserves. As a result, under the pressure of superior forces, Skobelev’s detachment was forced to return to its original positions. In the third assault on Plevna, Russian and Romanian troops lost 16 thousand people, the Turks - about three thousand.
Siege and capture of Plevna
On September 1, it was decided to proceed to a thorough siege of Plevna, for the leadership of which the best specialist in siege work in Russia, engineer-general E. I. Totleben, was called in (cm. TOTLEBEN Eduard Ivanovich). To successfully conduct a siege, the Russians needed to cut the Sofia-Plevna road, along which the Turks received reinforcements. To solve this problem, a strike detachment of General I.V. Gurko was created from the guards units (cm. GURKO Joseph Vladimirovich). He managed to capture Gorny Dubnyak on October 12, Telish on October 16, Dolny Dubnyak on October 20 - strongholds on the Sofia road, thereby completely closing the blockade ring of the Pleven garrison, whose number by that time amounted to 50 thousand people.
The lack of food forced the Turkish commander Osman Pasha to attempt an independent liberation of Plevna. On November 28, having withdrawn troops from defensive positions, he attacked Russian troops northwest of Plevna. Units of the 2nd and 3rd Grenadier Divisions and the 5th Infantry Division of the Russian Army repelled the Turkish attack. Having lost 6 thousand soldiers and unable to escape from encirclement, Osman Pasha surrendered with 43 thousand soldiers. The fall of Plevna freed up a hundred thousand Russian-Romanian army for a subsequent offensive across the Balkans.
In the fighting near Plevna, forms and methods of besieging fortresses were further developed. The Russian army developed new methods of infantry combat tactics, a combination of movement and fire from rifle chains, and the use of infantry self-entrenchment in the offensive began. At Plevna, the importance of field fortifications, the interaction of infantry with artillery, the role of heavy artillery in preparing an attack on fortified positions was revealed, and the possibility of controlling artillery fire when firing from closed positions was determined.
In memory of the battles for Plevna, a mausoleum was built in the city in memory of fallen Russian and Romanian soldiers (1905), a park-museum of M. D. Skobelev (1907), and an artistic panorama complex “Liberation of Plevna in 1877.” 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! Hordes of Turkish monsters drowned our protest in blood and committed those unheard-of atrocities for which there is no justification, atrocities that shocked the whole world. Our villages were burned: mothers, loved ones, children were dishonored and slaughtered without pity; priests crucified on crosses; the temples of God were desecrated, and the fields were strewn with innocent bloodied victims. We bore the martyr's cross for a whole year, but amidst the indescribable oppression and suffering, hope glimmered and strengthened us. The hope that never left us for a minute was the great Orthodox Rus'.

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

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

Bulgarians! Let us all meet the liberating brothers as one and assist the Russian army...

COURSE OF EVENTS

During the siege of Plevna, four battles were fought: the first three were attacks on the tour. fortifications, the fourth - the last attempt of Osman Pasha to break through the battle formations of the besiegers. July 20, 1877 vanguard of the corps of General. Schilder-Schuldner numbering 6,500 people. attacked the 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 east of the fortress, but even before darkness they were retaken by the Turks, and the Russians retreated, suffering defeat along the entire front. Their losses amounted to 169 officers and 7,136 soldiers, including 2,400 who were left dead on the battlefield. 11 and 12 September an army of 95,000 people besieging the city. under the command of Grand Duke Mikhail attacked Plevna from three sides. Osman Pasha at this time had 34,000 people under his command. 11 Sep. the attack on the Omerbey redoubt was repulsed, Russian losses amounted to 6,000 people. Skobelev captured two of the six internal redoubts that protected the corner of the fortress from the southwest. 12 Sep. The attack on the second Grivitsky redoubt was repelled, and after a fierce battle, the two redoubts captured by Skobelev were again occupied by the Turks. As a result of the two-day battle, Russian losses amounted to 20,600 people, including 2,000 prisoners, with a tour. sides - 5000. 10 Dec. Osman Pasha, at the head of a 25,000-strong detachment, with 9,000 wounded and recovering in carts, tried to break through the Russian army besieging the city, which by this time numbered 100,000 people. (under the nominal leadership of the Romanian Prince Karol, chief of staff - General Totleben). Having successfully crossed the river. Vit, 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 driven back across the river in disorder; Osman was seriously wounded. Here the Turks tried for the last time to gain a foothold, but were crushed and pushed back to Plevna; the city capitulated before evening after 143 days of defense. In this battle, the Turks lost 5,000, the Russians - 2,000 killed and wounded. The Russian army continued its movement deep into the Balkan Peninsula.

SKOBELEV UNDER THE PLEVNA

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

N. Troitsky

UNSTOPPABLE "HURRAY!"

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 the main forces of their army. But they failed. They were stopped, attacked and surrounded by reserves of Russian troops that quickly arrived from other areas.

On command, the troops quickly moved apart, and as soon as the Turks rushed into the space open to them, forty-eight copper throats threw fire and death into their solid and crowded ranks... Buckshot with an angry whistle burst into this living mass, leaving another mass along the way, but already either motionless, lifeless, or writhing in terrible agony... The 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 pace with a bang. Once again bayonets crossed, once again the copper jaws of the guns roared, and soon the countless crowd of the enemy fell into disorderly flight... The attack proceeded brilliantly. The retreaters hardly fired back. Redif and Nizam, bashi-buzouks and cavalrymen with Circassians - all this was mixed into one sea of \u200b\u200bhorses and lava, uncontrollably rushing back...

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

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

ALL RUSSIA REJOICES

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

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

Bearing with full consciousness of your sacred duty all the difficulties of the blockade service near Plevna, you completed it in battle on November 28, like real heroes. Remember that I am not alone, but all of Russia, all its sons are rejoicing and rejoicing 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 and congratulated them... Osman Pasha, the “lion of Plevna,” 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 showed the captured marshal high respect at every opportunity.

On December 11, the Russians entered the conquered city, surrounded on all sides by mountains, lying completely in a basin 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; Great energy and dedication were required to separate the living from the dead and establish at least some order.

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

MONUMENT TO THE HEROES OF PLEVNA

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

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