Russia's defeat in the Crimean War was inevitable. Why?
“This is a war of cretins with scoundrels,” said F.I. Tyutchev.
Too harsh? Maybe. But if we take into account the fact that others died for the sake of the ambitions of some, then Tyutchev's statement will be accurate.

Crimean War (1853-1856) also sometimes called Eastern war- This is a war between the Russian Empire and a coalition of the British, French, Ottoman empires and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The fighting took place in the Caucasus, in the Danube principalities, in the Baltic, Black, White and Barents Seas, as well as in Kamchatka. But the battles reached the greatest tension in the Crimea, which is why the war got its name. Crimean.

I. Aivazovsky "Review of the Black Sea Fleet in 1849"

Causes of the war

Each side that took part in the war had its own claims and reasons for the military conflict.

the Russian Empire: sought to revise the regime of the Black Sea straits; increasing influence in the Balkan Peninsula.

The painting by I. Aivazovsky depicts participants in the upcoming war:

Nicholas I peers tensely into the formation of ships. He is being watched by the commander of the fleet, stocky Admiral M.P. Lazarev and his pupils Kornilov (Chief of Staff of the Fleet, behind Lazarev's right shoulder), Nakhimov (behind the left shoulder) and Istomin (far right).

Ottoman Empire: wanted to suppress the national liberation movement in the Balkans; the return of the Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

England, France: hoped undermine Russia's international prestige, weaken its position in the Middle East; tear away from Russia the territories of Poland, the Crimea, the Caucasus, Finland; strengthen its position in the Middle East, using it as a sales market.

By the middle of the XIX century, the Ottoman Empire was in a state of decline, in addition, the struggle of the Orthodox peoples for liberation from the Ottoman yoke continued.

These factors led the Russian Emperor Nicholas I in the early 1850s to think about separating the Balkan possessions. Ottoman Empire inhabited by Orthodox peoples, which was opposed by Great Britain and Austria. Great Britain, in addition, sought to oust Russia from the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and from Transcaucasia. The Emperor of France, Napoleon III, although he did not share the plans of the British to weaken Russia, considering them excessive, supported the war with Russia as a revenge for 1812 and as a means of strengthening personal power.

Russia had a diplomatic conflict with France over the control of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Russia, in order to put pressure on Turkey, occupied Moldavia and Wallachia, which were under the protectorate of Russia under the terms of the Adrianople peace treaty. The refusal of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I to withdraw troops led to the declaration of war on Russia on October 4 (16), 1853 by Turkey, followed by Great Britain and France.

The course of hostilities

First stage of the war (November 1853 - April 1854) - these are Russian-Turkish military operations.

Nicholas I took an uncompromising position, hoping for the power of the army and the support of some European states (England, Austria, etc.). But he miscalculated. The Russian army numbered over 1 million people. However, as it turned out during the war, it was imperfect, primarily in technical terms. Its armament (smooth-bore guns) was inferior to the rifled weapons of the Western European armies.

The artillery is outdated. The Russian fleet was predominantly sailing, while the European navies were dominated by ships with steam engines. There were no good communications. This did not allow to provide the place of hostilities with a sufficient amount of ammunition and food, as well as human replacements. The Russian army could successfully fight against the Turkish army, which was similar in state, but it was not able to resist the united forces of Europe.

The Russian-Turkish war was fought with varying success from November 1853 to April 1854. The main event of the first stage was the Battle of Sinop (November 1853). Admiral P.S. Nakhimov defeated the Turkish fleet in Sinop Bay and suppressed coastal batteries.

As a result of the Battle of Sinop, the Russian Black Sea Fleet under the command of Admiral Nakhimov defeated the Turkish squadron. The Turkish fleet was defeated within a few hours.

During a four-hour battle in Sinop bay(Turkish naval base) the enemy lost a dozen and a half ships and over 3 thousand people killed, all coastal fortifications were destroyed. Only 20-gun fast steamer "Taif" with an English adviser on board he was able to escape from the bay. Commander Turkish fleet was taken prisoner. Nakhimov's squadron lost 37 men killed and 216 wounded. Some ships left the battle with heavy damage, but one was not sunk. . The Sinop battle is inscribed in golden letters in the history of the Russian fleet.

I. Aivazovsky "Sinop battle"

This activated England and France. They declared war on Russia. The Anglo-French squadron appeared in the Baltic Sea, attacked Kronstadt and Sveaborg. English ships entered the White Sea and bombarded the Solovetsky Monastery. A military demonstration was also held in Kamchatka.

Second phase of the war (April 1854 - February 1856) - Anglo-French intervention in the Crimea, the appearance of warships of the Western powers in the Baltic and White Seas and in Kamchatka.

The main goal of the combined Anglo-French command was the capture of the Crimea and Sevastopol, the Russian naval base. On September 2, 1854, the Allies began the landing of an expeditionary force in the Evpatoria region. Battle on the river Alma in September 1854, the Russian troops lost. By order of the commander A.S. Menshikov, they passed through Sevastopol and retreated to Bakhchisaray. At the same time, the garrison of Sevastopol, reinforced by the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet, was actively preparing for defense. It was headed by V.A. Kornilov and P.S. Nakhimov.

After the battle on the river Alma the enemy laid siege to Sevastopol. Sevastopol was a first-class naval base, impregnable from the sea. In front of the entrance to the raid - on the peninsulas and capes - there were powerful forts. The Russian fleet could not resist the enemy, so some of the ships were sunk in front of the entrance to the Sevastopol Bay, which further strengthened the city from the sea. More than 20,000 sailors went ashore and lined up along with the soldiers. 2 thousand ship guns were also transported here. Eight bastions and many other fortifications were built around the city. Earth, boards, household utensils were used - everything that could delay bullets.

But for the work there were not enough ordinary shovels and picks. Theft flourished in the army. During the war years, this turned into a disaster. In this regard, a well-known episode comes to mind. Nicholas I, outraged by all sorts of abuses and theft found almost everywhere, in a conversation with the heir to the throne (the future Emperor Alexander II) shared his discovery that shocked him: “It seems that in all of Russia only two people do not steal - you and me.”

Defense of Sevastopol

Defense led by admirals Kornilova V.A., Nakhimova P.S. and Istomin V.I. lasted 349 days with a 30,000-strong garrison and naval crews. During this period, the city was subjected to five massive bombardments, as a result of which part of the city, the Ship Side, was practically destroyed.

On October 5, 1854, the first bombardment of the city began. It was attended by the army and Navy. From the land, 120 guns fired at the city, from the sea - 1340 guns of ships. During the shelling, over 50 thousand shells were fired at the city. This fiery tornado was supposed to destroy the fortifications and suppress the will of their defenders to resist. However, the Russians responded with accurate fire from 268 guns. The artillery duel lasted five hours. Despite the huge superiority in artillery, the allied fleet was badly damaged (8 ships were sent for repairs) and was forced to retreat. After that, the Allies abandoned the use of the fleet in the bombing of the city. The fortifications of the city were not seriously damaged. The decisive and skillful rebuff of the Russians came as a complete surprise to the allied command, which expected to take the city with little bloodshed. The defenders of the city could celebrate a very important not only military, but also a moral victory. Their joy was overshadowed by the death during the shelling of Vice Admiral Kornilov. The defense of the city was headed by Nakhimov, who, for his distinction in the defense of Sevastopol, was promoted to admiral on March 27, 1855. F. Roubaud. Panorama of the defense of Sevastopol (detail)

A. Roubaud. Panorama of the defense of Sevastopol (detail)

In July 1855, Admiral Nakhimov was mortally wounded. The attempts of the Russian army under the command of Prince Menshikov A.S. to pull back the forces of the besiegers ended in failure (the battle under Inkerman, Evpatoria and Black River). The actions of the field army in the Crimea did little to help the heroic defenders of Sevastopol. Around the city, the enemy's ring was gradually shrinking. Russian troops were forced to leave the city. The offensive of the enemy ended there. Subsequent military operations in the Crimea, as well as in other parts of the country, were not of decisive importance for the Allies. Things were somewhat better in the Caucasus, where Russian troops not only stopped the Turkish offensive, but also occupied the fortress Kars. During the Crimean War, the forces of both sides were undermined. But the selfless courage of the Sevastopol people could not compensate for the shortcomings in armament and provision.

On August 27, 1855, French troops stormed the southern part of the city and captured the height that dominated the city - Malakhov Kurgan.

The loss of Malakhov Kurgan decided the fate of Sevastopol. On this day, the defenders of the city lost about 13 thousand people, or more than a quarter of the entire garrison. On the evening of August 27, 1855, by order of General M.D. Gorchakov, the Sevastopol residents left the southern part of the city and crossed the bridge to the northern part. The battles for Sevastopol ended. The Allies did not achieve his surrender. The Russian armed forces in Crimea survived and were ready for further fighting. They numbered 115 thousand people. against 150 thousand people. Anglo-French-Sardinians. The defense of Sevastopol was the culmination of the Crimean War.

F. Roubaud. Panorama of the defense of Sevastopol (fragment "The battle for the Gervais battery")

Military operations in the Caucasus

In the Caucasian theater, hostilities developed more successfully for Russia. Turkey invaded Transcaucasia, but suffered a major defeat, after which Russian troops began to operate on its territory. In November 1855, the Turkish fortress Kare fell.

The extreme exhaustion of the allied forces in the Crimea and the Russian successes in the Caucasus led to the cessation of hostilities. Negotiations between the parties began.

Parisian world

At the end of March 1856, the Treaty of Paris was signed. Russia did not suffer significant territorial losses. Only the southern part of Bessarabia was torn away from her. However, she lost the right to protect the Danubian Principalities and Serbia. The most difficult and humiliating was the condition of the so-called "neutralization" of the Black Sea. Russia was forbidden to have naval forces, military arsenals and fortresses on the Black Sea. This dealt a significant blow to the security of the southern borders. The role of Russia in the Balkans and the Middle East was reduced to nothing: Serbia, Moldavia and Wallachia passed under the supreme authority of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

The defeat in the Crimean War had a significant impact on the alignment of international forces and on the internal situation of Russia. The war, on the one hand, exposed its weakness, but on the other, it demonstrated the heroism and unshakable spirit of the Russian people. The defeat summed up the sad end of Nikolaev's rule, stirred up the entire Russian public and forced the government to come to grips with reforming the state.

Heroes of the Crimean War

Kornilov Vladimir Alekseevich

K. Bryullov "Portrait of Kornilov on board the brig "Themistocles"

Kornilov Vladimir Alekseevich (1806 - October 17, 1854, Sevastopol), Russian Vice Admiral. Since 1849 the chief of staff, since 1851 the actual commander of the Black Sea Fleet. During the Crimean War, one of the leaders of the heroic defense of Sevastopol. Mortally wounded on Malakhov Hill.

He was born February 1, 1806 in family estate Ivanovsky, Tver province. His father was a naval officer. Following in his father's footsteps, Kornilov Jr. entered the Naval Cadet Corps in 1821 and graduated two years later, becoming a midshipman. Richly gifted by nature, ardent and addicted young man was burdened by coastal combat service in the Marine Guards crew. He could not stand the routine of parade grounds and drills at the end of the reign of Alexander I and was expelled from the fleet "for lack of vigor for the front." In 1827, at the request of his father, he was allowed to return to the Navy. Kornilov was assigned to M. Lazarev's ship Azov, which had just been built and arrived from Arkhangelsk, and from that time his real naval service began.

Kornilov became a participant in the famous Navarino battle against the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. In this battle (October 8, 1827), the crew of the Azov, carrying the flagship flag, showed the highest valor and was the first of the ships of the Russian fleet to earn the stern St. George flag. Lieutenant Nakhimov and midshipman Istomin fought next to Kornilov.

October 20, 1853 Russia declared a state of war with Turkey. On the same day, Admiral Menshikov, appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Naval and ground forces in the Crimea, sent Kornilov with a detachment of ships to reconnoiter the enemy with permission to "take and destroy Turkish warships wherever they meet." Having reached the Bosphorus Strait and not finding the enemy, Kornilov sent two ships to reinforce Nakhimov's squadron, cruising along the Anatolian coast, sent the rest to Sevastopol, he himself switched to the Vladimir steamship frigate and lingered at the Bosphorus. The next day, November 5, "Vladimir" discovered the armed Turkish ship "Pervaz-Bakhri" and entered into battle with it. It was the first battle of steam ships in the history of naval art, and the crew of the Vladimir, led by Lieutenant Commander G. Butakov, won a convincing victory in it. The Turkish ship was captured and taken to Sevastopol in tow, where, after repairs, it became part of the Black Sea Fleet under the name Kornilov.

At the council of flagships and commanders, which decided the fate of the Black Sea Fleet, Kornilov called for the ships to go to sea in order to fight the enemy for the last time. However, by a majority vote of the council members, it was decided to flood the fleet, excluding steam frigates, in the Sevastopol Bay and thereby block the enemy’s breakthrough to the city from the sea. On September 2, 1854, the flooding of the sailing fleet began. All the guns and personnel of the lost ships were directed by the head of the city's defense to the bastions.
On the eve of the siege of Sevastopol, Kornilov said: "Let them first tell the troops the word of God, and then I will give them the word of the king." And around the city a religious procession was made with banners, icons, hymns and prayers. Only after this did the famous Kornilov call sound: “Behind us is the sea, ahead of the enemy, remember: do not believe in retreat!”
On September 13, the city was declared under a state of siege, and Kornilov involved the population of Sevastopol in the construction of fortifications. The garrisons of the southern and northern sides were increased, from where the main attacks of the enemy were expected. On October 5, the enemy undertook the first massive bombardment of the city from land and sea. On this day, when bypassing the defensive orders, V.A. Kornilov was mortally wounded in the head on Malakhov Hill. “Defend Sevastopol,” were his last words. Nicholas I, in his letter addressed to Kornilov's widow, pointed out: "Russia will not forget these words, and a name honored in the history of the Russian fleet will pass to your children."
After the death of Kornilov, a will was found in his box, addressed to his wife and children. “I bequeath to the children,” wrote the father, “to the boys, once choosing the service of the sovereign, do not change it, but make every effort to make it useful to society ... Daughters follow their mother in everything.” Vladimir Alekseevich was buried in the crypt of the Naval Cathedral of St. Vladimir next to his teacher, Admiral Lazarev. Soon Nakhimov and Istomin would take their place beside them.

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov was born on June 23, 1802 in the Gorodok estate of the Smolensk province in the family of a nobleman, retired major Stepan Mikhailovich Nakhimov. Of the eleven children, five were boys, and all of them became navy sailors; at the same time, Pavel's younger brother, Sergei, finished his service as vice admiral, director of the Naval Cadet Corps, in which all five brothers studied in their youth. But Pavel surpassed everyone with his naval glory.

He graduated from the Naval Corps, among the best midshipmen on the Phoenix brig he participated in a sea voyage to the shores of Sweden and Denmark. At the end of the corps with the rank of midshipman, he was assigned to the 2nd naval crew of the St. Petersburg port.

Tirelessly engaged in training the Navarin crew and polishing his combat skills, Nakhimov skillfully led the ship during the actions of the Lazarev squadron to blockade the Dardanelles in Russian-Turkish war 1828 - 1829 For excellent service, he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 2nd class. When the squadron returned to Kronstadt in May 1830, Rear Admiral Lazarev wrote in the certification of the Navarin commander: "An excellent and completely knowledgeable sea captain."

In 1832, Pavel Stepanovich was appointed commander of the Pallada frigate built at the Okhta shipyard, on which, as part of the squadron, Vice Admiral F. Bellingshausen he sailed in the Baltic. In 1834, at the request of Lazarev, then already the chief commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Nakhimov was transferred to Sevastopol. He was appointed commander of the battleship Silistria, and eleven years of his further service were spent on this battleship. Giving all his strength to work with the crew, instilling in his subordinates a love for maritime affairs, Pavel Stepanovich made the Silistria an exemplary ship, and made his name popular in the Black Sea Fleet. In the first place, he put the naval training of the crew, was strict and demanding of his subordinates, but had a kind heart, open to sympathy and manifestations of maritime brotherhood. Lazarev often kept his flag on the Silistria, setting the battleship as an example to the entire fleet.

The military talents and naval art of Nakhimov were most clearly manifested during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Even on the eve of Russia's clash with the Anglo-French-Turkish coalition, the first squadron of the Black Sea Fleet under his command was vigilantly cruising between Sevastopol and the Bosphorus. In October 1853, Russia declared war on Turkey, and the squadron commander emphasized in his order: “In the event of a meeting with an enemy that is superior to us, I will attack him, being absolutely sure that each of us will do his job. In early November, Nakhimov learned that the Turkish squadron under the command of Osman Pasha, heading for the shores of the Caucasus, left the Bosporus and, on the occasion of a storm, entered the Sinop Bay. The commander of the Russian squadron had 8 ships and 720 guns at his disposal, Osman Pasha had 16 ships with 510 guns under the protection of coastal batteries. Without waiting for the steam frigates, which Vice Admiral Kornilov led the Russian squadron to reinforce, Nakhimov decided to attack the enemy, relying primarily on the combat and moral qualities of Russian sailors.

For the victory at Sinop Nicholas I honored Vice Admiral Nakhimov with the Order of St. George, 2nd class, writing in a personalized rescript: “By destroying the Turkish squadron, you adorned the annals of the Russian fleet with a new victory, which will forever remain memorable in maritime history". Assessing the battle of Sinop, Vice Admiral Kornilov wrote: “A glorious battle, higher than Chesma and Navarin ... Hurray, Nakhimov! Lazarev rejoices at his student!”

Convinced that Turkey was not in a position to wage a successful struggle against Russia, England and France brought their fleet into the Black Sea. Commander-in-Chief A.S. Menshikov did not dare to prevent this, and the further course of events led to the epic of the Sevastopol defense of 1854-1855. In September 1854, Nakhimov had to agree with the decision of the council of flagships and commanders to sink the Black Sea squadron in the Sevastopol Bay in order to make it difficult for the Anglo-French-Turkish fleet to enter it. Having moved from sea to land, Nakhimov voluntarily entered into submission to Kornilov, who led the defense of Sevastopol. Seniority in age and superiority in military merit did not prevent Nakhimov, who recognized the mind and character of Kornilov, from maintaining good relations with him, based on a mutual ardent desire to defend the southern stronghold of Russia.

In the spring of 1855, the second and third assaults on Sevastopol were heroically repulsed. In March, Nicholas I granted Nakhimov for military distinctions with the rank of admiral. In May, the valiant naval commander was awarded a life lease, but Pavel Stepanovich was annoyed: “What do I need it for? It would be better if they sent me bombs.”

Since June 6, the enemy began active assault operations for the fourth time through massive bombardments and attacks. On June 28, on the eve of the day of Saints Peter and Paul, Nakhimov once again went to the advanced bastions to support and inspire the defenders of the city. On Malakhov Kurgan, he visited the bastion where Kornilov died, despite warnings about strong rifle fire, he decided to climb the parapet banquet, and then an aimed enemy bullet hit him in the temple. Without regaining consciousness, Pavel Stepanovich died two days later.

Admiral Nakhimov was buried in Sevastopol in the Cathedral of St. Vladimir, next to the graves of Lazarev, Kornilov and Istomin. With a large gathering of people, admirals and generals carried his coffin, seventeen in a row stood a guard of honor from army battalions and all the crews of the Black Sea Fleet, drums sounded and a solemn prayer service, a cannon salute thundered. In Pavel Stepanovich's coffin, two admiral's flags and a third, priceless, stern flag of the battleship "Empress Maria", the flagship of the Sinop victory, were torn by cannonballs.

Nikolay Ivanovich Pirogov

The famous doctor, surgeon, participant in the defense of Sevastopol in 1855. The contribution of N. I. Pirogov to medicine and science is invaluable. He created anatomical atlases of exemplary accuracy. N.I. Pirogov was the first to come up with the idea of ​​plastic surgery, put forward the idea of ​​bone grafting, applied anesthesia in military field surgery, for the first time applied a plaster cast in the field, suggested the existence of pathogens that cause suppuration of wounds. Already at that time, N.I. Pirogov called for abandoning early amputations in case of gunshot wounds of the limbs with bone injuries. The mask designed by him for ether anesthesia is still used in medicine. Pirogov was one of the founders of the Sisters of Mercy service. All his discoveries and achievements saved the lives of thousands of people. He did not refuse to help anyone and devoted his whole life to the boundless service of people.

Dasha Alexandrova (Sevastopol)

She was sixteen and a half when the Crimean War began. She lost her mother early, and her father, a sailor, defended Sevastopol. Dasha ran to the port every day, trying to find out something about her father. In the chaos that reigned around, it turned out to be impossible. Desperate, Dasha decided that she should try to help the fighters at least somehow - and, along with everyone else, to her father. She exchanged her cow - the only thing she had of value - for a decrepit horse and wagon, got vinegar and old rags, and, among other women, joined the wagon train. Other women cooked and washed for the soldiers. And Dasha turned her wagon into a dressing station.

When the position of the troops worsened, many women left the convoy and Sevastopol, went north, to safe areas. Dasha stayed. She found an old abandoned house, cleaned it out and turned it into a hospital. Then she unharnessed her horse from the wagon, and spent the whole day walking with her to the front line and back, taking out two wounded for each "walk".

In November 1953, in the battle of Sinop, sailor Lavrenty Mikhailov, her father, died. Dasha found out about this much later ...

The rumor about a girl who takes out the wounded from the battlefield and provides them with medical care spread throughout the warring Crimea. And soon Dasha had associates. True, these girls did not risk going to the front line, like Dasha, but they completely took over the dressing and care of the wounded.

And then Pirogov found Dasha, embarrassing the girl with expressions of his sincere admiration and admiration for her feat.

Dasha Mikhailova and her assistants joined the Crusades. Studied professional treatment of wounds.

The youngest sons of the emperor, Nikolai and Mikhail, came to Crimea “to raise the spirit of the Russian army”. They also wrote to their father that in the fighting Sevastopol "she takes care of the wounded and sick, a girl named Daria is exemplary diligence." Nicholas I ordered her to receive a gold medal on the Vladimir ribbon with the inscription "For diligence" and 500 silver rubles. By status, the gold medal "For Diligence" was awarded to those who already had three silver medals. So we can assume that the Emperor highly appreciated the feat of Dasha.

The exact date of death and the resting place of the ashes of Darya Lavrentievna Mikhailova have not yet been discovered by researchers.

Reasons for the defeat of Russia

• Economic backwardness of Russia;
• Political isolation of Russia;
• The absence of a steam fleet in Russia;
• Poor supply of the army;
• Lack of railroads.

In three years, Russia lost 500 thousand people in killed, wounded and captured. The allies also suffered great damage: about 250 thousand killed, wounded and died of disease. As a result of the war, Russia lost its positions in the Middle East to France and England. Its prestige in the international arena was badly undermined. On March 13, 1856, a peace treaty was signed in Paris, under the terms of which the Black Sea was declared neutral, the Russian fleet was reduced to minima and fortifications were destroyed. Similar demands were made to Turkey. In addition, Russia lost the mouth of the Danube and the southern part of Bessarabia, was supposed to return the fortress of Kars, and also lost the right to patronize Serbia, Moldova and Wallachia.

SEVASTOPOL DEFENSEON 1854 –1855, fighting mountains. garrison, crews of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and units grew. army with the support of the townspeople to protect Sevastopol during Crimean War 1853–56; one of the longest in the history of the defense of the navy. bases.

Side forces

From the sea, Sevastopol was initially defended by 13 stone and earthen batteries (610 guns; 234 in Aug. / Sept. 1855), located on both sides of the Big (now Sevastopol) Bay, and b. part of the Black Sea Fleet (15 battleships, 7 frigates, 4 corvettes, 9 brigs, 10 steam frigates and steamers, transport ships), from land - Fort Sev. fortification (47 guns), and to the South. side - fortifications Malakhov Kurgan and a line of 7 unfinished bastions [from Karantinnaya Bay to Kilen-(beam) Bay, length approx. 7 km; 145 guns, 1147 - by Aug. / Sept. 1855]; until his death in March 1855, he commanded the most important branch of the line, Rear Adm. V. I. Istomin. The number of forces that were actively defending - approx. 32 thousand people in Oct. 1854 (approx. 49 thousand people in Aug. / Sept. 1855), in the reserve grew. army was St. 30 thousand people (over 60 thousand people in August / September 1855). S. o. headed by the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet and ports vice adm. V. A. Kornilov, commanders of the port and military. Governors of Sevastopol - Vice Adm. M. N. Stanyukovich, vice adm. (from March / April 1855 adm.) P. S. Nakhimov, Rear Adm. A. I. Panfilov, vice adm. F. M. Novosilsky[from 21.7 (2.8).1855].

The ground forces of the enemy, moving from the north, circled the city and on September 14 (26)–19 (31) September 1854 took up positions south of Sevastopol - from Streletskaya Bay to the river. Black. The number of the siege corps - approx. 35 thousand people in Oct. 1854 (over 50 thousand people in Aug. / Sept. 1855), in the reserve predominately. in the Sapun Mountain area there were approx. 28 thousand people in Oct. 1854 (at least 75 thousand people in Aug. / Sept. 1855). The army was supported by the fleet (a total of about 80 warships, including 54 steam ships): French. the ships occupied the Kamyshovaya and Cossack bays, the British - Balaklava. Franz. the army was commanded by Marshal A. J. Leroy de Saint-Arnaud [until 14 (26) .9.1854], divisional gene. F. S. Canrobert and divisional gene. J. J. Pelissier [since 7 (19) May 1855], Brit. army - Gen. (Feldm. Nov. 1854) F. J. G. Somerset Baron Raglan (Raglan) [until 16(28). 6.1855; died of cholera] and Gen.-l. J. Simpson [since 16 (28) 6.1855].

Course of events

To prevent the capture of the city from the sea 11 (23) Sept., 5 (17) Oct. and 14 (26) Dec. 1854 at the entrance to the Big Bay by order of the growing. command, 9 ships of the Black Sea Fleet were sunk [another 6 ships were sunk on 13 (25) and 16 (28) Feb. 1855]. 12 (24) .9.1854 the enemy fired on the North. side of Sevastopol from the sea, however, the date of the beginning of S. o. considered to be the next day.

An important element of the defense and siege of Sevastopol were fortification works s. Franco-Brit. troops from Sept./Oct. 1854 siege trenches were dug originally Ch. arr. in the direction of bastion No. 4, and since the spring of 1855 - in the direction of Malakhov Kurgan (by August 1855, over 80 km of parallels had been dug, reinforced by about 160 siege batteries and more than 800 guns). Ros. troops under the general leadership of E. I. Totleben strengthened the defense. line with field batteries (126 built in total) and a system of advanced and internal. fortifications. During S. about. the enemy made 6 massive bombardment to: 5(17) Oct. 1854; next year - March 28 (April 9) - April 6 (18), May 25–29 (June 6–10), June 5 (17), August 5–8 (17–20), August 24–27 Aug. (Sept. 5–8). From Dec. 1854 parties led mine and counter-mine warfare preim. in the area of ​​​​bastion number 4: by Aug. 1855 French sappers dug underground 1.3 km of galleries and sleeves and made 94 explosions, grew. sappers - 6.9 km with 136 explosions. To the organization medical care S.'s participants about. means. the contribution was made by N. I. Pirogov, who contributed to the development of military field surgery; assistance was provided by one of the first military. sisters of mercy D. L. Mikhailova, known as Dasha Sevastopolskaya, as well as sisters of mercy of the Exaltation of the Cross community for the care of the wounded and sick, organized led. book. Elena Pavlovna, and etc.

The squads grew. armies to lift the siege from the city fought three times [Balaklavskoe 13 (25) .10.1854, Inkerman battle 1854, on the river Chernaya 4 (16). 8. 1855], and also made sorties into the enemy’s location (from October 1854; among those who distinguished themselves were I. V. Shevchenko, P. M. Koshka). 1st Assault Franco-Brit. troops 6 (18) .6.1855 the defenders of Sevastopol recaptured. During the 2nd assault on 27 Aug. (September 8) out of 12 enemy attacks inflicted by 7 dews. fortification structures, 11 were repulsed, but in a bitter struggle the French took Malakhov Kurgan. Then the commander in chief. Crimean army, Gen. from art. book. M. D. Gorchakov, who considered the continuation of the defense "madness", gave the order to grow. troops to leave South. towards Sevastopol. It is believed that on this day S. o. ended.

By the morning of August 28 (9.9). troops on a floating bridge and on ships crossed to the North. side of the city. The evacuation ended with the destruction of powder magazines, 3 coastal batteries (Aleksandrovskaya, No. 8, No. 10), structures of the 7th bastion and the flooding of 16 warships of the Black Sea Fleet in the roadstead [another 9 ships were sunk on August 30. (Sept. 11)]; Aug 29 (Sept. 10) lieutenant captain. D. V. Ilyinsky blew up a battery on the Pavlovsky Cape, which threatened the North. side. To the South side the enemy entered 30 Aug. (Sept. 11). Sev. the side of Sevastopol, as well as the Inkerman and Mekenziev heights remained under the control of the growing. troops.

During S. about. in fact, the Black Sea Fleet and its base were destroyed, most of the mountains were destroyed. buildings. General combat losses grew. troops were St. 93 thousand people (including irrevocable - St. 30 thousand people), the enemy - at least 60 thousand people. (including irrevocable - about 35 thousand people; about 100 thousand more people died from cholera, typhus, scurvy, and other diseases that raged in the besieging camp).

Foreign armed forces withdrawn from Sevastopol in accordance with Peace of Paris 1856 .

historical memory

Participants of S. about. were awarded the medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol", established by decree of the imp. Alexander II dated November 26 (December 8), 1855 (over 250 thousand awards). Events S. o. reflected in Sevastopol Tales (1854–55) and the song “Like the Fourth…” (1855) by L. N. Tolstoy, who participated in the S. O., a panorama made under the hands of. F. A. Rubo (opened in 1905), the film The Defense of Sevastopol (1911, directors V. M. Goncharov and A. A. Khanzhonkov), and other works of literature and art. At the Fraternal Cemetery in the North. side of the city in memory of those who died during S. o. built c. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (1857–1870, architect A.A. Avdeev), a monument to the sunken ships of the Black Sea Fleet (1905) was erected in the Sevastopol Bay, etc.

It became the culmination of the Crimean War. Sevastopol (a garrison of about 7 thousand people), which did not have a pre-prepared defense of the city from land, was hit by an Anglo-French landing force (more than 60 thousand people) and a fleet that outnumbered the Russian fleet in warships by more than three times. In a short time, defensive fortifications were created on the southern side of the city, while the entrance from the sea to the Sevastopol Bay was blocked by specially sunken ships. The allies in the anti-Russian coalition - England, France and Turkey - hoped that the city would be captured in a week, but they underestimated the stamina of the defending Russian troops, whose ranks were joined by the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet who went ashore. Civilians also took part in the defense of the city. The siege lasted 11 months. During the course of the siege, the Allies carried out six massive artillery bombardments of Sevastopol from land and sea.

The Sevastopol defense was headed by the chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral V. A. Kornilov, and after his death, the squadron commander, Vice Admiral (from March 1855 - Admiral) P. S. Nakhimov. The real "genius" of the defense of Sevastopol was the military engineer General E. I. Totleben.

On the night of August 28 (September 9), 1855, the enemy captured a key position - Malakhov Kurgan, which predetermined the outcome of the Sevastopol defense. Further defense of the city did not make sense. Prince Gorchakov transferred his troops to the northern side overnight. The city was set on fire, the powder magazines were blown up, the warships that were in the bay were flooded. The allies, however, did not dare to pursue the Russian troops, considering the city mined, and only on August 30 (September 11) did they enter the smoking ruins of Sevastopol.

The defense of Sevastopol demonstrated the skillful organization of active defense, based on the interaction of ground forces and fleet. Its characteristic features were the continuous sorties of the defenders, night searches, mine warfare, close fire interaction between ship and fortress artillery.

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Sevastopol and Crimea before the siege

Founded by the Russian Empire in 1784, the city of Sevastopol was an important strategic point for both defensive and offensive wars on the Black Sea. By the beginning of the Crimean (Eastern) War, Sevastopol, as the main military port in southern Russia, was equipped with everything necessary to ensure the operations of the fleet. There were an admiralty, docks, an arsenal, food warehouses, a warehouse of guns, gunpowder and other supplies, naval barracks and two hospitals. In the city, there were up to 2 thousand stone houses and up to 40 thousand inhabitants of an almost exclusively Russian population, mainly related to the fleet.

The conditions of the terrain on which Sevastopol is located made it possible to create a powerful defense from the sea and at the same time made it extremely difficult to organize defense from the land. The city, divided by the Sevastopol Bay into two parts, northern and southern, required for its defense relatively a large number troops. The city itself and offshore structures were mainly located on the southern coast of the Sevastopol roadstead. At the same time, the northern coast occupied a commanding position, and therefore the possession of it was tantamount to the possession of a roadstead and a port. In its southeastern part, the city was surrounded by commanding heights, among which the Fedyukhin Heights, Inkerman Heights, and Sapun Mountain should be mentioned.

The defense of the Sevastopol raid from the sea by the beginning of the war was completely completed. Defensive structures included 8 powerful artillery batteries. Three of them were located on the north bank: Konstantinovskaya, Mikhailovskaya and battery No. 4, the rest - on the south (Pavlovskaya, Nikolaevskaya, battery No. 8, Aleksandrovskaya and battery No. 10). Of the eight batteries, four (Konstantinovskaya, Mikhailovskaya, Pavlovskaya and Nikolaevskaya) were made of stone, casemates. All these batteries, armed with a total of 533 guns, were capable of shelling the seaside and the raid with frontal, flank and rear fire.

As the Russian military historian A. M. Zaionchkovsky wrote, Sevastopol was completely unfortified from land. By the beginning of the war, in pursuance of the city's fortification project of 1837, defensive barracks were built on the south side of the raid to close the gorges in the places of bastions No. 1, 5 and 6, bastion No. 7 and the defensive walls between bastion No. 7 and the projected bastions No. 6 were almost completed and 5. On the sites of the ditches of the projected bastions No. 3, 4 and 6, small rollers were made. In addition, a rear defensive wall was erected behind battery No. 8 and bastion No. 7 between the artillery buildings. On the northern side of the raid there was the only Northern Fortification, built back in 1818 in the form of an octagonal fort, but it was of little use for defense. None of the fortifications of the land side was armed by the beginning of the war, and the number of guns on the coastal batteries was less than that established by the project.

In the period before the start of the siege (September 1854), the main measures to strengthen the defense were taken on the southern side of Sevastopol. Bastion No. 6 became the strongest fortification, although its construction remained unfinished. Nothing was done on the arrangement of bastion No. 5, and only the tower erected there was adapted for artillery defense and equipped with 11 guns. The defensive wall between bastions No. 7, 5 and 6 was completed and armed with 14 guns. To the left of bastion No. 5, the Schwartz redoubt was built and armed. Between the Schwarz redoubt and bastion No. 4, three blockages were arranged, guarded by 14 field guns. Several small earthen batteries blocked the gap between bastions No. 4 and 3. A battery was built on the site intended for bastion No. 3. On Malakhov Kurgan, except for the tower, no structures were erected. In place of bastion No. 2, a 6-gun battery was built on a bare rock, on both sides of which stone blockages stretched. A 4-gun battery was also erected on the site of bastion No. 1. On the Ship side (the southeastern part of the city) a line of stone blockages was also arranged. All new fortifications, however, according to A. M. Zayonchkovsky, were very weak and were able to repel only a few landing forces. They were armed with a total of 145 guns, including the land part of bastion No. 7 and battery No. 10.

Until 1854, almost all communication routes in the Crimea were dirt roads. Communication between Sevastopol and the rest of the peninsula was carried out along the road through Bakhchisarai to Simferopol  (Ak-Mecheti). This road was in very poor condition and ran either through rocky mountainous, or through clay terrain, or through swampy lowlands.

The population of the peninsula before the war exceeded 430 thousand people. Most of the population consisted of Tatars; in addition to them, Karaites lived in Crimea (mainly in cities), German colonists in Feodosiya and Simferopol districts, Greeks in Balaklava, a small number of Russian settlers, Bulgarians, Armenians and Jews. The inhabitants of the steppes were mainly engaged in cattle breeding; The main occupation of the inhabitants of the mountainous part of the Crimea was gardening. The supply of troops with all supplies was difficult, with the exception of meat, which was available in sufficient quantities. Shipping by sea ceased with the outbreak of war, and land routes were difficult to access.

By September 1, 1854, the total number of Russian ground forces in the Crimea was 51 thousand people with 108 guns. The active troops were divided into 2 groups, of which on the peninsula itself, under the direct command of Prince Menshikov, there were 35 thousand people with 84 guns.

Campaign of 1854

At the end of August, the Allied landing fleet, consisting of 350 ships, moved from Varna to the Crimea. By September 1 (13), an allied army was delivered to the shores of Evpatoria, reaching 60 thousand people with 134 field and 72 siege guns. From total number about 30 thousand allies were the share of the French, about 22 thousand - the share of the British, and 7 thousand with 12 guns were the Turks. The English paratroopers were commanded by Lord Raglan, the French by Marshal Saint-Arnaud of France. On the same day, a 3,000-strong enemy detachment seized 60,000 poods of wheat in the food warehouses of Evpatoria, providing the army with this food for four months.

The British fleet entered Balaklava Bay. Following that, the French settled down on the western part of the Chersonesos peninsula and set up their base in Kamyshova Bay.

Meanwhile, the allies received new reinforcements, as a result of which their forces near Sevastopol increased to 120 thousand; at the same time, a skilled French engineer, General Niel, arrived to them, who gave a new direction to siege work, which now directed mainly against the key of the Sevastopol defensive line - Malakhov Kurgan. To counteract these works, the Russians moved forward with their left flank and, after a stubborn struggle, erected very important counterclaims: the Selenginsky and Volynsky redoubts and the Kamchatsky lunette. During the production of these works, the troops learned about the death of Emperor Nicholas.

The Allies understood the importance of the aforementioned counterclaims, but their initial attempts against the Kamchatka lunet (built in front of the Malakhov Kurgan) were unsuccessful. Annoyed by these slowdowns, prompted by the demands of Napoleon III and the voice of public opinion in Western Europe, the allied commanders decided to act with increased energy. The Allied forces had a significant superiority in firepower. On January 17 (29), 1855, the French general F. Canrobert wrote to the Turkish seraskir Riza Pasha that they "they will be able to open fire on Sevastopol, which, perhaps, has no analogues in the history of siege wars". For 10 days (from March 28 to April 7) during 2nd Intensified bombardment, they fired 165 thousand artillery shots, while the Russians fired only 89 thousand of them. Nevertheless, this did not bring the expected success to the Allies. Destroyed fortifications were repaired overnight by their defenders. The assault was postponed; but the Russians, forced to keep their reserves under fire in anticipation of him, suffered more than 6,000 casualties during those days.

The siege war continued with the same persistence; however, the preponderance began to lean towards the Anglo-French troops. Soon new reinforcements began to arrive to them (including 15,000 Sardinians, who entered the war on January 14 (26), 1855 on the side of the coalition), and their forces in the Crimea increased to 170,000. In view of their superiority, Napoleon III demanded decisive action and sent him a plan. Canrobert, however, did not find an opportunity to fulfill it, and therefore the main command of the troops was transferred to General Pelissier. His actions began by sending an expedition to the eastern part of the Crimea, with the aim of depriving the Russians of food from the shores of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and cutting off Sevastopol's communications through the Chongar crossing and Perekop.

On the night of May 11 (23), 16 thousand people were sent on ships from Kamyshova Bay and Balaklava, and the next day these troops landed near Kerch. Baron Wrangel, who commanded the Russian troops in the eastern part of the Crimea (the winner at Chingil Heights), having only 9 thousand, had to retreat along the Feodosia road, after which the enemy occupied Kerch, entered the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and all summer attacked coastal settlements, destroying stocks and indulging in robberies; however, having failed at Arabat and Genichesk, he could not penetrate the Sivash, to the Chongar crossing.

In the last days of July, new reinforcements arrived in the Crimea (3 infantry divisions), and on July 27 (August 8) the order was received from Emperor Alexander II to the commander-in-chief to convene a military council to resolve the issue of “the need to do something decisive in order to put an end to this terrible massacre” . The majority of council members spoke in favor of an offensive from the side of the Chernaya River. Prince Gorchakov, although he did not believe in the success of the attack on the heavily fortified positions of the enemy, however, succumbed to the insistence of some generals. On August 4 (16), a battle took place on the Chernaya River, where the Russian attack was repulsed and they were forced to retreat, having suffered huge losses. This unnecessary battle did not change the mutual position of the opponents; the defenders of Sevastopol remained with the same determination to defend themselves to the last extreme; the attackers, despite the destruction of the Sevastopol fortifications and the proximity of their approaches to them, did not dare to storm, but decided to shake Sevastopol with a new ( 5th) by heavy bombardment.

From August 5 to August 8 (August 17-20), the fire of 800 guns showered the defenders with a continuous hail of lead; the Russians were losing 900-1000 men daily; from August 9 to 24 (August 21 - September 5) the fire was somewhat weaker, but nevertheless, 500-700 people were out of action at the garrison every day.

On August 15 (27) in Sevastopol, a bridge was consecrated on rafts (450 sazhens) across a large bay, designed and built by Lieutenant General A. E. Buchmeyer. The besiegers, meanwhile, had already pushed their work to the nearest distance to the Russian verki, almost already destroyed by the preceding infernal cannonade.

August 24 (September 4) began 6th intensified bombardment, which silenced the artillery of the Malakhov Kurgan and the 2nd bastion. Sevastopol was a heap of ruins; repair of the fortifications became impossible.

Consequences

The loss of the symbol of the Russian presence and the main military port on the Black Sea was a big blow to many in Russia, both in the army and in the rear, and contributed to the speedy end of the war. However, its occupation by the Allies did not change the determination of the Russian soldiers to continue the unequal struggle. Their army (115 thousand) is located along the northern shore of a large bay; the allied troops (more than 150 thousand of one infantry) took up positions from the Baidar Valley to Chorgun, along the Chernaya River and along the southern shore of the large bay. There was a lull in hostilities, interrupted by enemy sabotage against various coastal points.

Heroes of the defense of Sevastopol

IN Soviet time The publication of scientific and popular science works on the defense of Sevastopol resumed just before the war, in 1939. During the Great Patriotic War the example of the first defense of Sevastopol was supposed to inspire the participants of the second, according to the plan of the authorities. According to historian Carl Qualls, in the post-war period, the defense of Sevastopol gave the identity of Sevastopol residents a special, local specificity (thus, contrary to the architectural plans developed in Moscow, memorial sites associated with the Crimean War dominated in the city center, as before); precisely because of this, the researcher writes, the historical consciousness of the Sevastopol residents reacted less painfully to the collapse of the USSR, simply returning to earlier forms of Russian identity.

The American historian of Ukrainian origin S. N. Plokhy considers the events of the defense of Sevastopol and the very expression “Sevastopol is a city of Russian glory” (authorship of the Russian and Soviet historian E. V. Tarle, who thus titled his book, published on the 100th anniversary of the defense) as another Russian national historical myth (English) Russian about the "protection native land”, which took its place in a number of events such as

In 1853, the contradictions between Russia and the allied countries of England and France reached their apogee. The war has begun. In 1854, Turkey entered this war, supporting England and France. The Allies decided to destroy the Black Sea Fleet and Sevastopol. In September 1854, enemy ships appeared off the coast of Evpatoria. In total, the Allies sent 89 large warships from this region, as well as more than 800 transports. Allied troops landed in the Crimea, numbering 63,000 people. In Sevastopol, there were 50 thousand people, of which only 22 thousand were military.

The defense of Sevastopol in 1853-1856 did not bode well. The Russian army was armed with outdated guns that only fired at 100-120 meters. The allies were armed with modern weapons, which allowed them to shoot at a distance of 500-700 meters. The Russian fleet consisted of obsolete ship models, which were inferior to the allied fleet in all respects.

The landing indicated that the defense of Sevastopol in 1853-1856 should be carried out in two directions: from the sea and from land. The problem was that Sevastopol is a port city. All guns of the city are directed towards the sea. The land was not fortified. As a result, obsolete Russian ships had to be scuttled, which, after flooding, closed the entrance to the bay for English ships. Those guns that were removed from the ships were installed in the city, around the entire perimeter. The allies were preparing to storm Sevastopol, even began shelling the city. But the Russian artillery responded with massive and accurate strikes, which disabled many attackers. The assault was postponed.

Throughout the winter, the Allies increased the size of their contingent in Sevastopol. At the same time, the weather and the desperate resistance of the sailors kept them from storming. Small joints between the opponents continued for more than six months, until June 18, 1855, the allied forces of England, Turkey and France decided to storm. A day before the offensive, artillery preparation for the attack began. At dawn the assault began. The battle went on for more than two hours. The allied troops were thrown back by the Russian army more than 700 meters from the fortress. Subsequent attacks continued on several occasions. The defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1856 ended in August. Artillery bombardment destroyed many of the fortifications of the city. Russian commander-in-chief Gorchakov gave the order to destroy all remaining fortifications and retreat. The defense of Sevastopol in 1853-1856 lasted 349 days. The sailors defended with honor, but were forced to retreat. This defeat cost the Russian government its defeat in the war.

The reasons for the failure in the defense of Sevastopol are obvious. Officials of the tsarist government and personally Nicholas 1 are responsible for the defeat. Sevastopol was, as it were, in isolation. There were practically no access roads. As a result, the besieged sailors received practically no assistance from the state. By the end of the siege, small reinforcements began to approach, which could not radically change the course of the battle. The Russian army had extremely few cartridges, gunpowder and, most importantly, provisions. Stocks of food and medicine in Sevastopol were very limited. Even before the start of the war, tsarist officials plundered most of them. From the very first days of the war, famine began in Sevastopol.

The defense of Sevastopol in 1853-1856 is an example of the courage of a Russian soldier. For 11 months, the sailors, receiving practically no support from land, resisted the greatly superior enemy forces. They defended to the last. Even having given Sevastopol to the enemy, the Russian army did everything so that the enemy would get a ruined city, a city without fortifications.

And blocked the main forces of the Black Sea Fleet in its bay Russian Empire(14 line sailing ships, 11 frigates and 11 steam frigates and corvettes). In August-September, the coalition army was transported from Varna to Evpatoria. On September 14, 1854 (dates according to the Gregorian calendar), under the leadership of Lord F. Raglan and General A. Leroy de Saint-Arnaud, the landing of the Allied army (62-67 thousand people with 134 field and 73 siege guns) began near Evpatoria.

On September 20, 1854, the Allies defeated the Russian army under the command of A. Menshikov (33 thousand people with 96 guns) at. At the same time, Russian troops lost 5,700 people, and the allies - more than 3,300 people. Menshikov withdrew to Sevastopol, but, fearing to be cut off, he then went to Bakhchisarai. The way to the Allies to Sevastopol was open. It was protected by batteries only from the sea (8 batteries with 610 guns). There were also 145 guns on the south side and 51 on the north side. However, the allies were afraid to attack Sevastopol outright, which gave time to prepare for the defense of the city.

The beginning of the defense

On September 22, 1854, 5 old battleships and 2 frigates were sunk, blocking the entrance to the bay of Sevastopol. Naval artillery and crews took part in the defense of the city. At the same time, fortifications were hastily built to the south of the bay, where the main part of the city was located. The enemy was also moving there. To the south of Sevastopol, the coalition troops were able to organize supplies through Balaklava Bay, as well as a convenient position for the siege of the city, protected by difficult terrain from the flank attacks of Menshikov's army.

The defense of Sevastopol was led by Vice Admiral, Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet. The garrison was 18-20 thousand people, most of them sailors. After it became clear that the Allies were not pursuing the main forces Russian army, Menshikov advanced his army to Sevastopol, taking positions north of the bay. The forces of the defenders to the south of the bay were brought to 35 thousand people.

At first, the enemy did not take active steps, which allowed the Sevastopol residents, under the leadership, to build strong earthen fortifications. Defense artillery amounted to 341 guns against 144 on land from the enemy.

The British troops were located in the center of the besiegers' position, the French - on the flanks. On September 26, 1854, the French army instead of Leroy de Saint-Arno, who was dying of cholera, was led by General F. Canrobert. The Turks were on the right flank. The besiegers suffered heavy losses from cholera, shelling and attacks by Russian troops. The defenders of Sevastopol also suffered from insufficient supplies and poor medical care. The surgeon arrived on the scene. He developed the basics of military field surgery, introduced the sorting of the wounded already on the battlefield according to the degree of damage received and the urgency of the necessary operations. Pirogov began to use plaster casts, tried to save the wounded from amputation of limbs, and taught the first Russian sisters of mercy. Among them, D. Mikhailova became the most famous.

Since October 17, 1854, the bombing of Sevastopol by the allies from land and sea was carried out. On this day, Kornilov died. The defense was actually headed by Vice-Admiral P. Nakhimov (appointed as a temporary military governor only on March 9, 1855). Russian artillery fired back effectively, forcing the enemy fleet to withdraw.

Balaklava battle

On October 25, 1854, a Russian detachment under the command of Menshikov's deputy, Lieutenant General P. Liprandi, numbering 16 thousand people, attacked the British-Turkish positions near Balaklava, which were defended by 4 thousand people. In the course of the Russian troops, the Turks were driven out of the redoubts defending Balaklava, but further advance was stopped by a counterattack by the British heavy cavalry and the resistance of the infantry, lined up in a "thin red line" (that is, two lines - less than provided for by the charter, since the British command did not was strong enough). After the arrival of French reinforcements, it became clear that Liprandi would not be able to defeat the British camp, and he would have to withdraw. But in order to prevent the Russians from taking away the guns captured on the redoubts, Raglan ordered an attack by light cavalry, which led to heavy losses, becoming a symbol of a bold but suicidal senseless action. In total, in the battle near Balaklava, the allies lost 615 people, and the Russian army - 627 people. Balaclava and the Sapun Mountain, which dominated Sevastopol, occupied by the Allies, were fortified.

Counteroffensive of the Russian army

Having received reinforcements, Menshikov launched an offensive, and on November 5, 1854, the Inkerman battle of 1854 took place. General F. Soimanov with 19 thousand people attacked about 8 thousand British and captured their fortifications, but could not hold them. From Inkerman, General P. Pavlov attacked the allies with 16 thousand people, putting the British in a difficult situation. The Russian army was strong with bayonet attacks, but the allies had more long-range and accurate rifled weapons. The approach of French reinforcements forced the Russian troops to withdraw. Russian losses in killed amounted to more than 3600 people, including Soimanov, British 660, French 299.

After the landing of the 21,000th Ottoman corps of Omer Pasha in Evpatoria, General S. Khrulev attacked her with 19 thousand, but unsuccessfully. After that, Menshikov was removed from the post of commander in chief and replaced by M. Gorchakov. He acted even more passively than Menshikov. This allowed the allies, whose number increased to 120 thousand, to intensify preparations for the assault on Sevastopol. There was a tense struggle for positions around the Malakhov Kurgan. The defense of the mound was led by Rear Admiral V. Istomin, who died on March 19, 1855.

During sorties, sailors and soldiers P. Koshka, I. Dimchenko, F. Zaika, A. Eliseev, I. Shevchenko and other heroes of defense were distinguished by courage and dashing.

Storming of Sevastopol

On April 9, 1855, artillery preparation for the assault began, but the Sevastopol residents restored the fortifications destroyed during the night, and the assault was postponed, although the losses of Russian troops amounted to about 6 thousand people.

The Allied forces increased to 170,000 men with 541 guns, including 130 heavy mortars against a garrison of 40,000 with 466 guns (57 mortars). But the Allies had much more ammunition. On January 26, 1855, the Kingdom of Sardinia entered the war, and 15,000 Italians arrived near Sevastopol. Canrobert, who hesitated with the assault, was replaced by General J.-J. Pelisye. He sent troops to Kerch and ships to the Sea of ​​Azov, but allied landings near the Arbat, Genichesk and Taganrog were repulsed.

On June 18, 1855, after the third massive bombardment, an assault was made on the fortifications of the Ship Side (south-eastern part of the city), primarily Malakhov Kurgan. The defenders of the Ship side under the command of General S. Khrulev managed to repulse the assault.

On June 28, 1855, Field Marshal Raglan died of cholera, who was replaced by General J. Simpson. On July 10, 1855, Nakhimov died.

At the request of the ascended throne, Gorchakov was forced to attack the allies on the Chernaya River on August 16, 1855, but was driven back with heavy losses.

On August 17-20 and September 4-8, 1855, new massive bombardments were carried out by 807 guns, including 275 mortars. The defenders suffered losses of 2-3 thousand people a day. The artillery of the Malakhov Kurgan and the 2nd bastion was suppressed. September 8, 1855 Malakhov Kurgan was stormed by the French. The Russian reserves were hiding from shelling and could not react to the assault in time. It was not possible to return Malakhov Kurgan during the counterattacks. About 10,000 people died on both sides that day. This height dominated the city, the defenders of which already suffered heavy losses. Gorchakov decided to leave the southern shore of the bay and at night transferred troops along a previously prepared floating bridge to the northern shore. The city was set on fire, warships in the bay were flooded. On September 11, 1855, the Allies occupied the ruins of Sevastopol.

Results of the battle

During the defense of Sevastopol, the allies lost more than 70 thousand people, not counting those who died from diseases. The defenders' official losses were 17,015 killed, 58,272 wounded, 15,174 shell-shocked, and 3,164 missing. In total - 93,625 people, including 17,712 sailors. According to other sources - about 102 thousand people. The defense of Sevastopol showed the importance of earthen fortifications in modern combat, as well as the incompatibility of dense battle formations with modern rifled weapons. During the war, the interaction of troops with the steam fleet, the supply of a large grouping, landed on a theater of operations remote from the support bases, was worked out. This affected further development military art.

By the end of the defense of Sevastopol, the Russian army on the northern shore of the bay was 115 thousand people, and the allies had more than 150 thousand. There was a lull in hostilities until the conclusion.

For participants in the defense of Sevastopol, the medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol" was established. They were also awarded the medal "In memory of the war of 1853-1856". At the beginning of the 20th century, the surviving participants in the defense were also awarded the medal "In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol."