From the Bulgarian appeal 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. Whole year We bore the cross of martyrdom, 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 battle formations 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, from the tour. sides - 5000. 10 Dec. Osman Pasha, at the head of a 25,000-strong detachment, with 9,000 wounded and recovering in 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 received seriously injured. The Turks are here last time tried 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 burst into this with an angry whistle live weight, leaving along the way another mass, but 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 combat troops will be deleted from Turkey’s already significantly depleted resources...
Nemirovich-Danchenko V. I. Year of the war. Diary of a Russian correspondent, 1877-1878, St. Petersburg, 1878
ALL RUSSIA 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.
Carrying with full consciousness 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 rejoice and rejoice in 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.
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, former member 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 eternal memory and sorrow rewards
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 three unsuccessful assaults on Plevna and a number of other battles for the capture of Turkish strongholds Around this fortress, there was a high density of Turkish infantry fire. Often, Turkish soldiers had two types of firearms at the same time - the American Peabody-Martini rifle for long-range shooting and Winchester repeating carbines for close combat, which made it possible to create high density fire. One of the famous battle paintings where the Turks are depicted with both rifles and carbines is the painting by A. N. Popov “Defense” Eagle's Nest“Orlovtsy and Bryantsy on August 12, 1877” (events at the Shipka Pass) - the appearance of the Turkish soldiers near Plevna was similar.
In the 16th division
Associated with the name of Mikhail Dmitrievich Skobelev whole line bright episodes of the Russian-Turkish war. 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 transport. The fighting in the autumn of 1877 was also marked by the first appearance 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 rainy autumn and the approaching cold. 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 before Russia in Once again the threat of war with England loomed, which was extremely sensitive to any Russian successes in the Balkans and the Caucasus. Back in July 1877 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, it was deployed active work 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 key events war of 1877-78 After the fall of this fortress, the path through the Balkans was opened for Russian troops, and Ottoman Empire lost a 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 assistance to the Turks military assistance. 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 the majority government posts the Turks occupied the places. Dissatisfaction with this state of affairs caused mass protests in Bulgaria and Balkan countries. In the summer of 1975, an uprising begins in Bosnia. And a year later, in April, popular riots cover 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 public opinion Great Britain abandons its pro-Turkish policy. It frees up your hands 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, before that there was a way to go long haul. 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 soon 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. Elite squad 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 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 military intelligence, the Russians did not find out 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. General with for the most part the soldier was coming 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 go to 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 starting 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 did a great job with punitive operations against the civilian population, but quickly abandoned their positions at the prospect of meeting with 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 complete environment cities the Turks remained completely cut off from 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 They 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 the Day military history. The capture of Plevna is celebrated in Bulgaria in our time. Because as a result of this victory, Christians got rid of Muslim oppression.
The Russo-Turkish War began in April 1877. Its main goals were liberation Slavic peoples from the Ottoman yoke and the final revision of the provisions of the Paris Peace Treaty, concluded following the unsuccessful Crimean War for Russia.
16 (4 according to the old style) July, one of the detachments of the Russian army, after crossing the Danube, captured the Nikopol fortress. From here the troops had to move south to take the city of Plevna, which lay at the crossroads of important routes. 7 thousand infantrymen and about one and a half thousand cavalrymen with 46 cannons under the command of General Yuri Schilder-Schuldner advanced to the fortress. However, Osman Pasha, the commander of the Turkish troops in this direction, was almost half a day ahead of the Russian soldiers. By the time the advanced units approached the fortress, the Turks had already gained a foothold in Plevna. The number of their garrison was 15 thousand people. Despite the minority, 20 (8 O.S.) July Russian troops launched the first assault on Plevna. After artillery shelling infantry regiments went on the attack. In one place, Russian soldiers almost reached the Turkish batteries, but were driven back by a numerically superior enemy. In the other direction, they managed to occupy three rows of forward trenches and put the Turks to flight, but, not receiving reinforcements and not having enough strength to continue the attack, the Russian units retreated back. Their losses amounted to more than 2,500 people, Turkish - about 2,000.
Over the next ten days, a 30,000-strong Russian army with 140 cannons was concentrated near Plevna. But the Turks also strengthened the garrison, bringing its number to 23 thousand soldiers and 57 guns, in addition, they erected new fortifications around the city. Deciding to take advantage of the numerical advantage, 30 (18 O.S.) July, the Russian army, after artillery preparation, launched a second assault. At the same time, the troops actually launched a frontal attack on the most fortified Turkish positions. At first, Russian soldiers took several trenches and fortifications, but were stopped. The detachment of the skillfully and bravely acting General Mikhail Skobelev (in the battle under him one horse was killed and the other was wounded) also had to retreat. The second assault on Plevna ended in failure. The Russians lost about 3 thousand killed and a thousand captured, the Turks - about a thousand killed. A month later, Skobelev captured Lovcha, through which Plevna was supplied, and the sortie to support the Lovech garrison, organized by Osman Pasha, ended in vain.
The failure of the second assault on Plevna did not bother the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. At the end of August, he decided on another attack, receiving reinforcements in the form of allied Romanian troops. This time the fortress already had more than 80,000 soldiers with 424 guns, while Turkish army- about 35,000 people and 70 guns. But the offensive of the Romanian troops, who incorrectly assessed the number and location of Turkish fortifications, floundered. Although Skobelev occupied the redoubts that approached the city itself, from which it was possible to continue the offensive, he again did not receive reinforcements and was forced to abandon his occupied positions. The third assault on Plevna was repulsed, with 13,000 Russian soldiers and 3,000 Romanian soldiers out of action. After this, the command invited a talented military engineer, General Eduard Totleben, on whose recommendation it was decided to abandon subsequent assaults, focusing on the blockade. Meanwhile, the Turks increased the size of the garrison to 48 thousand people and already had 96 guns. For his success in the defense of Plevna, Osman Pasha received from the Sultan the honorary title “Gazi” (which meant “invincible”) and an order not to surrender the city under any circumstances.
Subsequently, with the capture by Russian troops of a number of fortifications near Plevna, a blockade ring closed around the city. The Turks had nowhere else to wait for reinforcements, ammunition, or provisions. Nevertheless, Osman Pasha refused all proposals for surrender. But he understood that the position of the besieged was becoming hopeless, and decided to make a breakthrough. November 28 (December 10, O.S.) The Turkish garrison, led by the commander, went on the attack. The Turks, having taken the advanced Russian fortifications thanks to a sudden attack, were stopped and then began to retreat; Osman Pasha was wounded. After this, the Turkish troops capitulated, and 43.5 thousand soldiers were captured.
The capture of Plevna was one of the key episodes Russian-Turkish War 1877–1878. The victory allowed the Russian army to successfully continue fighting and ultimately successfully end the war. The memory of the heroes of Plevna was immortalized in 1887 by the creation of a memorial chapel in Ilyinsky Park in Moscow.
November 28 ( old style) In 1877, Russian troops captured Plevna (Pleven). Four long months of siege and four assaults were required to capture the Ottoman stronghold, which chained the main forces of the Russian army to itself and slowed down its advance in the Balkans. “Plevna - this name has become the subject of general attention. The fall of Plevna was an event that everyone expected with intense attention from day to day... The fall of Plevna decided the whole issue of the war.”, - this is how one of the capital’s newspapers of that time wrote about the significance of Plevna. “In almost every war, events often occur that have a decisive influence on all further operations. So decisive event there was no doubt about the battle of Plevna on November 28, 1877...”- Major General of the General Staff A.I. Manykin-Nevstruev asserted in turn.
Plevna was located at the intersection of roads leading to Ruschuk, Sofia and Lovche. Wanting to stop the advance of the Russian troops, the Turkish mushir (marshal) Osman Pasha, making a swift rush with his troops, occupied Plevna, ahead of the Russians. When our troops approached the city, the Turks appeared before their eyes, erecting defensive fortifications. The first assault on Turkish positions, launched on July 8, 1877, did not bring success - having overcome three lines of trenches, Russian soldiers burst into the city, but were driven out of there by the Turks.
Having received reinforcements, ensuring numerical superiority over the Turkish garrison, the Russian army launched a second assault on July 30, which also did not bring the expected result: capturing huge losses two trenches and three fortifications, our troops were stopped at the redoubt, and then knocked out by the Turkish counter-offensive. “This Second Plevna almost turned into a disaster for the entire army,” noted military historian A.A. Kersnovsky . - The defeat of the IX Corps was complete, the entire rear of the army was gripped by panic, under the influence of which the only bridge crossing at Sistov was almost destroyed. We had 32,000 soldiers at Plevia with 176 guns. There were 26,000 Turks and 50 guns. (...) Our losses: 1 general, 168 officers, 7167 lower ranks. The only trophies are 2 guns. The Turks lost 1,200 people. (...) Grand Duke the commander-in-chief completely lost his head and turned to the Romanian King Charles for help in expressions that corresponded neither to the dignity of Russia nor the honor of the Russian army.”.
To cut off Plevna and prevent the Turks from freely receiving provisions, Russian command decided to attack Lovcha, occupied by a small Turkish garrison. The detachment of General M.D. Skobelev coped with this task brilliantly, taking Lovcha by August 22.
Meanwhile, intensive preparations were underway for the third assault on Plevna, under which all free Russian forces were pulled together. On August 25, a military council was held, at which the majority of military leaders spoke in favor of an immediate assault, so as not to prolong the siege until winter. The Commander-in-Chief of the entire Danube Army, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, who agreed with this argument, set the day of the assault on August 30, the day of the Sovereign’s name day. “And the assault on August 30 became the Third Plevna for Russia! This was the bloodiest affair in all the wars that the Russians ever fought with the Turks. The heroism and self-sacrifice of the troops did not help, nor did the desperate energy of Skobelev, who personally led them into the attack. preferring to give up victory rather than weaken the “barriers” and “reserves”. With his last effort, Osman (who had decided to abandon Plevna) snatched victory from a handful of Gortalov’s heroes, who were bleeding in front of Zot’s “reserves”, standing with a gun at their feet.”, - wrote A.A. Kersnovsky.
“White General” M.D. Skobelev, who showed himself brilliantly in this battle, was outraged: “ Napoleon was happy if one of the marshals won him half an hour of time. I won a whole day with it - and they didn’t take advantage of it.”.
Having lost up to 16 thousand soldiers and officers (13 thousand Russians and 3 thousand Romanians) during the last fierce assault, the Russian command decided to begin a blockade of the city.
Meanwhile, Osman Pasha's army received new reinforcements and provisions, and the marshal himself received the title "Ghazi" (invincible) from the Sultan for his successes. However, successful Russian operations near Gorny Dubnyak and Telish led to a complete blockade of Plevna. The Russian-Romanian army besieging Plevna numbered 122 thousand people against almost 50 thousand Turks who had taken refuge in the city. Constant artillery fire, depletion of provisions and the onset of diseases led to a significant weakening of the Turkish garrison. Squeezed into Plevna by a force four times its size iron ring Russian troops, the army of Osman Pasha began to suffocate in these vices. However, the Turkish military leader responded with a decisive refusal to all offers to surrender. Knowing the iron character of the “invincible” Osman Pasha, it was clear that in the current conditions he would undertake last try to break through the besieging army.
Early in the morning of November 28, taking advantage of the fog, the besieged Turkish army attacked the Russian troops. Having taken the advanced fortifications thanks to an unexpected and fierce blow, Osman Pasha's army was stopped by artillery fire from the second line of fortifications. And after the attack by Russian-Romanian troops in all directions and Skobelev’s capture of Plevna itself, abandoned by the Turks, Osman Pasha’s position became hopeless. Seriously wounded in the leg, the Turkish commander realized the hopelessness of his situation and suspended the battle, ordering to throw out White flag. The Turkish army surrendered unconditionally. During the last battle, Russian-Romanian losses amounted to about 1,700 people, and Turkish losses - about 6,000. The remaining 43.5 thousand Turkish soldiers and officers, including the army commander, were taken prisoner. However, highly appreciating the courage shown by Osman Pasha, Emperor Alexander II ordered that the wounded and captured Turkish commander be given marshal honors and the saber returned to him.
In just four months of the siege and fighting near Plevna, about 31 thousand Russian soldiers died. But the capture of Plevna became a turning point in the war, allowing the Russian command to free up over 100 thousand people for the offensive, after which the Russian army occupied Andrianople without a fight and approached Constantinople.
In 1887, on the tenth anniversary of the capture of Plevna, a monument to the Russian grenadiers who distinguished themselves in this battle was unveiled in Moscow. The monument was designed by architect V.O. Sherwood; inside the monument there was a chapel, the walls of which were lined with tiles and decorated with seven bronze plaques with the names of the fallen soldiers and two with a description of the battle and construction of the monument. The memorial chapel was built on the initiative and with voluntary donations from the surviving grenadiers who took part in the Battle of Plevna. At the opening of the monument, for the edification of descendants, the senior adjutant of the headquarters of the grenadier corps, Lieutenant Colonel I.Ya. Sokol, said the following important words: “Let this monument, erected by grateful grenadiers to their fallen comrades, remind future generations from year to year, from century to century, how its faithful sons know how to stand for the honor and glory of the Motherland when they are inspired by the saint Orthodox faith, boundless love for the Tsar and the Fatherland!”.
During the years of Soviet power, the Plevna Chapel miraculously survived, but at the same time fell into a dilapidated state. Only in December 1993 the Moscow Government handed over the chapel-monument to the Russian Orthodox Church, which, by decree of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II in 1999, acquired the status of the Patriarchal Compound. And from now on, every year at the chapel-monument, traditional events are held in memory of the Russian heroes - the liberators of Bulgaria.