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200-year after Napoleon defeat, Russia and France bury their dead
VYAZMA, Russia, Feb 13, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The remains of French and Russian
soldiers who died during Napoleon’s catastrophic retreat from Moscow in 1812
will be laid to rest Saturday in a rare moment of unity between the two
countries.
A ceremony near the western city of Smolensk will see the re-burial of 126
people killed in one of the bloodiest battles of Napoleon’s Russian campaign.
The interment takes place as France marks the bicentenary of the military
leader’s death this year.
Descendants of 19th-century Russian and French military leaders as well as
dozens of re-enactors are expected to attend the burial in Vyazma, a town
more than 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of Moscow.
Remains of 120 soldiers, three women and three teenagers were discovered in
a mass grave by archaeologists from both countries in 2019.
The dig was led by Pierre Malinowski, the Kremlin-connected head of the
Foundation for the Development of Russian-French Historic Initiatives.
The three women are believed to be so-called “vivandieres”, who provided
first aid and kept canteens in the French army, while the three adolescents
are believed to have been drummers.
All are thought to have fallen during the Battle of Vyazma on November 3,
1812 at the beginning of the French army’s retreat from Moscow and before the
horrific crossing of the Berezina River.
The ceremony, complete with a gun salute, will mark a rare moment of unity
between Russia and Europe at a time of heightened tensions over a litany of
issues including the Kremlin’s increasingly harsh crackdown on political
opposition.
– ‘Sign of reconciliation’ –
“Direct descendants of the main players in the conflict are meeting here
together in a sign of reconciliation to commemorate the Russian and French
soldiers that their ancestors commanded more than 200 years ago,” Malinowski
told AFP.
Yulia Khitrovo, a descendant of Russian field marshal Mikhail Kutuzov —
considered a national hero for repelling Napoleon’s invasion — added: “Death
made them equal: they are all in one grave now.”
Prince Joachim Murat, a descendant of one of Napoleon’s most celebrated
marshals, called the upcoming ceremony a “symbol of mutual respect” between
the once-warring sides.
The site was first discovered during construction work and was initially
believed to be one of the many World War II mass graves that dot western
Russia.
But research by the Russian Academy of Sciences later showed that the
remains were of victims of Napoleon’s campaign, most of them in their 30s at
the time of their death, said anthropologist Tatyana Shvedchikova.
Alexander Khokhlov, head of the archaeological expedition, said that the
discovery of metal uniform buttons helped establish that some of the victims
served in the French army’s 30th and 55th line infantry regiments and 24th
light infantry regiment.
BSS/AFP/SSS/0917 hrs