On November 11, 1918, the First World War ended. The Russian soldier bore the brunt of it. The Battle of Gumbinnen, the defense of the Osovets fortress, the Erzurum operation, the Brusilov breakthrough are glorious milestones in our history. The victory of our allies in the “war for civilization” is the merit of Russia.
PUTIN: WE ARE REVIVING THE HISTORICAL TRUTH
Speech at the opening ceremony of the monument to the heroes of the First World War...Now we are reviving the historical truth about the First World War, and countless examples of personal courage and military art, true patriotism of Russian soldiers and officers, and the entire Russian society are opening up to us. The very role of Russia in that difficult, turning-point time for the world, especially in the pre-war period, is being revealed. It clearly reflects the defining character trait of our country, our people. For many centuries, Russia has stood for strong and trusting relations between states. This was the case on the eve of the First World War, when Russia did everything to convince Europe to peacefully and bloodlessly resolve the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. But Russia was not heard, and it had to answer the call, protecting the fraternal Slavic people, protecting itself and its citizens from external threats. Russia fulfilled its allied duty. Her offensives in Prussia and Galicia thwarted the enemy's plans, allowed the allies to hold the front and defend Paris, and forced the enemy to throw a significant part of their forces to the east, where the Russian regiments were desperately fighting. Russia was able to hold back this onslaught and then go on the offensive. And the whole world heard about the legendary Brusilov breakthrough. However, this victory was stolen from the country. Stolen by those who called for the defeat of their Fatherland, their army, sowed strife within Russia, strived for power, betraying national interests. Today we are restoring the connection of times, the continuity of our history, and the First World War, its commanders, soldiers are finding their rightful place in it (as our people say, “better late than never”), and in our hearts we acquire that sacred memory that the soldiers of the First World War rightfully deserved. Justice triumphs on the pages of books and textbooks, in the media, in films and, of course, in the memorials that we are opening today. Website of the President of Russia
IN THE FOREST OF COMPIENE
On the morning of November 8, the German delegation arrived at the Retonde station in the Compiegne Forest, where it was received by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Entente, Marshal Foch. The terms of the truce were read to her. They provided for the cessation of hostilities, the evacuation within 14 days of areas of France occupied by German troops, the territories of Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Alsace-Lorraine. Entente troops occupied the left bank of the Rhine (and the maintenance of the occupation army was entrusted entirely to Germany), and on the right bank it was planned to create a demilitarized zone... Germany was supposed to give the Entente 5 thousand artillery pieces, 30 thousand machine guns, 3 thousand mortars, 5 thousand. steam locomotives, 150 thousand carriages, 2 thousand aircraft, 10 thousand trucks, 6 heavy cruisers, 10 battleships, 8 light cruisers, 50 destroyers and 160 submarines. The remaining ships of the German navy were disarmed and interned by the Allies. The blockade of Germany was maintained. The Compiègne truce had a clearly anti-Soviet character. According to Article 12, German troops continued to occupy the territories of Soviet Russia they occupied until the allies resolved this issue, “taking into account the internal situation of these territories.” It also provided for “free entry and exit into the Baltic Sea for military and merchant ships of the Entente,” which was preparing an armed intervention against Soviet Russia. Foch decisively rejected all attempts by the German delegation to initiate any negotiations regarding the terms of the truce. In fact, this meant a demand for unconditional surrender. The German delegation was given 72 hours to respond. The ultimatum expired on November 11 at 11 a.m. French time...According to one of the participants in the Compiègne negotiations, to Foch’s surprise, the Germans “quite easily” accepted such difficult conditions for the complete surrender of the fleet and the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine, but, on the contrary, turned deathly pale and were completely lost as soon as the question of surrendering cannons, machine guns and locomotives arose. The head of the Armistice Commission, State Secretary of the Foreign Office Erzberger, exclaimed: “But then we were lost! How can we defend ourselves against Bolshevism? - and a little later he said: “But you don’t understand that by depriving us of the opportunity to defend ourselves, you are destroying us, and also destroying yourself. And you will go through this in your turn!” In the end, by intimidating the victors with the “Bolshevik danger,” the German delegation achieved some concessions. Thus, the number of machine guns subject to issue was reduced to 25 thousand, aircraft - to 1.7 thousand, trucks - to 5 thousand. The requirements for the issue of submarines were lifted. In other points, the terms of the truce remained unchanged. On November 9, revolutionary German workers and soldiers overthrew the Hohenzollern monarchy. Germany was declared a republic. On the night of November 9–10, Wilhelm II fled to Holland...On November 11, 1918, at 5 a.m. French time, the terms of the truce were signed. At 11 o'clock the first shots of the 101st artillery salute of nations were fired, signaling the end of the First World War. Glukhov V.P. Entente offensive on the Western Front and defeat of Germany. History of the First World War 1914-1918. M., 1975
VICTORY MEDAL
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Entente, Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch, proposed during the Paris Peace Conference that all victorious countries issue awards under the general name “Victory Medal” - of a similar design and with the same ribbon. On the reverse are the names of the victorious states or their coats of arms, as well as the motto “The Great War for Civilization.” Let's say on the American "Victory Medal" in the middle there is a small coat of arms of the United States, with a vertically standing lictorial bundle of fasces superimposed on it with an ax stuck into it; inscriptions - top along the circumference: GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION (Great War for Civilization), left: GREAT BRITAIN (Great Britain), BELGIUM (Belgium), BRAZIL (Brazil), PORTUGAL (Portugal), RUMANIA (Romania), CHINA (China), on the right: FRANCE (France), ITALY (Italy), SERBIA (Serbia), JAPAN (Japan), MONTENEGRO (Montenegro), RUSSIA (Russia), GREECE (Greece), at the bottom there are six five-pointed stars around the circumference.
1914
● Defeat of French troops in the Border Battle ( August).
● Offensive of Russian troops – East Prussian operation ( August) and the Battle of Galicia ( September) - saved France from defeat and contributed to the defeat of German troops on the Western Front on the river. Marne ( September). True, the East Prussian operation ended in tragedy: the 1st and 2nd Russian armies (commanders P.K. Rennenkampf and A.V. Samsonov) were defeated; the commander of the 2nd Army, completely destroyed (A.V. Samsonov), shot himself.
● At the end August Japan entered the war on the side of the Entente, deciding to take advantage of the situation and seize the German colonies in the Asia-Pacific region.
●B October Türkiye entered the war on the side of Germany, whose troops suffered a heavy defeat in Transcaucasia from Russian troops.
The result of the 1914 campaign: the German plan for a lightning war was thwarted.
1915
● On the Western Front, both sides fought positional battles.
● Russian troops suffered a number of heavy defeats due to the military-technical superiority of Germany and the passivity of Russia's allies. Galicia, Poland, Lithuania, part of Latvia and Belarus were abandoned, but Germany failed to achieve the main strategic goal - to take Russia out of the war.
● April 22– the Germans used chemical weapons for the first time in the history of wars (in the area of the Belgian city of Ypres, against the Anglo-French troops).
●B May Italy entered the war on the side of the Entente.
●B October Bulgaria entered the war on the side of Germany. Through the joint efforts of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, Serbia was defeated.
1916
● Germany's attempt to defeat French troops in the area of the Verdun fortress ( February-December) was unsuccessful. The battle went down in history as the “Verdun Meat Grinder”.
● On the Eastern Front, the greatest success was achieved by the troops of the Southwestern Front under the command of General A.A. Brusilov, who broke through the positional defenses of the Austro-Hungarian troops and occupied Bukovina and Galicia ( May-August).
● The “Brusilovsky breakthrough” eased the position of Russia’s allies near Verdun and allowed them to carry out a successful offensive on the river. Somme ( July-November). Italy was saved from defeat.
●B August Romania entered the war on the side of the Entente, but already December was defeated.
● September 15- The British used tanks for the first time in the history of wars (against German troops in France, on the Somme River).
1917
● The overall strategic situation was more favorable for the Entente. IN April The United States entered the war on the side of the Entente.
● Offensives launched against German troops on the French and Italian fronts ( April-May, November-December) had a tactical success, but were operationally ineffective.
● The offensive of Russian troops in the zone of the Southwestern Front ( June-July) and completely ended in defeat and a successful counter-offensive of German troops ( July-August).
●B December The Bolsheviks, who came to power as a result of the October Revolution, signed an armistice with Germany.
1918
● February 18–23- successful offensive of German and Austro-Hungarian troops on the Eastern Front.
● March 3 was signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between Soviet Russia and Germany. Russia left the war.
● German offensive operations in Picardy and Flanders ( March-April), as well as in the Paris direction ( May-June, July) ended in failure.
●B August-November Anglo-French troops carried out successful offensives in Northern France.
● Germany’s allies capitulated: Bulgaria – September 29, Türkiye – October 30, Austria-Hungary – November 3.
February Revolution of 1917
From mid-February– Interruptions in food supplies to Petrograd served as the reason for the revolution.
February 23 (March 8)– Rallies and meetings dedicated to International Women’s Day were held at Petrograd enterprises. Spontaneous unrest among female workers began due to a shortage of bread, mass strikes and demonstrations of Petrograd workers in support of the Putilovites began. The beginning of the revolution.
February 24, 25– Rallies, strikes and demonstrations in the capital continued, acquiring a political character.
February 26- Shooting of a demonstration in Petrograd. A revolt of the reserve teams of the Volyn, Lithuanian, and Pavlovsk regiments, a massive transfer of troops of the Petrograd garrison to the side of the rebels.
February 27– The Petrograd Soviet and the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet were formed, headed by the Menshevik N.S. Chkheidze (Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks predominated in the Petrograd Soviet).
March 1– The Petrograd Soviet issued Order No. 1, which contained a demand for democratization of the army.
March 2– Nicholas II abdicated the throne in favor of his brother. book Mikhail Alexandrovich.
March 2– A Provisional Government was formed headed by G.E. Lvov ( July 7 he was replaced by A.F. Kerensky).
March 3– Abdication of Mikhail Alexandrovich and his transfer of power to the Provisional Government.
October Revolution 1917(dates are given according to the old style; the difference with the new style was 13 days)
September- Bolshevization of the Soviets. The Petrograd Soviet was headed by the Bolshevik L.D. Trotsky.
October 10– The Central Committee of the RSDLP(b) approved the course of an armed uprising and seizure of power (G.E. Zinoviev and L.B. Kamenev were against). Lenin's resolution was adopted, recognizing that the uprising was ripe and inevitable.
October 12– At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Petrogad Council, the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) was created to prepare an armed uprising in Petrograd.
October 16– An extended meeting of the Central Committee of the RSDLP(b) with the participation of leading party workers in Petrograd, representatives of trade unions and military organizations. The decision on an armed uprising was confirmed (G.E. Zinoviev and L.B. Kamenev again opposed).
October 24(evening) - An armed uprising began in Petrograd. By the morning of October 25, the capital was in the hands of the rebels, who established control over the strategic objects of Petrograd.
October 25– The Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies opened.
On the night of October 25-26- The Winter Palace was taken, members of the Provisional Government were arrested (with the exception of its chairman A.F. Kerensky, who on the morning of October 25 left for Gatchina to the Headquarters of the Northern Front Command to rely on the troops).
October 26– The II All-Russian Congress of Soviets adopted: Appeal “To workers, soldiers and peasants!” (on the congress taking over state power from the Military Revolutionary Committee); "Decree on Peace" (who proclaimed Russia’s exit from the imperialist war and called on all warring peoples and their governments to immediately conclude peace without annexations and indemnities); "Decree on Land" (who proclaimed the abolition of private ownership of land, the liquidation of landownership, the conversion of all land into public property, its transfer to the disposal of peasant organizations, equal land use); "Decree on Power" (who proclaimed the universal establishment of the power of the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies). A revolutionary government was formed from representatives of the Bolshevik Party - The Council of People's Commissars (SNK), headed by V.I. Lenin .
Speech at the opening ceremony of the monument to the heroes of the First World War
Now we are reviving the historical truth about the First World War, and countless examples of personal courage and military art, true patriotism of Russian soldiers and officers, and the entire Russian society are opening up to us. The very role of Russia in that difficult, turning-point time for the world, especially in the pre-war period, is being revealed. It clearly reflects the defining character trait of our country, our people.
For many centuries, Russia has advocated strong and trusting relations between states. This was the case on the eve of the First World War, when Russia did everything to convince Europe to peacefully and bloodlessly resolve the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. But Russia was not heard, and it had to answer the challenge, protecting the fraternal Slavic people, protecting itself and its citizens from an external threat.
Russia has fulfilled its allied duty. Her offensives in Prussia and Galicia thwarted the enemy's plans, allowed the allies to hold the front and defend Paris, and forced the enemy to throw a significant part of their forces to the east, where the Russian regiments were desperately fighting. Russia was able to hold back this onslaught and then go on the offensive. And the whole world heard about the legendary Brusilov breakthrough.
However, this victory was stolen from the country. Stolen by those who called for the defeat of their Fatherland, their army, sowed discord within Russia, strived for power, betraying national interests.
Today we are restoring the connection of times, the continuity of our history, and the First World War, its commanders and soldiers are finding a worthy place in it (as our people say, “better late than never”), and that sacred memory is being acquired in our hearts. what the soldiers of the First World War rightfully deserved. Justice triumphs on the pages of books and textbooks, in the media, in films and, of course, in the memorials that we are opening today.
IN THE FOREST OF COMPIENE
On the morning of November 8, the German delegation arrived at the Retonde station in the Compiegne Forest, where it was received by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Entente, Marshal Foch. The terms of the truce were read to her. They provided for the cessation of hostilities, the evacuation within 14 days of areas of France occupied by German troops, the territories of Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Alsace-Lorraine. Entente troops occupied the left bank of the Rhine (and the maintenance of the occupation army was entrusted entirely to Germany), and on the right bank it was planned to create a demilitarized zone...
Germany was supposed to give the Entente 5 thousand artillery pieces, 30 thousand machine guns, 3 thousand mortars, 5 thousand locomotives, 150 thousand carriages, 2 thousand aircraft, 10 thousand trucks, 6 heavy cruisers, 10 battleships, 8 light cruisers, 50 destroyers and 160 submarines. The remaining ships of the German navy were disarmed and interned by the Allies. The blockade of Germany continued.
The Compiègne truce had a pronounced anti-Soviet character. According to Article 12, German troops continued to occupy the territories of Soviet Russia they occupied until the allies resolved this issue, “taking into account the internal situation of these territories.” It also provided for “free entry and exit into the Baltic Sea for military and commercial ships of the Entente,” which was preparing an armed intervention against Soviet Russia.
Foch resolutely rejected all attempts by the German delegation to initiate any negotiations regarding the terms of the armistice. In fact, this meant a demand for unconditional surrender. The German delegation was given 72 hours to respond. The ultimatum expired on November 11 at 11 a.m. French time...
According to one of the participants in the Compiègne negotiations, to Foch’s surprise, the Germans “quite easily” accepted such difficult conditions for the complete surrender of the fleet and the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine, but, on the contrary, they turned deathly pale and were completely lost as soon as the question of surrendering cannons and machine guns arose and steam locomotives. The head of the Armistice Commission, State Secretary of the Foreign Office Erzberger, exclaimed: “But then we were lost! How can we defend ourselves against Bolshevism? - and a little later he said: “But you don’t understand that by depriving us of the opportunity to defend ourselves, you are destroying us, and also destroying yourself. And you will go through this in turn!”
In the end, intimidating the victors with the “Bolshevik danger”, the German delegation achieved some concessions. Thus, the number of machine guns subject to issue was reduced to 25 thousand, aircraft - to 1.7 thousand, trucks - to 5 thousand. The requirements for the issue of submarines were lifted. In other points, the terms of the truce remained unchanged. On November 9, revolutionary German workers and soldiers overthrew the Hohenzollern monarchy. Germany was declared a republic. On the night of November 9–10, Wilhelm II fled to Holland...
On November 11, 1918, at 5 a.m. French time, the terms of the armistice were signed. At 11 o'clock the first shots of the 101st artillery salute of nations were fired, signaling the end of the First World War.
VICTORY MEDAL
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Entente, Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch, proposed during the Paris Peace Conference that all victorious countries issue awards under the general name “Victory Medal” - of a similar design and with the same ribbon. On the reverse are the names of the victorious states or their coats of arms, as well as the motto “The Great War for Civilization.” Let's say on the American "Victory Medal" in the middle there is a small coat of arms of the United States, with a vertically standing lictorial bundle of fasces superimposed on it with an ax stuck into it; inscriptions - top along the circumference: GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION (Great War for Civilization), left: GREAT BRITAIN (Great Britain), BELGIUM (Belgium), BRAZIL (Brazil), PORTUGAL (Portugal), RUMANIA (Romania), CHINA (China), on the right: FRANCE (France), ITALY (Italy), SERBIA (Serbia), JAPAN (Japan), MONTENEGRO (Montenegro), RUSSIA (Russia), GREECE (Greece), at the bottom there are six five-pointed stars around the circumference.
11.11.2017 11:53
The First World War (July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918) became one of the most large-scale armed conflicts in human history. A conflict arose between two opposing blocs of powers: the Triple Alliance, which included Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Entente, consisting of Russia, England, and France. The main reasons that led to the outbreak of the war were the rivalry between England and Germany for leadership, the struggle between France and Germany for the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, and the rivalry between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia in the Balkans.
The First World War accelerated the development of new weapons and means of warfare. For the first time, tanks, chemical weapons, a gas mask, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, and a flamethrower were used. Airplanes, machine guns, mortars, submarines, and torpedo boats became widespread. The firepower of the troops increased sharply. New types of artillery appeared: anti-aircraft, anti-tank, infantry escort. Aviation became an independent branch of the military, which began to be divided into reconnaissance, fighter and bomber. Tank troops, chemical troops, air defense troops, and naval aviation emerged. The role of engineering troops increased and the role of cavalry decreased.
The Truce of Compiègne ended the First World War. The end of the First World War was approved by the signing of an armistice between the participants in the First World War (the Entente countries and Germany) on November 11, 1918. The signing took place in the railway carriage of Marshal Ferdinand Foch in the Forest of Compiegne (in the French region of Picardy near the city of Compiegne). English Admiral Rosslyn Wimyss and the commander of the Entente forces, Marshal Foch, received the German delegation led by Major General Detlef von Winterfeldt. At 5:10 a.m. the agreement was signed. The truce came into force at 11 am. 101 salvos were fired - the last salvos of the First World War.
The armies of 38 states were involved in it. As a result of the war, four empires ceased to exist: Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and German. The participating countries lost more than 10 million soldiers and about 12 million civilians, about 55 million people were wounded. In many European countries, this day still remains one of the main memorable days. It is called differently: in Great Britain it is Remembrance Day, in France and Belgium it is Armistice Day, in Canada it is Remembrance Day. But in all these countries it is celebrated without fail with all the appropriate celebrations and honoring the heroes of that war. In honor of the end of the First World War, there is also an international Day of Remembrance for those killed in this war.
The Russian soldier bore the brunt of it. The Battle of Gumbinnen, the defense of the Osovets fortress, the Erzurum operation, the Brusilov breakthrough are glorious milestones in our history. The victory of our allies in the “war for civilization” is the merit of Russia. In Russia, Tsarskoye Selo was to become a special place for the memory of the war, according to the plan of Emperor Nicholas II. The Sovereign's Military Chamber, founded there back in 1913, was to become the Museum of the Great War. By order of the emperor, a special plot was allocated for the burial of the dead and deceased ranks of the Tsarskoye Selo garrison. This site became known as the “Heroes’ Cemetery.” At the beginning of 1915, the “Cemetery of Heroes” was named the First Fraternal Cemetery.
