Decemberists on Senate Square Broken by Grapeshot

[@vadimanreev4585]

In the interregnum of December 14 [O. S. December 26], 1825, a group of officers raised an uprising against the autocracy. They wanted to establish a republic in Russia, or a constitutional monarchy and destroy serfdom (almost eighty percent of the inhabitants of the Russian Empire were almost in the position of slaves) The uprising was suppressed, the leaders were hanged, other officers were either sent to hard labor or to the Caucasian war as privates. Soldiers who participated in the uprising were beaten to death with shpitsruten (a standard metal ramrod for muzzle-loading firearms.) Ответить

[@serene_actual]

Damn...

[@adamhall5298]

Just another normal day in Russia

[@vadimanreev4585]

@@adamhall5298 Not true. We recall the USA, for example, the veterans' march on Washington in the summer of 1932, or the Ludlow massacre in 1914. The path to the kingdom of freedom, in any state, goes through blood.

[@adamhall5298]

You're comparing apples with pears. Look at the outcomes, Russia is still stuck at kleptocracy level with complete disregard for human life and dignity. The US is a deeply flawed democracy.

[@vadimanreev4585]

@@adamhall5298 It is you who have no concept of the flow of history. Are the USA and the Russian Federation cast in bronze? Haven't they been changing all this time? One moment: in the history of the United States, the civil war of the north with the south and Karl Marx, the founder of scientific communism, writes a welcome letter to Lincoln: "Dear sir! We send congratulations to the American people on your re-election by a huge majority. If the moderate slogan of your first election was resistance to the power of slaveholders, then the victorious battle cry of your second election reads: death to slavery! From the very beginning of the titanic struggle in America, the workers of Europe instinctively felt that the fate of their class was connected with the starry flag. Wasn't the struggle for territories, which marked the beginning of this harsh epic, supposed to decide whether the virgin soil of vast spaces would be given to the labor of a migrant or disgraced by the footsteps of a slave overseer?..." Another moment was the October Revolution in Russia and for the first time in the world the rights of workers to work, rest, treatment and study were legislated.

[@HunterKiller762]

To cannon, all men are equal.

[@ethanramos4441]

Not really to cannon

[@TheAngelOfDeath01]

@@ethanramos4441 Yeah, to cannon... it knows not friend from foe... it only does what its told to do when loaded and ignited.

[@ethanramos4441]

@@TheAngelOfDeath01 Oh I see I forgot it’s a quote from Napoleon

[@Caesar88888]

@@TheAngelOfDeath01 Napoleon meant that cannon knows not aristocrat from peasant as far as I know, cannon doesnt care if you are rich or poor

[@TheAngelOfDeath01]

@@Caesar88888 Yeps, that's the inspirit of the French Revolution way of putting it, but you are quite right.

[@thomassmith8140]

The sad part, most of these soldiers killed would have been Veterans of the Napoleonic Wars.

[@ИнИс-щ8д]

Veterans of the Napoleonic Wars were on both sides. For example, general Miloradovich, the hero of the war of 1812, was killed by Kakhovsky, one of the leaders of the Decembrist movement.

[@Random_person-di9um]

I say that every time I think about war

[@wrtltable]

The saddest thing is that the soldiers were not rebels at all. The officers simply took advantage of their official position and led their soldiers out under buckshot without explaining anything to them.

[@HoangNguyen-rw6wf]

@@wrtltable What worst the officers leader that was suppose to exacuted the coup got cold feet even the one that only had one job to kill the Tsar and then they just go for a walk or go back without informing the other officer who already going with the coup alongside theire soliders. At least the soldiers had their chances to go back to their barrack and thing will never happen until the officers screw that up.

[@MrBubblecake]

Most of these soldiers were idiots. Standing in a tightly packed formation against a cannon and not even returning a single shot despite their entire platoon being armed. They could have fell back to the buildings, split up and used them as cover and fought an urban warfare setting, but I guess that would require an IQ higher than 80

[@troydodson9641]

While I really appreciate the depiction of grapeshot, it's actually the reaction of the people that get me to fall in love with this scene. I can feel my own heart race as the first shot is being loaded up. Officers give assurance to the men, another's breathing is picking up, spit is being swallowed and the soldiers stiffen while the onlookers are shaken by the sound of the order. Be it the crowd and even the guy holding the fuse, I bet jitters are high, "oh God, is this really happening?" I'm going to have to look up the history on this, and watch this movie. Thanks

[@kishascape]

Anyone else here after reading the "as the founding fathers intended" copypaste? "Tallyho lads!"

[@troydodson9641]

@@kishascape No, but now I'm curious Edit, watched it, loved it

[@difenol5750]

In fact, the rebels did not stand unanswered, this is how it really was: A volley of blank charges was fired at the square, which had no effect. The first volley was fired above the ranks of the rebellious soldiers. The rebels responded to the first volley with buckshot with rifle fire, but then, under a hail of buckshot, the flight began. According to the eyewitness of those events, V. I. Shteingel: “It was possible to limit ourselves to this, but Sukhozanet fired a few more shots along the narrow Galerny Lane and across the Neva to the Academy of Arts, where more of the curious crowd fled! Crowds of rebellious soldiers rushed to the Neva ice to cross to Vasilyevsky Island. Mikhail Bestuzhev tried on the ice of the Neva to again form soldiers into battle formation and go on the offensive against the Peter and Paul Fortress. The troops lined up, but were fired from cannons with cannonballs. The cores hit the ice, and it cracked, many drowned.

[@FemboiSupremacy]

I thank you for your information

[@kyle18934]

oh man, I could believe it. loaded with gear and heavy clothing. plus it is so cold. that would be a bad a bad way to go, but i guess that's better than dying from grapeshot in the belly

[@difenol5750]

@@kyle18934 death from grapeshot is instant, unlike frost and ice.

[@guypierson5754]

@@difenol5750 Sometimes, if you take a grape to the chest or head. But a leg or arm? You lose the limb and die in agony over the next two minutes. Stomach shot that doesn't hit your spine? Maybe days to die, all the while in terrible agony. Drowning is quick and painless by comparison.

[@TheTuttle99]

@@difenol5750 there are probably many more wounded than instantly killed by the grapeshot. Being shot isn't just an off switch, and there's more places you can be shot and survive, than shot and killed

[@GmodAdict]

One of the best depictions of field artillery I’ve seen. Nothing about this scene comes out as “Wilhelm scream”. No exaggerated and dramatic jumping when artillery strikes the line, no Platoon-esque “falling dramatically from gunfire”. The grapeshot fires, and your line is torn apart a dozen men at a time, as though they’d been hit with a sledgehammer at high speed. Meanwhile you’re standing there, praying to every god there is that you not get hit…gruesome, visceral, and absolutely realistic

[@Vanishingink4]

Do you mean a jackhammer? Instead of a sledgehammer.

[@mackenzieblair8135]

Other than the wet sponging and the guns not being depressed enough.

[@Yaivenov]

@@mackenzieblair8135 Wet sponge was done to extinguish any residual embers in the bore. Very much a real thing.

[@mackenzieblair8135]

@@Yaivenov The sponge creates a vacuum which deprives any existing embers of oxygen. To create a proper seal the sponge needs to be dampened; not soaking wet. A wet sponge is incredibly dangerous. It increases the risk of misfires and can create clumps of smoldering powder encapsulated in soaking wet powder which can then cook off the next powder charge. I’ve shot 19th century artillery many times and studied the manuals and loading procedures of the period.

[@Yaivenov]

@@mackenzieblair8135 vacuum doesn't do what you're suggesting. You need to quench/cool the combusting material. Also at this point the powder charges are themselves encapsulated in waxed paper/lead foil.

[@Bayan1905]

I used to own a piece of US Civil War grapeshot. It was about an inch or so in diameter and was made of iron. These cannons look a bit smaller, the 6 pounder being one of the most common size guns during the Napoleonic era, so I imagine that's what these would have been, so the grapeshot would have been something like an inch in diameter or close to it. The grapeshot would have been devastating on anything it came into contact with.

[@LoveVP_]

During Napoleonic war leib-guard used 12 pounder cannons. So, in this scene decemberists was shot by 12 pounder cannons.

[@mackenzieblair8135]

Canister shot used approx 1-inch diameter iron balls. Grapeshot was significantly larger and primarily used by naval guns.

[@commenting000]

You owned a heckin ball of iron 1 inch in diameter?! That's like, le awesome, dude.

[@XIIOSRS]

no shit

[@lemmdus2119]

Actually it’s Canister shot. It’s full of musket balls.

[@vadimanreev4585]

From the memoirs of Nicholas the First (popularly nicknamed Palkin): "...Having left for the square, I wanted to see if there would be an opportunity, surrounding the crowd, to force surrender without bloodshed. At that time, a volley was fired at me; bullets whistled through my head and, fortunately, none of us were wounded. The workers of St. Isaac's Cathedral started throwing logs at us from behind the fences. It was necessary to decide to put an end to this as soon as possible, otherwise the riot could be communicated to the rabble, and then the troops surrounded by it would be in the most difficult position."

[@bigj1905]

This moment 100% impacted Nicholas. The rest of his reign was marked by a very authoritarian rule (even for the time) and the violent suppression of many rebellions. I think this uprising told him very early on that the best way to silence a revolutionary is with grapeshot.

[@vadimanreev4585]

@@bigj1905 This tsar, Nicholas the First, led the Russian Empire to defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Progress was in full swing all over the world, and Russia became like a foul-smelling swamp.

[@thomasfucillo]

@@vadimanreev4585 tragic that what followed the “foul swamp” of tsars were 80 million murders. The greatest horror story in world history. The Tsars were benevolent and king in comparison.

[@ryanweeks8186]

The soldiers should’ve known they were in trouble when they heard the epic music...

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

It is always a bad sign.

[@Tret64]

The actor who plays the Tsar does a great expression of “I don’t want to do this, but I have to” , especially at 0:33 and 2:24.

[@JayzsMr]

He was the best actor in the movie in my opinion, great charisma and presence. He captures the aristocratic presence perfectly

[@Cavemanner]

And the look he gives after the Decemberist leader fired at the retreating officer was a pure "why did you DO that". He really managed to exemplify how apprehensive the Tsar was in this moment.

[@bakkudeku]

Never count on your enemy's mercy or decency, it's a potentially fatal move.

[@svetchannel2998]

Именно благодаря этому через 100 лет победят большевики и устроят ад на Земле, прямо или косвенно убив десятки миллионов моих соотечественников, а их наследники будут править до сих пор. Либералы-февралисты, свергнувшие императора, посчитали что большевики не посмеют разогнать зарождающийся парламент, если они сами себя разоружат и распустят боевые подразделения, что они и сделали. Конечно большевики только посмеялись над этим и с помощью банд пьяных матросов Петрограда просто разогнали всех, а тех кто упорствовал расстреляли. Если вы считаете себя силами добра - сражайтесь, вы не имеете морального права позволять себе быть мягким, так как зло беспощадно и подло.

[@maxwellsope1080]

They were their brothers in arms as this is after the Napoleonic wars. Also the grape shot was used in small quantities with the intent to break up the rebel lines. If this was a real war Vs a foreign enemy the grape shot would have been devastating.

[@timthewarlord2304]

1:51 look at one guy survives one grapeshot Volley, wounded a little, covered in blood, loses his hat and is still standing. What are champion

[@gabrielvaino4673]

This scene blew me away.

[@andrewcarlson3486]

says the one who cant aim

[@verpen8108]

@@andrewcarlson3486 ahahahahahH

[@skyereave9454]

It blew them away too.

[@svalbard01]

Grapes of wrath.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

Clearly not.

[@hiredmurderer6228]

How the fall and the brutality of the impacts make this scene unique

[@kirgan1000]

It is still "sanitized" nobady screams in death pain for a long time, call for there mothere, or scream in horror of the wound they have taken, I have get un-maned (groin hit) they all die "relatively" fast and silent.

[@gnas1897]

​@@kirgan1000 The only (almost) completely non-"sanitized" war movie is Come and See. Nothing comes close to that.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

One of the better depictions of grape shot I've seen on film as a reenactor. But if it were real it would be far, FAR bloodier and gruesome... as in body parts flying everywhere 'gruesome'. However, I do appreciate the movie showing how a battery load of grape would eviscerate battalions whole companies at a time.

[@RoberttAvro]

My God, I truly feel for every soldier over the millennia who has died just standing there in position. Can you imagine the millions who have been mowed down over the centuries by arrow, cannon fire or so many other weapons? War is truly hell.

[@canadaero]

When the lieb guard runs, you know it’s fucked up

[@ZGundam83]

I just realized that, in 2 years, it will be 200 years since the Decembrist Revolt

[@radiopinkzeppelin2]

I don't think I'm familiar with a better depiction in cinema of what grape was like until probably Scott's Napoleon epic

[@lucasgroves137]

God I wish those hats were still in style.

[@comradecat3678]

Can confirm the new grapeshot ability for the Dawi in Warhammer 3 tears through even the most heavily armored chaos troops

[@patrioticjustice9040]

1:56 Is it just me or does Russia seem to have a long history of its citizens dying unnecessarily?

[@zhukov7923]

Who the hell even stands in the way of a military standoff, especially when they see cannons lining up.

[@patrioticjustice9040]

@@zhukov7923 Probably the closest thing they had to excitement back in the day. They used to make spectacles out of executions; watching a man hang for piracy was the equivalent of going to the movies.

[@erichvondonitz5325]

@@zhukov7923 probably didn't have a clue that they were using grapeshots instead of the normal ball shot

[@kekero540]

Because Russia has been ruled by totalitarian and parasitic despots and nobles since its very inception.

[@Phoenix8492]

@@zhukov7923 this kind of warfare was so far removed from civilian populace that it was a spectacle to many of this time, something very, very heavily romanticized by artists and propaganda. In one of the earliest battles of the American Civil War it was observed that people had settled on a nearby hillside to picnic as _spectators_ to the battle; they very quickly ran when the hill itself began to take musket and cannon fire. Even today we experience this effect; there are many stories from the US military of 18 year-olds soiling themselves in Iraq and Afghanistan because their entire perceptions of war and combat came from Call of Duty.

[@LordValorum]

"They won't dare to shoot us" That didnt age too well

[@spooky_lxix9042]

Ah yes giant shotgun

[@SteelFlesher]

Hmm

[@VadimKudim]

Famous last words, "They won't dare to shoot"

[@lrl2394]

Have to wonder what would have happened had they convinced their men to charge the cannons before they began firing, still many would die from the cannons but if they had reached them it would have been interesting to know how things could have gone

[@radziwill7193]

They would have been killed by superior musket fire and bayonets.

[@lrl2394]

@@radziwill7193 is this based on the numbers from the actual event, I don’t know a lot about it but it does seem interesting. Movie makes it look fairly even but that could just be artistic liberty

[@HansenDing]

@@lrl2394 yeah they didn't have the numbers. This is based on the real events of the Decemberist uprising where they were hugely outnumbered. If they actually fought they would have been crushed. Their only bet was to stand there and hope the army wouldn't dare shoot at their own officers and veterans. The Decemberist story was a tragic one. They were essentially officers and veterans who marched through Europe to defeat what they were told was the tyranny of Napoleon, only to realise that France was much more liberal and prosperous than Russia. They wanted reforms but due to how autocratic and conservative the Tsarist administration was, they were convinced an armed uprising was the only solution and grew desperate, resorting to a series of suicidal coup and mutiny attempts.

[@gidi3250]

They where heard telling their men that the loyal troops wouldn't shoot on them since they are all Russians and cannons proved that wrong.

[@pizzaki582]

@@HansenDing jesus man, sounds like russia every few decades

[@KazBodnar]

I can't believe they filmed this back in 1825

[@reynaldoflores4522]

Their discipline is phenomenal. As men fell, their comrades on either side simply closed in to reform the lines.

[@AustinAOkay]

Was looking for a scene that used canister/grapeshot. Hollywood focuses on the long range cannon balls but once the enemy was in range, they would employee the dreaded grapeshot. A Shotgun on steroids!

[@090giver090]

Picket's charge scene in "Gettysburg" showed artillery switching from shells to canisters as enemy went closer and its effects quite well. Without gore for age restrictions considerations of course.

[@7hunderingGod]

@@090giver090 there are even a few commands you hear during Pickett's charge for the union artillery to load double canister.

[@albaraqahtani]

This is the most accurate portrayal of linear warfare i’ve ever seen.

[@Otter-Destruction]

2:28 you could tell that wasn't his first time being on the wrong end of a cannon.

[@bishopadhemaroflepuy8377]

1:44 Bro went from daring Russian commander to Lord Beckett in a span of about 0.2 seconds

[@saska7604]

The expressions on their faces it can tell that they were terrified and desprate (sorry for my bad english if i said something wrong)

[@starlightdragon2665]

What's crazy; is that modern tanks have a grapeshot canister for their guns. I remember watching a video of an M1 shotgun canister and oh buddy it will pepper a whole field for a wide sweep. So to imagine that day and age when Grapeshot was the best anti infantry ammo they had; as wildly inaccurate as it was, god help the poor buggers it hit, because if it didn't kill you it would make you wish it did.

[@Hammerheadworm]

i feel bad for the guy right here running. 2:59

[@gagetv814]

What’s the name of this movie

[@louiseake1899]

@@gagetv814It’s Union of Salvation but it’s in Russian

[@typicalperson6389]

i love how only one contingent, the one at 3:44; stood still while others ran.

[@thedragonbroke]

Theres a reason that Louis XIV's artillery was inscribed with "Ultima Ratio Regum" or 'The Last Argument of Kings'. When the crowd saw the Tsar roll the artillery out they shouldve bolted. A king can only argue so much before his authority disapears. His final argument is the sound of a cannon.

[@Petitmoi74]

After the disaster of Ridley Scott's Napoleon, even if it's not related, I'm so disappointed that we didn't get a movie like this. With, among other things, realism and colour (I'm tired of modern movies with grey filters, might as well go back to the days of black and white films).

[@aaronmarks9366]

Man, Napoleon was so disappointing. Although I'll give them credit for having a brutal grapeshot scene there, with the peasant woman crawling away from her own severed leg.

[@lukaskaelin6249]

From the handbook of how not to stage a successful Coup de grâce.....step one: do this........

[@spitfirexo1646]

*coup d'etat. coup de grace is a completely different thing

[@janchovanec8624]

It was a protest, not replacing a government, more of a strike. No violence was envisioned. All the violence was sewed.

[@michaelgreenwood3413]

@@spitfirexo1646 Well, they certainly got coup de gras'd

[@TheGuyWithTheSniper]

"What are you going to do? Fire grapeshot at me?" - Man who was grapeshotted

[@potofaalili4996]

1:51 that one guy in the middle be standing like a menace

[@yngvebalmsteen9174]

The lone veteran soldier standing in the front rank, hardly even moving after his fellow died seemed like bad writing/editing to me at first. Then a minute or two later I realized it was totally accurate and he was just portraying a consummate professional soldier.

[@edstein5642]

Good depiction of the horror of grapeshot & the psychological effect it can have on infantry.

[@Madladren]

I like the grape shot touch they did an excellent job showing how it was deadly with its spread

[@ConstantineJoseph]

In America it is called canister fire. This was how Pickett's 15,000 men charge was grounded to a halt at the height of the Civil War combat at Gettysburg

[@Ace5.0]

Pretty gnarly depiction of grapeshot

[@dmitriyrozhdestvenskiy2826]

Imagine yourself being a Soldier who carried on 1805-06 campaign, the Patriotic War of 1812 year against Napoleon, coming to Paris and being shot here at the capital (formally) of the Russian Empire by your mates with the cartrige, as some junior officers told you something about "the Constitution", liberty, things that are wrong and you need to be here to "fix it". 😪🤧😩😫😵☠️💂❤❤❤

[@wrtltable]

The soldiers did not understand at all what the conspirators wanted from them and why they were there. They ignored all the beautiful words about the constitution and freedom and simply followed the orders of their officers as usual. However, for some reason, none of these conspirators freed their serfs. So they wanted freedom only for themselves.

[@dmitriyrozhdestvenskiy2826]

​@@wrtltableindeed. Ironically, the most of the soldiers though the word "The Constitution" (or "Konstitystiya" in Russian) meant the wife of the Constantine - the second brother of Alexander I - the middle brother who meant to take the throne by rights (but he refused and went to Poland).

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

These shell types didn't go away, oh no no, not by a country-mile. The 120mm gun found on the Abrams has a similar round just much-much larger and far more deadly.

[@A.P.1821]

Superb Russian production, far better than Hollywood ones.

[@SoldierKing1871]

I like how the one guy just shakes it off and gets back in line

[@RT-rx2sj]

An officer who had been taking a nap: “Sir, how do we stop the revolution?” This guy: “What revolution”

[@gb9884]

Good old shotgun spread from a cannon. Absolutely decimated troops

[@MrGab1.0]

Napoleon wouldve been proud,they learned the way of artillery in revolts

[@Alexander-lb4bn]

Tsar W

[@IRussian007]

2:27 you can hear one of the wounded or tending to wounded scream "bitches, they wounded us". I speak russian.

[@stunsisacul]

“They’re not really going to fire the cannons they lugged all this way, right?” - some dead dumb commander

[@HyenaPaint]

I can’t believe wars would be fought by having people stand there as fodder until their turn. It’s so insane.

[@texasRoofDoctor]

If only Nicholas had done the same with the Bolsheviks.

[@konstantinkanev6287]

Nicholas the Second was been overthrown by own generals. Bolshevics just picked the power up from ground

[@texasRoofDoctor]

@@konstantinkanev6287 We all would be better off if the Bolsheviks were treated to cannister, grape shot, and even molten lead in generous doses.

[@abyrvalg_]

The Bolsheviks never overthrowed monarchy. It was democratic movement throughout the country. The new Temporary Government was weak as hell and is responsible for split of the Russian Empire. Bolsheviks kept most of the country united.

[@texasRoofDoctor]

@@abyrvalg_ Bro ! You are obviously the product of a pre 1992 Soviet Union education or a bad one in the West. I recommend that you read books by Issac Deutscher, Volkganov, et al. It was NOT Democratic movement by the oppressed. It was a sh1t-stained, well-funded, planned revolution. How do you think that turd Lenin was able to live in Zurich ? You have to read more before you get into the big kidd pool, Son.

[@o.r.grinter7763]

Grapeshot turns the cannon into giant shotguns

[@-TIGER_131-]

Grapeshot when you want to turn you’r Canon into a 0,5 gauge shotgun on wheels

[@CausticPuffin]

1:32 Them boys was afraid to fire because they saw the Leib guards’ giant lead balls.

[@onebridge7231]

They f8cked up when they didn’t charge the cannons, but tried to call the guys bluff.

[@aaronleblanc9276]

I cannot find anywhere to purchase this movie.

[@JamalJacksonDontaviousIV-Dquan]

English Subtitles: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5CtmoSNmphprq8si=KAceEBOsipYvHJZQ

[@ITLLBGRAND]

"You're rebellion may stand strong, but I've yet to see a wall of men take grapeshot well."

[@christopherorta8755]

Okay so I'm not big on Russian history, but can someone please give me a quick run down of what's happening and who the quote on quote "bad guys" in this scenario are?

[@SeriyKayf]

"Bad guys", "good guys" -))) An example of black and white thinking. The reality is much more complicated. The rebels wanted to reform the country, introduce a constitution, give freedom to the people ... and kill the emperor! The emperor - had the right to power, and did not want to be killed, had the right to suppress the uprising ... was a conservative, did not want changes, ... Later, all this went bang in 1917. "We want changes" against "nothing needs to be changed."

[@christopherorta8755]

@@SeriyKayf that's why I put "bad guys" in quotation marks. I wasn't sure how to word it properly and those were the first two words that came to mind. As I said I'm not well versed in Russian history. Despite your slightly rude start I appreciate the quick run down of what happened.

[@SeriyKayf]

@@christopherorta8755 Dude)) I didn't mean to be rude. Rather rational and objective. Personally, I am for the Decembrists (rebels). They are good guys to me. On the other hand, I respect the emperor for his decisiveness. ... At one time, the rebellious French killed their king - Louis 16. Napolene despised this weak king and said - "he had guns!" Guns + weak politician = death. Cannons + strong politician = long rule of a huge empire. Each side is good in its own way! The rebels wanted all the best for all people, but they were poorly organized, naive. The emperor was good in his determination, courage, but he was too inert and did not want to change anything. Life is difficult!

[@christopherorta8755]

@@SeriyKayf I apologize for my accusation of you being rude. That was wrong of me to do. Things often get misconstrued through messages on a screen. Also, I'm with the Decemberists as well. They just wanted the best for all people like you said. However, as you also said they were poorly organized unfortunately. Both sides had their reasons, but the Decemberists were definitely doing the right thing in my opinion.

[@radziwill7193]

Alexander the first died and the throne was taken by his younger brother Nikolai. The elder brother Konstantin, a war hero and popular among the people tsarevich abdicated the throne. The Decembrists used this confusion to gather the entire guard and force the Senate to recognize Trubetskoy as dictator.

[@michelveilleux123]

Grape shot is amazing....when you're not on the receiving end of it, that is.

[@itoyokocho.mp4]

i can actually feel as if i got shot by the cannons holy damn

[@_gungrave_6802]

Still amazes me that armies back then thought standing in formation in front of cannons was a wise idea...smh.

[@Fancypants117]

if you broke formation then you were vulnerable to Calvary linear line combat was whoever broke formation first or gun down each other until one side's formation is too thin to hold the line There's a good reason they used the tactics they did back then

[@misterwhipple2870]

That's D E C E M B R I S T S, bubbe. There is no third E in it.

[@thomashilton8198]

Nothing like just STANDING there while being fired on with grapeshot. What the Hell? They were in a square as they had already been attacked by cavalry.

[@guillgdr2405]

This is one of the rare scene where cannon balls are showed as they were, and not as ww bomb shell like we see in 90% of pre-ww era. Even bondartshuk fail in that, and god knows how war and peace and waterloo are masterpieces

[@jeffbo8748]

It’s not traditional canonballs they’re firing it’s grapeshot/canistershot which was basically like a shotgun shell with all the little pellets.

[@BatmanSeRiedeTi]

"Lets just stand here while they gun us dow." Excelent negotiation tactic, i wonder how it turned out.

[@georgeofhamilton]

Bruh, they took out like twenty civilians too.

[@WalterEKurtz-kp2jf]

What a great tactic. Just stand there taking rounds.

[@jk4686]

I don’t know who had the great idea to expose a whole army in a square with the risk of getting killed by fxcking canyons

[@makegeorgeorwellfictionaga9268]

I am totally confused I see Napoleon run away and then these soldiers just standing still getting fired upon, someone please explain to me?

[@ВСР-98Флора]

It's not Napoleon. It's Russian officer. And they all Russian soldiers...

[@sikuter]

You should have been taught this in school for many years. The action takes place in St. Petersburg, Napoleon died 3 years earlier.

[@makegeorgeorwellfictionaga9268]

@@sikuter Fair enough I try to be informed about history as I can, I can not keep up with everything. You have to understand , that not everyone has the time to understand every event that ever happened

[@sikuter]

@@makegeorgeorwellfictionaga9268 I don't require people to know history deeply, but to call any person in such hat as Napoleon its already beyond the bounds of decency)

[@ca_outlaw5525]

I can't believe they used to fight like this. Taking turns and shit. Standing still. It's the most braindead tactics I could've ever possibly imagined.

[@vadimanreev4585]

The tactics of the army are determined by the technical development of society. This is the European linear tactics that has defeated literally everyone in Asia, Africa, and America, because all the other states of the world are hopelessly technologically and economically behind. Ответить

[@AdmiralYeti8042]

Heavy shot is “Dear Mr…, Grapeshot is “To whom it may concern”

[@brunoB1980]

Napoleonic warfare in a Nutshell: get shred to bloody bits, while wearing a dashing uniform.

[@Phristan-the-wolvenking]

Truly a disgusting sight of humanity following orders when knowing that they do not respresent the people's best interest .. .. they are with .then the Nobels .. it's a constant repeat thing .. and sad to behold that his has happened so many times in history

[@l.6516]

Back when people would casually watch battles for entertainment.

[@mikeltikel]

Loading Grapeshot!

[@thedrunkenwanker2007]

three rapscallions after i resort to the cannon mounted at the top of the stairs

[@Ghost-pq8td]

Dude...like I would have understood if we were charging and attacking, but don't tell me to stand still and just take cannon fire ×_×)

[@nikmikh8547]

I love that people from other countries love that movie more than we, russians, do.

[@zippolighter4903]

It's always nice to see cinema from different countries

[@nikmikh8547]

@@zippolighter4903 yep, it is, I just say that this movie is not loved by Russians

[@zippolighter4903]

@@nikmikh8547 Really? It looks really well made

[@nikmikh8547]

@@zippolighter4903 it is, it's really beautiful, but it's just a propaganda, which shows that people should cooperate with the ruler and wait till he will do what people want. And it also has very bad script, cause it was edited from the parts of the series (which is, btw, despite propaganda stuff, really well-written) and it didn't feel as a finished movie, just some bunch of clips.

[@zippolighter4903]

@@nikmikh8547 Huh. That's a shame. You would never guess it has those over tones and with a bad script from this scene

[@amunre12]

This is the Napoleon movie I want to see....that Ridley Scott movie is trash

[@crazylizard1889]

I think making the soldiers look uneasy was cheesy. Many soldiers were still perfectly willing to do the Emperor's bidding, instead of shivering with hesitation. Also, the Emperor was desperate to disperse the crowds peacefully, so he ordered the first volley to be fired overhead.

[@richardallan2767]

Warfare of that era was particularly insane. "Just stand there while you're slaughter" or even better "Just march slowly into range, and keep marching". Life is worthless to those with power.

[@vadimanreev4585]

The tactics of the army are determined by the technical development of society. This is the European linear tactics that has defeated literally everyone in Asia, Africa, and America, because all the other states of the world are hopelessly technologically and economically behind.

[@Real11BangBang]

The ultimate "Perry This you filthy casual" moment

[@andrewkensington7403]

Great depiction of grape shot but again the bodies would not just be laying there. There would be body parts, intestines, blood everywhere. That’s why many people during these times would actually write about standing in pools of blood!

[@rickbloedorn9652]

Why do russian movies always look so good

[@orangecobraEU]

Because we produce the best movies not the shit like an hero is here to save the world against vilians that it, russians movies are unic and they made it realistic, all russian movies are like that

[@happydiamond6748]

You see all that man that have feather on their cap they are elite infantry called Seminovski Lifeguard and its just sad how many elite soldiers died

[@AnOriginalYouTuber]

These are the games of psychopaths.

[@faliqsultanz]

the scenes i found kinda funny tho😂 the moment where the officer said "fire" and they did not fire at all and the tsar looked at him creepily😂

[@vadimanreev4585]

From the memoirs of Nicholas 1:Having gone to the square, I wanted to see if there would be an opportunity to surround the crowd and force them to surrender without bloodshed. At that time, a volley was fired at me; bullets whistled through my head and, fortunately, none of us were wounded. The workers of St. Isaac's Cathedral started throwing logs at us from behind the fences. It was necessary to decide to put an end to this soon, otherwise the riot could spread to the rabble, and then the troops surrounded by it would be in the most difficult position.

[@aldrichbalnazzar8214]

The civies standing nearby watching, dawg id fucken get me meself somewhere behind those cannons or several miles away tbh

[@achd5083]

Russia: has a rich and beautiful culture and history with some of the best art and classical music ever made. Also Russia the second someone mentions liberal reforms:

[@RetiredRadioChaser]

Grape shot is horribly efficient at slaughtering mass troops. My uncle once spoke of using it during World War II when he was at Iwo Jima. Japanese soldier bodies were stacked in front of the guns over 10 foot high I think he said. The gunners had to continue to elevate the gun tubes to shoot the soldiers that were climbing over the top of the dead bodies. The banzai charges continued from dusk to dawn!

[@jamesrowles9249]

Everyone's got a plan... until they get a face full of grapeshot!

[@MattePurple1]

Apologies for the pedantry. The Decemberists are band. These would Decembrists.

[@andre_santos2181]

Ah, grapeshot, the best way to win Empire Total war