Russian Soldier Describes True Horror of Napoleon's 1812 Invasion // Memoir of Ilya Radozhitskii

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Extracts taken from:
Ilya Radozhitskii's Campaign Memoirs (Campaign Memoirs of the Artilleryman)
Translated by Alexander Mikaberidze
The Napoleonic Society of Georgia (2011)
www.amazon.com/RadozhitskiiS-...
Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist
Stock footage from Videoblocks and Artgrid

[@VoicesofthePast]

If you like this check out the full text, it's a wonderful translation and incredibly readable diary: www.amazon.com/RadozhitskiiS-Campaign-Memoirs-Alexander-Mikaberidze/dp/1105168719

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Thank you for a year of superior content from both your channels. KZbin is allowing thousands of people to live out their dreams and showcase talent we'd never have access to. Wow. A leveler.

[@aidansharples7751]

Why was smoking good for the officers life expectancy in 1812? Because all their men were trying to poison them.

[@aidansharples7751]

@@gaslitworldf.melissab2897 Just to be clear, what is his other channel?

[@brianswelding]

@@aidansharples7751 He and his brother Pete have a few other channels actually. Go to this channel's main page and go to the "channels" tab at the top right. All their content is superb 👌

[@aidansharples7751]

@@brianswelding please for perpetuity what are they called...

[@philippoantimiclari2723]

"How many thousands of future victims of human enmity still enjoyed life that day only to turn to dust the following. Thus, a man is destined to remain the plaything of passions, to reach for the heavens with is mind and to disappear in earthly irrelevance"-one of my favorite lines.

[@bobpoof]

@Karl Anderson Karl, you talking trash to a long dead Russian soldier is inspiring, but I must remind you that this fellow does not have a youtube account.

[@philippoantimiclari2723]

Yes, I bet Napoleon thought the same.

[@bobpoof]

@Karl Anderson Karl now it is my turn to be inspired by you. You have achieved the construction of several sentences which conform to the rules of grammar, yet have no clear purpose whatsoever. If you would take one man's humble advice, in the future, I would limit yourself to less than 6 beers before posting on youtube.

[@solomon5ty]

@@bobpoof you’re a funny geezer, someone owes you a beer

[@ronkledonkanusmoncher564]

@@bobpoof 6? That’s hardly even enough to get an honest working man out of bed in the morning!

[@thegamecrasherthemastergam8485]

You know it's bad when a soldier for the army of the country you've invaded has sympathy for your plight.

[@lufsolitaire5351]

Perhaps they slowly realized nobody wanted to be there, and maybe felt more sympathetic towards the Germans, Austrians, Italians, Czechs, Poles, etc that got roped into supporting the Russian campaign. Which most had a subtle to vocal disdain of the French as much as any Russian at the time.

[@olivereagle4760]

@@lufsolitaire5351 definitely not the poles lol

[@lufsolitaire5351]

@@olivereagle4760 I meant on an individual level, systemically I wouldn’t expect the Russian higher ups to care.

[@yaelz6043]

@@lufsolitaire5351 there are and have never been any poles, germans or austrians who didn't want to commit genocide in Russia.

[@00114d]

Book club memes

[@geigertec5921]

From getting hit by enemy cannon fire, to watching his capitol looted and burned, to sitting at a camp fire and sharing a biscuit with a wayward Frenchman in a freezing blizzard. The best and worst of humanity concurrently experienced by a man who somehow survived.

[@clairevero]

Capital

[@katucan]

He never shared the biscuit with the Frenchman, only the german

[@kapasian9009]

Moscow wasn't a capital at the time.

[@Xepent]

@@clairevero capitol

[@Ericsaidful]

Whats interesting is how little has changed in humanity. It's been 200 years but, we remain almost the exact same as then, if not a little less intelligent.

[@david9783]

The amazing thing is that, in spite of all the many hardships and horrors, this man was able to record his thoughts, observations, and places with astonishing clarity of mind, all written with a quill and ink pot.

[@chaosdweller]

I know right .

[@MugiwaraLion]

People were built different back then

[@chaosdweller]

@@MugiwaraLion yeah they were mentally, that's for sure , but that's just cuz of the demands placed on them mentally.....

[@MugiwaraLion]

@@chaosdweller Yea the times were alot harder, famines, pillaging, politics, civil war, revolutions etc, I think about going back in time then I realize how shit everything would be and the locals would probably just kill me because I can't speak the language and I would look to out of place with modern clothing lmao

[@chaosdweller]

@@MugiwaraLion haha damn that 1st half of that paragraph or first few sentences, sounds just about like my day to day life starting about 7-8 yrs ago lol!

[@nygothuey6607]

In case anyone is wondering, when he refers to "the Antonov Fire" he is referring to gangrene.

[@Vukoslav_Miloradovich]

Looks like it should've been "Anthony's fire"

[@MrVlad12340]

@@Vukoslav_Miloradovich in Russian its pronounced as “Antonov”.

[@TheMusicalKnokcers]

@@MrVlad12340 yeah but then say fire in russian too, i think it was vukoslav's point

[@heinrichb]

@@MrVlad12340 It's not, it's either ""огонь Святого Антония" or "Антониев огонь" but it sure as shit isn't "Антонова огонь" - Saint Anthony is still referenced, and the closest pronunciation would be "Antoniyev ogon'" which would still translate to Anthony's fire.

[@castoresnegros]

Hew!

[@sedrfghbn]

I try to imagine the scenes he's describing. What an absolute psychosis. Truly a nightmare. 209 years later and their suffering is just haunting. Rest In Peace to all the souls

[@jeffsmith2022]

Amen...

[@TsarOfRuss]

The Cossacks really devasted the Napoleon army with their guerrilla tactics.. attacking Caravans and attacking any small unit of French army, even Napoleon wrote about them that they were the best horsemen he has ever seen

[@DJWESG1]

209 years later , the same polical forces are making the same polical decisions based o the same misguided beliefs.

[@Misses-Hippy]

I am especially sad for all the loyal horses who perished.

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

@@Misses-Hippy Me too, adorable, innocent creature's victims of human madness, like all animals caught in a war. 😢

[@justinneill5003]

It makes me think of the mass grave discovered 20 years ago in Lithuania (in Vilnius, or Vilna as it was called in the Napoleonic era.) They numbered at least 2000, and at first it was assumed that they were victims of WW2, but the remaining metal buttons of their coats were soon identified as being from Napoleonic French military uniforms.

[@ivan200804]

Yes, I remember that. First thing they said was it was Stalin. However, they all had an interesting markings on teeth from smoking pipes, that was attributed to the Napoleonic era.

[@armbullytv]

@@ivan200804 of course they tried to pin It on stalin

[@davidcoolomfg8129]

@@armbullytv poor, misunderstood, uncle Joe...

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

@@davidcoolomfg8129 May he rot in hell.

[@armbullytv]

@JFJFJ JFJFJFJ allegedly

[@flashgordon6510]

Well, I didn't really intend to listen for the whole 40 minutes, but wow, that was amazing. What a talented writer Ilya Radozhitskii was. A true window into a terrible time.

[@toosiyabrandt8676]

HI And echoed in Tolstoy's War and Peace. Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua destined to rule us forever.

[@rogertheshrubber2551]

I hadn't even realized the whole thing was 40 minutes! When I read your comment, I thought, "no way was that 40 minutes!" It just flew by.

[@TerryHenson]

Same. Just wanted to see how it started and led to wanting more when it ended. This soldier truly was an amazing writer.

[@georgetitsworth8919]

I didn't intent to read your whole comment but wow yes i agree

[@animuslite8809]

I just realized it was 40 minutes. That flew by.

[@ericcloud1023]

The absolute terror of walking, 100men in each row, and row upon row... Just marching into active cannon fire and everything the enemy can muster. Then after suffering 500+ yards of abuse and lead you finally get within range...but that also means your in the enemies range as well. Just praying that no bullet has your name on it. And finally after all that, it's time to fix bayonets and charge into hand-to-hand death struggles. Absolutely insane those lads! Brave beyond measure, but clinically insane to willingly do that for years, and years (because before term limits, you served until the war ended) for shoddy pay, food, and zero retirement security

[@quidproquo0]

Madness!

[@YadraVoat]

The lack of tactics is beyond comprehension. I have to wonder if rulers' refusal to develop guerrilla tactics, was some sort of early mutually-assured destruction (lest such strategy be used against them personally).

[@kimok4716]

@@YadraVoat Oh yeah I'm sure everybody was an idiot back then and no one thought of doing that. Surely the tactics employed back then were not the result of centuries of evolution of both tactics and weaponry. No people were just dumb and we are smart

[@tylerdurden3722]

@@YadraVoat There wasn't a lack of tactics. Napoleon is one of the greatest tacticians who ever lived and he is from this era. 1. If you chose to fight in a town or city, it would typically be burned down with you in it. Cannon balls did most damage when it hit something that could shatter and broke it into shrapnel that shot in all directions and killed those near it. Logistically, it's difficult to coordinate attacks with extremely loose formations without radios etc. You become fodder for the cavalry if you're not protected by a pike formation. Muskets took long to reload and you'd only manage to fire one shot before being cut by a sabre. 2. Armies didn't fight till the last man. They fought until one side lost their nerve and ran. There were mainly 5 types of units used in this era. And each played a role in making the enemy break and run. 1. Light infantry. They fought using "guerilla tactics". They fought loosely as skirmishers, fired independently and were to first to engage to enemy. They were typically the shortest smallest soldiers. 2. While the light infantry were screening the enemy (keeping the enemy occupied), the Line infantry deployed and moved into range. (These are the guys you probably know of). The light infantry would get out of the way and the Line Infantry would start firing volleys. They usually moved in colombs and only formed into lines when nearing the enemy. The reason they stood shoulder to shoulder was for 3 reasons. - because it proved better for moral (they broke and ran less easily). - and because musket barrels of that era weren't rifled. Rifling makes later barrels accurate. An unriflied gun shooting a ball is very inaccurate, as that ball rotates in a way that causes the ball to curve like a soccer ball, but randomly. - getting hit by a volley of bullets is more damaging to moral. Hence, why line infantry were trained to shoot at targets in groups. And in certain situations each group would rotate fire so that there would always be a loaded portion of muskets ready to fire should an unexpected target present itself. When you are firing alone and trying to fire from a safe distance, it was unlikely you'd hit a target because of the in accuracy of the weapon. But, a group working together, shooting back at you, the moment you popped out to shoot, were way more likely to hit you. If the cavalry or howitzers didn't kill you already. The line infantry were medium sized men who's job was to soften up the enemy (the aim is to bring the enemy closer to breaking psychologically). Their muskets basically served as a spear as well. Needed for fending off cavalry and charges from enemy infantry...and only worked effectively in pike formations. 3. The Grenadiers. These were the tallest biggest guys (with those fluffy hats to make them look even taller). They were the one's who typically charged at the enemy for close combat. The right moment was chosen to charge and the idea was to be as imposing as possible, when the enemy moral was at its lowest, to cause the enemy to break and run. And, typically one side would break and run at this point. This was when the real killing started as disorganized fleeing enemies were chased down and killed (this was the aim of each side). 4. Cavalry. This worked the same as always. Strong against light loose infantry (a weapon of mass destruction for fleeing enemies). Weak against tightly packed, organized infantry with spears from the front. 5. Artillery. If you're hiding in a building, behind a wagon, etc..., this would be the typical response. So just standing near a wagon, etc was like being next to a potential shrapnel bomb. There were howitzers as well. Those were for if you hid in a trench, behind bags of sand, a mound of earth, etc. The howitzers would pound your position from above. In this era, Guerilla warfare would work great if you're defending in your own territory and you are not bothered with protecting the typical strategic positions. You could slowly grind down an occupier of your territory. But because of the very short range of fire, slow rate of fire and thus vulnerability to cavalry, these tactics were best when using muskets (which were used because muskets made recruiting and training 100 000s of soldiers viable). E.g. Longbows were probably better, but those require a lifetime of training to build up the strength to draw a war bow powerful enough for long range and war. Thus these can't easily and cheaply be trained in great numbers.

[@YadraVoat]

@@tylerdurden3722 Wow, did you write that just for me? If so I'd say worthy of publication as an article unto itself. Excellent summary.

[@nickbrasche1189]

"Ugh, it's Murat!" Priceless and hilarious!

[@lh2823]

I didnt watch the whole video. What is the context of him saying that?

[@nickbrasche1189]

@@lh2823 He was having a "patriotic dream" where he assassinated a French general, only to see that it was Napoleon's foppish and foolish brother in law Murat.

[@mayahex7089]

@@nickbrasche1189 murat sounds like a Turk though

[@nickbrasche1189]

@@mayahex7089 it sounds a bit different but Joachim Murat was indeed a Frenchman born in France.

[@APHH-Content]

@@nickbrasche1189 thank you

[@user-cv7nd6sw3t]

The author was not a soldier, but an officer. A soldier called him “your honor”, which means he was a lower rank officer.

[@IvanIvanov-qx5oz]

From his wiki (in Russian), it looks like he was a lieutenant during this conflict.

[@marionapoleoni4502]

@@IvanIvanov-qx5ozyeah right. How would we ever know this !?!?

[@panchopistola8298]

An officer is still a soldier …..

[@mosesmarlboro5401]

Some people tend to assume that the Russian soldiers (of any era) are somehow immune to the ravaging effects of freezing temperatures, without giving it much thought.

[@handsdown3521]

I don't think anyone does.

[@daniellap.stewart6839]

I mean the dudes live in the cold what do you expect?

[@Jim-Tuner]

Something similar goes on with the effects of living in the jungle on Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.

[@Dayvit78]

And think about all the villagers whose towns were razed to deny supplies to the enemy.

[@thomasdavison7184]

Not immune but they know what to expect and take precautions to combat it. Like at the October camp the were issued winter jackets and clothing. The Nazi's made the same damn mistake and lost the war on the eastern front in the exact same way.

[@bard8903]

the absolute batshit insanity and brutality described while everyone stays so calm and our main protagonist describing in such a modern way his feelings and fears, and how he felt weak thinking about battle is a perfect example of how dark Russian writing was at that time (and is today)

[@ommsterlitz1805]

These men had the most insane will and are often easily portrayed as godlike warriors for good reasons in many battle France Napoleonic soldiers could reverse fate of battle in 1/10 ratio that should have been lost from the start especially when bayonet charges where involved and musicians supporting their ferocity and fervor in their Great Emperor.

[@bloodybonescomic]

Within the last year I plowed through Tolstoy's "War and Peace". It was not what I expected. It turned out to be a terrific novel. I couldn't put it down.

[@Caesar88888]

of course its terrific, why else would it become world classic?

[@silafuyang8675]

Greatest novel ever written.

[@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886]

I congratulate you for completing what must have been a titanic effort of readership on your part. Not too many have read War and Peace cover to cover.

[@ingridlinbohm7682]

I must admit I took out the book from the college library and borrowed it for three years because I used it as a door stop. Clearly I should have read it.

[@sss1029]

@@ingridlinbohm7682 why would you use it as a door stop?

[@endaohalloran6649]

I've been on a Napoleon learning binge of late and this video came at just the right time!

[@TheCoin100]

hey me too

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

Welcome

[@josephmclaughlin6191]

Same

[@cristianchelba4621]

Me too,for the past 20 years

[@WillieFungo]

Check out Epic History's Napoleon series. It's the best available on KZbin.

[@reymartmaquiling5828]

Diaries of people who experience the horrors of Napoleonic war is underrated. Often surpassed by testimonies of ww2, Vietnam war, Arab- Israeli wars, the troubles etc. Hope we can learn more about the testimonies by people who lived during that period.

[@kingbillycokebottle5484]

Kinda beats a sniper taking you out without you even knowing, I'll take that over modern urban combat, go look at the helmet cam footage of falusia, boys dropping left right and centre, go to clear a room only for half ya section to be killed by one man. Men using wives and children as human shields, never knowing if that trash bag is really a booby trap. I think I'd take linear warfare over that.

[@bogdanbogdanoff5164]

@@kingbillycokebottle5484 Now imagine there's more than one guy running at you with a half-meter long spike, screaming. You are not wearing armor or carry a shield.

[@kingbillycokebottle5484]

@@bogdanbogdanoff5164 least I see it.

[@krab9479]

This is incredible and haunting. The “frozen Frenchmen” seemed almost like zombies.

[@showtale8325]

Awesome video. The first time I had ever heard the story from the Russians who lived it's perspective. A rather overlooked perspective. The Russian people were never depicted with such humanity. A joy to watch great job

[@ommsterlitz1805]

These men had the most insane will and are often easily portrayed as godlike warriors for good reasons in many battle France Napoleonic soldiers could reverse fate of battle in 1/10 ratio that should have been lost from the start especially when bayonet charges where involved and musicians supporting their ferocity and fervor in their Great Emperor.

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

As someone who lives in Minnesota, a vaguely similar climate to Russia, warm coats are the difference between life and death. I had a wool and fur coat that would make me sweat in -20 degree weather, but if you were wearing a light summer uniform you would almost certainly die. Hitler made the same mistake as Napoleon by foolishly not giving their soldiers warm coats, which coupled with slow starvation killed millions

[@seand.g423]

Not to mention that bare steel against their napes...

[@OmarJames]

Gotta remember Napoleon never wanted to be in Russia for more than a few weeks. Hence the summer uniforms. His plan was to enter, win a decisive victory then leave. Unfortunately for him, Ruissa had other ideas.

[@scottbutkowski5803]

Having lived in Minneapolis for over twenty years, I agree with you. How the hell can they just overlook winter!? Oh, I Know why. They have never experienced 20 degrees below. I remember being there one year and it was close to fifty degrees below outside. Star tribune had an article about how it was warmer on parts of Mars than it was Minnesota. Never again. I got smart. Moved somewhere warm. Best descision ever!

[@geraldillo]

Quote at 10'25"; "Naturally this is the only time that one is allowed to enjoy the evil that one inflicts on fellow humans who, willingly or not, have become our enemies." "willingly or not" shows that not much has changed throughout the course of the centuries...

[@ulmo5536]

The reality of the hardships these people went through seem all the more real when it comes from the writings of an individual that actually lived through it.

[@ommsterlitz1805]

These men had the most insane will and are often easily portrayed as godlike warriors for good reasons in many battle France Napoleonic soldiers could reverse fate of battle in 1/10 ratio that should have been lost from the start especially when bayonet charges where involved and musicians supporting their ferocity and fervor in their Great Emperor.

[@HistoryDose]

Enthralling. I suddenly have the urge to create a sprawling Napoleon epic...

[@kissthesky40]

The supreme filmmaker Stanley Kubrick labored over his movie project about Napoleon. He amassed thousands of notes and drawings. Sadly, he died shortly before the release of Eyes Wide Shut. His estate kept all the material. Perhaps write to his wife and request a scholar’s review?

[@bishop6218]

You should name it "Conflict and Truce", or something like that 🤔

[@isaiahd5396]

Big fan you should

[@thomaspynchon1868]

Will it be titled: "War and Peace"?

[@benwilsonMMA]

f napoleon he was an evil little man

[@SQSNSQ]

"Russian Soldier Ilya Radozhitskii" was artillery lieutenant in 1812 and finished his career as general-major. So, not a soldier's, but officer's memoir. Majority of soldiers in Russian army were illiterate peasants. None of them left any memoirs, unfortunately.

[@kenycharles8600]

This explains and adds depth to the character of the author. Thank you.

[@JustinDOehlke]

An officer is a Soldier's Soldier

[@maxnikolenko2302]

Facts son !!! It's just a beautiful, magnificent memoir. And the artist renditions to go along with the words. Beautiful. Only a man that stood on the battlefield can have such vivid descriptions of death , horror, sorrow, and trully there is nothing glorious about war innthe end. All you have around you are invalid young men. Many who lost limbs find joy only in alccohol. The bottle becomes a new, life long friend. So unfortunate, yet becomes common place in society and a constant reminder that there was a war not that long ago. Buildings can be replaced, rebuilt, and landscapes blossoming wild flowers, wheat, patches of thick and thin grass here and there, in general it seems as if there was no war at all. And yet there are visible reminders. No matter how artfully nature can cover up its scars....the missing limbs, the wheelchair bound, the awkward movements of a man with a prosthetic leg. That , you can't hide. That you can't heal. That only time can hide. In a few decades, when these men have passed, no one will have reminders lthe war

[@viamilitaris011]

You are right .But,still, he was field officer .

[@yaelz6043]

Actually literacy rates were fairly high in Russia, it's just that the schooling was unofficial and so wasn't counted. But of course a westerner can't accept that since it gets in the way of the "filthy sunhuman barbarian" stereotype.

[@VegetaAFH]

Man has created a time machine to travel to the future with the advent of writing. Your voice and rendition of these journals have given us a time machine to the past. Bravo!

[@thephoenixempyre2300]

"No, hold ground and die" has to be one of the most cruel things I've ever heard come from a commander to his soldiers

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

When the battle had been under-weigh at Waterloo for two hours, and every effort to deal with the first onslaught had been made, and it settled into artillery and musket and cavalry charges, Lord Wellington said, to his officers, "Hard pounding this, gentlemen; let's see who will stand it the longest".

[@korosuke1788]

Wellington was a garbage human being. He called the very men who died for him "scum of the Earth".

[@josephmatthews7698]

​@@uncletiggermclaren7592that's what she said.

[@carsonpetersen630]

Outstanding competent inhuman by necessity ww1 was another thing altogether same thing but unwilling to adjust once the new weapons showed their effects

[@adamgrimsley6455]

They did adjust. Constantly. I appreciate the first half of your comment but to say the generals did not adjust is just narrative not truth. It was a nasty war where numbers made the rest happen. Trench warfare is normal but normally the numbers do not allow the constancy

[@VojislavMoranic]

"Hold your ground and die" God damn find me something more Slavic in this world.

[@robdee81]

Gopniks......

[@mayahex7089]

The weak Slav

[@JohnDoe-sw1rs]

Become alcoholic and have low living standards

[@VojislavMoranic]

@@JohnDoe-sw1rs Not everyone can just imitate your mothers lifestyle.

[@TerryHenson]

@@VojislavMoranic hahaha well played sir.

[@jbos5107]

You read these accounts so well. It's like you are channeling the stories as if you were there. It's made your channel my new addiction!

[@marionapoleoni4502]

Thanks ❤

[@tonyhawk94]

I wish you could find Cossacks accounts of Marshal Murat, as they respected him so much that they'd scream "hurra Murat" when seeing him and wanted him to be captured alive.

[@pyatig]

Not only that but Murat and Miloradovich were both known to be extravagant dressed men and after the capture of Moscow were known to have tea and dinners together. They saw each other as kindred spirits and became great friends.

[@adrianjohnson7920]

Similar to the way allied soldiers in WWII had great respect for Field Marshall Rommel, known for his decency to POWs.

[@portalovodguides]

Thank you for this amazing translation and video sequence!

[@gordusmaximus4990]

Damn, your videos should be on schools to teach history, for people to see the history context of things, not repeating the same mistakes and even see we all are humans and we are more like our ancestours then what we think we are.

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Excellent for: * Online studies * Home schoolers * Homework * Extra Credit (for legitimate attendance misses) * Military drama research

[@jabronis33]

Good luck with that. They would have to show Napoleon as black and gay

[@matthew92604]

@@jabronis33 .......? You seem like you have some unresolved homesexual urges lol. Gay people have existed since God shat out the first caveman. We don't need to hide them anymore, just as you don't need to hide your true feelings.

[@matthew92604]

@@jabronis33 It's just so bizarre that your first thought about Napoleon being taught in school was "those damn gay black men." Someone is a fan of the BBC, ay?

[@aj897]

@@matthew92604 If your first thought is that, you're the gay one lmao tf

[@FreeFallingAir]

This was just amazing, so glad I stumbled onto y'all. Subscribed and looking forward to more.

[@rafaelfiloyoutube9904]

thank you my brother! is so good to hear these stories of the past, it is like reading a book of history, your imagination takes place and the pictures your video provide enhance this "travel". thank you again and sorry for my bad english

[@derekmcmillian6557]

Story well told. After seeing different documentaries etc about this, to hear a first hand story about it was refreshing

[@Black-Sun_Kaiser]

This was really brilliant... I really felt something from these stories. Thank you.

[@PaddyFeen]

Always great to see a new video from this channel! Happy holidays 😁

[@onetwothreefourfive12345]

Your best work yet, such a harrowing story. Thanks!!

[@CaptainHaddocck]

Greatest video you've ever made. Thank you.

[@rooroo8767]

Slowly becoming one of my fave channels. Bravo good sirs.

[@dahlesmclennan1200]

This was an extremely enjoyable video, well narrated and the beautiful prose of the writer was enthralling.

[@agingerbeard]

Recent subscriber, absolutely loving these videos, thanks so much for sharing!

[@mitchellmcdowell8546]

Just another wonderful presentation. Keep up the good work!

[@TrayDyer38]

This is priceless… keep up the great work. It brings the distance of history to the present in a relevant personal way that is intimate and personal.

[@nikevisor54]

Amazing content, man! Really appreciate the variety of your videos :)

[@HermanLabuschagne]

What a beautifully written account, masterfully translated, and well narrated. It is fascinating to listen to the events described, knowing that it follows along the trail of events described in Tolstoy's timeless War and Peace.

[@mickymantle3233]

I have a collection of 24 rare French Regimental buttons all discovered by metal detector along the route of the retreat from Moscow in 1812. Including Imperial Guard & Sappers Button from near the Berezina crossing.

[@MrMegaDanila]

thats super neat

[@mickymantle3233]

@@MrMegaDanila Yes, I bought them off of an old Belarusian metal detectorist. (it's apparently illegal to metal detect certain sites there). I've had them all professionally checked & they are all authentic. Perhaps my most prized possession is a French Hussars Lions Head sabre buckle + two buttons from the 17th & 21st Regiment de Ligne - only a handful of these regiments made it back to France. The guy actually had a French Eagle - but I was too late !

[@JamesDeBall]

@@mickymantle3233that’s amazing! Can you pm me about how to contact the seller?

[@hannubal4976]

This was amazing, great job guys.

[@jookike3345]

You are a masterful narrator, I appreciate your work so immensely. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You and Merry Christmas.

[@zacktube100]

That was really good. Thanks for posting the video.

[@AcesAndNates]

This channel is amazing. I studied history in university and it’s like you’ve brought to life the visions in my head as I would read soldiers’ journals.

[@marionapoleoni4502]

*Mike Soldier’s journal

[@whiteelephant3673]

Good pronunciation 👌 And of course, overall quality of the video is off the charts, as always

[@ancsi7474]

I love the long episodes! Great 👏👏👏

[@jivananda108]

This is the greatest KZbin channel I have ever encountered. Good show!

[@rg65box]

Wow. What a story. I’m left stunned. Thank you for bringing these past experiences to us.

[@LucidWanderer]

As I listen to this, I cannot help but to think of the Gallic war, fought between Vercingetorix and Caesar, the tactics, the heroes, history truly does repeat itself.

[@SK371]

Well except the invader won in that case.

[@stevebuscemi3622]

@@SK371 ceasar brought civilization to the Gauls though, some argue they had it comin'

[@seand.g423]

​@stevebuscemi3622 including those who call hanging a wooden price tag around the necks in the Roman Market "bringing civilization"...

[@herramirtsaaja9032]

​@@stevebuscemi3622just like europeans brought civilisation to africa, americas and asia

[@dkcorderoyximenez3382]

This video was sensational...the author's descriptions of the ravages of the conflict were vivid...my mind's eye saw his words in color... Thank you...

[@damienasmodeus928]

That guy at the beginning preaching apocalypse because of Napoleon was so funny. People were always so sure that world will end in their lifetime.

[@joshlewis575]

Ever since Jesus died(allegedly) people have thought they're living in the "end times" awaiting his return. 2000+ years of disappointment n yet they still believe, go figure

[@richardc861]

Yeah probably didn’t want to admit that Napoleon is no different from other men, we are all flawed and with some fortune, we would probably have done the same.

[@shannoncole7051]

Guys, guys... We are living in the end times now... And I know that people have been saying this for over 2000 years... We are committed to the idea now. At some point one of these people will right!

[@damienasmodeus928]

@@shannoncole7051 yea, in approximately 5 billion years the sun will swallow the earth. I wouldn't say that 5 billion years is such a short time that we should call it the end times.

[@jonhall2274]

@@shannoncole7051🤦‍♂️ No, no they won't, because skydaddy doesn't exist. 😂🤣

[@floridasoldat]

I love listening to these deeply personal, historical accounts of war over past decades and centuries. Thanks for this!

[@Blackhankhill]

You really have some of the best, most unique content 💫

[@thomasdavison7184]

Man what an awesome story. I very much appreciate what you do here. I love history and what a better way to learn of it than through the words of those who lived it. The difference in culture from earlier times also interest me.

[@olliefoxx7165]

Isn't history a grand thing? It's better than any movie or show fabricated today. The events that actually happened which our ancestors endured through is fascinating!

[@harmonie333]

Beautiful editing you are getting better and better each time 🤩

[@phoebehill953]

Thanks. Another great reading!

[@transvestosaurus878]

Antonov fire = gangrene ... _"gas phlegmon, malignant edema, Antonov’s fire, a severe acute infectious disease caused by several microbial clostridia"_ -- The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979)

[@Octavius0]

This was fantastic. Engrossed throughout.

[@brianfpp540]

Just had to leave a comment to say this was a real enjoyment to watch,,superbly told with passion.

[@mdgarciasa]

Wow that was amazing. Closed my eyes and imagined all the stuff. Epic.

[@aaronwalker5253]

This channel recontextualizes my problems in ways no psychologist ever could. We are not made of different stuff then these men. We necessarily must have been socialized differently.

[@thenoblepoptart]

Yeah, knowledge of the past and of the triumph and sorrow of peoples lives can be intense.

[@10Greencubs]

Fuck dude. I thought I was the only one feeling that

[@myopicthunder]

Yet history repeats itself.

[@david9783]

The drawings and water colors are superb. Thank you for this presentation.

[@snorthsnorth6480]

Though almost nobody has remarked upon this fact, the actual impact of these choices has been reflected in the actual content of viewers’ comments, which overwhelmingly show basic human decency and generosity of spirit. For those who might well enjoy a cinematic recreation of that era, I cannot recommend too highly the film ‘The Duelists.’

[@nagatoroenjoyer]

what a great channel. a streamer i like watched this on stream. cant believe i was so drawn in i stayed for the whole 40 minutes. great job, new subscriber :)

[@nateconley6432]

Excellent content man keep up the great work

[@jim-bob87]

Thank you so much for this telling of a remarkable story. What a wonderful writer this soldier was - truly brought the events to life. You can't help but grieve for humanity when you hear of this intense suffering on both sides.

[@marionapoleoni4502]

🍆

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

My belly lept with joy when I saw the notification. Merry Christmas ☃️🎄

[@brushbros]

The Rus were marching TOWARDS their supply, while the French were marching ever further away.

[@elaztec.aztecca]

Fantastic and compelling narration thank you for this account.

[@kingjoe3rd]

There is a blog written by a lady named Shannon Selin who writes really good pieces on all things Napoleonic Wars and she has this article that explains what happened to the battlefield of Borodino after after the battle and as the French Army came back through during the retreat and how it looks like a scattered pile of ghouls and skeletons everywhere.

[@MrKajithecat]

Your KZbin channel is pure art. This feels like something produced by PBS or a BBC doc, if not better. Wonderful work.

[@marionapoleoni4502]

*NBC daytime lineup

[@christiansmith6272]

I wish I had known this channel existed years ago…Thank You!

[@frankandree62]

Well Done. Really enjoy your subject content.

[@AIRRAID2]

Splendid ! Doing the dishes and this fell in just in time to for a wonderful listen. Thanks ❤️🎄💚

[@juanzulu1318]

What an impressive piece of historical information. That horror of war and the effects of natural elements. And still some kind of humanity to the enemy. That French officer which tried to seek shelter from the cold in the body of his horse reminded me on the scene in StarWar 5.

[@ofallmyintention9496]

Wow. Really good topic, and source. I love the period around the 17th to the early 20th and the Great War.

[@stutzbearcat5624]

Just fantastic. My absolute FAVORITE youtube channel! Merry Christmas to you sir!! And here's to another FANTASTIC year!! Have you read/found any Liutprand? You would CRUSH his stuff!! (If you don't mind me suggesting!)

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

The root word for "war" in Russian, or its etymology, is arguably "to moan/groan", or to "howl", as if in pain or misery. This eye-witness account shows that. Russians, who have a long history of suffering and war, understand this, and it demonstrates their view and real experience in this unfortunate endeavor.

[@ernest3109]

It has nothing to do with moaning/howling, it's a totally different word. The root is different. вой ≠ войн, выть ≠ воевать

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

@@ernest3109 "вой" (voi) means to "howl', doesn't it? And "война" (voina) means "war". Correct?

[@ernest3109]

@@JohnDoe-id1es correct

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

@@ernest3109 i don't think it's a far stretch, and think that one could reasonably, arguably make the case that it IS the same root. One other thing that in German "krieg" can means both to "take", AND/or attack/war. I don't believe it's a difference, and shows culturally how each group of people culturally view the idea of war. Perhaps officially it's not the case, but realistically it very well may be.

[@miroslavputinovic6650]

The word for war in German relates to the word for to seize or take.

[@showtale8325]

As a young lad, I first heard of Napoleon. The tales of his misguided venture to Russia were widespread. This is the first account I had heard from the Russian perspective. I have only met one true Russian. He was a splendid sort. Hard working , funny and loved people. The Russian soul is a noble sort

[@earlysda]

Then they had to do it again against Germany 130 years later.

[@olliefoxx7165]

The Russians are a very tough, tenacious and intelligent people. The territory they inhabit has moulded them and then tempered their character as such. In WW2 the seige of Leningrad lasted 900 days. That's mind boggling misery and suffering and they emerged victorious. Very impressive people.

[@wendellfugate4225]

Jolly- good piece of work. Thank you.

[@robertmiles1603]

the uploaders stories about napoleonic era stuff and the like are his best uploads imo. i would like to see more of these

[@PossMcLeod]

Brutal. I can't even imagine how terrifying it would have been to live through that. Just hearing the story made my heart skip a beat and my stomach turn. War is a terrible thing indeed.

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

I know exactly who to share this with. This year is some kind of Napoleonic Anniversary (birthday?). Merry Christmas to fellow fans and viewers. And wishing you an abundant New Year. Thank you for a year of superb narrations.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

Napoleon died in 1821. He was born in 1769. Quite a time in history, to which he contributed enormously. Not many people give their names to historic times.

[@Damarious25]

This was amazing. Thank you

[@greenbaby1902]

This was great you gotta do more about Napoleon! Btw merry xmas and happy new year

[@currypablo]

Those last few sentences, hauntingly prophetic!!

[@greaterethiopia398]

What a journey this author went through...Amazing

[@benjamintrejo9307]

This channel is simply amazing.

[@brentdude2100]

What an amazing thing to participate in. The way they tell the stories are amazing

[@WillyOrca]

"I was thrilled I was not left disabled" is changed from "I was thrilled I was not left a cripple" which concerns me because are we censoring historic quotes via preferential translations now? How often do you guys do stuff like this?

[@rocketGimbal]

Thats how translations work bud. The original is in russian, not english, so neither is the legit thing. The translator must make a choice on wording that best conveys to their modern audience what the original text meant. It is very likely that they decided disabled was a better choice than cripple for whatever reason in context. It is a subjective choice, yes, but not done with any malice. You should prolly take a step back from the internet if you are getting triggered by the word choice of a translation. To answer the question of how often, it is literally all the time and with almost every word that they have to make a choice. If you want to avoid ‘censorship’ and ‘preferential translation’ you could always learn russian and make your own preferential translation.

[@jarvis911]

​@@rocketGimbalhow do you know he's triggered 'bud' he 'prolly' just thought it was worth mentioning

[@AYVYN]

It’s a translation. The correct term was probably left an invalid

[@jamesgordon177]

This is amazing content

[@Kickthelighter]

These are amazing my man! Keep em coming!

[@francesbacon7825]

Excellent reading of letters from a long time back. My mind never wandered once.

[@yankeecornbread8464]

He was an outstanding chronicler, eliciting anger and pathos even today.

[@timbo9828]

Holy smokes, that's some vivid detail. We need more about that insane time period.

[@majorj3896]

New subscriber,amazing channel keep up the good work,you’re reading it as if you were there.