How the memory of Suvorov is honored in Switzerland and why the Swiss consider the Russian commander their national hero

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The passage of Suvorov and the Russian army through the Alps still boggles the imagination and makes them proud of the fortitude and courage of Russian soldiers. The grateful Swiss honor their memory to this day. Even though Switzerland could not be liberated due to the betrayal of the allies, the noble impulse itself and the sacrifice that the Russian people made in an attempt to do this deserve to be remembered in all generations.

Why did Paul I decide on Suvorov's campaign to Switzerland?

Paul I was essentially an idealist and believed that France, which tramples on all "divine and human laws", should be put in its place, which means that Russia needs to enter a coalition against it. He sends Suvorov on an Italian campaign. The Field Marshal is in a hurry to help the allies and the oppressed people of Italy. He thinks that when he arrives Vienna and there, in the General Staff, the Allies will discuss everything together, and this will be a conversation of like-minded people.

But he was deeply disappointed. They made it clear to him that he would have nothing to do with global decisions, on the battlefield - yes, but not here. Moreover, while the Russian army, led by its illustrious commander, was fighting for the liberation of Italy, and very successfully, Paul I was convinced by British diplomats that after Italy it was necessary to go to Sweden. Although it was obvious that it was necessary to go straight to France while Napoleon was in Egypt.

And France was very afraid of such a development of events. But exactly the same was feared by the European allies - England and Austria. After all, if the victorious Russian army takes Paris and defeats the French on their soil, then Russia will have too much weight in Europe. And they thought, proceeding from their mercantile interests, even about Italy: Suvorov only wanted to free Italy from the invaders, and the allies looked at it as a tidbit that can be divided among themselves.

Suvorov, who defeated the French in Italy, receives a dispatch informing him that General Rimsky-Korsakov was surrounded in Switzerland. And, as you know, Russians do not abandon their "friends" in trouble. And Suvorov is deploying his troops towards Switzerland, so that the shortest route from Northern Italy through the Saint-Gotthard Pass of the Swiss Alps to join the Russian-Austrian troops under the command of Rimsky-Korsakov and Friedrich von Gotze, and then jointly liberate the Helvetic Republic from French troops ruled by General Andre Massen.

The Austrians had to ensure the supply of provisions, mules, uniforms, ammunition and reinforcements if the situation required. But all the difficulties of this military campaign fell on the shoulders of Russian soldiers who showed unparalleled courage, fortitude and heroism. And the campaign itself was a series of battles and dramatic events.

Legendary victory in the battles for Saint Gotthard and Devil's Bridge

Waiting for carts with everything necessary that the allies were supposed to provide for the Russian army, Suvorov lost precious time - exactly the number of days during which it was still possible to help Rimsky-Korsakov, who was surrounded by the encirclement. Without waiting for anything, Suvorov set out with his twenty thousandth army only at the beginning of September.

The weather was already changing for the worse. In the highlands, frosts come early and snowfalls begin. Of course, the Russian troops did not have any special uniforms or climbing equipment, and they also had to carry weapons, ammunition and food supplies. The soldiers had no experience of mountain warfare, with the exception of those who fought in the Caucasus.

On September 13, a battle began with the French forward units covering the Saint Gotthard Pass. While the main forces were going into a frontal attack, a detachment of gamekeepers led by Bagration made their way around the cliffs and "rained down" on the head of the French. They did not expect this in any way and were forced to retreat, the pass was taken by Russian troops. But they still had to overcome an 80-meter tunnel in the mountains, and then cross the Devil's Bridge, under which a mountain river roared wildly.

The French blew up the bridge, but fortunately only part of the structure was damaged. Suvorov ordered the purchase of a nearby wooden structure from local residents. He was taken apart into logs, and then tied with long scarves. The bridge was restored, and part of the army, using the Suvorov method of rapid onslaught, slipped through the bridge under enemy fire and crushed his defenses. The Russians came to the lake, along which, according to the map, there should be a road to Zurich. But it was not there, the map did not correspond to geographical realities. The decision came by itself - a local guide was found, a certain Gumbo, who helped the Russians to cross the unknown paths through another ridge and go down to the Muten Valley (Muotatal). The path to it had already been cleared of the French by the vanguard of Bagration.

How the Russians got out of the encirclement in the Muten Valley

In the Mutenskaya valley, Suvorov learned that Rimsky-Korsakov's corps had been defeated, the Austrians left, and his army was surrounded on all sides. The renowned commander was not used to retreating, he decided to climb the Paniks ridge in order to break out of the encirclement. Ariegard was supposed to hold off the French advance while the main forces tried to retreat into the highlands. Exhausted by difficult weather conditions, cold and hunger, endless combat clashes with an outnumbered enemy, the soldiers had to climb the ridge along the icy ledges and then follow the snow-covered paths.

Aryegard, pushing back the enemy, caught up with the main part of the army. The transition lasted 4 days. Cold wind and oxygen deficiency, coupled with chronic fatigue and hunger, knocked people down. Finally, they saw a slope in front of them - along it the Russian army went down. The descent was dangerous, and not everyone managed to find themselves safely at the bottom of the slope - many fell into crevices and died. The army settled in a small village, for the first time in recent years, people had shelter over their heads, they were able to put their shoes and clothes in order and eat. Of the 20,000-strong army, 15,000 people survived, many were sick or wounded. But still, the losses were not so great, given the terrible conditions in which the Russian army found itself.

Army of Liberators, or what memories are left in Switzerland about a Russian soldier

The Swiss remembered the Russian commander as a deeply religious person, respecting the religion and traditions of the country to which he arrived with his army. They came not with an aggressive aim, but a liberation one.

The Swiss took the appearance of the Russian army as a gift, as a hope for their state to gain independence. By that time, the process of state formation was under way in Switzerland - 13 cantons approached and gravitated towards centralized power. But the integrity of the state and the processes of its development have been under threat since the French invasion. Therefore, the arrival of the Russian army was welcome. In addition, Russian soldiers surprised the local population with their restraint - they did not steal anything from anyone and paid for everything.

How Suvorov's army returned to Russia and why the goal of the campaign was not achieved

Suvorov decided for himself that this was no longer his war, so the Russian army was returning to Russia. By this time, Paul I, disillusioned with the allies, left the coalition and concluded a peace treaty with Napoleon. Suvorov was awarded the rank of Generalissimo, and all participants in the Swiss campaign received various awards.

The army and its commander were to be greeted with great honors, but at the last moment the emperor's mood changed - someone whispered another nasty thing to him about Suvorov. Suvorov was expecting another disgrace, but this did not bother him any more, since he was already very sick.

The task set before Suvorov to help Rimsky-Korsakov and, having teamed up with him, to knock the French out of Switzerland, was not fulfilled. But all responsibility for this, as well as for the death of Russian soldiers in this campaign, lay on the conscience of the leaders of the allied forces. The allies conceived this terrible intrigue, pursuing their own personal goals and not at all worrying about the moral side of the matter. And the Russian people once again showed the world an example of incredible stamina and tremendous courage: they walked 300 kilometers in difficult conditions across the inaccessible mountainous terrain in 16 days and, having finished all combat clashes with the enemy's army, they were able to break out of complete encirclement.

How is the memory of Suvorov's feat honored in Switzerland?

A 12-meter cross is carved into the rock near the town of Andematte - this monument to Russian soldiers was made with the money of Prince Golitsyn with the permission of the local authorities. The plot of land on which it is located belongs to Russia. Every year, a commemoration event is held at the foot of the monument. It is attended by employees of the Russian embassy in Switzerland, representatives of local authorities, city residents and distinguished guests from other countries. A tradition has developed that after the official ceremony, the Russian embassy holds a small buffet table and treats those present with field porridge and pies, and the Suvorov cadets, military musicians, give a concert.

Switzerland remembers and honors the disinterested feat of Russian soldiers who tried to free the country from the French invaders. In small Swiss towns along the entire route (the so-called Suworow Weg) of the Russian army, everything that is related to those historical events is carefully preserved; house-museums are created through the efforts of enthusiasts and local authorities.

But the Suvorovs, like other noble families, had their own mottos, carved on the coat of arms.