📆 Today marks 279 years since the birth of Mikhail Kutuzov, an outstanding Russian military commander and diplomat.
🌟 M.Kutuzov was strongly influenced by his teacher Alexander Suvorov, under whom he served during Russo-Turkish wars of the second half of XVIII century.
⚔️ He was twice severely wounded: the first time a bullet went through his temple and out near his right eye, the second time a bullet was shot through both of his temples. The surgeon who treated him was astonished by the fact that Kutuzov “survived wounds that by all medical laws are terminal.” The medic believed that “destiny must yet have a great deed in store for him.”
⚔️ M.Kutuzov is most widely known for brilliantly repelling Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. When he was asked if he hoped to defeat Napoleon, Kutuzov smiled and answered: “Not to defeat, but I’m hoping to deceive him.”
Aware that Russian resources were too scarce to openly confront the pan European “Grande Armee”, M.Kutuzov ruled to leave Moscow to Napoleon (St. Petersburg was the capital city at that time), destroying all the ammunition and food supplies. Afterwards, he inflicted several serious defeats on the French and made them retreat beyond the borders of Russia.
☝️ By the end of Napoleon’s Russian campaign, only some 27.000 remained of his “Great Army’s” former 685.000.
#RussianHistory #OutastandingRussians
🌟 M.Kutuzov was strongly influenced by his teacher Alexander Suvorov, under whom he served during Russo-Turkish wars of the second half of XVIII century.
⚔️ He was twice severely wounded: the first time a bullet went through his temple and out near his right eye, the second time a bullet was shot through both of his temples. The surgeon who treated him was astonished by the fact that Kutuzov “survived wounds that by all medical laws are terminal.” The medic believed that “destiny must yet have a great deed in store for him.”
⚔️ M.Kutuzov is most widely known for brilliantly repelling Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. When he was asked if he hoped to defeat Napoleon, Kutuzov smiled and answered: “Not to defeat, but I’m hoping to deceive him.”
Aware that Russian resources were too scarce to openly confront the pan European “Grande Armee”, M.Kutuzov ruled to leave Moscow to Napoleon (St. Petersburg was the capital city at that time), destroying all the ammunition and food supplies. Afterwards, he inflicted several serious defeats on the French and made them retreat beyond the borders of Russia.
☝️ By the end of Napoleon’s Russian campaign, only some 27.000 remained of his “Great Army’s” former 685.000.
#RussianHistory #OutastandingRussians