Petrov, who took Izmail?
- Marya Ivanovna, honestly, I didn’t take it!
From a classic joke

How Türkiye famously woke up

Among the outstanding historical victories won by the Russian army, there are not many that not only remained in the memory of posterity, but even entered folklore and became part of the language. The assault on Ishmael is one such event. It appears both in jokes and in ordinary speech - the “capture of Ishmael” is often jokingly called “assault”, when an extremely large amount of work needs to be completed in a short period of time.

The assault on Ishmael became an apotheosis Russian-Turkish war 1787-1791. The war broke out at the instigation of Turkey, which was trying to take revenge for previous defeats. In this endeavor, the Turks relied on the support of Great Britain, France and Prussia, which, however, did not themselves intervene in hostilities.

Turkey's ultimatum of 1787 demanded that Russia return Crimea, renounce the patronage of Georgia and agree to inspect Russian merchant ships passing through the straits. Naturally, Türkiye was refused and began military action.

Russia, in turn, decided to use the favorable moment to expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region.

Commander Alexander Suvorov. Reproduction of the painting. Source: www.russianlook.com

The fighting was catastrophic for the Turks. The Russian armies inflicted defeat after defeat on the enemy, both on land and at sea. In the battles of the war of 1787-1791, two Russian military geniuses shone - commander Alexander Suvorov and naval commander Fedor Ushakov.

By the end of 1790 it was obvious that Türkiye was suffering a decisive defeat. However, Russian diplomats were unable to persuade the Turks to sign a peace treaty. Another decisive military success was needed.

The best fortress in Europe

Russian troops approached the walls of the Izmail fortress, which was a key object of Turkish defense. Izmail, located on the left bank of the Kiliya branch of the Danube, covered the most important strategic directions. Its fall created the possibility of Russian troops breaking through the Danube into Dobruja, which threatened the Turks with the loss of vast territories and even the partial collapse of the empire. In preparation for war with Russia, Türkiye strengthened Izmail as much as possible. The best German and French military engineers were engaged in fortification work, so that Izmail at that moment became one of the strongest fortresses in Europe.

A high rampart, a wide ditch up to 10 meters deep, 260 guns on 11 bastions. In addition, the garrison of the fortress at the time of the Russians’ approach exceeded 30 thousand people.

Prince Grigory Potemkin. Reproduction of the painting. Source: www.russianlook.com

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Potemkin gave the order to capture Izmail, and the detachments of generals Gudovich, Pavel Potemkin, also the general's flotilla de Ribas started to implement it .

However, the siege was carried out sluggishly, and a general assault was not planned. The generals were not cowards at all, but they had fewer troops at their disposal than were in the garrison of Ishmael. Take decisive action in similar situation seemed crazy.

Having remained under siege until the end of November 1790, at the military council Gudovich, Pavel Potemkin and de Ribas decided to withdraw the troops to winter quarters.

The crazy ultimatum of a military genius

When this decision became known to Grigory Potemkin, he became furious, immediately canceled the order to withdraw, and appointed Chief General Alexander Suvorov to lead the assault on Izmail.

By that time there had run between Potemkin and Suvorov black cat. The ambitious Potemkin was a talented administrator, but his military leadership abilities were very limited. On the contrary, the fame of Suvorov spread not only throughout Russia, but also abroad. Potemkin was not eager to give the general, whose successes made him jealous, a new chance to distinguish himself, but there was nothing to be done - Ishmael was more important than personal relationships. Although, it is possible that Potemkin secretly harbored the hope that Suvorov would break his neck on the bastions of Izmail.

The decisive Suvorov arrived at the walls of Izmail, turning back the troops that were already leaving the fortress. As usual, he infected everyone around him with his enthusiasm and confidence in success.

Only a few knew what the commander really thought. Having personally toured the approaches to Ishmael, he briefly said: “This fortress has no weak points.”

And years later, Alexander Vasilyevich will say: “You could only decide to storm such a fortress once in your life...”.

But in those days, at the walls of Ishmael, the general-in-chief did not express any doubts. He set aside six days to prepare the general assault. The soldiers were sent to exercises - in the nearest village, earthen and wooden analogues of the moat and walls of Izmail were hastily built, on which methods of overcoming obstacles were practiced.

With the arrival of Suvorov, Izmail himself was placed under a strict blockade from sea and land. After completing preparations for the battle, the chief general sent an ultimatum to the commander of the fortress, the great serasker Aydozle Mehmet Pasha.

The exchange of letters between the two military leaders went down in history. Suvorov: “I arrived here with the troops. Twenty-four hours for reflection - and will. My first shot is already bondage. Assault is death." Aydozle Mehmet Pasha: “It’s more likely that the Danube will flow backwards and the sky will fall to the ground than Ishmael will surrender.”

Judge for yourself: we have already talked about the power of the fortress, as well as about its 35,000-strong garrison. And the Russian army consisted of only 31 thousand fighters, of which a third were irregular troops. According to the canons of military science, an assault in such conditions is doomed to failure.

But the fact is that 35 thousand Turkish soldiers were actually suicide bombers. Enraged by military failures, Turkish Sultan issued a special firman in which he promised to execute anyone who leaves Ishmael. So the Russians were confronted by 35 thousand heavily armed, desperate fighters who intended to fight to the death in the fortifications of the best European fortress.

And therefore, Aidozle-Mehmet Pasha’s answer to Suvorov is not boastful, but quite reasonable.

Death of the Turkish garrison

Any other commander would really break his neck, but we are talking about Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. The day before the assault, Russian troops began artillery preparation. At the same time, it must be said that the timing of the assault did not come as a surprise to the Izmail garrison - it was revealed to the Turks by defectors, who apparently did not believe in Suvorov’s genius.

Suvorov divided his forces into three detachments of three columns each. Major General de Ribas's detachment (9,000 people) attacked from the river side; the right wing under the command of Lieutenant General Pavel Potemkin (7,500 people) was supposed to strike from the western part of the fortress; left wing of the lieutenant general Samoilova(12,000 people) - from the east. 2,500 cavalrymen remained Suvorov's last reserve for the most extreme case.

At 3 a.m. on December 22, 1790, Russian troops left the camp and began to concentrate in the initial places for the assault. At 5:30 a.m., about an hour and a half before dawn, the assault columns began their attack. A fierce battle began on the defensive ramparts, where the opponents did not spare each other. The Turks defended themselves furiously, but the attack from three different directions disoriented them, preventing them from concentrating their forces in one direction.

“Storm of Izmail on December 11, 1790”, fragment of a diorama, E.I. Danilevsky, V.M. Sibirsky, A.V. Suvorov Museum in Izmail, 1972. Source: www.russianlook.com

By 8 o'clock in the morning, when it was dawn, it became clear that Russian troops had captured most of the outer fortifications and began to push the enemy towards the city center. Street battles turned into a real massacre: the roads were littered with corpses, thousands of horses, left without riders, galloped right along them, and houses were burning. Suvorov gave the order to introduce 20 light guns into the streets of the city and hit the Turks with direct fire with grapeshot. By 11 o'clock in the morning, the advanced Russian units under the command of Major General Major General Boris Lassi occupied central part Ishmael.

By one o'clock in the afternoon, organized resistance was broken. Individual pockets of resistance were suppressed by the Russians until four o'clock in the evening.

A desperate breakthrough was carried out by several thousand Turks under the command Kaplan Giray. They managed to get outside the city walls, but here Suvorov moved a reserve against them. Experienced Russian rangers pressed the enemy to the Danube and completely destroyed those who broke through.

By four o'clock in the afternoon Ishmael had fallen. Of the 35 thousand of his defenders, one person survived and managed to escape. The Russians had about 2,200 killed and more than 3,000 wounded. The Turks lost 26 thousand people killed; out of 9 thousand prisoners, about 2 thousand died from wounds in the first day after the assault. Russian troops captured 265 guns, up to 3 thousand pounds of gunpowder, 20 thousand cannonballs and many other military supplies, up to 400 banners, large supplies of provisions, as well as jewelry worth several millions.

Photofact AiF

Purely Russian award

For Turkey it was a complete military disaster. And although the war ended only in 1791, and the Peace of Jassy was signed in 1792, the fall of Ishmael finally broke morally Turkish army. The very name of Suvorov terrified them.

According to the Treaty of Iasi in 1792, Russia gained control of the entire northern Black Sea region from the Dniester to the Kuban.

Admired by the triumph of Suvorov’s soldiers, the poet Gabriel Derzhavin wrote the anthem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out!”, which became the first, unofficial anthem of the Russian Empire.

Photofact AiF

But there was one person in Russia who reacted with restraint to the capture of Izmail - Prince Grigory Potemkin. Petitioning before Catherine II about rewarding those who distinguished themselves, he suggested that the empress reward him with a medal and the lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment.

The rank of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky regiment itself was very high, because the rank of colonel was held exclusively by the current monarch. But the fact is that by that time Suvorov was already the 11th lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, which greatly devalued the award.

Suvorov himself, who, like Potemkin, was an ambitious man, expected to receive the title of Field Marshal General, and was extremely offended and annoyed by the award he received.

By the way, Grigory Potemkin himself for the capture of Izmail was awarded a field marshal’s uniform, embroidered with diamonds, worth 200,000 rubles, the Tauride Palace, as well as a special obelisk in his honor in Tsarskoye Selo.

Ishmael "from hand to hand"

It is interesting that the capture of Izmail by Suvorov was not the first and not the last assault on this fortress by Russian troops. It was first taken in 1770, but following the war it was returned to Turkey. Suvorov's heroic assault in 1790 helped Russia win the war, but Izmail was returned to Turkey. For the third time Izmail will be taken by the Russian troops of the general Zassa in 1809, but in 1856, following an unsuccessful Crimean War, it will come under the control of Turkey's vassal Moldova. True, the fortifications will be torn down and blown up.

Photofact AiF

The fourth capture of Izmail by Russian troops will take place in 1877, but it will take place without a fight, since Romania, which controlled the city during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, will conclude an agreement with Russia.

And after this, Izmail will change hands more than once, until in 1991 it becomes part of independent Ukraine. Is it forever? Hard to say. After all, when we're talking about about Ishmael, one cannot be completely sure of anything.

Izmail is a fortress where everything that remains of ancient city, the history of which has not yet been fully explored.

The emergence of Ishmael, its early history

The appearance of Ishmael is covered in legends. Historian scientists claim that the first human settlements were here already in the second millennium BC, during the Bronze Age.

There is an assumption that in the sixth millennium BC a settlement of the Gumelnitsa culture was based in the Izmail area. In 1979, during excavations, various artifacts of ancient cultures were discovered. These are amphorae and other ceramic products. The Izmail fortress did not yet exist, but in its area there were Greek, Geto-Thracian and Sarmatian settlements.

In the 11th-12th centuries AD, the Galician-Volyn principality was located here. In the 12th century, Genoese merchants built a fort that allowed them to live and protect themselves from attacks by nomadic tribes. In the 15th century, the Turks captured the fort, began to rebuild it, and thus created a defensive structure that became a checkpoint between Russia and Turkey.

Turkish troops in Izmail

The thirteenth century for the Smil fortress was marked by the fact that it was almost completely destroyed by the troops of the Golden Horde. A hundred years later, the city of Sinil appeared on this site, and in 1538 the troops of the Turkish Sultan rushed here. The Turks plundered the city and devastated it, but did not completely destroy it. The city was named Ishmasl (which translated means “hear, Lord”).

The Ottoman conquerors pursued harsh policies, and therefore the population of Budjak protested. Soon its inhabitants united with the Zaporozhye Cossacks and in 1594 attacked Ishmasl. The Sultan's troops desperately defended themselves, and soon built the Izmail fortress.

The fortress was built with the help of specialists who were invited from Europe. They created massive stone walls, up to ten meters high. Deep ditches were dug around the fortress and water was immediately poured into them. Thirty thousand Janissaries occupied the fortress of Ishmael, and woe to those who tried to take it by storm. 265 guns installed there shot at enemy troops. Fortress for a long time was considered impregnable.

Attempts to storm the fortress

The end of the eighteenth century for the history of Russia is marked by constant conflicts with Turkey. The war of 1768-1774 did not end the dispute between the two states. The Izmail fortress was taken on July 26, 1770 by troops under the leadership of Prince N. Repnin, and in 1771 the Russian Danube flotilla was even formed here, but in 1774 the fortress was returned back to the Turks. These were the terms of the peace treaty concluded at that time.

In 1789, war broke out again between Russia and Turkey. This time Ishmael became a fortified garrison. Many believed that this fortress could not be taken. But the Russian army again tried to take possession of this stronghold.

In 1790, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, General Potemkin, gave the order to take Izmail. The Russians moved forward reluctantly, and there was little success. Then it was decided to use Suvorov’s troops.

Commander Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov

Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov was a weak and sickly child as a child. Everyone told him that due to his health, he was unlikely to become a military man and would not be able to handle heavy weapons. And no one knew then that this boy was the future commander Suvorov, for whom the Izmail fortress would become the most important achievement in his career.

In the winter cold, Suvorov walked down the street in a light jacket. In the spring he swam in the rivers in ice water. He traveled often and rode horses well. He did all this in order to prepare for military service. As a result, he turned out to be a great commander, who gave more than fifty years to the army. At the very beginning of his service he was a soldier, and at the end he became a generalissimo and field marshal. He has more than thirty-five battles to his name.

Preparations for the capture of Izmail under the leadership of Suvorov

Suvorov came to the capture of Izmail as an already experienced commander. He established himself as a good boss who treated his soldiers warmly and caringly, thanks to which he repeatedly won victories. In 1787, Russian soldiers under his leadership completely dispersed and destroyed the six-thousand-strong Turkish army, and then brilliant victories followed in Rymnik and near Focsani. The Izmail fortress, for which 1790 was a turning point, was considered invincible at that time. In addition, the Turkish Sultan gave the order to execute all his soldiers who surrendered to Russian soldiers.

In December 1790, the Supreme Council of the Russian army decided that it was better not to storm the Izmail fortress for now, and proposed moving to winter quarters. Russian troops at this time suffered greatly from hunger, cold, and illness began. The arrival of Suvorov instilled cheerfulness, because everyone in the Russian army knew that this commander did not like to wait long. And so it turned out. It was Suvorov who took the Izmail fortress. He decided to do this in the very near future, but first he should prepare properly.

When Suvorov appeared, the Izmail fortress looked down on the Russian soldiers. For ten days he actively prepared soldiers for the assault. On his orders, a ditch was dug, a rampart was built next to it, and now the troops began to train. Suvorov himself showed the soldiers how to climb the walls and stab the Turks (they were represented by stuffed animals). At sixty years old, he was a very active and youthful-looking man.

The beginning of the assault on Izmail

On December 9, 1790, Russian troops began an assault on the Turkish fortress. Before this, on December 7, Suvorov sent an ultimatum Turkish Pasha, who ruled Ishmael, with a proposal to surrender. Pasha flatly refused and replied that the sky would sooner fall to the ground than Ishmael would succumb to the onslaught of foreign troops.

Then Suvorov decided that Izmail was a Turkish fortress that thought a lot about itself, and began to carefully prepare the offensive. The Russians constantly fired flares and gradually lulled the vigilance of the Turkish rank and file. The assault on the city began early in the morning, at eight o'clock, and by 11 o'clock in the afternoon it was already clear which side would win.

Before the battle, Suvorov divided his army into three parts. The Izmail fortress, the year 1790 being a turning point in its history, was attacked from three sides. The troops of Pavel Potemkin were advancing from the west and north, the army of General Kutuzov was advancing from the east, its commanders were Orlov and Platov. The army of General Deribas took part in the battle; it consisted of 3,000 people and advanced from the Danube.

The culmination of the battle for Ishmael

The Russian army suffered great difficulties during the battle for Izmail. The fourth column, consisting of Cossacks, commanded by the St. George commander Vasily Orlov, broke into the Izmail fortress from the Bendery Gate. The Cossacks were poorly trained in military affairs. While they were storming the fortress, the Bendery Gate opened. The Turks jumped out and began to exterminate the Cossacks with sabers.

Suvorov found out about this and sent the Voronezh hussars and the squadron of Colonel Sychov to help. A battalion of soldiers from Kutuzov also arrived. In this way, they managed to drive away the Turks, and they were partially destroyed.

At this time, the commandant of the fortress, Izmail, decided to blow up the bridge in front of it in order to prevent the Russians from entering there. The hussar commander Volkov nevertheless organized a crossing, three of his squadrons broke into the city and captured eight hundred people. Soon the city fortifications were captured, and fighting began in the city itself. The fight with the Turks lasted until 16 hours, then the Russian army finally took possession of it.

The brother of the Crimean Khan, Kaplan Giray, made an attempt to recapture the city from the Russians. He gathered a detachment of several thousand Tatars who went to attack. They did not succeed, since Suvorov sent a detachment of rangers to meet them, and they led the Tatars into the coastal floodplains. Kaplan Giray and his sons were killed.

The end of the battle for Izmail

The assault on the Izmail fortress led to huge losses among the Turks. They killed about thirty thousand people, the Russians lost four thousand. The Russians captured all the guns, as well as jewelry worth 10 million francs. Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov became the commandant of the captured fortress.

The bodies of the Russian killed were buried in cemeteries, while the Turks were thrown into the Danube, and prisoners did this. A hospital was opened in the city itself.

For the capture of Izmail, Suvorov received the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky regiment. The soldiers who took part in the assault were awarded silver medals, the officers who led the battles were awarded gold crosses with St. George's ribbon.

Ishmael in the twentieth century

In the twentieth century, Ishmael is experiencing an era of rapid development. This time is marked by the creation of the Russian-Danube Shipping Company. The Izmail port is operational. During the imperialist war, the city experienced famine and lack of basic necessities.

In 1918, Izmail became part of the lands of royal Romania. There he remained until 1940. Old-timers remember Izmail of that time as a well-groomed, patriarchal city. The cultural life there was very developed. Theatrical performances were constantly held. The city had women's and men's gymnasiums, in which various subjects were studied.

In the history of the Great Patriotic War The Danube flotilla showed itself with the best side. Before the start of the war on June 22, 1941 soviet soldiers in Izmail they have already reached combat positions. And one and a half thousand Soviet soldiers successfully defended themselves against twenty thousand Romanians for a long time. Only when the order was given to leave Ishmael and go to defend Odessa, did they leave it. But after three years Soviet troops returned and freed Ishmael.

Diorama of the Izmail fortress

Twentieth century artists decided to immortalize the storming of the Izmail fortress. A diorama “The Assault on the Izmail Fortress” was created, with the help of which it was possible to disassemble it in all details. The diorama was installed in 1973 in the building of a Turkish mosque. It was created by military artists E. Danilevsky and V. Sibirsky. The diorama presents the audience with the turning point of the capture of the fortress. You can see Russian soldiers crossing the moat and climbing the walls. They desperately fight the defenders of the fortress. The flag of the Russian army is already installed on the main tower. In general, the diorama depicts the city of Izmail, the fortress. Many people have taken photos of this diorama more than once.

The main gates of the fortress are already open, and the Russian grenadiers are heading into the city. On the right you can see the Russian flotilla moving along the Danube, and the Black Sea Cossacks approaching the shore. On the bank on the left is the figure of Suvorov, who is leading the battle.

Izmail Fortress in the modern era

Now the Izmail fortress is not located in better condition. Work is underway to create new buildings and an arboretum in its place. At the same time, the fortress that was once taken by the commander Alexander Suvorov is destroyed. In the land dumps created with the help construction equipment, archaeologists penetrate, whose main task is not the study of antiquity, but the search for jewelry.

Back on December 19, 1946, by decree of the Izmail City Executive Committee, the territory of the fortress was declared a protected area. But a lot has changed since then, and now the barbaric destruction of the architectural monument is taking place. Employees of the Department for the Protection of Monuments in the Odessa Region believe that the city authorities should do everything to preserve ancient artifacts that were not destroyed.

Victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. provided Russia with access to the Black Sea. But under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, the strong fortress of Izmail, located at the mouth of the Danube, remained with Turkey.

In 1787, Turkey, supported by England and France, demanded that Russia revise the treaty: the return of Crimea and the Caucasus, invalidation of subsequent agreements. Having been refused, she began military operations. Turkey planned to capture Kinburn and Kherson, land a large assault force in Crimea and destroy the Russian fleet base of Sevastopol.

Assault on Izmail

To launch military operations on Black Sea coast From the Caucasus and Kuban, significant Turkish forces were sent to Sukhum and Anapa. To ensure its plans, Türkiye has prepared a 200,000-strong army and a strong fleet of 19 battleships, 16 frigates, 5 bombardment corvettes and large quantity ships and support vessels.

Russia deployed two armies: the Ekaterinoslav army under Field Marshal Grigory Potemkin (82 thousand people) and the Ukrainian army under Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev (37 thousand people). Two strong military corps separated from the Yekaterinoslav Army were located in the Kuban and Crimea.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet was based in two points: the main forces were in Sevastopol (23 warships with 864 guns) under the command of Admiral M.I. Voinovich, the future great naval commander Fyodor Ushakov served here, and the rowing flotilla in the Dnieper-Bug estuary (20 small-tonnage ships and vessels, some not yet armed). On the side of Russia came a major European country- Austria, which sought to expand its possessions at the expense of the Balkan states, which were under Turkish rule.

The action plan of the Allies (Russia and Austria) was offensive in nature. It consisted of invading Turkey from two sides: the Austrian army was to launch an offensive from the west and capture Khotin; The Yekaterinoslav army had to launch military operations on the Black Sea coast, capture Ochakov, then cross the Dnieper, clear the area between the Dniester and the Prut from the Turks, and take Bendery. Russian fleet was supposed to pin down the enemy fleet by active actions in the Black Sea and prevent Turkey from carrying out landing operations.

Military operations developed successfully for Russia. The capture of Ochakov and the victories of Alexander Suvorov at Focsani and Rymnik created the preconditions for ending the war and signing a peace beneficial to Russia. Türkiye did not have the forces at this time to seriously resist the Allied armies. However, politicians failed to seize the opportunity. Turkey managed to gather new troops and receive help from Western countries, and the war dragged on.

Portrait of A.V. Suvorov. Hood. Yu.H. Sadilenko

In the campaign of 1790, the Russian command planned to take Turkish fortresses on the left bank of the Danube, and then transfer military operations beyond the Danube.

During this period, brilliant successes were achieved by Russian sailors under the command of Fyodor Ushakov. The Turkish fleet suffered major defeats in Kerch Strait and off the island of Tendra. The Russian fleet seized firm dominance in the Black Sea, providing conditions for active offensive operations by the Russian army and rowing flotilla on the Danube. Soon, having captured the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha and Isakcha, Russian troops approached Izmail.

The Izmail fortress was considered impregnable. Before the war, it was rebuilt under the leadership of French and German engineers, who significantly strengthened its fortifications. On three sides (northern, western and eastern) the fortress was surrounded by a 6 km long rampart, up to 8 meters high, with earthen and stone bastions. In front of the shaft, a ditch was dug 12 meters wide and up to 10 meters deep, which in some places was filled with water. On the southern side, Izmail was covered by the Danube. Inside the city there were many stone buildings that could be actively used for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people with 265 fortress guns.

In November, a Russian army of 31 thousand people (including 28.5 thousand infantry and 2.5 thousand cavalry) with 500 guns besieged Izmail from land. The river flotilla under the command of General Horace de Ribas, having destroyed almost the entire Turkish river flotilla, blocked the fortress from the Danube.

Two assaults on Izmail ended in failure and the troops moved on to a systematic siege and artillery shelling of the fortress. With the onset of autumn bad weather in the army located on open area, mass diseases began. Having lost faith in the possibility of taking Izmail by storm, the generals leading the siege decided to withdraw the troops to winter quarters.

On November 25, command of the troops near Izmail was entrusted to Suvorov. Potemkin gave him the right to act at his own discretion: “whether by continuing the enterprises in Izmail or abandoning it.” In his letter to Alexander Vasilyevich, he noted: “My hope is in God and in your courage, hurry up, my gracious friend...”.

Arriving at Izmail on December 2, Suvorov stopped the withdrawal of troops from under the fortress. Having assessed the situation, he decided to immediately prepare an assault. Having examined the enemy’s fortifications, he noted in a report to Potemkin that they “have no weak points.”

Map of the actions of Russian troops during the assault on Izmail

Preparations for the assault were carried out in nine days. Suvorov sought to make maximum use of the factor of surprise, for which purpose he carried out preparations for the offensive secretly. Special attention addressed the preparation of troops for assault operations. Shafts and walls similar to those of Izmail were built near the village of Broska. For six days and nights, the soldiers practiced on them how to overcome ditches, ramparts and fortress walls. Suvorov encouraged the soldiers with the words: “More sweat - less blood!” At the same time, to deceive the enemy, preparations for a long siege were simulated, batteries were laid, and fortification work was carried out.

Suvorov found the time to develop special instructions for officers and soldiers, which contained the rules of combat when storming a fortress. On the Trubaevsky Kurgan, where a small obelisk stands today, there was a commander’s tent. Here painstaking preparations for the assault were carried out, everything was thought out and provided for down to the smallest detail. “Such an assault,” Alexander Vasilyevich later admitted, “could only be dared once in a lifetime.”

Before the battle at the military council, Suvorov stated: “The Russians stood in front of Izmail twice and retreated from him twice; Now, for the third time, they have no choice but to take the fortress or die...” The Military Council unanimously came out in support of the great commander.

On December 7, Suvorov sent a letter from Potemkin to the commandant of Izmail with an ultimatum to surrender the fortress. The Turks, in case of voluntary surrender, were guaranteed life, preservation of property and the opportunity to cross the Danube, otherwise “the fate of Ochakov will follow the city.” The letter ended with the words: “The brave general Count Alexander Suvorov-Rymniksky has been appointed to carry out this.” And Suvorov attached his note to the letter: “I arrived here with the troops. 24 hours of reflection for surrender and will; My first shots are already bondage; assault - death."

Suvorov and Kutuzov before the storming of Izmail in 1790. Hood. O. G. Vereisky

The Turks refused to capitulate and responded by saying that “the Danube would sooner stop flowing and the sky would bow to the ground than Ishmael would surrender.” This answer, by order of Suvorov, was read out in each company to inspire the soldiers before the assault.

The assault was scheduled for December 11. To maintain secrecy, Suvorov did not give a written order, but limited himself to verbally setting the task to the commanders. The commander planned to conduct a simultaneous night attack with ground forces and a river flotilla from different directions. The main blow was delivered to the least protected riverside part of the fortress. The troops were divided into three detachments of three columns each. The column included up to five battalions. Six columns operated from the land and three columns from the Danube.

A detachment under the command of General P.S. Potemkin, numbering 7,500 people (it included columns of generals Lvov, Lassi and Meknob) was supposed to attack the western front of the fortress; detachment of General A.N. Samoilov numbering 12 thousand people (columns of Major General M.I. Kutuzov and Cossack brigadiers Platov and Orlov) - the north-eastern front of the fortress; a detachment of General de Ribas numbering 9 thousand people (columns of Major General Arsenyev, Brigadier Chepega and Guard Second Major Markov) was supposed to attack the riverine front of the fortress from the Danube. The general reserve of about 2,500 people was divided into four groups and positioned opposite each of the fortress gates.

Of the nine columns, six were concentrated in the main direction. The main artillery was also located here. A team of 120-150 riflemen in loose formation and 50 workers with entrenching tools were to move ahead of each column, then three battalions with fascines and ladders. The column is closed by a reserve built in a square.

Actions of Russian artillery during the assault on the Izmail fortress in 1790. Hood. F.I. Usypenko

In preparation for the assault, from the morning of December 10, Russian artillery from land and ships fired continuously at enemy fortifications and batteries, which continued until the start of the attack. At 5:30 a.m. on December 11, the columns moved to storm the fortress. The river flotilla, under the cover of naval artillery fire (about 500 guns), landed troops. The besieged met the attacking columns with artillery and rifle fire, and in some areas with counterattacks.

Despite heavy fire and desperate resistance, the 1st and 2nd columns immediately burst onto the rampart and captured the bastions. During the battle, General Lvov was seriously wounded and Colonel Zolotukhin took command of the 1st column. The 6th column immediately captured the rampart, but then delayed, repelling a strong counterattack by the Turks.

The 3rd column found itself in the most difficult conditions: the depth of the ditch and the height of the bastion, which it had to take, turned out to be greater than in other places. The soldiers had to link ladders under enemy fire to climb the rampart. Despite heavy losses, it completed its task.

The 4th and 5th columns, composed of dismounted Cossacks, withstood a difficult battle. They were counterattacked by the Turks emerging from the fortress, and Platov’s Cossacks also had to overcome a ditch with water. The Cossacks not only coped with the task, but also contributed to the successful attack of the 7th column, which, after landing, was divided into four parts and went on the attack under flanking fire from Turkish batteries. During the battle, Platov had to take command of the detachment, replacing the seriously wounded General Samoilov. The remaining columns that attacked the enemy from the Danube also successfully completed their tasks.

Entry A.V. Suvorov to Izmail. Hood. A.V. Rusin

At dawn the battle was already going on inside the fortress. By 11 o'clock the gates were opened and reinforcements entered the fortress. Heavy street fighting continued until dusk. The Turks defended themselves desperately. The assault columns were forced to split up and operate in separate battalions and even companies. Their efforts were constantly increased by introducing reserves into the battle. To support the attackers, part of the artillery was brought inside the fortress.

“The Izmail fortress, so fortified, so vast and which seemed invincible to the enemy, was taken by a weapon that was terrible for him Russian bayonets. The tenacity of the enemy, who arrogantly placed his hope in the number of troops, was dashed,” Potemkin wrote in a report to Catherine II.

During the assault, the Turks lost more than 26 thousand people, 9 thousand were captured. The Russians captured about 400 banners and horsetails, 265 guns, the remains of the river flotilla - 42 ships, large supplies of ammunition and many other trophies. Russian losses amounted to 4 thousand killed and 6 thousand wounded.

Officer's cross and soldier's medal for participation in the storming of Izmail in December 1790.

The capture of Izmail by Russian troops dramatically changed the strategic situation in the war in favor of Russia. Türkiye was forced to move on to peace negotiations.

“There has never been a stronger fortress, there has been no defense more desperate than that of Ishmael, but Ishmael has been taken,” these words from Suvorov’s report to Potemkin are carved on a monument erected in honor of the great Russian commander.

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WITH Today is the day of military glory of Russia...
It was erected in honor of the Day of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov in 1790. Of particular importance during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 was the capture of Izmail, the citadel of Turkish rule on the Danube. The fortress was built under the leadership of German and French engineers in accordance with the latest fortification requirements....

The Izmail fortress was considered impregnable. Its walls are built of durable stone. From the south it was protected by the Danube, which is half a kilometer wide. And all around there was a high rampart stretching for six miles, from three to four fathoms in height, and around the rampart a ditch was dug 12 meters wide and 6 to 10 meters deep, in some places there was water up to 2 meters deep. There were more than two hundred huge cannons on the rampart...

Inside the city there were many stone buildings convenient for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people and 265 guns.

In November 1790, Russian troops (outnumbered) began the siege of Izmail. Two attempts to take the fortress ended in failure. And then the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Field Marshal G.A. Potemkin ordered the capture impregnable fortress Suvorov. Intensified preparations for the assault began.

In an effort to avoid bloodshed, Suvorov sent an ultimatum to the commandant of Izmail to surrender the fortress:

“To Seraskir, the elders and the whole society. I arrived here with the troops. 24 hours to think about surrender - and the will; My first shots are already bondage. Assault is death. Which I leave to you to consider.”

In response, the Turks sent a long, flowery answer, the meaning of which boiled down to a request for another 10 days to think about it.

Phrase: “It is sooner that the sky will fall to the ground and the Danube will flow upward than Ishmael will surrender,” was told to Suvorov after the assault, but was not expressed as an official response to the ultimatum.

Suvorov gave the Turks another day to think and continued to prepare the troops for the assault.

(11) December 22, 1790 Russian troops in nine columns with different sides moved to storm the fortress.

The river flotilla approached the shore and, under the cover of artillery fire, landed troops. The skillful leadership of Suvorov and his comrades, the courage of soldiers and officers decided the outcome of the battle, which lasted 9 hours - the Turks defended stubbornly, but Izmail was taken.

The enemy lost 26 thousand killed and 9 thousand captured. 265 guns, 42 ships, 345 banners were captured.

Suvorov indicated in his report that the Russian army lost 1,815 people killed and 2,455 wounded. It is noteworthy that Izmail was taken by an army that was inferior in number to the garrison of the fortress. The case is extremely rare in the history of military art.

Suvorov gave the city to the army for three days to plunder. Many soldiers' families became rich after this. The soldiers recalled for a long time the assault on Ishmael and the wealth of its population. Those who did not regret parting with their property and showed resistance were mercilessly killed. Suvorov himself did not take anything, not even the stallion that was very persistently given to him.

Success was ensured by the thoroughness and secrecy of preparation, the surprise of actions and the simultaneous impact of all columns, and the clear and precise setting of goals.

The basis of Calend.ru, paintings - Internet

Capture of Ishmael

The assault on Izmail is the siege and assault in 1790 of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of Chief General A.V. Suvorov, during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791.

The assault on Izmail in 1790 was undertaken on the orders of the commander-in-chief of the Southern Army, Field Marshal General G. A. Potemkin. Neither N.V. Repnin (1789), nor I.V. Gudovich, nor P.S. Potemkin (1790) could solve this problem, after which G.A. Potemkin entrusted the task to A.V. Suvorov.

Having arrived near Izmail on December 2 (13), Suvorov spent six days preparing for the assault, including training troops to storm models of the high fortress walls of Izmail. Near Izmail, in the area of ​​the current village of Safyany in as soon as possible earthen and wooden analogues of the moat and walls of Izmail were built - the military personnel trained to throw fascist weapons into the moat, quickly set up ladders, and after climbing the wall, they quickly stabbed and chopped down the stuffed animals installed there, simulating defenders. Suvorov inspected the exercises and was generally satisfied: his trusted troops did everything as they should. But, undoubtedly, he understood the complexity of the assault and its unpredictability. Even in the first days of the siege, having just arrived near Izmail, Suvorov, inconspicuously dressed and on a lousy horse (so as not to attract the attention of the Turks), accompanied by only one orderly, rode around the perimeter of the fortress. The conclusion was disappointing: “A fortress without weak points,” were his words to the headquarters based on the results of its inspection. Many years later, Suvorov more than once confessed about Izmail in a fit of frankness: “You could only decide to storm such a fortress once in your life...”. Shortly before the assault, Suvorov sent an extremely short and clear letter-ultimatum in Suvorov style to the commander of the fortress, the great serasker Aidozle-Mehmet Pasha: “I arrived here with the troops. Twenty-four hours for reflection - and freedom. My first shot is already bondage. Assault is death." The great serasker’s answer was worthy: “The Danube would sooner flow backwards and the sky would fall to the ground than Ishmael would surrender.” It was clear to Suvorov and his headquarters: the Turks would fight to the death, especially since the Sultan’s firman was known, where he promised to execute everyone who left the Izmail fortress - the remnants of those defeated in Bessarabia gathered in Izmail Turkish troops, whom the Sultan, for his failures, actually sentenced either to die with honor in battle with the Russians, or with shame from his executioners. For two days, Suvorov conducted artillery preparation, and on December 11 (22), at 5:30 a.m., the assault on the fortress began. By 8 a.m. all the fortifications were occupied, but resistance on the city streets continued until 4 p.m.

Turkish losses amounted to 29 thousand people killed. The losses of the Russian army amounted to 4 thousand people killed and 6 thousand wounded. All the guns, 400 banners, huge reserves of provisions and jewelry worth 10 million piastres were captured. M. I. Kutuzov, the future famous commander, winner of Napoleon, was appointed commandant of the fortress.

December 24 is the Day of Military Glory of Russia - the Day of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov.

Assault on Izmail

Background

Not wanting to come to terms with the results of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, Turkey in July 1787 demanded from Russia the return of Crimea, the renunciation of Georgian protection and consent to inspect Russian merchant ships passing through the straits. Having not received a satisfactory answer, the Turkish government declared war on Russia on August 12 (23), 1787. In turn, Russia decided to take advantage of the situation to expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region by completely displacing Turkish troops from there.

In October 1787, Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov almost completely destroyed the 6,000-strong Turkish landing force that intended to capture the mouth of the Dnieper on the Kinburn Spit. Despite the brilliant victories of the Russian army near Ochakov in 1788, at Focshan and on the Rymnik River in 1789, as well as the victories of the Russian fleet at Ochakov and Fidonisi in 1788, in the Kerch Strait and near Tendra Island in 1790, the enemy did not agree accept the peace terms that Russia insisted on, and in every possible way delayed the negotiations. Russian military leaders and the diplomats were aware that the successful completion of peace negotiations with Turkey would be greatly facilitated by the capture of Izmail.

The Izmail fortress lay on the left bank of the Kiliya branch of the Danube between lakes Yalpukh and Katlabukh, on a gently sloping slope ending at the Danube bed with a low but rather steep slope. The strategic importance of Izmail was very great: the routes from Galati, Khotin, Bender and Kilia converged here; here was the most convenient place for an invasion from the north across the Danube into Dobruja. By the beginning of the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1792, the Turks, under the leadership of German and French engineers, turned Izmail into a powerful fortress with a high rampart and a wide ditch with a depth of 3 to 5 fathoms (6.4 - 10.7 m), in places filled with water. There were 260 guns on 11 bastions. The garrison of Izmail consisted of 35 thousand people under the command of serasker Aidozly Muhammad Pasha. However, according to other sources, the Turkish garrison at the time of the assault on Izmail consisted of up to 15 thousand people, and it could have increased at the expense of local residents. Part of the garrison was commanded by Kaplan Giray, the brother of the Crimean Khan, who was assisted by his five sons. The Sultan was very angry with his troops for all the previous capitulations and ordered with a firman that in the event of the fall of Ishmael, everyone from his garrison should be executed, wherever he was found.

Siege and assault of Izmail

In 1790, after capturing the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha and Isakcha, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Prince G. A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky, gave the order to the detachments of generals I. V. Gudovich, P. S. Potemkin and the flotilla of General de Ribas to capture Izmail. However, their actions were hesitant.

On November 26, the military council decided to lift the siege of the fortress due to the approach of winter. The commander-in-chief did not approve this decision and ordered General-in-Chief A.V. Suvorov, whose troops were stationed at Galati, to take command of the units besieging Izmail. Having taken command on December 2, Suvorov returned the troops retreating from the fortress to Izmail and blocked it from land and from the Danube River. Having completed the preparations for the assault in 6 days, Suvorov sent an ultimatum to the commandant of Izmail on December 7 (18), 1790, demanding that he surrender the fortress no later than 24 hours from the date of delivery of the ultimatum. The ultimatum was rejected. On December 9, the military council assembled by Suvorov decided to immediately begin the assault, which was scheduled for December 11.

The attacking troops were divided into 3 detachments (wings) of 3 columns each. Major General de Ribas's detachment (9,000 people) attacked from the river side; the right wing under the command of Lieutenant General P. S. Potemkin (7,500 people) was supposed to strike from the western part of the fortress; the left wing of Lieutenant General A. N. Samoilov (12,000 people) - from the east. Brigadier Westphalen's cavalry reserves (2,500 men) were on the land side. In total, Suvorov's army numbered 31 thousand people, including 15 thousand irregulars. Suvorov planned to begin the assault at 5 a.m., about 2 hours before dawn. Darkness was needed for the surprise of the first blow and the capture of the rampart; then it was unprofitable to fight in the dark, since it made it difficult to control the troops. Anticipating stubborn resistance, Suvorov wanted to have as much daylight as possible at his disposal.

On December 10 (21), at sunrise, preparations began for an assault by fire from the flank batteries, from the island and from the flotilla ships. It lasted almost a day and ended 2.5 hours before the start of the assault. On this day, the Russians lost 3 officers and 155 lower ranks killed, 6 officers and 224 lower ranks wounded. The assault did not come as a surprise to the Turks. They were prepared every night for a Russian attack; in addition, several defectors revealed Suvorov's plan to them.

Beginning of the assault (dark)

At 3 o'clock in the morning on December 11 (22), 1790, the first signal flare went up, according to which the troops left the camp and, forming columns, set out to the places designated by distance. At half past five in the morning the columns moved to attack.

Before the others, the 2nd column of Major General Boris Lassi approached the fortress. At 6 o'clock in the morning, under a hail of enemy bullets, Lassi's rangers overcame the rampart, and a fierce battle ensued at the top. The Absheron riflemen and Phanagorian grenadiers of the 1st column of Major General S. L. Lvov overthrew the enemy and, having captured the first batteries and the Khotyn Gate, united with the 2nd column. The Khotyn gates were open to the cavalry. At the same time, at the opposite end of the fortress, the 6th column of Major General M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov captured the bastion at the Kiliya Gate and occupied the rampart up to the neighboring bastions.

The greatest difficulties befell the 3rd column of Fyodor Meknob. She stormed the large northern bastion, adjacent to it to the east, and the curtain wall between them. In this place, the depth of the ditch and the height of the rampart were so great that the ladders of 5.5 fathoms (about 11.7 m) turned out to be short, and they had to be tied together two at a time under fire. The main bastion was taken.

The fourth and fifth columns (Colonel V.P. Orlov and Brigadier M.I. Platov, respectively) also completed the tasks assigned to them, overcoming the rampart in their sectors.

The landing troops of Major General Osip Deribas in three columns, under the cover of the rowing fleet, moved at a signal to the fortress and formed a battle formation in two lines. The landing began at about 7 o'clock in the morning. It was carried out quickly and accurately, despite the resistance of more than 10 thousand Turks and Tatars. The success of the landing was greatly facilitated by Lvov’s column, which attacked the Danube coastal batteries in the flank, and the actions ground forces on the eastern side of the fortress.

The first column of Major General N.D. Arsenyev, which sailed on 20 ships, landed on the shore and divided into several parts. A battalion of Kherson grenadiers under the command of Colonel V.A. Zubov captured a very tough cavalier, losing 2/3 of its people. The battalion of Livonian rangers, Colonel Count Roger Damas, occupied the battery that lined the shore.

Other units also captured the fortifications lying in front of them. The third column of brigadier E.I. Markov landed at the western end of the fortress under grapeshot fire from the Tabiy redoubt.

Fighting inside the city (day)

When daylight arrived, it became clear that the rampart had been taken, the enemy had been driven out of the fortress tops and was retreating into the inner part of the city. Russian columns from different sides moved towards the city center - Potemkin on the right, Cossacks from the north, Kutuzov on the left, de Ribas on the river side.

A new battle has begun. Particularly fierce resistance continued until 11 am. Several thousand horses, rushing out of the burning stables, raced madly through the streets and increased the confusion. Almost every house had to be taken in battle. Around noon, Lassi, who was the first to climb the ramparts, was the first to reach the middle of the city. Here he met a thousand Tatars under the command of Maksud Giray, a prince of Genghis Khan's blood. Maksud Giray defended himself stubbornly, and only when most of his detachment was killed, he surrendered with 300 soldiers remaining alive.

To support the infantry and ensure success, Suvorov ordered the introduction of 20 light guns into the city to clear the streets of the Turks with grapeshot. At one o'clock in the afternoon, in essence, victory was won. However, the battle was not over yet. The enemy tried to attack individual Russian detachments or settled in strong buildings as citadels.

At two o'clock in the afternoon all columns penetrated into the city center. By 4 p.m., the last defenders were killed, and some of the exhausted and wounded Turks surrendered. The noise of battle ceased, Ishmael fell.

Results of the assault

The losses of the Turks were enormous; more than 26 thousand people were killed alone. 9 thousand were taken prisoner, of which 2 thousand died from their wounds the next day. In Izmail, 265 guns, up to 3 thousand pounds of gunpowder, 20 thousand cannonballs and many other military supplies, up to 400 banners, blood-stained defenders, 8 lançons, 12 ferries, 22 light ships and a lot of rich booty that went to the army, totaling up to 10 million piastres (over 1 million rubles). In the Russian army, 64 officers (1 brigadier, 17 staff officers, 46 chief officers) and 1816 privates were killed; 253 officers (including three major generals) and 2,450 lower ranks were wounded. The total losses of the army during the assault amounted to 4,582 people. The fleet lost 95 killed and 278 wounded.

Suvorov took measures to ensure order. Kutuzov, appointed commandant of Izmail, placed guards in the most important places. A huge hospital was opened inside the city. The bodies of the killed Russians were taken out of town and buried in church rite. There were so many Turkish corpses that the order was given to throw the bodies into the Danube, and prisoners were assigned to this work, divided into queues. But even with this method, Ishmael was cleared of corpses only after 6 days. The prisoners were sent in batches to Nikolaev under the escort of Cossacks.

Suvorov expected to receive the rank of field marshal general for the assault on Izmail, but Potemkin, petitioning the empress for his award, proposed awarding him with a medal and the rank of guard lieutenant colonel or adjutant general. The medal was knocked out, and Suvorov was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. There were already ten such lieutenant colonels; Suvorov became eleventh. The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Prince G. A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky, having arrived in St. Petersburg, received as a reward a field marshal's uniform, embroidered with diamonds, worth 200 thousand rubles, the Tauride Palace; In Tsarskoe Selo, it was planned to build an obelisk for the prince depicting his victories and conquests. Oval silver medals were distributed to the lower ranks; for officers who have not received the Order of St. George or Vladimir, a golden cross is installed on the St. George ribbon; the chiefs received orders or golden swords, some received ranks.

The conquest of Ishmael was of great political significance. It influenced the further course of the war and the conclusion of the Peace of Iasi between Russia and Turkey in 1792, which confirmed the annexation of Crimea to Russia and established the Russian-Turkish border along the Dniester River. Thus, the entire northern Black Sea region from the Dniester to the Kuban was assigned to Russia.

The anthem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out!”, which until 1816 was considered the unofficial anthem of the Russian Empire, was dedicated to the victory at Izmail.