"Russia Returns Remains of Napoleon-Era General to France" Topic

"Russia on Tuesday repatriated the remains of one of Napoleon's most trusted generals after their discovery in the country two years ago.

The coffin with the skeleton of Charles-Etienne Gudin, one of Napoleon's closest allies, was brought to the entrance of the Moscow Vnukovo airport building on a horse-drawn cart accompanied by men in 19th century French military uniform.

Gudin died in 1812 during the French warrior-emperor's invasion of Russia. The 44-year-old general was hit by a cannonball near Smolensk, a city 370 kilometers (229 miles) west of Moscow. He died of gangrene three days after his leg was amputated…"

link

Main page
link

Armand

What a honorable thing to do.

Thanks for sharing this article.

Armand

Great post Armand.

Gudin was one of Davout's 'three immortals.' His loss was keenly felt in I Corps.

Welcome home General.

Gudin was one of Davout's 'three immortals.' His loss was keenly felt in I Corps.

What about the tens of thousands of men of Davout's command that died marching to and from Moscow. The III/I Corps that fought at Austerlitz, at Auerstat, at Eylau and during the 1809 campaign was history by the end of the Russian campaign, whether Gudin survived or not.

With this many reportings he'd be racking up airpoints by now____
d

A votre service mes amis…

Armand

I've never understood the transporting of human remains, especially from that long ago. If I was ever shot down in a war, I would hope that my country would do everything in its power to bring me back home alive. But when you are dead, you're dead. I really don't care where I'm buried. In fact being the pragmatist that I am, I'll probably donate by body to science after I'm dead because I'll no longer have any use for it and this way it will be put to good use to benefit humanity.

Yes, i do not understand Napoleon did not charter some planes to bring home the thousands of victims in 1812.

What about the tens of thousands of men of Davout's command that died marching to and from Moscow. The III/I Corps that fought at Austerlitz, at Auerstat, at Eylau and during the 1809 campaign was history by the end of the Russian campaign, whether Gudin survived or not.

When the remnants/survivors of the I Corps crossed the Berezina they did so in perfect order with drums and fifes playing. Survivors remarked on it.

And the Berezina was an amazing French victory. One French enlisted man remarked that if the roles were reversed not one Russian would have escaped.

And since Gudin was killed/mortally wounded before Borodino and the retreat from Russia, I have no doubt that his loss was keenly felt by his division, his division staff, the troops he commanded and by Davout himself.

I did visit once an German pow cementary at a pass in the Caucasus, beautiful spot and cows were grazing peacefully over the ground.

Difficult to decide what would be better, a grave on the spot or a grave at home were relatives could mourn.

as the the left overs of the Grand Armée – even Boney did burn his private papers some days before the crossing, as well as a lot of colours in bad premonition.

1er corps were as much as destroyed – the heroics were due to other corps and non French units like the Suisse, or Baden troops – who helped that a part of the survivors could escape.

The heroics and victory were due to all the units, reduced and battered as they were, achieving what they did against the odds. I'm not sure how many Swiss troops were at Berezina but I think it was only around 1,300 men. But Napoleon's allied troops fought well, so a sort of incredible French allied victory. In the same way that Waterloo was an allied victory and not just a British or Prussian one.

Gazzola + 1

Armand