Russian Style Reenactment

Russian Historical Camp - Alma reenactment 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Last post was about French and English camp on Alma reenactment and the battle. Now I want to tell you about Russian part of the event.

This time there were two interesting features during Alma reenactment 2012.

First one is Russian Historical Camp. Main idea was to avoid all modern things and adjust timetable to historical prototype.

It is interesting that Russian army had many curious customs during the Crimean war. The morning and evening dawns, which had to be accompanied with a shot from a artillery cannon, morning checkings, prayers and so on. Certainly, it is hard to avoid modern things. But this is good beginning. This year the historical camp was small. Only two regiments lives there: the Borodinskiy light regiment and Russian artillery. I hope, it will become good tradition and the camp will expand.

And second news was a new reenactment group called artillery detachment of 1\4 pood unicorn (this is type of cannon). This was their first events. It took a year to create new group. And guys did everything just great. This is project of my friend so I think I'll mention them in the future post.

Photos from training...

... and from the action.

The Battle of Alma reenactment 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Reenactment of the Battle of Alma were on the last weekend of September this year. The schedule of the event was unusual. This time all action was appointed on Saturday. And on Sunday everyone could go on the Mikhaylovskaya battery, look at the presentation of reenactment clubs, listen to a military orchestra and visit an exhibition devoted to the Crimean war in Sheremetyev's museum.

This year there was about 100-120 participants from Great Britain, France, Russia and Ukraine This time I had unusual role. I was accepted to great reenactment club the 18th line regiment as a soldier. So I didn't have a lot of time to take pictures. But nevertheless a few camp photos and some pictures that I've found on different sites. Our neighbors - Englishmen and Scots. Great guys by the way. It was a great pleasure to chat with them during the evenings.

Fenton's follower.

Soldier's humor :)

Saturday morning began with a grum and flute reveille :)

Two of our guys were sleeping inside this little "dog" tents. The most popular question, especially from was: "How much do you need to drink to sleep there?". And nobody believed that it is a good will :)

Morning coffee.

A few photos of my friend Natalie Golovan. You may see her report here(in russian).

Nice photo found on internet.

The major part of participants removed camp and moved to the Mikhaylovskaya battery after the battle. Our corporal made the decision to arrive there in the morning on Sunday. So we had a pleasant evening in the company of other reenactors which have postponed the moving too.

Oh, I forgot to tell something :) One of Russian soldiers, Boris, brought excellent entertainment on the field. World Kosmorama is called. That's a box with two openings for peeping and illumination from candles. There was a nice old fashioned pictures about adventures of Russian soldiers. Boris were changing pictures, twisting the handle. He made comments on everything that is described on pictures. Boris is very artistic and all allies loved this performance.

On Sunday the festival finished. We moved to the battery to Sevastopol, participated there in representation of clubs, communicated to the people. And made few great pictures near sea shore. The photos of our corporal Eugène. Perhaps, this my favorite photos from this departure :)

So how it was for participants from the side of French army. Tomorrow I'll post some pics of Russian Historical Camp and tell you about it customs.

Victory Day Reenactment in honor of 9th May, Kiev, Ukraine

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000

This celebratory May reconstruction was absolutely another comparing with last event, where I took part. I want to tell you about our camp life during the Victory Day reenactment this May.

Organizers toughen requirements on authenticity of camp: modern stuff is not allowed. We had to hide all plastic things in our tents.

We have tried to make the tent as much authentic as possible. Certainly, there is a lot of things we should do but it was nice start.

Arrival of participants finished in the evening on Friday to provide interesting and full program of reenactment for all of us on two days. But cultural actions have begun already on May, 10th. Wonderful bayan player arrived in camp. He showed us very interesting musical program on the improvised scene from the truck with the lowered boards, army boxes and officer small lamps. There were many military melodies, slightly dancing and even a jazz (the first time heard a jazz on an accordion!). It was great! We sang songs and danced.

On Saturday started sport contests and volleyball.

Girls tried to creat human pyramids in the Soviet style. The result turned out very good!

Sport contest included man's sports: throwing of the grenade, weights lifting, rope pulling, football. Taken with pyramids, we all slightly passed it, saw only results of competitions.

One of the most waited events became boxing. The ring was built especially for competition. Sergey Zhuravlyov from our side of Red Army and from allies - the American paratrooper. Referee was the British sergeant.

In general, it has been planned as a duel with elements of performance. It was great and very real!

The winner is our guy! Hurray!

Some guys from spectators have picked up idea of fights. And after the main show all who wanted tried their abilities of fighting. Wehrmacht against Red Army.

And after the sport contests there were time for little performance.I took part in it too. Idea was taken from Svetlana Aleksiyevich's book "War has no female face" (i'm not sure about translation; this means that war is very hard for women) Between all girls who wished it were distributed memoirs of female veterans from that book. And all "actors" had to tell this memoirs like they were there and took part in that events. For performance was chosen very bright and tragic fragments.

All stories were accompanied by small performances on a background. Someone brought up wounded man on a jeep, shifted on a table for operation, someone installed the telephone line (guess who? :)) so all of us were in action. There were very emotional but all held on tears. We acted already in the dark. Until the end it was not clear, what spectators thought about our little play. But came last minutes of performance. Phone sonorously rings, Nastja lifts a tube and speaks: “ Girls... The Victory... The Victory! ”. It is a pity there is no video record. Till now I remember HOW she said it. And spectators have started to applaud! Silently we have returned to camp. Our friends came and sit in silence near the fire. This play was very hard for us because of emotions but it means a lot for all of us.

200th Anniversary of Battle of Arapiles (Battle of Salamanca), Spain

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Los Arapiles is a small town near quite big Spanish city Salamanca. It has only 600 habitants according to Wikipedia. But there was very interesting battle 200 years ago. So we came there to take part in it.

There was only one bus in evening so we decided to go by feet. It was about 12 km from center of Salamanca.

Beginning of our little walk.

On our way through another pueblo we've seen very nice old buildings. I think this house were here while Englishman were passing by here 200 years ago.

On Saturday historical camp was opened for visitors almost all day. People in Spain is great! Everybody are very nice, polite and interested in this event.

Photos of our camp life.

Portuguese camp

Legion Vistula and one light infantryman from 9eme ligere.

Frenchmen. They were our only allies here. I don't know why but people from French regiments didn't come here.

Scots and British

Guys from Braunschweig. It's interesting that their flag is similar to modern ukrainian flag. Small part on native places :)

Mameluke

Englishmen made training specially for spectators despite a heat.

Nice cart with drinks

Spanish people

All participants went to the field for training without firing on Saturday evening. Because there were very few French regiments, some Spanish groups had to change the side. Thanks for this!

When we returned to town, prepared dish of very tasty meat with vegetables were waited for us already. Totally free.

When we returned from training, began unimaginable fiesta (party)! During afternoon inhabitants mounted a huge scene, started a disco, opened pair of bars in the open air. And wonderful stewed beef with vegetables for free for all!

While we got this wonderful dish, some man from town gave as eight glasses of a sangriya and wine with ice. It is very tasty and is again free. Very hospitable small town! :)

The reenactment of the battle started on sunday morning. The orchestra executed anthems of the countries which were participants in this battle.

One of my favorites photos from this trip!

All occurred in recently harvested field. The dust from straw curled around us.It, of course, creates beautiful effect, but awfully jams in a nose and that is more unpleasant, in a lens. It was necessary to clean the filter each five shots.

After the battle everyone who wanted took part in parade in main square of Salamanca.

It was a great and very remarkable event. I hope next time there will be more reenactors of Napoleon I army. Guys! Spain is paradise for reenactors. Please, come! :)

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:20:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I've showed up here. Sorry, my friends :) Recently I've returned from reenactment of Battle of Los Arapiles (Salamanca) in Spain. It was tremendous! One of the most remarkable events of this year for me. And next week I leave for 200th Anniversary of Borodino. And then - Battle of Alma in Crimea. Very intense schedule. :) But I'll try to do my best to bring interesting photos here.

Take care! See you :)

Victory Day Parade in Zaporozhye, Ukraine

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:25:00 +0000

Before going to Kiev on reenactment, I visited Zaporozhye, Ukraine and took part in Victory Parade in honor of 9th of May (Victory Day) along the main city street.

The private museum of a retro cars "Phaeton" was point of start for parade basis, set of the Soviet military vehicles. Exactly thanks to director of this museum and an initiative of ordinary people in the city passes remarkable celebration of veterans of Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.

I will tell about this museum in a separate post. And now let's talk about Victory Day Parade.

I would like to find any special magical words to tell you that occurred this day, on May 9. And it is even better to share directly somehow those memoirs and experiences. By telepathy. But I have to use only usual letters and photos. :)

Our column of military vehicles didn't remain unnoticed. Morning pedestrians and the casual audience on the streets met us very friendly. One guy walking a German shepherd, stood on the roadside and carried out a military greeting while by passed military cars. Looked very lovely, it is a pity didn't manage to do a photo :)

And we moved to a point where other motorists who have arrived on their retro cars and the uniformed participants of parade had to wait us.

On the meeting place it was already crowded. After all people in a uniform and ancient cars always involve in themselves a lot of attention. Especially for May 9.

On an idea veterans and the uniformed participants who could help veterans had to go in cars and trucks. Here people tried to create the correct image. Not all of them are reenactors so don't judge strictly :)

And here the most important began!

Main street of Zaporozhye is Lenin Avenue. Its length is about 11 km. Parade went about 6 km of it. We were going to a place, where parade should begin. On the green spring city. Chestnuts blossomed. Red flags are fluttering on a wind . The jeep in which I went, was equipped with the tape recorder and columns for accompanying us by soviet military music.

Cheerful song finished, and record with the announcement from the Soviet Information bureau about the war began. And, you know, during such moment overflow absolutely inexpressible feelings. Here all you thoughts are covered by such strong feelings, from goosebumps on a back and to a marrow, tears and squeezed teeth. When you go on the green city where people slowly walk on sidewalks in summer clothes, you go in that form. Also you hear: "Attention! Moscow speaks!... Today on June 22 at the 4th o'clock in the morning without declaration of war the German armies attacked our country. Attacked our borders in many places. Also subjected to bombing of the city of Zhitomir, Kiev, Sevastopol, Kaunas and others...."

And fragments of memoirs, front photos, chronicles are flashing in memory. All of them. It is necessary to feel such emotions at least time! That works like time machine!

And meanwhile we approach to a starting point. Can you see something multi-colored in the distance on this photo? These are people who came to look parade. They were visible even at the very beginning of the avenue! Special platforms were provided here for veterans convenience.

And how many people gathered here to share this holiday with veterans! If only you could see this! People were standing in three - in four rows on both parties of the avenue along of all 6 kilometers of movement of parade. These joyful greetings to veterans! And new people were flowing down to the prospectus from adjoining streets. Though it seemed like all Zaporozhye ALREADY gathered here!

It was pleasant to see joy on faces of people, posters which school students prepared, the red flags flying over crowd, and flags of Ukraine.

What else forces is capable to bring together so many people? Absolutely sincerely. Certainly, various politic parties too were noted by me thanks to their flags, but they simply sank among other audience. From the different parties there were possible to hear different shouts "With the Victory Day reached!", "With a holiday!".

The column went very slowly, with speed of the pedestrian. Also it was stretched, at least, on the whole kilometer!

From time to time procession stopped, policemen passed to cars all who wished, children, school students, adult people. And veterans were simply filled up with flowers! Flowers rolled over through boards of jeeps, and at the end of movement to help veterans to leave cars, it was necessary to remove locks of flowers at first.

After parade on Lenin Avenue the column went to Victory park where festival were continuing. The vehicles were stop on a square and all who wished could examine them and take photos.

Besides, in park reenactors established small camp of living history: tent, a field-kitchen, a fire on which porridge, a table, some guns, a bag for training of movements of bayonet fight, the telephone line.

The entrance on the territory was forbidden for the audience, but everything was perfectly visible from its borders. It is pleasant that interest didn't cease for several hours while we were in park. It was sometimes heavy to break inside because of a dense cordon of the audience :)

Tthe field-kitchen worked for veterans.

I sincerely believe that this day gave strength to veterans to live one more difficult year. It was just great Victory Day celebration!

Living history camp near Eupatoria, Crimea

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:14:00 +0000

Recently I've found some nice photos from living history camp near Eupatoria, Crimea. It was performed in April 2010 as first event in year dedicated to Crimean War reenactment. The main idea was to meet with our friends from Eupatoria, Minskiy Pehotniy Polk (Minskiy Infantry Regiment) in the field, create a living history bivouac and small action only for reenactors.

Camp of 3ème Régiment de Zouaves

Camp of Minskiy Pehotniy Polk

Some interaction :)

Zouaves are getting hungry and planning invasion for Russian positions

But friendship wins :)

And some general shots

So it was nice local event as season start of Crimean War reenactment 2010 combined with relax under the warm spring sun.

Liberation of Kiev 1943, november 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:52:00 +0000

I had a lot of urgent work last half of a year. But now the blog will be regularly updated. I've collected a lot of interesting materials! And I will begin with story about reconstruction of the Great Patriotic War (this is the name of the part of Second World War which took place in the territory of the USSR) which passed in November, 2011. It was dedicated to liberation of Kiev in 1943.

We were brought to an army arrangement in the morning on November 5. We had half of a hour to change our clothes, put all necessary into our duffel bags and went from the base to positions of signal section as reinforcement.

Vehicles with new participants were coming since yesterday so part of our team already were in the field and started performance of a fighting task - to construct the line of wire communication from observation post to a control filter post.

We were on a front line.To the left of us the frontier guards settled down. They were carrying out protection of the back land and checking every arriving vehicle. And in the four hundred meters from our observation post there were already German positions.

Though this time the wire line was rather short (about one hundred fifty meters), it was possible to lead it only by air. Approaching transport periodically tore a wire therefore we bore round-the-clock watch on two persons, checking and providing integrity of the line.

We lived right there. A mobile kitchen were developed between a trench parapet with the line of cells, a blindage and observation post. A fire, a copper and a teapot.

New fighters were attached to our operators squad so there were not any problems with providing the service.

It was supposed that for the night we again will depart to the back positions, having dismantled the telephone line. But the order didn't arrive, therefore all team stayed to keep watch on a front line for the second night.

At the 6:00 am it was necessary to build lines to supply communication during attack of the army. Before this there were necessity to mount guard from 3:00 a.m for 3 hours. So there weren't any sense to come to the back positions. Our squad built four marching canopies from groundsheets round a fire where we spent night. To take up in the three hours before dawn means to stand in tranches when the coldest part of night comes, and observe how a field between our positions and Germans blindages are covering by hoarfrost and clouding by fog. It is possible to make out how guard at Germans are heated at a fire with a help of stereopipe. It is good that we have enough firewood and there is possibility to go occasionally to a fire, throw a log to warm up sleeping friends, and to get warm by yourself at the same time.

At 6:00 in the morning we started to build two wire lines. Oh, if only tanks and artillery didn't tear it! After construction of lines we broke a field camp to transfer it to the back line, and went on delivery of ammunition and for fire practice.

And then attack to German positions began. Aircraft, tanks, artillery, and then we are. Our team was attached to infantry to provide communication with a staff and to coordinate operations. The part of lines is already prepared so we shouldn't build completely the line in this chaos!

There were nor any breaks of a wire and we successfully contacted with staff from the established place, and twice in process of army expansion.

The task is completed, the German airfield is taken. Hurrah!

Many thanks to all brave military photographers. Thanks to them we have so many great photos. Part of them were used in this post.

About 800(!) participants arrived to take part in this reenactment event. I've never saw so much artilleries and battle vehicles on reenactment! The first stage of it was very interesting an air battle: 2 our plains against 2 Germans. Soviet plane even had a machine gun!

The density of fire and amount of people becomes more similar to what it is necessary to aspire. It was really great event!

Annual Battle of The Borodino - 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:01:00 +0000

This year reenactment of The Borodino Battle were even more interesting comparing with last year event. There were one small spice.

Usually the main reenactment action was on Sunday. At first everybody goes to the place near Napoleonic war's monuments (tomb of the Great Army, monuments to the Russian Army and Artillery) and takes part in the official meeting with speeches of Russian and French official delegates. After the floral tribute all reenactors goes by bus to the main camp where everybody wait the start of the event. During that hour everybody are walking through the camp, chatting with each other, dining in field cоffee bar and so on.

On Saturday there was just try-out of the general battle. During the free time reenactors are doing what they want. But this time...

This year there were one more interesting action between try-out and general battle. After the repetition all best clubs were involved with field manoeuvre!

It was organized by сhiefs of the clubs and organizers executive. We did some work to arrange places for the action and so on. But it's worth that!

To hide inside a hollow square because of calvary attack is a very interesting experience! :)

All rules consist in struggle between dispositions. Regiment is considered defeated if they were suddenly attacked and didn't have time to react correctly.

But photos worth a thousands of words. There are some photos from the manoeuvre...

... and from the try-out. I had a great chance to take photos from the middle of action.

The general battle was great without doubts! Each year the quality of reenactment grows. Infantry, calvary, artillery. Everything was great. There is few my photos...

... and photos from internet (i didn't do any photos becouse of big distance from me to action).

Photos by Fotoromantik:

That's how it was :)

Doronino - Living History Camp Near Borodino

noreply@blogger.com (Людмила) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:49:00 +0000

Near the field of Borodino, where every year come a lot of reenactors for The Annual Battle of Borodino, there is a small peaceful village called Doronino. On its ground is situated a private museum of Russian culture and history "Doronino". Thanks to the director of Doronino museum this is not just a small Russian village. This is a beautiful living history camp for the best of reenactors where they can live at any time of the year!

Of cause, the most "hot" time is week of The Battle of Borodino. The event itself goes on the weekend but some of Doronino residents come earlier. It's good to live a calm life of XIX's century for a week :)

There is an agreement between the owner of the museum and reenactors. He allows us to live here at any time of the year, we can build the barraсks, keep out stuff there safely. And we should help him sometimes with works connected with museum. That's very nice for all of us.

In Doronino camp live Russian section of 8e demi-brigade de ligne, Russian section of 9eme de legere (my friend and me are members of this club), chasseur a pied de la Garde, 6eme Lancieres Poloneis and Life-Guard Litovskiy Regiment (Russian Army).

The main rule for those who live in Doronino is everything they use in daily life should fit Napoleonic period. All cups, kitchen stuff, tents and so on should be from those times. Without doubts, it's hard to refuse totally all modern things but we are working hard to do this.

Also there is a very nice location called Barynya's (Madam's) Place. If all other locations filled up with horrible soldiers of French Napoleonic and Russian Army, at Madam's you can always find foreign carpets, high-tony sweets and warmth of her hurt :)

Camps of all clubs are quite isolated one from each other so nobody disturbs no one.

During the day there are a lot of work for everyone. Someone help museum, someone mount tents for newcomers, someone cook a meal. Usually there is not so much people from all clubs live in Doronino before the Borodino weekend so sometimes we dine together.

That's interior of 9eme de legere barrack.

And when the night comes, everybody puts on all best clothes, takes candle lamp and walks from one camp to another to talk with friends and to share tasty wine or other drinks. My birthday clashes with camp time so that's part of reenactment life for me :)

When major part of our club comes, there is no more time for walks and chat. It's drill, drill, drill and again drill for guys of 9eme.

So that's how we live in living history camp "Doronino". Next time i'll tell you about The Battle of Borodino 2011 and show some photos.