The snow calamity did complicate but did not endanger the arrival of the participants, planed for friday afternoon and evening. The troops were acocmodated in Austerlitz (the „French” from all Europe), in Tvarozna (the „Austrians”, and the „Russans” who camped outside, about 150 russian soldiers spent the freezing nights in their tents, and had the opportunity to experience even harder conditions than the men of 1805), and some smaller detachements were in Blazovice, Krenovice, Jirikovice, Zbysov and Kobylnice.
The official opening of the event of Austerlitz 2010 was held on friday evening in the Historical hall of the château Slavkov-Austerlitz as a small imperial reception, with presence of mayors of the communes of the battlefield, other notable guests and officers of the re-enactment units. The arrival of Napoleon has been announced by the grand-maréchal du palais Duroc in an excellent replice of the ceremony dress; during the reception, the president of the Project Austerlitz, Miroslav Jandora, has recieved, from the hands of „His Majesty” a replica of the cross of the Legion of Honnor, for having organized the events of Austerlitz, with a short break, since 1990.
The real numbers of the present soldiers answered more or less to the pre-registration, almost 1200 participants from the entire Europe came to Austerlitz. From saturday morning a historical and christmas market was held in Austerlitz, the troops drilled and prepared them-selved for the battle re-enactement under the Santon. The scenario of the battle has been inspired for this year by the combat between the french marshals Lannes and Murat and the coalition generals Bagration and Liechtenstein.
While the „regiments” formed for the battle, His Majesty came to the vip tent to salute the notable guests. The battle has begun with a cavalry presentation, and shortly a deafening musket and artillery fire announced the main engagements. The initial french advance has been stopped by russian diversion attack by the village of Tvarozna, according to the real situation of 1805, but later the french superiority (given by the scenario) made the coalition troops to retreat from the battlefield, leaving it to the „victorious” French. The Emperor has decorated and promoted the most brave soldiers, among them Vaclav Reha who knew the very first events at Austerlitz in early 70’s, and Radek Balcarek for whom the event of 2010 has been his 30th Austerlitz.
The k.k. infantry regiment Kaunitz-Rietberg no. 20 placed wreath to the tomb of the Kaunitz family in Austerlitz, and at 7.30 pm the defile took placed and finished by fireworks prepared by Ivan Martinek in the main square of the town of Austerlitz. The Napoleon’s proclamation has been read to the troops, and the last words : „Il vous suffira de dire, “J’étais à la bataille d’Austerlitz”, pour que l’on réponde, „Voilà un brave” were pronounced by Frank Samson, Napoleon of the event.
After the fireworks, on the stairs of the church of Austerlitz, a ceremony of the new flag oath was held by the k.k. IR.20, and, in the Historical hall of the castle of Austelitz, the ceremony of the signature of the armistice that originally took place at the same place on the 6th december 1805; His Majesty has invited „maréchal Berthier”, portrayed for the occasion by Mr. Frank Simon, and „prince Liechtenstein”, portrayed by Michael Jäger, to sign the documents, that opened the door to the peace treaty of Presbourg. After an energic military toast pronounced by Oleg Sokolov, historian of the Musée de l’Armée in Paris and „général de division” of the re-enactment groups, the official program of saturday has been finished.
On sunday morning at 10.30 am the act of piety bagan at the Peace Monument near the village of Pratzen; the troops and public were adressed by the vice-governor of the South Moravian Region Mr. Vaclav Horak or mayor of Pratzen, Mr. Jan Vovesny, and after a prayer by Lukas Evzen Martinec, abbot of the Old Brno, wreaths were placed into the chappel.
The commemorative events of the 205th anniversary of Austerlitz ended. The the point of view of the organizers, despite the difficult weather conditions, it’s been a success. The thank all those who supported the event; namely the „soldiers” of the re-enactment groups, and those who offered the accomodation to the troops: in Austerlitz the director of the Komenskeho school, Mr. Soukop, the director of the Tyrsova school, Mr. Pucek, in Blazovice the mayor Mr. Pleva, the commune of Tvarozna for the good background offered to the coalition troops in the village.
According to the first estimations the battlefield has been visited, during the weekend, by 40.000 visitors from abroad and from the Czech republic. They saw the defilé in Austerlitz, the act of piety at the Peace Monument near the village of Pratzen. The most spectacular point of program, the battle re-enactment under the Santon near Tvarozna, has been visited by more than 9000 people.
The event is organized by the town of Slavkov u Brna (Austerlitz), the communes of Tvarozna and Prace, who are associated, together with the company AusterlitzPro ltd and the Central European Napoleonic Society in the Project Austerlitz since 1998.
More than 1200 members of the re-enactment groups took part at the event; they came from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Russia, Malta, Bielorussia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Hungary and Great Britain. There were about 80 horses also.
Among the guests, members of the diplomatic corps and ambassies of foreign countries, there were His Excellency Mr. Pierre Lévy, ambassador of France, honorary consul of Austria, Mr. Pavel Kutalek and a numerous delegation of the ambassy of Russia, represented by the 1st secretary, Mr. Anatoli Tomkin. Were also present the military attachés of the ambassies of the United States, France, Austria, Holland and Belgium. A numerous delegation came from Vienna, including the diplomatic corps of the french ambassy in Austria.
The event was held under the auspices of the governor of the South Moravian Region, Mr. Michal Hasek, and minister of the education of the Czech Republic, Mr. Josef Dobes. Were present, among others, vice-president of the chamber of deputies of the parliament of the Czech Republic, Mrs. Katerina Klasnova, vice-governor of the South Moravian Region, Mr. Ivo Polak, minister of th interior of the Czech Republic, Mr. Radek John, minister of the transport of the Czech Republic, Mr. Vit Barta, deputy minister of the local development of the Czech Republic, Mr. Michal Janeb, deputy minister of defense, Mr. Michal Hrbata, vice-president of the foreign committee of the chamber of deputies of the czech parliament, Mr. David Seich, and vice-governor of the South Moravian Region, Mr. Vaclav Horak, and other representants of the communal politics of the region.
The events of this year were organized thanks to the support of the South Moravian Region and the Czech tourist authority.
We thank the sponsors of the event, without their support we would be unable to organize it:
General sponsors who traditionally are:
Českomoravský cement a.s. and Sita CZ a.s.
And sponsors: Cement hranice a.s., Obchodní domy IRO, Van Gansewinkel s.r.o. and Technický a zkušební ústav stavební Praha, s.p.
We thank the partners of the event:
Destrukce Třebíč, Explosia s.p.