Austerlitz 2005 had four major goals. Firstly to commemorate in a dignified way this tragic and in the same moment fascinating event which, in its period, have brought vast geopolitical impacts. Also to commemorate the memory of those who fell in the battle or died afterwards due to suffered wounds and injuries as well as the suffering of the civil population forced to stand the presence of two huge armies in their homes and remove the consequences of their clash for many years on. The event was supposed to give the world an unanimous answer for the question “where is Austerlitz?”, i.e. in Czechia, Southern Moravia, between Brno and Austerlitz. We haven’t celebrated the victory of the French army. Not maybe because of incorrectness against the defeated countries but of the respect for the fallen of both sides. The least but not last of the tasks for the organizers was to provide the participants with time, place and resources for their passion, i.e. presenting thoroughly trained manoeuvres, uniforms worn with a great pride, personal experience of feelings being probably very close to ones of the soldiers 200 years ago…

What were the resources we wanted to achieve it? Among the people interested for history who are actively commemorating it belong the members of the military history associations or so-called re-enactment. According to our point of view it is not necessary to see the military history as something damnable. No one of us, not even enthusiasts in period uniforms, loves war; no one would like to have a close experience with it. Neither we are pacifists. However it is not possible to pretend that the military history doesn’t exist. It belongs essentially to the human history and primarily the war conflicts were the moving elements changing the faiths of nations or individuals. We do commemorate the anniversary of the important battle. According to our point of view it was absolutely right to build the program of the event very much on the activities of the re-enactment associations. They are able to show the glance and misery of the military life then better than any museum items. Their performance was not only enlightening but spectator attractive.

Traditionally the main points of the program were the Saturday battle reconstruction under the Santon Hill and the piety act on Sunday at the Peace Monument. In the first half of 2005 re-enactment groups from 24 countries were invited for the event. They were registered under partner associations of C.E.N.S. (Central European Napoleonic Society), E.N.S. (European Napoleonic Society), F.L.G. (Freudenkreis Lebendige Geschichte), A.R.H.M. (Association Russe d’histoire militaire), or organized by the Polish coordinator.

Totally the were 3538 participants, out of them 1981 on the French side and 1557 on the Austro-Russian side. The highest share among the participants had groups from Czechia (ca. 20%), Russia and Germany (а ca. 15%), France and Italy (а ca. 10%). Remarkable “contingents” arrived from United Kingdom, Belgium, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Netherlands, Austria and Slovakia. Particular groups or even individuals arrived from Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Spain, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, USA and Australia. If someone has been forgotten in this listing, we do apologize in advance.

Grande Armйe of 2005 consisted of 118 officers, 1650 NCOs and soldiers, 213 campfollowers, it was armed with 1062 muskets and 24 guns, 114 horses were saddled. The Austro-Russian army was this time little bit weaker: 92 officers, 1307 NCOs and soldiers, 158 campfollowers, 969 muskets, 28 guns and 92 horses. During 90 minutes of the Saturday battle reconstruction one ton of the black powder was consumed. Eight people suffered injuries, all of them minor ones (0,226% out of the total number). Also two horses suffered minor injuries without further consequences off the “combat actions”. Injuries were treated off hand (0,95%).

Up to day there was only one event of the comparable (even a bit larger) size ever organized in Europe – 180th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo in June 1995. However the winter event brings naturally incomparably higher requirements onto the organizational background not speaking of the fact that re-enactment has changed remarkably since 1995. The accent on the quality of uniforms, training, discipline and historic authenticity of a performed action generally is now much higher.

Groups from all around the Europe and overseas started to come to the event site already on Thursday November 30th. Many of them had days-long bus trip from Russia behind them, some of them were coming as far as from Siberia. More than 20 Americans came flying as well as some Australians. Some 3000 participants were to be accommodated in premises of the former air defence military base in Brno-Slatina kindly provided to the organizers by the Military accommodation and construction department in Brno. Other participants provided their own accommodation in numerous hotels, villages accross the battlefield and the most “hardcore” ones even on the battlefield itself in the genuine bivouac. The military base offered at once the easy-to-guard premises, sufficient amount of parking places as well as the efficient organization of participants. The base’s capacities were filled up to the maximum. There was no single place left, building were bursting at the seams. Certainly it was not comfortable but buildings were heated, there was hot water, showers, toilets. To all of the participants go our sincere words of thanks and appreciation for their tolerance and constructive approach by solving particular problems off hand.

The event program was given. On Saturday morning units got on busses and left for the battlefield without any significant delay. Thanks for that go to Brno City Transportation Company (BCTC) and particularly to Mr. Seitl who coordinated the entire transportation of soldiers during the event. The battle was supposed to start at 1PM as well as the unique project in the histroy of re-enactment along with it – the live TV transmission. Cavalrymen were saddling their horses, cannoniers brought their cannons, infantry formed up their battalions under the flags of three Emperors. Great number of participants and not quite adequate organization of the distribution of meals resulted in long queues and unwanted impact on the morale of both armies. Once again we must repeat our thanks to all the participants for their patience, tolerance and discipline. At 1PM both armies were standing in their opening positions and the battle could begin. Everyone was waiting for the initial shots to open the battle in the southern sector of the Austerlitz 2005 battlefield.

This year the battle scenario was supposed to show the crucial moments of the entire battle of Austerlitz as it happened 200 years ago. The selected field under the Santon Hill fully allowed the realization of this intention. The road down to Tvarozna represented “Goldbach”, thanks to the sculptor and architect Oleg Vasica and his team the coulisse of the village of “Telnitz” grew up there, low trees in the centre substituted the “Sokolnitz pheasantry”, the terrain eastwards was rising slightly to our “Pratzen Heights”, to the north closer to Tvarozna “plains at Blazovice” were extending to see the clashes of both massive cavalry formations. The fight for Santon Hill which created the natural tribune could not be included in the scenario due to a limited number of participants as well as the overall size of the battlefield.

The French army right wing was supposed to play the role of divisions Legrand and Friant from the real battle. Its centre was under the command of Oleg Sokolov a. k. a. marshal Soult and the cavalry reserve under general John Norris a. k. a. Murat 2005. The entire army was commanded by the C.E.N.S. president Ivan Vystrcil. The honorary command took over Mr. Mark Schneider in the role of Emperor Napoleon whom he had interpreted in an excellent way. The Allied army under the command of Libor Fojtu attacked with its left wing the area of “Telnitz-Sokolnitz”. Its 4th Column under David Banks (unfortunately David got sick on Friday and spent the battle in his bed in hotel and Alexander Gapenko took over the command) was to face the “Lion’s jump” of marshal Soult up to “Pratzen Heights”. The Allied cavalry commanded by Alan Larsen was to fight with in its French counterpart in the northern sector. As soon as the Allied centre was be defeated, Soult was to bring its corps in the rear of the Allied left wing blocked by “Legrand” and “Friant” on “Goldbach” and finish the battle.

Was it successful? The battle of Austerlitz 2005 was unique not only by its size but by the amount of authenticity of performed action. Every participant could see only a part of the battle same as commanders back in 1805. It is going to take several days or weeks until “reports” of divisional commanders arrive to their respective HQs. The general answer is – success. The battle started at 1PM with the Allied attack against “Telnitz”. Following impressive pyroeffects (thanks to our head fireworker Ivan Martinek) the French artillery answered and “Legrand” and later “Friant” in clouds of smoke clashed with “Buxhцwdens” columns. Despite all the expectations the French right wing did probably even better than in 1805 because the Allies just approached “Telnitz” instead of breaking in. From the point of view of spectators and participants it was maybe a pity but re-enactment is neither a theatre nor a movie. The front stopped in front of “Telnitz” with the left Allied wing engaged in the fight. This was the moment the commander-in-chief of the Grande Armйe was waiting for!

A thousand of French soldiers of general Sokolov-Soult’s IVth Corps was first hidden for the most of the spectators in the north western sector behind the terrain wave. Now the general received order to charge. His battalions had to climb up the opposite slope. Shoes were sliding on the snow, rows of men waving and breaking apart… Despite that both division “Saint-Hillaire” and “Vandamme” were able to get to the hillside of the “Pratzne Heights” and develop against the “4th Column”. However the on the paper easy-looking manoeuvre was a tough job to do. The IVth Corps was composed of soldiers of many nationalities participating in the battle. There were misunderstandings and mix-ups… similarly like in the real battle. Yet the “Pratzen Heights” were captured and almost to the minute at least a larger part of the IVth Corps raised in the rear of the exhausted Allied left wing. Its outflanking and capitulation followed. Some of the troops of the Austrian army accepted their “defeat” first after being raked with close-range volleys of full balls… snowballs from the 6th Artillery Regiment.

Detailed reports from cavalry commanders are not yet available however due to a presence of more than 200 horses in the northern sector of the battlefield massive clashes took place there. Parts of the division “Vandamme” and Allied 4th Column got engaged there incidentally, too.

The commander-in-chief of the French army “Emperor Napoleon” was riding about his troops who cheered for the “victory” of their arms. Allied troops were neither suffering nor mourning. With the feeling of well done work they lined up for the final defile and dreamt about anniversaries of Aspern, Leipzig or Waterloo where the sides of “winners” and “losers” are going to switch. However on the memorable Saturday December 3rd the winner with big “W” was every single one on the battlefield.

Despite that the tiredness, cold and hunger struck the soldiers of 2005, too although in an incomparable scale to the reality of 1805. Troops lined up for the final defile which took place rather uncoordinated and in different directions. Also this is the reality of re-enactment. Not everything goes as it’s planned. People as well as animals were tired, troops mixed-up, commanders quickly loose orientation… and the time was running. Again there were queues for food and the hectic departure of troops for evening programs followed. Thanks to cooperativeness and abilities of Mr. Seitl from BCTC and all the bus drivers everything was done in a real time.

The auditorium around the battlefield had its limits. Not all spectators were able to see everything, some of them maybe had not seen nothing at all (in addition those who asked for it had been returned the entrance fee in place). Some sectors from which it was possible to watch e.g. cavalry clashes remained almost empty, others – mainly around the tribunes – were full packed with people.

More than 2000 were transported in best order back to the barracks in Brno-Slatina. At 6PM they got on busses again and went for the evening march through Brno city centre. Afterwards they were taken back to barracks again and provided with food and treatment. Some 700 soldiers were taken to Slapanice to enjoy the rich program, march through the town, defile, fireworks and food. Programs in Sokolnice, Ujezd and Zbysov took place successfully already on Friday evening.

With a slight delay and operatively resolved difficulties both the evening march through Brno as well as the program in Slapanice were held. Especially Slapanice did their very best and soldiers from Italy, United Kingdom, France and Germany were welcomed with open arms. For that both the organizers and participants express their big thank you. During the march through Brno city centre, watched by thousands of people, some parts of the French army run in different directions from the short stop from Denisovy sady park. Exhaustion of staff officers and unit commanders as well as of soldiers reached its top after a long day. With a kind help of the Brno city police we were able to gather up lost troops and bring them back to barracks for the well deserved rest. In barracks there were food and drinks prepared for men in more than sufficient quantity. Unfortunately it took a while until another slight organizational blunder with distribution was resolved. For that we feel necessary to apologize to participants and again express our appreciation for their discipline and tolerance.

Saturday night passed calmly, soldiers were having fun, the discomfort of barracks was overrun by the sound of military songs and buzz of thousands of conversations in many different languages. New friendships were established, fresh impressions from the battle exchanged, new common events being planned… In a very periodical way one could certainly hear grumbling on the abovementioned discomfort, day-long cold, queues for food or mistakes of commanders in the battle which had not cost lives this time. Big event, big success, big problems, big satisfaction as well as sometimes big dissatisfaction. However as the groups were leaving on Sunday all the commanders were expressing general happiness with the event despite all the unsaid “but”.

On Sunday the wake-up call was moved half an hour later than on Saturday. At 8:30AM there were just a few troops lining up but at 9AM first busses were already leaving for the Peace Monument. Due to the large number of participants the presence at the piety act was voluntary. Many groups had to leave already on Saturday evening, many on Sunday morning so the “soldiers” could back in their civil job on Monday. Despite that more than 2500 participants went to take part in the piety act. According to expectations the traffic situation on site was very bad. The Pratzen Heights are not dimensioned for so many cars and visitors… Soldiers spent ca. one hour of spare time enjoying themselves exercising, resting or chatting. The lining up for the piety act is not easy even with 500-700 men regularly. This year it evoked a large game of tetris. More and more troops were coming to the Monument and a place had to be found for them. Some of them were in front, some could not see anything. Though they had an opportunity to take part in one of the most successful and most dignifying piety acts in past years. Archbishop of Prague cardinal Miloslav Vlk was there and acclaimed all the present ones who listened to the prayers of both the catholic and orthodox priests. The piety act as a commemoration of the memory of the death and retrieval of the horrors of the war is the very intimate matter of every participant and everyone gets it in a specific way. The fact that the memory of the fallen soldiers and local population decimated by epidemics, starvation and exhaustion on the 200th anniversary of the battle was honoured by such a number of people from around the world is the exceptional value itself.

During the Sunday soldiers were dressing off their uniforms, groups packing up, reimbursements were paid. Words of thanks and appreciation sounded in both directions. From organizers to participants for their discipline, tolerance and great performance in the Saturday’s battle, from participants to organizers for the provided place, time and resources for the realization of their passion. There were many problems as well as some injuries. Certainly every participant could write down a list of miscarried moment against which it was necessary to steel oneself against. However everyone had to expect it. The event of 3600 participants in winter conditions has not its counterpart in the history of the Napoleonic re-enactment. The experience gained from this event will certainly help in preparations of the upcoming bicentennials of the Napoleonic Wars.

In the end of the day we – organizers – are happy with the result because at it seems so far, the major number of participants and visitors are happy, too. Many issues deserve their particular judgement. From live TV transmission, the course of the battle itself to the logistical background. Based on the first feedback from abroad and especially from France we can afford to say that the event was extremely successful.

The organizers once more thank to all the 3558 participants, security service directed by Mr. Koudelka, Transportation Company of the City of Brno and its drivers coordinated by Mr. Seitl, Mr. Valchar, director of the Military accommodation and construction department Brno, good spirit of the Brno-Slatina barracks Mr. Janecka,, catering team of Mr. Sida, battlefield coulisses architect Mr. Vasica and his men, pyrotechnists under Ivan Martinek, event horsemaster Pavel Cechovsky who managed to flow through the event without a single hesitation, and all the stablemen. We also thank to the production assistants from YMCA for cooperativeness and help both in the barracks and on the battlefield. Our special thanks go to Mr. Klaska from Bonagro without whom we would not be able to provide such a background for visitors and clean up everything without their mechanization during current rainy weather. Jarda and Martin Holiks built entire mobile electricity distribution (ca. 4 km) within two days in accordance to all the norms and made it working. Also we appreciate the gratuitous help of Ales Pohl from BVV, a. s. who provided us with lightning cleaning service for the barracks on Thursday and Friday.

Special thanks go to Davay team who directed the production of the entire event: Renata Fabianova, Irma Konesova, Leona Chloubova, Marcela Zavadilova, Jakub Jandora and Lenka Koutna. All of them work also this week liquidating the event in order to call it really finished.

We thank to:

• Towns and communities – members of the Mohyla miru – Austerlitz, o. p. s. and particularly to Zbysov, Sokolnice, Ujezd u Brna, Slapanice, Krenovice and of course Tvarozna for the warm welcome of participants and interesting and successful programs prepared by them
• City of Brno whose mayor gave over the symbolic keys from the city to the commanders of the Grande Armйe on Friday and then hosted the festive defile of 2000 soldiers on Saturday evening. Last but not least Brno helped to provide the accommodation in Slatina barracks administered by the Military Accommodation and Construction Department Brno
• Czech Police and Brno City Police for their efficient assistance by securing the safety and transport fluency of the event.
• Brno information centre and its head Mr. Pavel Galik who along with his team provided all the necessary permissions in the Brno city as well as to Mr. Jonas, Brno city councillor and Mr. Paulczinski who provided their great help, too.
• Rescue service and Fire rescue brigade for their permanent presence and efficient help by the serious injury of one of the participants in Brno-Slatina barracks.
• Ministry of defence and Ministry of transport for their courage by issuing the permission to restrict the traffic on the D1 highway. We hope we have not disappointed them.
• Direction of Roads and Highways and Signex company who had to redesign project of the traffic signs several times and finally they did everything perfectly.
• Roads Direction and Repair Department of the South Moravian Region for their great assistance.

Exceptional thanks go Souht Moravian Region, the general partner of the event who provided a good fundamental with its financial contribution and thus helped to provide a good start as well as the run of the event. With their decision the Regional Council and Regional Parliament representatives proved their dedication to the future of the region.

Last but not least our thanks go to all the sponsors of the Project Austerlitz 2005 whose contributions the event to happen. They are going to receive their credit in a special letter.

Yes, Austerlitz is in Czechia, in Southern Moravia, between Brno and Slavkov u Brna (Austerlitz). It is not only the German name of one town but the name of the entire region of the Austerlitz battlefield.