The town of Pultusk is located ca. 60 km north of Warsaw along the River Narew banks. In December 1806 the town saw the encounter of the French and Russian army during the so-called Polish Campaign of the Grande Armée. There the significantly weaker corps of marshal Lannes attacked the general Benningsen’s army of some 40.000 men during which time neither of the two opponents had information about the enemy’s strength. The immense risk caused by the insufficient information and admirable persistence performed by the French and the hesitancy of the Russian commander-in-chief despite his superiority in numbers finally resulted in the more or less drawn battle. However, as the stronger Russian army retreated, the French army gained the strategic victory.

This year’s event commemorating the bicentennial of this happening on the historic battlefield was so far the largest event of its kind in Poland and Team Austerlitz used all its eight-years-long experience from organizing re-enactment events there. It was necessary to adapt the original scenario concept as well as the event program, created by Oleg Sokolov, director of the foundation Empire of History, to the different local conditions.  Extremely difficult was the logistical part of the production.

On Thursday July 6th first from more than a thousand participants from all around Europe started to arrive. Except local Polish groups the largest contingents delivered Russians, Byelorussians, Czechs, and Ukrainians, less numerous groups came from France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain or Hungary. Both camps started to grow on the opposite sides of the battlefield dominated by the impressive scenography of the old Pultusk, including fortifications, cottages, a bridge and other decorations.

The following day saw the maneuvers of both armies. During the morning and afternoon they were training their cooperation in large formations. The training was attended by some 150 horsemen, too. Despite extremely hot weather lasting all day long, all men did well and delivered great disciplined performance.

On Saturday morning both complete armies including 50 horses set off for a two-hours-long move to Warsaw. There at noon started the defile through the Cracovia Suburb until the Chateau Square. The march through the main Warsaw boulevard was the commemoration of the Russian retreat from the Polish capital in front of the pressing Grande Armée in November 1806. While the Russian army on the head marched to the Old Town fortification, the French occupied whole the Chateau Square where Oleg Sokolov portraying Marshal Murat took over symbolic keys from the city. All soldiers then had couple spare hours to see the historic part of Warsaw. Later on, the small part of groups attended the festive opening of the exhibition of napoleonic items from the collection of the Foundation Empire of History in premises of the Grand Theatre.

The Sunday’s morning saw preparations for the upcoming battle which started right at the midday. More than 10.000 spectators watched three massive attacks of closed French battalions against Russian positions strengthened by several artillery fleches in front of Pultusk coulisses, in the background cavalry charges were taking place. French charges were followed by effective pyrotechnics simulating explosions of cannonballs. Russians were able to repulse all three attacks with strain and then – in accordance with historic events – fell back. Units of both armies then received deserved applause from spectators during the final parade. For their performance one must raise the hat in front of all members of performing re-enactment groups as the temperature in the sun was reaching 40°C and every movement in the cloth uniforms with all the equipment on shoulders or in the saddle meant spilling of liters of sweat.

Providing the production background brought the difficult task to the Project Austerlitz Team. From our point of view as well as from first reactions we can consider it as well done. The realization of the event was the result of work of different institutions, private companies as well as many individuals. Particularly we would like to thank to following ones:

A very exceptional thanks go to the production company Jacobsony of Kasia and Kuba Jacobson and all their team members.