The Presidential Library: New acquisitions

The web site includes materials on Russian military history from the collection of the Presidential Library.

The fundamental work “The History of the Russian army and the navy” was released in Moscow in 1911-1913 in 15 volumes edited by the leading specialists in the military and seamanship: Colonel of General Staff of A. S. Grishensky and V. P. Nicholsky and Professor of the Naval Academy Colonel N. L. Klado. A sumptuously illustrated “History of Russian army and the navy”, much higher than the previous editions of this kind, covers the history of Russian military affairs from the inception of the Russian state until 1910. A particular attention is paid to the most important and remarkable episodes in Russian military history, given a detailed description of the organization, life, weapons and combat training of the Russian troops.

The work involves prominent military figures of the time: A. G. Elchaninov, P. M. Andrianov, A. K. Bayov, D. A. Nazarov , N. P. Mihnevich , N. A. Orlov, M. I. Shishkevich, N. D. Kallistov, A. I. Lebedev, N. V. Novikov, K. I. Druzhinin, P. A. Nive, E. I. Arens, D. N. Logofet, A. D. Shemansky, N. N. Yanushkevich, V. P. Nicholsky, S. P. Mikheyev, G. D. Romanovsky, A. N. Vinogradsky, A. A. Svechin, A. M. Zaionchkovsky and etc.

The first edition of the publication includes essays on the history of military art and Russian army before Peter the Great, and during his reign.

The second edition covers the military history of Russia in the successor states of Peter I: Anna Ivanovna, Elizabeth Petrovna, Catherine II, and tells about the life and work of the great general A. V.  Suvorov.

The third edition focuses on military affairs in the era of Emperor Paul I, the Napoleonic wars and the great Patriotic War of 1812, including the Battle of Borodino.

The fourth edition describes the Patriotic War of 1812 since the retreat to Moscow, Kutuzov and the military council at Fili; about the war for the liberation of Germany in 1813 and the overthrow of Napoleon in 1814.

The fifth edition focuses on Russian - Swedish (1700-1721, 1741-1743, 1788-1790, 1808-1809) and Russian-Turkish (1806-1812, 1828-1829) wars. It is highlighted the inner life and the state of the Russian army by the end of the reign of Emperor Alexander I.

The sixth edition tells of the conquest of the Caucasus in the XVIII-XIX centuries, on the Hungarian campaign in 1849 and two Polish uprisings of 1831 and 1863.

The seventh edition tells of the importance of maritime and naval forces to Russia before Peter the Great, the emperor’s desire to leave the southern and northern seas, as well as the organization and performance of the fleet under Peter I.

The eighth edition highlights the history of the Russian Navy under the successors of Peter the Great in 1725-1761; it is considered the importance of the Navy in connection with the national policy of Russia in the reign of Catherine II and measures for the revival of Russian naval forces. There is the story about Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, 1787-1791 and the Russia -Swedish war of 1788-1790 years.

The ninth edition is dedicated to the history of the Russian fleet during the reign of Emperor Paul I, Alexander I and Nicholas I.

The tenth edition describes the steps of land and sea forces in the Crimean War of 1853-1856 and focuses on strategic tasks of the Russian fleet during the reign of Nicholas I.

The eleventh edition covers the history of military affairs in Russia in the 50’s and 70’s of the XIX century, as well as developments in the Balkan and Asian theaters of war during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.

The twelfth edition is devoted to the history of the Russian fleet during the reign of Emperor Alexander II (from the Treaty of Paris in 1856 to the end of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878). Most of the issue is devoted to campaigns in Central Asia.

The thirteenth edition is about the introduction of universally conscription in 1874, the most important reform in the military during the reign of Emperor Alexander III, military affairs in Russia in the first decade of the reign of Emperor Nicholas II; Chinese expedition of 1899-1900 and the first stage of the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905 (actions on the Kwantung Peninsula, the defense of the fortress of Port Arthur).

The Fourteenth edition describes the military and political situation on the eve of Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905 and on the war in Manchuria.

The fifteenth edition is dedicated to the events of the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905, including the naval battle of Tsushima.

The preparation of new materials continues.