How the Russian army first took Berlin

Capture of Berlin Soviet troops in 1945 put a victorious point in the Great Patriotic War. The red flag over the Reichstag, even decades later, remains the most striking symbol of Victory. But the Soviet soldiers marching on Berlin were not pioneers. Their ancestors first entered the streets of the capitulated German capital two centuries earlier...

The Seven Years' War, which began in 1756, became the first full-scale European conflict in which Russia was drawn into.

The rapid strengthening of Prussia under the rule of the warlike King Frederick II worried the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and forced her to join the anti-Prussian coalition of Austria and France.

Frederick II, not inclined to diplomacy, called this coalition “an alliance of three women,” referring to Elizabeth, the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and the favorite of the French king, the Marquise de Pompadour.

War with caution

Russia's entry into the war in 1757 was quite cautious and hesitant.

The second reason The reason why Russian military leaders did not seek to force events was the deteriorating health of the empress. It was known that the heir to the throne, Pyotr Fedorovich, was an ardent admirer of the Prussian king and a categorical opponent of the war with him.

Frederick II the Great

The first major battle between the Russians and the Prussians, which took place at Gross-Jägersdorf in 1757, to the great surprise of Frederick II, it ended in victory for the Russian army. This success, however, was offset by the fact that the commander of the Russian army, Field Marshal General Stepan Apraksin, ordered a retreat after the victorious battle.

This step was explained by the news about the serious illness of the empress, and Apraksin was afraid of angering the new emperor, who was about to take the throne.

But Elizaveta Petrovna recovered, Apraksin was removed from his post and sent to prison, where he soon died.

Miracle for the King

The war continued, increasingly turning into a struggle of attrition, which was disadvantageous to Prussia - The country's resources were significantly inferior to those of the enemy, and even the financial support of the allied England could not compensate for this difference.

In August 1759, at the Battle of Kunersdorf, the allied Russian-Austrian forces utterly defeated the army of Frederick II.

Alexander Kotzebue. "Battle of Kunersdorf" (1848)

The king's condition was close to despair.“The truth is, I believe that all is lost. I will not survive the death of my Fatherland. Goodbye forever",- Frederick wrote to his minister.

The road to Berlin was open, but a conflict arose between the Russians and the Austrians, as a result of which the moment to capture the Prussian capital and end the war was missed. Frederick II, taking advantage of the sudden respite, managed to gather a new army and continue the war. He called the Allied delay, which saved him, “the miracle of the House of Brandenburg.”

Throughout 1760, Frederick II managed to resist the superior forces of the Allies, which were hampered by inconsistency. At the Battle of Liegnitz, the Prussians defeated the Austrians.

Failed assault

The French and Austrians, concerned about the situation, called on the Russian army to step up its actions. Berlin was proposed as a target.

The capital of Prussia was not a powerful fortress. Weak walls, turning into a wooden palisade - the Prussian kings did not expect that they would have to fight in their own capital.

Frederick himself was distracted by the fight against Austrian troops in Silesia, where he had excellent chances of success. Under these conditions, at the request of the allies, the Russian army was given a directive to conduct a raid on Berlin.

The 20,000-strong Russian corps of Lieutenant General Zakhar Chernyshev advanced to the Prussian capital with the support of the 17,000-strong Austrian corps of Franz von Lassi.

Count Gottlob Kurt Heinrich von Totleben

The Russian vanguard was commanded by Gottlob Totleben, a born German who lived in Berlin for a long time and dreamed of the sole glory of the conqueror of the Prussian capital.

Totleben's troops arrived to Berlin before the main forces. In Berlin they hesitated as to whether to hold the line, but under the influence of Friedrich Seydlitz, the commander of Friedrich's cavalry, who was undergoing treatment in the city after being wounded, they decided to give battle.

The first assault attempt ended in failure. The fires that started in the city after the shelling by the Russian army were quickly extinguished; of the three attacking columns, only one managed to break through directly to the city, but they also had to retreat due to the desperate resistance of the defenders.

Victory with scandal

Following this, the Prussian corps of Prince Eugene of Württemberg came to the aid of Berlin, which forced Totleben to retreat.

The capital of Prussia rejoiced early - the main forces of the Allies approached Berlin. General Chernyshev began to prepare a decisive assault.

On the evening of September 27, a military council met in Berlin, at which it was decided to surrender the city due to the complete superiority of the enemy. At the same time, the envoys were sent to the ambitious Totleben, believing that it would be easier to come to an agreement with a German than with a Russian or Austrian.

Totleben really went towards the besieged, allowing the capitulated Prussian garrison to leave the city.

At the moment when Totleben entered the city, he met with Lieutenant Colonel Rzhevsky, who arrived to negotiate with the Berliners on the terms of surrender on behalf of General Chernyshev. Totleben told the lieutenant colonel to tell him: he had already taken the city and received symbolic keys from it.

Chernyshev arrived in the city beside himself with rage - Totleben’s initiative, supported, as it later turned out, by a bribe from the Berlin authorities, categorically did not suit him. The general gave the order to begin the pursuit of the departing Prussian troops. The Russian cavalry overtook the units retreating to Spandau and defeated them.

“If Berlin is destined to be busy, then let it be the Russians”

The population of Berlin was horrified by the appearance of the Russians, who were described as absolute savages, but, to the surprise of the townspeople, the soldiers of the Russian army behaved with dignity, without committing atrocities against civilians. But the Austrians, who had personal scores to settle with the Prussians, did not restrain themselves - they robbed houses, passers-by on the streets, and destroyed everything they could reach. It got to the point that Russian patrols had to use weapons to reason with their allies.

The stay of the Russian army in Berlin lasted six days. Frederick II, having learned about the fall of the capital, immediately moved an army from Silesia to help the main city of the country. Chernyshev’s plans did not include a battle with the main forces of the Prussian army - he completed his task of distracting Friedrich. Having collected trophies, the Russian army left the city.

Russians in Berlin. Engraving by Daniel Chodowiecki.

The King of Prussia, having received a report of minimal destruction in the capital, remarked: “Thank you to the Russians, they saved Berlin from the horrors with which the Austrians threatened my capital.” But these words of Friedrich were intended only for his immediate circle. The monarch, who highly valued the power of propaganda, ordered that his subjects be informed about the monstrous atrocities of the Russians in Berlin.

However, not everyone wanted to support this myth. The German scientist Leonid Euler wrote this in a letter to a friend about the Russian raid on the Prussian capital: “We had a visit here which in other circumstances would have been extremely pleasant. However, I always wished that if Berlin were ever destined to be occupied by foreign troops, then let it be the Russians ... "

What is salvation for Frederick is death for Peter

The departure of the Russians from Berlin was a pleasant event for Frederick, but it was not of key importance for the outcome of the war. By the end of 1760, he completely lost the opportunity to qualitatively replenish the army, driving prisoners of war into its ranks, who very often defected to the enemy. Offensive operations the army could not lead, and the king increasingly thought about abdicating the throne.

The Russian army took full control of East Prussia, whose population had already sworn allegiance to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

At this very moment, Frederick II was helped by the “second miracle of the House of Brandenburg” - the death of the Russian Empress. Peter III, who replaced her on the throne, not only immediately made peace with his idol and returned to him all the territories conquered by Russia, but also provided troops for the war with yesterday’s allies.

Peter III

What turned out to be happiness for Frederick cost Peter III himself dearly. The Russian army and, first of all, the guard did not appreciate the broad gesture, considering it offensive. As a result, the coup, soon organized by the emperor’s wife Ekaterina Alekseevna, went off like clockwork. Following this, the deposed emperor died under circumstances that were not fully clarified.

But the Russian army firmly remembered the road to Berlin, laid in 1760, so that it could return whenever necessary.

IT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE

The capture of Berlin was not particularly successful militarily, but had great political resonance. A phrase uttered by the favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Count I.I., quickly spread throughout all European capitals. Shuvalov: “You can’t reach St. Petersburg from Berlin, but you can always get from St. Petersburg to Berlin.”

COURSE OF EVENTS

The dynastic contradictions of European courts in the 18th century resulted in a bloody and long war “for the Austrian succession” of 1740-1748. Military fortune was on the side of the Prussian king Frederick II, who managed not only to expand his possessions, taking away the rich province of Silesia from Austria, but also to increase the foreign policy weight of Prussia, turning it into the most powerful Central European power. However, this state of affairs could not suit other European countries, and especially Austria, which was then the leader of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Frederick II that the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and the Viennese court would strive to restore not only the integrity of their state, but also the prestige of the state.

Confrontation between two German states in Central Europe led to the emergence of two powerful blocs: Austria and France opposed the coalition of England and Prussia. In 1756, the Seven Years' War began. The decision to join Russia in the anti-Prussian coalition was made by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna in 1757, since due to numerous defeats of the Austrians there was a threat of taking Vienna, and the excessive strengthening of Prussia was in conflict with the foreign policy course of the Russian court. Russia also feared for the position of its newly annexed Baltic possessions.

Russia acted successfully in the Seven Years' War, more successfully than all other parties, and won brilliant victories in key battles. But they did not take advantage of their fruits - in any case, Russia did not receive territorial acquisitions. The latter arose from internal court circumstances.

At the end of the 1750s. Empress Elizabeth was often ill. They feared for her life. Elizabeth's heir was her nephew, the son of Anna's eldest daughter - Grand Duke Petr Fedorovich. Before converting to Orthodoxy, his name was Karl Peter Ulrich. Almost immediately after birth, he lost his mother, was left without a father at a young age and took over his father’s Holstein throne. Prince Karl Peter Ulrich was the grandson of Peter I and the great-nephew of the Swedish king Charles XII. At one time he was being prepared to become the heir to the Swedish throne.

They raised the young Holstein Duke in an extremely mediocre manner. The main pedagogical tool was the rod. This had a negative impact on the boy, whose abilities were believed to be naturally limited. When the 13-year-old Holstein prince was sent to St. Petersburg in 1742, he made a depressing impression on everyone with his backwardness, bad manners and contempt for Russia. The ideal of Grand Duke Peter was Frederick II. As Duke of Holstein, Peter was a vassal of Frederick II. Many feared that he would become a "vassal" of the Prussian king, taking the Russian throne.

The courtiers and ministers knew that if Peter III came to the throne, Russia would immediately end the war as part of the anti-Prussian coalition. But the reigning Elizabeth demanded victories over Frederick. As a result, the military leaders sought to inflict defeats on the Prussians, but “not fatally.”

In the first major battle between Prussian and Russian troops, which took place on August 19, 1757 near the village of Gross-Jägersdorf, our army was commanded by S.F. Apraksin. He defeated the Prussians, but did not pursue them. On the contrary, he withdrew himself, which allowed Frederick II to put his army in order and move it against the French.

Elizabeth, having recovered from another illness, removed Apraksin. His place was taken by V.V. Fermor. In 1758, the Russians captured the capital of East Prussia, Königsberg. Then followed a bloody battle near the village of Zorndorf, both sides suffered heavy losses, but did not defeat each other, although each side declared its “victory”.

In 1759, headed Russian troops in Prussia P.S. stood up. Saltykov. On August 12, 1759, the Battle of Kunersdorf took place, which became the crown of Russian victories in the Seven Years' War. Under Saltykov, 41,000 Russian soldiers, 5,200 Kalmyk cavalry and 18,500 Austrians fought. The Prussian troops were commanded by Frederick II himself, with 48,000 men in the ranks.

The battle began at 9 o'clock in the morning, when Prussian artillery dealt a crushing blow to the batteries of Russian artillerymen. Most of the artillerymen died under grapeshot, some did not even have time to fire a single volley. By 11 o'clock in the afternoon, Frederick realized that the left flank of the Russian-Austrian troops was extremely weakly fortified, and attacked it with superior forces. Saltykov decides to retreat, and the army, maintaining battle order, retreats. At 6 o'clock in the evening, the Prussians captured all the Allied artillery - 180 guns, of which 16 were immediately sent to Berlin as war trophies. Frederick celebrated his victory.

However, Russian troops continued to hold two strategic heights: Spitzberg and Judenberg. An attempt to capture these points with the help of cavalry failed: the inconvenient terrain of the area did not allow Frederick's cavalry to turn around, and it all died under a hail of grapeshot and bullets. A horse was killed near Frederick, but the commander himself miraculously escaped. Frederick's last reserve, the life cuirassiers, was thrown into the Russian positions, but the Chuguev Kalmyks not only stopped this attack, but also captured the cuirassier commander.

Realizing that Frederick's reserves were depleted, Saltykov gave the order for a general offensive, which plunged the Prussians into panic. Trying to escape, the soldiers crowded onto the bridge over the Oder River, many drowned. Frederick himself admitted that the defeat of his army was complete: out of 48 thousand Prussians, only 3 thousand were in the ranks after the battle, and the guns captured at the first stage of the battle were recaptured. Frederick’s despair is best shown in one of his letters: “From an army of 48,000, at this moment I don’t have even 3,000 left. Everything is running, and I no longer have power over the army. In Berlin they will do well if they think about their safety. A cruel misfortune, I will not survive it. The consequences of the battle will be even worse than the battle itself: I have no more means, and to tell the truth, I consider everything lost. I will not survive the loss of my fatherland."

One of the trophies of Saltykov’s army was the famous cocked hat of Frederick II, which is still kept in the museum in St. Petersburg. Frederick II himself almost became a prisoner of the Cossacks.

The victory at Kunersdorf allowed Russian troops to occupy Berlin. Prussia's forces were so weakened that Frederick could continue the war only with the support of his allies. In the campaign of 1760, Saltykov expected to capture Danzig, Kolberg and Pomerania, and from there proceed to capture Berlin. The commander’s plans were realized only partly due to inconsistency in actions with the Austrians. In addition, the commander-in-chief himself fell dangerously ill at the end of August and was forced to surrender command to Fermor, who was replaced by Elizabeth Petrovna’s favorite A.B., who arrived at the beginning of October. Buturlin.

In turn, the building Z.G. Chernyshev with the cavalry of G. Totleben and the Cossacks made a campaign to the capital of Prussia. On September 28, 1760, advancing Russian troops entered capitulated Berlin. (It is curious that when in February 1813, pursuing the remnants of Napoleon’s army, the Russians occupied Berlin for the second time, Chernyshev was again at the head of the army - but not Zakhar Grigorievich, but Alexander Ivanovich). The trophies of the Russian army were one and a half hundred guns, 18 thousand firearms, and almost two million thalers of indemnity were received. 4.5 thousand people in prison gained freedom German captivity Austrians, Germans and Swedes.

After staying in the city for four days, the Russian troops abandoned it. Frederick II and his Great Prussia stood on the brink of destruction. Building P.A. Rumyantsev took the Kolberg fortress... At this decisive moment, the Russian Empress Elizabeth died. Peter III, who ascended the throne, stopped the war with Frederick, began to offer help to Prussia and, of course, broke the anti-Prussian alliance with Austria.

Has any of those born in the light heard,
So that the triumphant people
Surrendered into the hands of the vanquished?
Oh, shame! Oh, strange turn!

So, M.V. responded bitterly. Lomonosov about events Seven Years' War. Such an illogical end to the Prussian campaign and the brilliant victories of the Russian army did not bring Russia any territorial gains. But the victories of Russian soldiers were not in vain - the authority of Russia as a powerful military power increased.

Note that this war became a combat school for the outstanding Russian commander Rumyantsev. He first showed himself at Gross-Jägersdorf, when, leading the vanguard infantry, he fought his way through the thicket of the forest and hit the discouraged Prussians with bayonets, which decided the outcome of the battle.

How the Russian army first took Berlin

The capture of Berlin by Soviet troops in 1945 marked the victory point in the Great Patriotic War. The red flag over the Reichstag, even decades later, remains the most striking symbol of Victory. But the Soviet soldiers marching on Berlin were not pioneers. Their ancestors first entered the streets of the capitulated German capital two centuries earlier...

The Seven Years' War, which began in 1756, became the first full-scale European conflict in which Russia was drawn into.

Frederick II, not inclined to diplomacy, called this coalition “the alliance of three women,” referring to Elizabeth, the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and the favorite of the French king, the Marquise de Pompadour.

War with caution

Russia's entry into the war in 1757 was quite cautious and hesitant.

Frederick II the Great

This step was explained by the news about the serious illness of the empress, and Apraksin was afraid of angering the new emperor, who was about to take the throne.

But Elizaveta Petrovna recovered, Apraksin was removed from his post and sent to prison, where he soon died.

Miracle for the King

In August 1759, at the Battle of Kunersdorf, the allied Russian-Austrian forces utterly defeated the army of Frederick II.

Alexander Kotzebue. "Battle of Kunersdorf" (1848)

The king's condition was close to despair.“The truth is, I believe that all is lost. I will not survive the death of my Fatherland. Goodbye forever",- Frederick wrote to his minister.

Throughout 1760, Frederick II managed to resist the superior forces of the Allies, which were hampered by inconsistency. At the Battle of Liegnitz, the Prussians defeated the Austrians.

Failed assault

The French and Austrians, concerned about the situation, called on the Russian army to step up its actions. Berlin was proposed as a target.

The capital of Prussia was not a powerful fortress. Weak walls, turning into a wooden palisade - the Prussian kings did not expect that they would have to fight in their own capital.

The 20,000-strong Russian corps of Lieutenant General Zakhar Chernyshev advanced to the Prussian capital with the support of the 17,000-strong Austrian corps of Franz von Lassi.

Count Gottlob Kurt Heinrich von Totleben

The Russian vanguard was commanded by Gottlob Totleben, a born German who lived in Berlin for a long time and dreamed of the sole glory of the conqueror of the Prussian capital.

Victory with scandal

Following this, the Prussian corps of Prince Eugene of Württemberg came to the aid of Berlin, which forced Totleben to retreat.

The capital of Prussia rejoiced early - the main forces of the Allies approached Berlin. General Chernyshev began to prepare a decisive assault.

Totleben really went towards the besieged, allowing the capitulated Prussian garrison to leave the city.

“If Berlin is destined to be busy, then let it be the Russians”

Russians in Berlin. Engraving by Daniel Chodowiecki.

What is salvation for Frederick is death for Peter

The departure of the Russians from Berlin was a pleasant event for Frederick, but it was not of key importance for the outcome of the war. By the end of 1760, he completely lost the opportunity to qualitatively replenish the army, driving prisoners of war into its ranks, who very often defected to the enemy. The army could not conduct offensive operations, and the king increasingly thought about abdicating the throne.

The Russian army took full control of East Prussia, whose population had already sworn allegiance to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

Peter III

But the Russian army firmly remembered the road to Berlin, laid in 1760, so that it could return whenever necessary.

Everyone remembers the sacramental phrase of Ivan the Terrible from the comedy film: “Kazan - he took, Astrakhan - he took!” In fact, starting from the 16th century, the Moscow state began to declare itself with loud military victories. And at the same time, it was by no means limited to successes in the eastern lands. Very soon the tread of Russian regiments began to sound in Europe. Which European capitals witnessed the victories of Russian weapons?

Baltics

The Northern War ended with the victory of Russia and allowed Peter I to annex the lands of the Baltic states to the possessions of the Russian crown. In 1710, after a long siege, Riga was taken, and then Revel (Tallinn). At the same time, Russian troops captured the then capital of Finland, Abo.

Stockholm

For the first time, Russian troops appeared in the area of the Swedish capital during the Northern War. In 1719, the Russian fleet carried out landings and raids on the suburbs of Stockholm. The next time Stockholm saw the Russian flag was during Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809. The Swedish capital was taken as a result of a unique operation - a forced march across the frozen sea. The army under the command of Bagration covered 250 kilometers on ice, on foot, in a snowstorm. This required five night marches.

The Swedes were confident that they were not in danger, because Russia was separated from them by the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. As a result, when Russian troops appeared, real panic began in the Swedish capital. This war finally ended all disputes between Russia and Sweden and forever removed Sweden from among the leading European powers. At the same time, the Russians occupied Turku, the then capital of Finland, and Finland became part of Russian Empire.

Berlin

The Russians took the capital of Prussia and then Germany twice. The first time was in 1760, during the Seven Years' War. The city was taken after a vigorous raid by combined Russian-Austrian troops. Each of the allies, understandably, was in a hurry to get ahead of the other, since the laurels of the winner would go to the one who managed to come first. The Russian army turned out to be more agile.

Berlin was surrendered practically without any resistance. The residents of Berlin froze in horror, expecting the appearance of the “Russian barbarians,” however, as it soon became clear, they should have been wary of the Austrians, who had long-standing scores to settle with the Prussians.

Austrian troops committed robbery and pogroms in Berlin, so the Russians had to reason with them using weapons. It is said that Frederick the Great, upon learning that the destruction in Berlin was minimal, said: “Thank you to the Russians, they saved Berlin from the horrors with which the Austrians threatened my capital!” However, official propaganda, at the behest of the same Frederick, did not skimp on descriptions of the horrors that the “Russian savages” committed. Berlin was captured for the second time in the spring of 1945, and this ended the most bloody war in the history of Russia.

Bucharest

Russian troops occupied the capital of Romania during Russian-Turkish war 1806-1812. The Sultan tried to recapture the city, but the Russian army, numbering less than five thousand bayonets, opposed the thirteen thousand-strong Turkish corps and completely defeated it. In this battle, the Turks lost more than 3 thousand, and the Russians - 300 people.

The Turkish army retreated beyond the Danube, and the Sultan was forced to leave Bucharest. Our troops took Bucharest in 1944, during the Iasi-Chisinau operation, which is recognized as one of the most successful and effective military operations of the Second World War. An uprising against the fascist regime began in Bucharest, Soviet troops supported the rebels, and were greeted on the streets of Bucharest with flowers and general rejoicing.

Belgrade

Belgrade was first taken by Russian troops during the same Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. An uprising against the Ottoman Empire broke out in Serbia, supported by the Russians. Belgrade was taken, our troops were enthusiastically greeted, and Serbia came under Russian protectorate. Subsequently, Serbia had to be liberated from the Turks once again, since the peace terms were violated Ottoman Empire, and with the connivance of European states, the Turks again began to oppress Christians. Our troops entered the streets of Belgrade as liberators in 1944.

In 1798, Russia, as part of an anti-French coalition, began to fight Napoleon, who had seized the lands of Italy. General Ushakov landed near Naples, and taking this city, moved towards Rome, where the French garrison was located. The French hastily retreated. On October 11, 1799, Russian troops entered the " the eternal City" This is how Lieutenant Balabin wrote to Ushakov about this: “Yesterday, with our small corps, we entered the city of Rome.

The delight with which the residents greeted us brings the greatest honor and glory to the Russians. From the very gates of St. John to the soldiers' apartments, both sides of the streets were dotted with inhabitants of both sexes. Our troops could even pass through with difficulty.

"Vivat Pavlo Primo! Viva Moskovito!” - was proclaimed everywhere with applause. The joy of the Romans is explained by the fact that by the time the Russians arrived, bandits and marauders had already begun to rule the city. The appearance of disciplined Russian troops saved Rome from real plunder.

Warsaw

This European capital The Russians took, perhaps, most often. 1794 There was an uprising in Poland, and Suvorov was sent to suppress it. Warsaw was taken, and the assault was accompanied by the notorious “Prague Massacre” (Prague is the name of a suburb of Warsaw). The cruelty of Russian soldiers towards civilian population, although they took place, were nevertheless greatly exaggerated.

The next time Warsaw was taken was in 1831, also during a military campaign to suppress the uprising. The battle for the city was very fierce, both sides showed miracles of courage. Finally, our troops took Warsaw in 1944. The assault on the city was also preceded by an uprising, although this time the Poles rebelled not against the Russians, but against the Germans. Warsaw was liberated and saved from destruction by the Nazis.

Sofia

Our troops also had to fight for this city more than once. Sofia was first occupied by the Russians in 1878, during the Russo-Turkish War. Liberation ancient capital Bulgaria from the Turks was preceded by fierce fighting in the Balkans.

When the Russians entered Sofia, they were enthusiastically greeted by the city's residents. This is how the St. Petersburg newspapers wrote about it: “Our troops, with music, songs and waving banners, entered Sofia with the general rejoicing of the people.” In 1944, Sofia was liberated by Soviet troops from the Nazis, and the “Russian brothers” were again greeted with flowers and tears of joy.

Amsterdam

This city was liberated by the Russians from the French garrison during the foreign campaign of the Russian army of 1813-15. The Dutch began an uprising against the Napoleonic occupation of the country and were supported by Cossack units commanded by none other than General Benckendorff. The Cossacks made such a strong impression on the residents of Amsterdam that in memory of the liberation of their city from Napoleon they celebrated for a long time special holiday- Cossack Day.

Paris

The capture of Paris was a brilliant conclusion to the foreign campaign. The Parisians did not at all perceive the Russians as liberators, and in fear they expected the appearance of barbarian hordes, terrible bearded Cossacks and Kalmyks. However, very soon fear gave way to curiosity, and then sincere sympathy. The rank and file behaved very disciplined in Paris, and the officers all spoke French and were very gallant and educated people.

Cossacks quickly became fashionable in Paris; whole groups walked around to watch them bathe themselves and bathe their horses in the Seine. Officers were invited to the most fashionable Parisian salons. They say that Alexander I, having visited the Louvre, was very surprised not to see some of the paintings. They explained to him that in anticipation of the arrival of the “terrible Russians,” the evacuation of works of art had begun. The Emperor just shrugged his shoulders. And when the French set out to demolish the statue of Napoleon, the Russian Tsar ordered armed guards to be assigned to the monument. So, who protected the heritage of France from vandalism is still a question.

How many times did Russian troops take Berlin? and got the best answer

Answer from REW.MOY.SU[newbie]
Seven Years' War 1756-63.
Report of General Z. G. Chernyshev
to the Empress about the occupation of Berlin by Russian troops (Commander-in-Chief Saltykov)
September 28, 1760
With the transition of the Russian army to its western border The direct liberation of the peoples of Europe began. In March 1813, Russian troops were stationed in Berlin, Dresden and other cities, occupying German territory east of the Elbe. The rapid advance of the Russians led to the collapse of the Napoleonic coalition.
Russian troops took Berlin by storm in 1945.
On the morning of June 17, many Berlin workers followed the call for a general strike. They formed columns and marched from their own companies and construction sites to the shopping center of East Berlin, where they put forward their political demands. The workers demanded free elections, the admission of Western parties to elections, and the reunification of Germany. The public number of demonstrators reached an impressive number of 100 thousand people. In other cities the strike was no less violent than in Berlin. In Dresden, Görlitz, Magdeburg and in some other places, armed clashes took place, first with the people's militia, and then with the Russians military units. In particular, in Dresden, a similar development of events was caused by the fact that criminals who had served their sentences were released from prisons, many of whom immediately joined the more aggressive part of the demonstrators. In Berlin, the situation became heated by the fact that not a single representative of the East German government came to the protesters, shifting the difficult burden of dispersing the demonstration onto Russian troops and police. Meanwhile, certain pre-formed groups began storming party and government buildings and state trade companies. In some places, excited people began to tear down Russian and national national flags. Due to the sharp escalation of the situation, Russian tanks from the 12th Tank and 1st Mechanized Divisions appeared on the streets of the German capital. The Group of Russian Occupation Forces, which since May 26, 1953 was headed by Colonel General A. Grechko, was once again at the forefront of the conflict.