Austerlitz 2005 - 200th annyversary - reconstruction battle

[Beagle]

This battle occured on 3rd December 2005. Around 4000 re-enactors from whole world participated in this reconstruction battle. Here's offical info:

The scope of this year's commemorative events makes them one of the largest events of the Napoleonic period in the world ever. The main battle reconstruction on the fields under the Santon Hill in Tvarozna (ca. 15 km east of Brno) will be attended by ca. 4.000 Napoleonic re-enactors from around the world, including some 100 horsemen, representing the historical armies of France, Russia and Austria. Next to the traditionally strongest Czech presence (ca. 20%), represented will be also Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Poland, Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldavia, Spain, Malta, Norway, Sweden, USA, Canada and Australia. It is expected that the battle reconstruction on Saturday December 3rd at 1 PM will be viewed by some 30.000 home and foreign spectators. In the immediate future a contract regarding the live TV broadcast into satellite networks will be signed. After the re-enactments spectators will watch the multimedia show Symphony Austerlitz 1805 for the Central European Percussion Ensemble DAMA DAMA, a battery of cannons, group of fusiliers and fires by authors Dan Dlouhy and Ivan Martinek. In the evening at 19:30 the National Theatre in Brno will stage the festive performance of the opera War and Peace by Sergei Prokofiev (libretto by S. Mendelsonova) after the famous novel of the same name by L. N. Tolstoi directed by Mykhola Tretiak. During the Saturday night the communities accross the Austerlitz battlefield will see different festive marches, fireworks and other supporting events. The Comemmorative events will culminate on Sunday December 4th 2005 at 12:00 with the piety act at the Peace Monument on Pratzen Heights.
Here's link to the video:
http://ct1streaming.visual.cz/new/asx/high/Slavkov-031205.asx
Copy/paste it to your windows media player(or any other player that supports streaming)

Just small info, video is long around 2 hours in low quality, but, not all of it is just battle so scroll down to the time around 1:15:00, where interesting scenes start.


Some pictures:
http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/1ab3d703c7c0fe9034b69820f78cb246/DSC_9439.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/d7a50767e462799dd9c5e3ff400c91fa/DSC_9442.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/604e0af2f81296e1956f9f994475f618/DSC_9452.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/1f4dcf236dfbb92ec9300be20974dca0/DSC_9465.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/f5372917ca021542d0fbfbb69a60517b/DSC_9471.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/8ef2998c3081e3af6ef13906c05a3f1b/DSC_9472.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/8937a36b59978e9e0e3405707c2326ca/DSC_9479.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/a59fd078edab3a718b31127c5ff31267/DSC_9501.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/ee4fef95d07ed871feb5f5b9fe7c8749/DSC_9505.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/312fa48802792e4b4c1e934117543a54/DSC_9515.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/6b1f0774d317cfe2c5c9c8a2a47b64ec/DSC_9526.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/388047ec3be49998d6aee1f2b650e776/DSC_9532.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/2294db3827823cab7fe41b8a9934caa0/DSC_9538.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/94cab1522f2e27503f5b38aeb52d6f26/DSC_9547.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/f7e49221b3002df033e140fb8c567334/DSC_9559.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/5b533e562f96065a5afb70801f0d05c1/DSC_9578.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/8ffb64c3fe5b49b29b7a042ad3d15f4f/DSC_9585.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/239419205bea606d0371af83e1368e32/DSC_9606.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/4c8056d2ef32d01187159f76abc604dd/DSC_9629.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/db5f577575f68af9f5e6c0b012737def/DSC_9668.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/d6e62415da1921c0b1aa9e277fb5acc6/DSC_9676.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/33fbf866e38c0fac87b5a10759f4029d/DSC_9689.JPG

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/8141a9d7644ac1dd530f01e19e7e04d0/DSC_9696a.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/463055ece16bfacc16fd152bc550f66d/DSC_9728.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/864ad99da765840d1dc81a0ac04ca4b6/DSC_9736.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/bccd94387cc7f1444461be4ca4e82d5c/DSC_9745.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/12f2aee32b3524d42fc7cfba39872a6b/DSC_9761.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/73d976c3c99f4bb052055c84b89ebbac/DSC_9772.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/51318df0236fd5a4c0de0615f1552e8c/DSC_9785.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/f6f8f15171926d4527fc1d46969c0f9e/DSC_9788.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/674347c61b4208ef2f2ba269c33e2fa4/DSC_9789.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/066e57e89c93573f851f025ab46f0971/DSC_9926.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/bc6a9d953a5487e7c1c4315dd3f80769/DSC_9924.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/3d9c1630092d7192641a5c194d81e249/DSC_9954.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/370053837dbb4b98db333fa12d6144e2/DSC_9960.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/fa46f5018be557cec81786ff4b27a714/DSC_9993.jpg

http://www.austerlitz2005.com/image.php/bf57ae96b05eb58eeb2357e40388d994/DSC_9996.jpg

Cheers ;)

[Kicius]

God, why I haven't been there :-(

Thank you Beagle. But on the other hand, you made me sad. ;-)

[He219]

Who were the good guys?
p-)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/pix/06f2828c.jpg

[panzerjager]

Who were the good guys?
p-)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/pix/06f2828c.jpg

Austrian Lancers.

[wholagun]

Who were the good guys?
p-)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/pix/06f2828c.jpg

the hats loos Polish. Could be Polish Napoleonic Lancers

[wholagun]

Austrian Lancers.

well then.......:-*$

[wholagun]

http://www.tomorrownight.com/orb/gal4/images/polish%20lancers%201815_jpg.jpghttp://www.demisoldepress.com/images/rembows2.jpg

[Kicius]

Sorry Wholagun - there were no Polish lancers in the Battle of Austerlitz.

:-(

The regiment mentioned in the picture to the right was created in 1807, so i think that there is quite significant probability that it didn't take part in the battle ;-)

[Sgt Kanderer]

They are Austrian Uhlan from Merveld!

The shapska (their hat) was very common at this period in various regiments, Austrian Uhlans, polish lancers from the Imperial Guard & the line (Vistula lancers), Russian guard Uhlans, .....

[Scipio vs Dumbo]

Where the troops back then required to have there uniforms that clean?

[kayaker]

Any high res of the horses?

[Beagle]

God, why I haven't been there :-(

Thank you Beagle. But on the other hand, you made me sad. ;-)
Hehe :) Well, I ask myself that question also ;) But the good thing is that I have relatives a little further north so I'll definetly visit that event some day...


Any high res of the horses? No, I've searched for other sources from this event but couldn't find any... :(

[Avary]

Great post Beagle. Lots of the uniforms are anachronic though.

[kayaker]

Beagle,
thanks for the efoort though!! Got some browie points.

[Count Lippe]

Great post Beagle. Lots of the uniforms are anachronic though.

Beats those ****ty ass uniforms of today! p-)

[Russianpatriot]

Thx for pics.

[Rantanplan]

the hats loos Polish. Could be Polish Napoleonic Lancers


The Chapka was the standart headwear for most Lancer regiments of this Time (germans whore it even until WW2). But look at the Flag. This guys fought for the Austrian Emperor.

[larryzou]

pratty good photos thinks.

[wholagun]

The Chapka was the standart headwear for most Lancer regiments of this Time (germans whore it even until WW2). But look at the Flag. This guys thought for the Austrian Emperor.

Germans!?!? I never knew that - you gotta a pic Im curious.
The Poles still use the chapka (Polish word for hat) as the army hat.

[ond26]

Germans!?!? I never knew that - you gotta a pic Im curious.
The Poles still use the chapka (Polish word for hat) as the army hat.

http://www.nls.uk/experiencesofwar/big-img/pic-fighting-large-2a.jpg
A German 'uhlan' in his distinctive headgear. year 1914

[ond26]

http://www.falleneagle.com/images/thumbnail1027.jpg
http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/figures_kits_folder/Fusiler_folder/Fusilier-Images/Germans/GWG3.jpg
http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/newmetal_folder/fusilier_folder/1.jpg
http://www.postcardman.net/137049.jpg
http://www.ima-usa.com/images/G153.gif
http://dlezin.free.fr/images/armees_etrangeres/Allemagne_Uhlan_Regiment_17_Saxon_Imperial_German_Army.jpg
http://www.warelics.com/images/redUhlanF.jpg
http://www.warelics.com/images/redUhlanR.jpg

Uhlan units related to light cavalry. They were traditionally armed with long lances and carbines. Their primary tasks were to gather intelligence about the enemy, organize and carry out raiding on the enemy rear and to support the infantry in large-scale offensive operations.

At the beginning of the War the German army totaled 14 Prussian, 2 Bavarian, 3 Saxon and 2 Wurtenberg uhlan regiments. They proved their abilities of mobile units, which could easily be brought to the crucial areas of the front, during the East-Prussian operation. Soon uhlans as well as the other mounted troops had to abandon their horses and armed with rifles, get into the trenches. Those who didn’t want to put up with it and still missed the romance of cavalry attacks got behind the plane controls. As only the sky could allow for any nobility that was left. One of such German aces was a former uhlan and the best pilot of the First World War, baron Manfred von Richthofen. He recorded 80 kills among which were some renowned pilots.

[ond26]

Uhlan (also spelled "Ulan", Polish: Ułan) were originally Polish cavalry soldiers armed with lances. These troops were light cavalry, and wore the national dress and czapka (or lancer cap). They were introduced into the Prussian service in 1740, but failed to distinguish themselves in the First Silesian War, and it was only after the treaty of Tilsit (1807) that Ulan regiments were again formed in the Prussian army.

In the Austrian army a "Uhlan-pulk " of Poles was formed in 1784 and ordinary Uhlan regiments of Austrian cavalry in 1791.

Manfred von Richthofen was in an Uhlan regiment from 1911 to 1915.

http://4imgs.com/306/x/kop19_FULL.jpg

Cap used by officers of 17rd Corp of Polish-Lituanian Uhlans Regiment in 1812 (with Polish Coat-of-Arms "an Eagle" in the front). This real size cap was made based on an original from Polish National Military Museum in Warsaw.

http://www.borodino1812.tin-figures.com/images/uhlan01.jpg
http://www.napoleonguide.com/images/cavalry_russuhla.jpg
http://georgianworld.tripod.com/uniforms/pic23.jpg

[ond26]

http://web2.airmail.net/napoleon/Austrian_cuirassier.jpg
The Cuirassiers Were Czechs.

http://www.napoleonguide.com/images/uniforms_austdrag.jpg
The Dragoons Were Czechs and Austrians.

http://www.napoleon-online.de/Cantler309.jpg
The Chevaulegers Were Czechs, Austrians and Italians.

http://web2.airmail.net/napoleon/austrian_hussar.jpg
The Hussars Were Hungarians.

http://www.tomlundlack.co.uk/photos/p2.jpg
The Uhlans Were Poles.

[GeraldDuval]

I'd give my left nut for a downloadable link to that vid...something i can keep.

Great find!

[ond26]

The hussars were almost all Hungarians (the 11th was made of Transylvanians).
The uhlans were mainly Poles and Ukrainians from Galicia.
The dragoons in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Regiment were Moravians (Czechs), in 1st and 2nd Dragoon Regiment were Austrians.
The chevaulegers in 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th Regiment were Bohemians (Czechs), while in 3rd were Poles from Galicia, in 7th were Italians, in 1st Regiment served Austrians.
The cuirassiers in 1st Kaiser, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th Regiment were Bohemians and Moravians (Czechs), while in 4th and 5th were Austrians.
http://web2.airmail.net/napoleon/Austrian_cavalry.htm

[ond26]

Line Infantry.
The White-Coats.

Austrian infantry The regiments of Austrian infantry were divided into two groups; 'German' and 'Hungarian'. The 'Hungarian' regiments were renowned for their fierce fighting spirit, and their grenadiers were best of them. The 'German' infantry regimnts were probably the best trained and disciplned part of the infantry. "German sense of duty caused them to rally after lost battle to fight again." The enlistments were six years for infantrymen and ten for cavalrymen.

In 1805 the Austrian army totaled 305 line, 3 jager and 51 Grenzer battalions. There was also an additional 10 garrison and 61 reserve battalions, 12 battalions of Tyrolean militia and 12 volunteer jager or free battalions.
The distribution of these forces was as follow:
Army of Italy (Archduke Charles) - 171 battalions
Army of Germany (Archduke Ferdinand) - 88 battalions
Army of Tyrolia (Archduke John) - 65 battalions
Garrisons/Interior - 45 * battalions
(* includes the 5th and 6th Infantry Regiment , each of 5 battalions, and designated as garrisons.)
(Source: Goetz - "1805: Austerlitz" pp 35-36)

The so-called 'German regiments' included:
- 11 regiments of Austrians
- 23 regiments of Czechs (Bohemians and Moravians)
- 5-6 regiments of Wallons
- 2 regiments of Croats
- 2 regiments of Tyroleans (46th and 64th, although in 46th the Tyroleans consisted only half)
- 1-2 regiments of Italians
In 1805 were 10 regiments (9th, 20th, 24th, 30th, 38th, 41st, 44th, 55th, 58th, 63rd) recruited of Galician Poles and Ukrainians. The Poles had low morale and often deserted to the French or Polish troops fighting for Napoleon. These units were dressed like 'German' infantry.

The so-called 'Hungarian regiments' included:
- 11-12 regiments of Hungarians.

Although as an army the Austrians lost more battles than won, the individual line regiments were reliable and some fought with tenacity and bravery. Below some examples:
# At Marengo the 63rd Infantry Regiment {Wallons} defended Fontanone, took 443 casualties, their colonel was shot 3 times and they still held ground.
# The 51st Regiment {Romanians} came from mountainous country of Transylvania where in the past ruled the cruel Vlad the Impaler. It was an unit full of brave warriors and was named Legion Infernale by the French. In 1800 at Marengo the 51st {Romanians} participated in the defeat of Bonaparte's grenadiers of Consular Guard.
# At Kulm the 54th Regiment {Czechs} captured Color of French 33e Ligne.
# At Wagram the 32nd Regiment {Hungarians} took Color of III/4e Ligne and the 35th Regiment {Czechs} captured Color of II/106e Ligne.
# At Caldiero the 7th Regiment {Czechs} captured Color of I/5e Ligne.
# In 1809 at Neumarkt the 14th Regiment {Austrians} and 39th Regiment {Hungarians} attacked French cavalry with bayonet !
# At Aspern-Essling the columns of 17th Reuss-Plauen Regiment {Czechs} advanced forward with great bravery, their band playing, soldiers singing war and religious songs. At the front marched sappers who wielded hatchets to breach village's garden walls. Disregarding artillery fire they entered the village. One of French officer described this fight. It was "without letup, inside, outside, ... the furious combat continued along the streets ..." Their captain Komadina had his feet taken off by a cannonball but continued to encourage his troops and shouted "Long live Austria !" The 47th Vogelsang Regiment {Czechs} also distinguished itself in this fighting. Austrian battalions fought so tenaciously that the French 18e Ligne lost half thousand man in the struggle along Aspern's main street !
# The 1st Kaiser Regiment {Czechs}, 4th Hoch-un-Deutschmeister {Austrians}, 12th Regiment {Czechs} and 31st Regiment {Romanians} were also considered as hard men.

Of course there were many cases of cowardice as well, some examples below:
In 1805 at Austerlitz the Austrian VI/23rd Infantry seeing the French cavalry surrounding their grenadiers lost its cool immediately. The infantrymen threw down their muskets and fled. The slowest ones were taken prisoner. The French sources reports of hundreds of Austrian prisoners being taken at the village of Blaziowitz and later being mistakenly sabered by Russian cavalry.

[ond26]

"
In 1805 were 10 regiments (9th, 20th, 24th, 30th, 38th, 41st, 44th, 55th, 58th, 63rd) recruited of Galician Poles and Ukrainians. The Poles had low morale and often deserted to the French or Polish troops fighting for Napoleon. These units were dressed like 'German' infantry."


but.....

After the Battle of Somosierra, Napoleon Bonaparte said that one Polish cavalryman was worth ten French soldiers. The French light cavalry units, Napoleon's chevau-legeres, were modelled after the Uhlans.

[ond26]

In the Battle of Hohenlinden "Pawlikowski, a 23-year old NCO of uhlans,
noticed Austrian infantry in a copse. Accompanied by a French chasseur
named Gotebeuf, he charged the Austrians (...) After killing 2 officers with his lance
he took prisoner 1 officer and 57 men. General Decean, who met him leading the prisoners,
offered him a promotion to lieutenant, but Pawlikowski answered in broken French:
'No know read, no know write, no be officer."

[ond26]

the hats loos Polish. Could be Polish Napoleonic Lancers


in 1805 they were polish austrian uhlans
http://i.cn.cz:443/1133636252_hulan.jpg
WSZYSCY NA WROGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ond26]

http://www.berithh.de/assets/images/db_images/db_IMG_0430neu3.jpg
Napoleon

http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_247.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_224.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_086.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_193.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_184.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_058.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_123.jpg
http://digi.zive.cz/Files/Obrazky/kultura/austerlitz/Austerlitz_100.jpg

[Beagle]

Good find ond26 ;) I'll post some frech pics from other source later...

[Beagle]

Going to the battlefield


http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_001.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_004.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_005.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_010.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_008.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_011.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_013.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_023.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_024.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_028.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_059.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_060.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_pochod/Austerlitz_065.jpg


On the battlefield


http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_092.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_093.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_108.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_104.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_126.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_121.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_128.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_130.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_131.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_141.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_155.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_159.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_164.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_188.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_189.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_192.jpg

http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/albums/slavkov_2005_bitva/Austerlitz_198.jpg

Whole galleries here: http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=31
and here:
http://www.kaunitz-rietberg.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=32

Thanks to Tom Neuzil who made these awesome pictures.

Cheers ;)

[Beagle]

I'd give my left nut for a downloadable link to that vid...something i can keep.

Great find!
Try with program called HiDownload. It's capable of saving streaming videos onto your HDD


Any high res of the horses?

I hope these last pictures are enough hi-res for you :)

[kayaker]

All these are absolutely brilliant!! Esspecially love pics from the ride into battle. thanks earned some points there.