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The opening ceremony of the Russian-French Foundation for Historical Initiatives with the assistance of the military-historical society took place in Moscow. It is mainly focused on the monuments creation to Russian soldiers who fought in France during the First World War.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the urgency of the Foundation establishment. According to him, now the initiatives aimed at preserving history are extremely valuable, TASS reports. Such work is largely dedicated and highly laudable, the president’s press secretary believes.
The Foundation will study the common history of Russia and France for the "restoration of historical memory and justice". The organizers say that this is precisely the guarantee of the strengthening of interconnections and the intensification of "public diplomacy".
In addition, the Foundation will be engaged in the monuments installation on the battlefield. The first obelisk was erected in the spring. According to Russkiy Mir, it was set up on the hill of Mont-Spein in the French department of Aisne and dedicated to the soldiers and officers of the third Brigade of the Russian Expeditionary Force in France. There were bloody battles in the spring of 1917.
Foundation head Pierre Malinovsky explained that an expedition to Smolensk is scheduled for the next year. Specialists from the Russian military department and the ministries of culture of both countries will take part in it. They will study the Valutino Gora where the battles took place in summer 1812. During the expedition, the remains of the Russian and French soldiers including General Gudin, Napoleon's friend, will be reburied. The officer was seriously injured and died in Smolensk. His remains will be transported to Paris.
The expedition is going to explore the bottom of Semlevskoe Lake. Cannons and treasures are said to be drowned there by Napoleon's order during the retreat.
Russkiy Mir
