История Отечественной войны 1812 года известна most Russians only in general terms. Moreover, the names of many of her heroes, especially people from the people, are undeservedly forgotten or known only to specialists. Although Gerasim Kurin is not among the unknown patriots who fought for the freedom of the motherland, and his name is included in school textbooks, the detailed biography of the famous partisan will certainly be interesting to anyone who is not indifferent to the history of his country.
Kurin Gerasim Matveyevich was born in the village of PavlovoVohonskoy parish, near Moscow, in 1777. His father and mother, and therefore he himself were not serfs. The fact is that Pavlovo, still under Ivan the Terrible, became the property of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and after the secularization of church lands, carried out by Catherine II, became state property. Thus, Gerasim Kurin was a so-called economic peasant. People with this status rarely engaged in agriculture, since the land was mainly owned by landowners. Their occupations were crafts, trade and crafts.
Information about what exactly didthe hero-partisan before Napoleon's campaign in Russia, almost none. Researchers suggest that he worked in his father’s shop, who most likely had a decent income, and his family enjoyed the respect of fellow villagers.
Gerasim Matveyevich was married to Anna Savina, who came from a merchant family. In marriage, they had 2 children: Terenty and Anton. The boys at the start of the war were 13 and 8 years old respectively.
The entry of Napoleon’s troops into Moscow in the fall of 1812the year did not lead to the surrender of Russia, as the French emperor hoped. On the contrary, guerrilla groups began to spontaneously organize in all the occupied lands, thanks to which his army began to feel a great shortage of food. This forced the French command to equip detachments of foragers in all directions from the capital. Since they were often attacked, Napoleon gave Marshal Ney 4,000 infantry and cavalry soldiers, as well as several artillery batteries. The headquarters of the famous French commander located in Borovsk, from where he commanded the actions of foragers and the units defending them. One such group of “food hunters” reached the village of Pavlovo, where Gerasim Kurin lived with his family.
Upon learning that the French foragers are on the wayto the village, he organized a group of 200 peasants and began fighting. Soon residents of neighboring villages began to join them, and the number of partisans reached 5,800 people, including 500 horsemen. The main reason forcing people to take up arms was the cruel behavior of the French, who, being embittered by the protracted military campaign and malnutrition, often engaged in ordinary robbery and looting. In addition, Gerasim Kurin had the gift of persuasion and was an authority for his fellow villagers.
From September 23 to October 2, 1812 KurinGerasim together with his squad 7 times participated in clashes with French troops. In one of the battles, his people managed to repel a wagon train with weapons, seizing about 200 rifles and pistols, as well as 400 cartridge bags. This allowed the partisans to provide themselves with ammunition for a long time and to make more daring forays into the enemy camp.
Маршал Ней был взбешен «нецивилизованным» the behavior of the Russian peasants and sent 2 squadrons of dragoons to fight against the detachment of Kurin. Apparently, the French had no idea about the number of partisans, because otherwise they would not limit themselves to such a small detachment.
The squad leader decided to try to solve the casepeace and "condescended" to the point that he sent to the "savages" of truce - a former tutor. He began to convince the guerrillas not to interfere with the foragers to engage in their duties, apparently implying the plunder of the peasants.
Пока шли переговоры, Курин готовился к нападению.First of all, he directed a detachment of peasant cavalry commanded by parish head Yegor Stulov towards Bogorodsk. Then Kurin used military trick, leaving most of his "troops" in ambush and engaging in battle with the French with several dozens of partisans. When the fight was in full swing, he gave the order to retreat, dragging the dragoons behind him, intoxicated by an easy victory over the Russian peasant. Suddenly, the dashing French warriors were surrounded, as the Stulova horsemen arrived. As a result of the battle, 2 French squadrons were defeated, and part of the dragoons were captured.
Enraged by Ney sent against the partisansregular troops. Learning about the onset of the French columns, Kurin decided to give them battle in his native village. He located in the peasant households the bulk of his forces, which he personally led. At the same time, Gerasim Matveyevich sent the equestrians Stulova in an ambush near the village of Melenki, located near the road Pavlovo - Borovsk, and the reserve was located behind the river in the Yudinsky ravine, entrusting command to Ivan Pushkin.
Когда французы вступили в Павлово, там никого не was seen. However, after some time, they received a deputation consisting of power men. They entered into negotiations with the military, who this time politely asked the peasants to sell them food, having previously allowed them to inspect the warehouse. The men agreed to conduct foragers, who did not even realize that the most imposing and representative negotiator was Kurin himself.
Several successful raids made the partisans moreself-confident, and they decided to attack the occupied Bogorodsk. However, by that time, Ney had already received an order to return to Moscow. Kurin Gerasim with his squad missed his body for just a few hours and continued to defend his native village and its surroundings from the French marauders.
The exploits of the partisan commander and his partisans are notwent unnoticed by the Russian command. Many commanders were surprised that the peasant, without any idea of the tactics and rules of warfare, acted so successfully that he fled and destroyed the detachments of the regular French army, while his unit suffered minimal losses.
In 1813, Kurin Gerasim Matveevich (1777-1850)He was awarded the St George Cross 1st Class. This order was established specifically for the lower ranks and civilians, and it was supposed to be worn on a black and orange ribbon. Although it is often mentioned in the literature that Gerasim Kurin also received the title of honorary citizen, this information cannot be considered reliable, since honorary citizenship was not conferred to representatives of the peasant class. Moreover, it was established only in 1832. Thus, due to his origin, Gerasim Matveyevich could not have such a title, despite the fact that he really deserved it.
Когда завершилась Отечественная война 1812 года, Gerasim Kurin returned to his usual life. However, the villagers and the inhabitants of the surrounding villages did not forget about his exploits, and he was for them the indisputable authority on many issues.
It is also known that in 1844 he participated as an honored guest in the opening of Pavlovsky Posad, a city formed as a result of the confluence of Pavlov and 4 neighboring villages.
The hero died in 1850 at the age of 73 years. He was buried at Pavlovsky cemetery.
Теперь вы знаете, что Герасим Матвеевич Курин — partisans, who organized his own squad in 1812 and successfully defended his native village and its surroundings from the French invaders. His name stands in the same row with the names of such national heroes as Vasilisa Kozhin, Semyon Shubin, Yermolai Chetvertak, who proved that the Russian people could rally and organize themselves in a test year for their native country, contributing to victory over the enemy.
