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Belarusian and French archeologists set to excavate Berezina Battle site

Belarusian and French archeologists are ready to excavate the site of the Battle of Berezina, Ihar Hrutsa, a historian at Minsk State Teachers Training University, told reporters in Minsk on Minsk on Thursday.

Between 25,000 and 50,000 French officers and civilians perished in November 1812 when Russian troops attacked Napoleon's army while it was crossing the Berezina River on a punishing retreat from Moscow, Mr. Hrutsa said.

The excavation work near Barysaw, Minsk region, may begin as early as September if the necessary funds are found, Mr. Hrutsa said. This is provided for by a project called Berezina, which involves Belarusian and French governmental agencies and NGOs, he said.

Archeologists will try to find mass graves and the remains of the bridges that were used by Napoleon's army, Mr. Hrutsa said, adding that 8,052 people had been buried at the site, according to an 1813 report.

Although the French embassy claims every year that the French army had as many Belarusians among its ranks as the Russian army, this could not possibly be true, Mr. Hrutsa said. Belarusians in the Russian army were much more numerous because the Russian empire recruited thousands of common Belarusian men under its conscription system, while only Belarusian noblemen joined the French troops, he said. There could have been between 25,000 and 30,000 Belarusians in Napoleon's army, Mr. Hrutsa said. //BelaPAN