Regimental stories and anniversary campaign the second half of the XIX – early XX centuries

Chernov Pavel Vyacheslavovich

An important feature of the political and social life of Russia in the last third of the XIX – beginning of the XX century was various kinds of anniversary campaigns. This period is also characterized by the publication of a large number of regimental stories, many of which were associated with the anniversaries of the creation of military units. The article assesses the mutual influence of these cultural phenomena, the great attention paid to them by the state and society. Since the time of Nicholas I, activities to perpetuate the memory of the Patriotic War of 1812 have intensified, expressed in the installation of monuments and monuments, the organization of regimental museums and the collection of military rarities. Gradually, this direction of state, educational activities for the preservation of historical memory for posterity began to spread to other famous wars and battles. This initiative has found a response, both in individual communities and in the hearts of ordinary people. This increased attention to the past of Russia, to the historical roots of various types of military corporations, was reflected, among other things, in the mass creation of regimental stories. The variety of publications, ranging from books of several pages to multi-volume folios, was due to the capabilities of military units and their importance in the hierarchy of regiments. Most of the published works were timed to coincide with significant, anniversary dates. And if this failed, persistent evidence was found that the regiment had deeper historical roots and could claim an earlier, even more significant anniversary.

Keywords:Russian Imperial Army. Anniversaries. Regimental histories of the XIX-XX centuries.