СЛИКА РУСКЕ ВОЈСКЕ У СРПСКОЈ МЕМОАРИСТИЦИ ДРУГЕ ПОЛОВИНЕ XIX ВЕКА
DEPICTING OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY IN SERBIAN MEMOIR GENRE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: The Eastern Question, and within its framework, the Great Eastern Crisis (1875‒1878) and the Serbian-Turkish War of 1876 occupy a significant place in the complex Serbian-Russian relations. The Orthodox faith, tribal kinship and similar interests, united with the aspirations of Russian Slavophiles and the arrival of Russian volunteers in Serbia, instilled hope in the subjugated Serbian population that, with the support and help of Russia, the acquisition of national independence and the end of Ottoman oppression in the Balkans is getting closer. Without the official permission and consent of the Russian emperor Alexander II Romanov and the military minister Milyutin, who strongly opposed the entry into the war with Turkey, in 1876, several thousand Russian volunteers headed by General Mihail G. Chernyaev came to Serbia. As a source for looking at the image of the Russian army, the various impressions and opinions formed in Serbia during the Serbian-Turkish war, the memoir testimonies preserved in sufficient volume helped understand how layered and subject to change the image of Russia as a state, Russians as a people and Russian soldiers have become. In this paper, attention is focused primarily on the memories of four participants and eyewitnesses of the war: Vladan Đorđević, Pera Todorović, Milan Đ. Milićević and Svetozar Magdalenić. The most impressive personality represented by a collection of opposing views in memoirs and historiography was General Chernyaev. Characterized as an impractical man, with a stronger heart than reason, he was criticized in connection with military strategy and the complexity of command, and was considered by critics to be the biggest culprit for the defeats. In addition, he was attributed partiality and open affection towards Russian officers. There were, however, many Serbs who praised the courage of General Chernyaev and his commitment to the Serbian struggle for final liberation from Turkish rule, claiming that he unquestionably belongs to a series of prominent figures of national history. Apart from Chernyaev, there are noticeable positive impressions of numerous Russian officers, such as Colonel Nikolai Rajevsky, who bravely fought and died for the Serbian people, General Kiryaev, Colonel Dokhturov, etc. Among the positive impressions of “ordinary” Russian soldiers, their courage, readiness to fight and a strong sense of Slavic brotherhood were highlighted, followed by expressions of admiration and gratitude. Considerable funds collected throughout Russia, a considerable amount of medical supplies and the selfless help of the Russian Sisters of Mercy were mentioned almost regularly. As for criticisms and negative images of the Russian army, they are concentrated around several main themes: the language barrier and problems in command, arrogance, rudeness and arrogance of Russian soldiers, frequent drinking and misconduct. The war with the Turkish Empire in 1876, poorly prepared and even more clumsily conducted, was often interpreted as the first complete national defeat of the Serbian state in the 19th century and the beginning of a series of events that to some extent threatened the idea of Russia as a great Slavic protector in Serbia.

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