Project Austerlitz

Central European Napoleonic Society

Invitation

Let me herewith invite you for the Kulm 2003 event (Kulm – 1813) on August 29th–31st 2003. I kindly ask you to confirm your participation at following addresses:

 France – czech units: Karel Klatil pikla@volny.cz
 Francie – foreign units: Kamil Madera k.madera@csad.uh.cz
 Allies – czech and foreign units: Ondrej Tupy ondratupy@tiscali.cz

Application deadline term is August 20th 2003.

Historical background:
Until our days find the people in the far vicinity of the village of Chlumec (Kulm) stained cannon balls, parts of the military armament and equipment but also the whitened bones of those many who layed their lives on the local soil for the fame of the mighty ones. They remained spread around forgotten for dozens of years and now they remind us one of the bloodiest encounters of the Napoleonic wars. Battle of Kulm was an adumbration of the largest and bloodiest battle mankind of the period ever saw, the Battle of Nations at Leipzig. Its prologue on the foot of the Krusne Mountains brought death and pain to thousands of both ordinary soldiers and officers and captivity for the supreme commander of the French corps general Vandamme. These historical events are nowadays reassumed by the commemoration festival which is intended to recall the importance of this place for the modern history of the region and the whole country. The organizers would like to present to the citizens of the region and the nearby city of Usti nad Labem one of the most significant local historical events and thus reinforce their historical unity with the region they live in.

Organizers:
 C.E.N.S. represented by the production company DAVAY Comunications, Ltd.
 Community of Chlumec

Dramaturgical story:
The city of Usti nad Labem and further the surrounding villages are being continuously occupied both by the Allied and the French troops. Both enemy armies take their positions nearby the village of Varvazov where they set up their camps. On Saturday morning the local brushes open the actions and the French army continuously pushes the enemy into the valley nearby the village of Chlumec (Kulm). Here the decisive encounter kindles culminating with the total defeat of the French army. The French then retreat to their starting positions, the battlefield is possesed by the Allies. On the other day all the soldiers hold the piety act for the fallen. On this occassion the 190 years old remains of the dead soldiers will be layed down into the mass graves. Both armies then leave their camps and return to their homes.
 
Program:
Friday: August 29th 2003
16.00–21.00 Arrival of participants, construction of camps
21.00–22.00 Torch defilée of the armies through the city of Usti nad Labem
24.00 Last post
Saturday: August 30th 2003
9.00–10.00 Ceremonial assembly of all the troops closed with the military parade at the city square
10.00–12.00 Opening of fights, maneouvering
12.00–13.00 Lunchtime
13.00–15.00 Local brushes, positioning of troops in positions, catching of deserters
15.00–17.00 Main battle
17.00–21.00 End of fights, preparation for the assembly and the folklore festival
22.00–24.00 Folklore festival in the park
Sunday: August 31st 2003
10.00–11.00 Ceremonial assembly, piety act at the mass graves

Participants:
300 soldiers in periodical uniforms of the Napoleonic wars representing armies of France, Austria and Russia.

What is available:
 catering incl. drinks (Friday, Saturday, Sunday – breakfast)
 straw (ca. 1 trailer)
 fire wood (ca. 1 trailer)
 hygienical facilities incl. showers
 transportation to Usti nad Labem and back
 insurance of both participants and spectators
 permission to shoot on the battlefield site
 possibility of free boxing of horses
 blackpowder
 coverage of travel reimboursements (according to the drawed calculations)
 area for camp construction incl. guarding

All the participants will be obliged to respect instructions of the organizers and the production and will be incorporated within the C.E.N.S. military structures.

Looking forward to welcome you at the event,

Ivan Vystrcil
President C.E.N.S.

Roads and maps:

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