October 25, 2018 in the Central naval Museum opened a temporary exhibition " on the way to the Franco-Russian Union. To the 125th anniversary of the Russian squadron's visit to Toulon."
One of the first countries with whom Russia exchanged visits of warships was France. The rapprochement of bourgeois-Republican France with absolutist-monarchical Russia, which began in the late 1880s, stemmed from the objective development of international relations. Today we are accustomed to the fact that the exchange of visits of warships is the end of certain political events, a kind of culmination of diplomatic activity. At the end of XIX-beginning of XX century everything started from them, both from the point of view of safety, transportation of the first persons of the state, and display of power of the fleet, and also level of technical and technological development of the state.
On July 11, 1891, the Northern squadron under the command of rear Admiral Alfred albert Gervais came to Kronstadt, which was decorated with bright flags and pennants. The squadron included battleships "Marengo", "Marceau", "Requin", "Furieux", cruiser "Surcouf", "Lanc" and destroyers № 128 and 129. The Kronstadt port were adorned with flags. French sailors were given a warm welcome by the state authorities and the city public. A few days later on the Imperial yacht "Princess" arrived and members of the Royal family. Emperor Alexander III personally visited the ships of the French squadron. Since then, the cities of Kronstadt and Toulon have become twin cities.
The French guests visited the sights of St. Petersburg and its surroundings, then a special train delivered a military delegation to Moscow, where guests were also expected warm welcome and hospitality. The celebrations lasted almost two weeks.
In memory of this visit to Kronstadt, which had historical significance for both Nations, the French, according to the accepted custom to call each new release of pupils from the Sensir military school by some name or name in honor of the outstanding events, called the release of 1891 "Kronstadt". The governments of both countries made a mutual commitment to agree on prevention measures in the event of a threat of war for one of them, and a year later concluded a military Convention.
On October 13-29, 1893 the Russian squadron under the command of rear Admiral Fyodor Karlovich Avelan came with a return visit to the main Mediterranean base of the French fleet — Toulon. The squadron consisted of ships of the Baltic fleet-a squadron battleship "Emperor Nicholas I", cruiser" Memory of Azov"," Admiral Nakhimov"," Rynda "and the black sea gunboat"Terets".
The French made the visit of our squadron a national celebration. Three French battleship at the time of the visit took the peculiar patronage of Russian ships. In honor of the visit, local craftsmen, both eminent, working with the Paris mint, and unknown employees of private workshops issued nominal and commemorative medals as a gift to Russian officers and commemorative tokens about the visit of the French Russian ships. And in Toulon, and throughout the way of the Russian delegation on the territory of France when visiting cities were celebrations with gifts.
Upon arrival of Russian sailors in Paris, they were greeted by the President of the Republic Mr. Sadi Carnot. In addition to countless balls, carnivals, banquets, parades and fireworks, the sailors were presented with albums with views of Paris, smaller models-copies of sculptures, as well as woven tapestries and silk posters from various sports and public organizations. The cruiser "Rynda", consisting in the guards crew, was also awarded a nominal gift banner.
Visits of military ships of Russia and France were regarded as an extremely important political event, so the festival, organized by the French side, as reflected by the Russians, sent to France marine painter A. P. Bogoliubov, N. N. Gritsenko, M. S. Tkachenko, L. D. Blinov, and French painters, by the way, also added to the Navy Department. Celebrations held in Paris in October 1893 - the passage of the motorcade of Russian sailors on the Republic square in the raging sea of the French crowd, depicted in The picture L. S. Bakst. And, of course, in Russian and French Newspapers again published enthusiastic reports about the numerous banquets and receptions, social conversations and receptions, parades and fireworks. 28 November in Toulon to see the Russian squadron arrives the President of the French Republic S. Carnot.
In January 1894, the Russian-French Union was finally completed. "Franco-Russian friendship-noted in 1895, "Herald of Europe" - became a pledge of peace, not an instrument of enmity."
The main result of this Union, which later became the basis of the Entente, was the formation of two large opposing groups and a significant change in the ratio and balance of power in Europe.
Exhibition curator: S. V. Vasilyeva, senior research fellow, CVMM
The artistic solution of the exhibition: the main artist CVMM Sergeev
The exhibition will run until 20 December 2018.
