Bagration flèches
Historic field fortifications near Borodino, Moscow Oblast, Russia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bagration flèches (Russian: багратионовы флеши[1]) are three historic military earthworks[2] named after General Pyotr Bagration, who ordered their construction. They served as the pivotal strongholds on the Russian left flank during the Battle of Borodino on 7 September [O.S. 26 August] 1812. Located south-west of the village of Semyonovskoye (Semyonovskoye (Borodino) [ru]), the flèches consisted of two lunettes and one redan. The opposing French and Russian armies stormed the flèches eight times in the course of the battle.[3]
Infantry divisions of the Russian 2nd Army and militiamen constructed the flèches to give an opportunity to the Russian artillery of firing not only on the French front, but also the flank. Five hundred men were detailed to their construction from each division, except from the 27th, which sent six hundred.[3] The left work was erected by the 26th Infantry Division, the right by the 2nd Grenadier Division and the middle one by the 2nd Combined Grenadiers.[citation needed] Construction finished on August 25, 1812 (O.S., used by the Russians) (September 6, N.S., used by the French).