The Strongest Beech Trees Were Cut Down!

The Strongest Beech Trees Were Cut Down!

21 May of 1864 is known as an end to Caucasus' defense. In war within and for the Caucasus, which continued 100 years, Russia was the winner. And when I follow the news, I'm not so sure if this war has ever ended, if suffering of Caucasians from Russia will ever have an end.

The people of Dagestan and Chechnya (Circassians) fought for their freedom from the Russian state. Caucasian people are famous for their bravery. Chechens were quick and bold. During the war, the forest for the mountain people was the best refuge and safeguard against the advancing Russian. So the Russian first decided to fight the forest, to be able to defeat the people. As it was difficult to cut down all the trees, they burned and exploded the whole forests. Many people die during the war, but Russia wanted to reduce its loss in the Caucasus to a minimum. And sometimes their loss was really like 16 killed and 24 wounded, while 370 dead Caucasians were left on the battlefield. Nowadays they've reduced the loss to almost zero killed. That's because we, the Caucasians are killing one another for the imperialistic interests of Russia. So today there are a lot more strong Caucasian men lying dead on battlefield and Russians are only 'keeping peace'.

A great person and fighter for freedom, Shamil had to surrender on 25 August of 1859, because it was impossible to win. Not that Russians where stronger, but there armament was. The success was greater than Russia could expect. And now what they are expecting, is not even expectable. One of Shamil's sons was later in the Russian army. And aren't we all serving the interests of Russia in the long run, whether we want it or not? Shamil Imam died in the year 1871 in Medina, where he was with the admission of the Russian Czar. And still the strongest and highest trees are missing in the Caucasus.

Around 750,000 Caucasians, mostly Tcherkezians and Abkhazians were relocated to Ottoman Empire. These people were killing themselves at the Black Sea, because they neither wanted to live under the Russian rule, nor leave their homeland.

Links on the Topic

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

literature

• the Russian conquest of the Caucasus - by John F. Baddeley - with maps, plans and illustrations - (1908) - new your/Russel, reissued, 1969

also:

• Grigol Robakidze. "Imam Shamil". Kaukasische Novellen, Leipzig, 1932; Munich, 1979 (in German)
• Lesley Blanch. The Sabres of Paradise. New York: Viking Press. 1960.
• Nicholas Griffin. Caucasus: Mountain Men and Holy Wars
• Leo Tolstoy. Hadji Murat