Wernet, I./Wernet, D. Die Belagerung von Sevastopol 1854-1855

The Crimean War initially began as a local clash between Turkey and Russia. It was only with the entry of the protecting powers, France and England, into the war on 27/28 March 1854 on the side of Turkey that it became a multinational debacle culminating in the decision to conquer the Russian port city of Sevastopol. The book answers the question: How and by what means did the ingenious Baltic-Russian military engineer Eduard von Totleben succeed in fortifying the southern side in such a way that it was able to withstand the formidable array of enemy siege artillery and various assault attempts for almost a year. Totleben documented the progress of the fortress construction and the armouring of the defensive works with detailed, large-format plans. The progress of the defences is shown in several chronological stages on the basis of a selection of recoloured original plans.

When the Allied armies began to formally besiege Sevastopol, the base of the Black Sea Fleet, at the end of September 1854, the city was only adequately protected against maritime attacks. Land-based attacks, carried out with superior forces, were considered impossible at the time. A simple fort on the north side was supposed to protect against hand-to-hand raids. The southern side of the city, on the other hand, was completely unfortified. Very soon, the siege developed into a prolonged war of position with material battles on a scale that would only be surpassed years later in the First World War. Weather catastrophes such as storms, snow and ice combined with completely inadequate supply organisations brought the besiegers' armies to the brink of collapse. Epidemics, hunger and frost claimed more lives than the actual fighting. Unbelievable conditions prevailed in the first months, especially in the British medical system. Especially in the military hospitals. New technologies such as telegraphy, railway construction and improved weapons ultimately had a decisive influence on the outcome of the war. Inspired by two study trips to Sevastopol and after several years of archival work, the authors were able to compile a complete chronicle of the events of the theatre of war in the Crimea from records and descriptions of war participants as well as from current press reports. The focus was on the suffering and death of the soldiers of all participating nations. The accounts are illustrated by numerous early photographs and illustrations as well as contemporary watercolours and lithographs.