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General Winter's Blitzkrieg Part 1

© John Barham

'I have three brilliant generals - their names are December January and February.' This remark is sometimes attributed to Tsar Nicholas I, but in fact the sentiment was current in Russian military circles long before even Napoleon's retreat. It's truth was about to be proven once more, this time at the expense of the bedraggled British Army virtually defenceless against whatever the elements might throw at their exposed positions in front of Sevastopol.

On some days it looked like only a gentle lob. From reports and diaries we see that at least 7 days in December, including Christmas Day, were bright and sunny, with temperatures into the mid 40s Fahrenheit. Although the winter 0f 1854-55 was ferocious throughout Europe, the Crimea, on its southern boundary, avoided a 'Scott of the Antarctic' scenario - except at night. Then for twelve hours the temperature regularly dropped to 10-20 degrees below zero, often with a devastating wind chill factor; by day, thaws turned the snow and frostbitten ground into deep and viscous mud. 'The great variableness of the Crimean climate is its strongest peculiarity,' wrote Russell, 'in the morning you get up and find the water frozen in your tent, the ground covered with snow, the thermometer at 20 degrees; put on mufflers, greatcoat and mitts and go out for a walk, and before evening you return perspiring under the weight of clothing which you carry at the end of your stick, unable to bear it any longer, while the snow has turned into slush, and the thermometer is at 45 degrees.'

Though the rank and file would gladly have put up with the inconvenience of Russell's clothes, this diabolical cocktail was the perfect recipe for causing maximum discomfort to the army. Additionally the milder days accelerated the transmission of contagious ills and diseases. And even if it had been bitterly cold all the time, at least the umbilical track by the Col to Balaklava would have been firm and negotiable by day - but the regular thaw ensured it remained a gooey morass. In fact the whole plateau was a replica of a muddiest world war one war zone; think of pictures of Passchaendale as an example.

Indeed, already at the end of 1854 trench warfare conditions were prevalent which would become commonplace in 1914-18. The Crimea men did not suffer the constant bombardment, but their physical privations ensured a mortality rate every bit as horrific as that of sixty years on.

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