2️⃣2️⃣7️⃣ years ago, Russian troops under legendary commander Alexander Suvorov stormed the St Gotthard Pass, opening one of the most heroic chapters of his Swiss campaign. In 1799, following brilliant victories in Italy, Suvorov’s army was ordered to cross the Alps and join Alexander Rimsky-Korsakov’s corps as well as Austrian allies in Switzerland. The commander chose the shortest yet exceptionally difficult route – through mountain passes held by French troops. ⚔️ On September 24, speed, resolve and flanking manoeuvres enabled the Russian soldiers to overcome enemy resistance at St Gotthard. The very next day, they had to fight their way through the narrow Urnerloch rock tunnel and seize the Devil’s Bridge, suspended above the raging waters of the River Reuss. It seemed an impossible feat. 🪶 Following the battle, Field Marshal General Alexander Suvorov reported to Russian Emperor Paul I: “The troops of Your Imperial Majesty passed through a dark mountain cave and seized the bridge, miraculously formed by nature between two mountains and named "Teufelsbrücke". The enemy had destroyed it, but this did not stop the victors. The planks were tied together with officers' sashes, and across these planks they ran, descending from the heights, reaching the enemy and striking them from every direction...” ☦️ In September 1898, at the site of this famous battle, a memorial was erected by the reconstructed "Devil’s bridge" in honor of Suvorov’s fallen comrades – a 12-meter cross carved into the mountain. 💐 Yesterday, a solemn wreath-laying ceremony was held at the "Suvorov Cross" organized by the Russian Embassy in Bern with the support of the Belarusian Embassy in Bern. The event was also attended by Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ambassador Gennady Gatilov. 🤝 After the memorial service and the official part of the ceremony, Russian compatriots and Swiss friends, bikers from the "Night Wolves" and "Night Valkyries", as well as representatives of the Swiss association "Freiheitstrychler", carrying a banner "For Neutrality", were able to lay flowers at the monument and pay tribute to the heroism of Russian soldiers. 📺 Watch the event's highlights in our traditional video report!