Combatants from Battle of Vyazma laid to rest.

Yesterday the bodies of 120 French and Russian soldiers, three women, and three teenage boys were buried with military honors at Vyazma in Russia.  Dignitaries from both countries were present.

Illustration from War and Peace on the battle of Vyazma.

All died there during Napoleon's retreat from Russia, during a battle that occurred there on October 22, 1812.  Conditions were brutally cold during the ceremony, something that would have been familiar to the soldiers themselves.

French Military Museum at The Invalides

These are photographs of the absolutely incredible museum at The Invalides, a structure which was originally a French hospital but which was converted by Napoleon to military use.

All photographs by MKTH.

The amount of material at this museum, including these cannons, is absolutely incredible  Everything from and about French military history can be found there.

These are small artillery models.  Incredibly detailed.

Model soldiers depicting Napoleonic Wars era troops.

Martial musical instruments.

Coat and hat of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon's hat.

Napoleon's horse.

Portrait of Napoleon as Emperor of France.

Russian uniforms of the World War One and civil war period.

This uniform reflects the typical French uniform of the Franco Prussian War period on to early in World War One.

Uniform of German landser, World War One, post 1915, with Maxim 08 machine gun.

M1916 German helmet with death's head, as used by Freikorps units.

Polish uniforms circa World War One.

American Army uniform as worn in Siberia by American troops committed to Russia during World War One.

Flag of French forces that were committed to Russia from 1914 to 1919.

World War One era French cavalry display.