Town of Slavkov
Municipality of Tvarožná
Burial Mound of Peace - Austerlitz - OPS
Davay Communications s.r.o.
European Napoleonic Society

Press release on changes in Project Austerlitz 2005 and on the 197th
anniversary of the Battle of Slavkov

Brno, 25 October 2002, Místodržitelský palác

Participants: Cathrin Lechner (translator and colleague in the
project's Francophone section), Etienne Roda (President, ENS),
Dr František Holecek (Project Austerlitz 2005), Ivan Vystrcil (CENS
and Project Austerlitz 2005), František Kopecký (Project Austerlitz
2005, Mayor of the municipality of Tvarožná u Brna), Miroslav Jandora
(Austerlitz 2005), members of L'Garde Imperiále d'Austerlitz

Program:

1. Presentation of the European Napoleonic Society (ENS) and General
   Etienne Roda, and presentation of the ENS representative for the Czech
   Republic
2. Report on the establishment of the Central European Napoleonic
   Society (CENS)
3. News in the Project Austerlitz 2005 organization, appointment of
   vice presidents, expansion of project into other areas
4. Program of memorial events on the 197th anniversary

Etienne Roda
President of the European Napoleonic Society and one of the founders
of ENS
1991 - began as a soldier in the Brunswick Lieferegiment infantry
1992 - Supreme officer in the Brunswick Hussars Trumpeter
1993 - ditto
1994 - Grenadier in the Volontaires Nationeaux, later in the 177th
half-brigade of battle, and then in the 22nd half-brigade of the line
1995 - General Division francais, Organizer of the 200th anniversary
of the battles of Loana, Arcole, Rivoli, Milano, Malta, Ireland,
Germany, Elba, etc., etc.
Currently still a member of the 22nd Infantry Regiment of the Line as
an ordinary grenadier. In his civilian avocation he is the manager of
Sita in Germany.

European Napoleonic Society

Founded in 1996 on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Napoleon'
invasion of Italy.
An international organization that associates military clubs from
throughout Europe.
Divided into three sections, the 27th Division for French units, the
Army of the United Kingdom for British units, and the Italian Army for
Austrian, Russian, and other allied units.
Membership is contingent upon very strict criteria, and the ENS
management selects the units to which membership is to be offered, in
order to maintain the high quality of the membership.
Since its establishment, ENS has organized or taken part in many
significant events, some of which we will note:
E.g., the reconstruction of the occupation of Malta (1998, 2000),
Marengo (2000), Singen, Fenestrelle (2001), Milano and Lodi (1996,
2002), Elba (2002). Also very successful and prestigious was the
awarding of the Medals of Honor and Loyalty to selected members in
November 2001 in Paris, in the Cathedral Dome, where Napoleon was
buried.

The official ENS representative for the Czech Republic for this year
is Miroslav Jandora, the President of Project Austerlitz 2005.

Central European Napoleonic Society

On 12 October 2002, representatives of military ENS member
associations and clubs from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria
convened at Tvarožná u Brna to reach an agreement on ensuring and
organizing this year's memorial Battle of Slavkov event. The
organizers' representative, Mr. Ivan Vystrcil, presented the agreement
to those in attendance between the Project Austerlitz 2005 management
and the ENS management on cooperation in ensuring commemorative
events, until 2005 at least. Representatives of military history clubs
agreed that, on the recommendation of the highest echelon of ENS
management, to establish a regional ENS structure under the name
Central European Napoleonic Society (CENS). In its activities, this
organization will adhere to the principles of ENS, of which it will be
an integral part, so that it can be the executive partner for
organizers in their members' countries. Ivan Vystrcil was entrusted
with the management of CENS. CENS will replace the Napoleonic Union of
the Czech Republic, one of the founders of Project Austerlitz 2005.

CENS founding members:
Garda Impériale d'Austerlitz
12th Pluk Rubenitz
5th Regiment d'Artillerie á Pied
1st Pluk Kaiser
6th Regiment d'Artillerie á Pied
Train 6th Regiment d'Artillerie á Pied
2nd du Marins de la Garde Impériale
Association of the 8th Historical Regiment of the French Infantry
Czech Association of Friends of Military History
Staff of k.k. Hussatenregiment No. 1 "Kaiser"
KVH Nový Jicín
KVH Ostrava
k.k. Jäger - Batallion Nr. 1 "Lutz"
k.k.I.R. 2 Hiller Ungarische Grenadiere
Club of Friends of the French Revolution and the First Empire

Changes in Project Austerlitz 2005

In the aftermath of necessary consolidation in the situation
around the Slavkov battlefield, the following changes will be made
starting this year, and the project will be expanded as follows:
Project structure in several areas

1. Military- historical part
   Commemorative events and Reconstruction of the Battle of the Three
   Emperors
2. Scientific-historical part
   Organization of seminars and symposia
3. Cultural-social part
   Napoleon Days in Slavkov, golf tournament, and many other events
4. Spiritual part
   Mutual understanding of roots and ideas of modern secular society and
   Christianity
5. Regional cooperation
   Establishing cooperation with similar institutions abroad and in the
   Czech Republic, expansion of activities into the EU

For the individual areas, the following gentlemen were appointed
vice presidents of Project Austerlitz 2005:

• František Holecek - vice president for history and spiritual
  development
• Ivan Vystrcil - vice president for military history and planning for
  the reconstruction of military operations
• František Kopecký - vice president for regional development

The full text of Project Austerlitz 2005 is published on the Web
site www.austerlitz2005.com. Project Austerlitz 2005 is an open
project that will be developed on an ongoing basis and that should
help the Slavkov battlefield region become significantly more visible
throughout Europe. Austerlitz and its history is a European topic.

Program for this year's Commemorative Events at the Battle of the
Three Emperors at Slavkov
This year, thanks to the involvement of the Slavkov Castle and
the museum there, there will be an expansion of the territory on which
the military operations will be acted out. After the allies occupy the
castle, French units will encamp there. The main command post will be
at the castle, and the armies will practically occupy the entire
complex until Sunday afternoon. As is traditional, there will also be
a reconstruction of the Battle Under Santon in Tvarožná u Brna, this
time organized by ENS and CENS. This year, te official ceremony with
a field mass will be enacted in open air, near the mass mass graves of
fallen soldiers near the Krenovice graveyard. A detailed program, a
reconstruction scenario, and detailed organizational instructions will
be the topic of the next press conference, to be held around
mid-November.