The Hermitage Museum had been preparing for simultaneous opening of three historical exhibitions for several years.

      The largest of them has unfolded in two staterooms of Hermitage – Gerbovy and Picketny - at once. It displays over six hundred pieces, which are subjects of the era that imbibed gunpowder smoke. These include weapons that saw enemies, uniforms that were signed by soldiers and officers that wore them, as well as sketches made by participants of military campaigns.

      In addition to the main exhibition of the war in 1812 the Hermitage Museum has opened two exhibitions, which are dedicated to tin soldiers and medal art.

      The exhibition that has proved to be the most attractive for the audience is the one that visitors want to touch literally. There are figurines of soldiers of the Russian and French armies, and compositions with participation of several regiments and fast cavalry. A part of this collection was brought to the Hermitage Museum by a Leningrad ordinary builder.