revolutionary events that took place in Russia from February to October of 1917, in fact, destroyed a vast empire and led to the swagger of the Civil War.Seeing such a difficult situation in the country remains of the tsarist army decided to join forces to restore a reliable authority in order to carry out military actions not only against the Bolsheviks, but also to defend their homeland against the encroachments of external aggressor.
formation of the Volunteer Army
Merger often occurs based on the so-called Alexis organization beginning of the activity which falls on the day of arrival of the general.It was in his honor and in this coalition has been named.This event took place in Novocherkassk 2 (15) in November 1917
Six weeks later, in December of the same year, a special meeting had been collected.It was attended by deputies of Moscow headed by the generals.In essence, the question on the distribution of roles in the management of forces between Kornilov and Alexeyev.As a result, it was decided to full military power to pass from the first generals.Formation of parts and bringing them into full combat readiness was assigned to the General Staff, headed by Lt. Gen. SL Markov.
the Christmas holidays troops announced the order to join the command of the army of General Kornilov.From this point it officially became known as the Volunteer.
situation in the Don
no secret that the newly established army of General Kornilov urgently needed the support of the Don Cossacks.But it it has not received.Moreover, the Bolsheviks began to compress the ring around the cities of Rostov and Novocherkassk, and the Volunteer Army was rushing inside him, desperately resisting and suffering enormous losses.Without the support of the Don Cossacks, commander in chief of the troops of General Kornilov 9 (22) in February decided to leave and go to Don village Olginskaya.Thus began the Ice March 1918.
in Rostov was abandoned many uniforms, bullets and shells, as well as medical stores and staff - all that needed so small army guarding the approaches to the city.It is worth noting that while no Alekseev nor Kornilov has not resorted to forced mobilization and confiscation of property.The village
Olginskaya
Ice March of the Volunteer Army began its reorganization.Arriving in the village Olginskaya troops were divided into 3 infantry regiment: Guerrilla, Kornilov shock and pivot-officer.A few days later the volunteers left the village and moved towards Ekaterinodar.It was the first Cuban Ice hike, which passed through the Chomutov, Kagalnitskaya and Egorlykskaya village.Briefly army entered the territory of the Stavropol province, and then re-entered the Kuban region.Throughout its way volunteers are constantly cases of armed clashes with the Red Army.Gradually thinning ranks of Kornilov, and every day they became less and less.
unexpected news
1 (14) March Red Army was busy Ekaterinodar.The day before, Colonel VL Pokrovsky and his troops left the town, which is extremely complicated an already difficult situation contented volunteers.Rumors that the Reds won Ekaterinodar to Kornilov arrived the next day, when the troops were at the station Settlement, but they did not attach much importance.After 2 days in the village Korenovsk which took volunteers as a result of a fierce battle, they found one of the rooms of the Soviet newspaper.It was reported that the Bolsheviks really took Ekaterinodar.
newsletter completely devalued Kuban Ice trek for which nothing had been paid hundreds of lives.General Kornilov decided not to lead his army to Ekaterinodar and turn south and cross the Kuban.He planned to rest his troops in the Circassian villages and Cossack mountain villages and a little wait.This decision Kornilov, Denikin called "a fatal mistake" and, together with Romanov tried to dissuade the army commander of the idea.But the general was unmoved.
Connection troops
Night from 5 to March 6 Ice trek Kornilov army continued in a southerly direction.After 2 days, the volunteers crossed the Elbe and went to Maikop, but it turned out that in this area, each farm must take to fight.Therefore, the general abruptly turned west and crossed the White River, and ran to the Circassian auls.Here he expected not only to rest his army, but also connect to the Kuban troops Pokrovsky.
But as recent data on the movement of the Volunteer Army colonel was not, he ceased to attempt to break through to Maikop.Pokrovsky decided to turn to the Kuban River and connect with the troops of Kornilov, who had managed to escape from there.As a result of this confusion, the two armies - and Kuban Volunteer - trying to find each other at random.Finally, 11 March they succeeded.
The village Novodmitrievskaya: Ice trek
It was in March 1918.Exhausted kilometers of daily marches and battles weakened the army had to go through the viscous black earth, as the weather suddenly turned bad, it started to rain.He was replaced freezing, so swollen from the rain soldiers' uniforms were literally freeze.In addition, sharply colder in the mountains has dropped a lot of snow.The temperature dropped to -20 ⁰S.As later told participants and witnesses of those events, the wounded who were transported on carts, the evening had by chipping bayonets formed around a thick ice crust.
I must say that to top it all, in mid-March was also the most severe clash that went down in history as the battle at the village Novodmitrievskaya where particularly distinguished fighters Consolidated-officers of the regiment.Later called "Ice March" began to understand this battle, and the preceding and following him on the transitions covered steppe ice crust.
Signing the agreement
After the battle at the village Novodmitrievskoy Kuban military formation proposed to include it in the Volunteer Army as an independent fighting force.In exchange, they promised to contribute to the replenishment and supply troops.In such conditions immediately agreed General Kornilov.Ice trek continued, and the number of the army increased to 6 thousand. People.
Volunteers have decided to go back to the capital of Kuban - Ekaterinodar.While staff officers worked out the plan of operations, troops reshape and rested while fighting off numerous attacks of the Bolsheviks.
Ekaterinodar
Ice trek Kornilov Army is nearing completion.March 27 (April 9) volunteers crossed the river.Kuban and began to storm Ekaterinodar.City defended 20,000th Red Army, commanded by Sorokin and autonomy.Ekaterinodar failed attempt to take, besides 4 days as a result of another fight random projectile General Kornilov was killed.His duties took over Denikin.
I must say that the Volunteer Army fought in complete environment with superior several times by the Red Army.Denikin losses now amounted to about 4 hundred killed and 1,5 thousand. Wounded.But, despite this, the General did manage to withdraw the army from the environment of the River Don.
April 29 (May 12) with the remnants of Denikin his troops went to the south to the area of the Don Region Walk-Borisovka - Mechetinsky - Egorlytskaya, and the next day hiking Ice Kornilov, who later became a legend of the White Guard movement was completed.
Siberian transition
winter of 1920 under the onslaught of the enemy began to retreat of the Eastern Front, commanded by Admiral Kolchak.It should be noted that this operation took place, as well as a campaign army Kornilov, in severe climatic and weather conditions.Equestrian hike length of about 2 thousand. Km run along the route of the Novonikolaevsk and Barnaul and Chita.Among the soldiers of the White Army, he was called "the Siberian Ice campaign."
this difficult transition began Nov. 14, 1919, when part of the White Army left Omsk.Troops led by VO Kappel retreated along the Trans-Siberian Railway, trains carrying wounded.Just on the heels of them chased the Red Army.Moreover, the situation was further complicated by numerous rebellions, flashing in the rear, as well as attacks from various gang and guerrilla groups.To top it all, is compounded also lyutymi Siberian frosts.
While the railroad controlled Czechoslovak Corps, so the troops of General Kappel had to leave the cars and transfer to the sled.After that, the White Army became a giant in size sleigh convoy.
When the Whites came to Krasnoyarsk, the city rebelled garrison led by General Bronislaw Zinevych, which concluded peace with the Bolsheviks.He Kappel persuaded to do the same, but was refused.At the beginning of January 1920 took place a few skirmishes, after which more than 12 thousand. Whites went around Krasnoyarsk, we crossed the Yenisei River and went further east.Approximately the same number of soldiers chose to surrender the city garrison.
leaving Krasnoyarsk, the army was divided into columns.First commanded K. Sakharov, whose troops were along the railway and the Siberian tract.The second column continued its march led by Ice Kappel.She moved first along the Yenisei River and then along the river Kan.This move proved to be the most difficult and dangerous.The fact that p.Kahn was covered with a layer of snow, and the water flowed under her ice-free sources.And it's 35 degrees below zero!The military had to move around in the dark and constantly fall into the hole in the ice, totally invisible under a layer of snow.Many of them froze and remained lying, and the rest of the army to move on.
During this transition, it turned out that General Kappel frostbitten his feet, falling into wormwood.He underwent surgery to amputate limbs.In addition, from hypothermia, he fell ill with pneumonia.In mid-January 1920 White captured Kansk.Twenty-first day of the same month, the Supreme Ruler of Russia Kolchak Czechs have given the Bolsheviks.After 2 days already dying Kappel General Staff of the Army Council has collected.It was decided to take the Irkutsk storm and release Kolchak.January 26 Kappel died and Ice campaign headed by General Wojciechowski.
Since the promotion of the White Army in the Irkutsk somewhat delayed because of constant fighting, took advantage of Lenin, who ordered the shooting of Kolchak.He was executed on 7 February.Learning of this, the general refused Wojciechowski which has now become meaningless assault of Irkutsk.After that, his troops crossed the Baikal on the item.Mysovaya loaded the wounded, the sick and women with children in the trains.The rest continued the Great Siberian Ice March to Chita, which is about six hundred kilometers.As they entered the city at the beginning of March 1920.
When the shift was over, General Wojciechowski established a new award - "For the Great Siberian march."They were awarded to all officers and soldiers who took part in it.It is worth noting that this historic event a few years ago vividly reminded participants of the musical group "Kalinov Most"."Ice March" - was the name of an album entirely dedicated to the retreat of the army of Kolchak in Siberia.
