Name: Lavr Kornilov
Age: 47 years old
Place of Birth: Ust-Kamenogorsk
A place of death: near Krasnodar
Activity: Russian military leader, infantry general
Family status: was married
Lavr Kornilov - Biography
The events of August 1917 went down in history as the Kornilov rebellion, forever enrolling the name of the infantry general Lavr Georgievich Kornilov in the lists of heroes.
Descendants attributed a lot to the general. Pedigree, political views. His biography is cited as an example of the “military Cinderella” of the tsarist army: the son of a seedy cornet (lieutenant) of the Siberian Cossack army, thanks to his hard work, honesty and courage, got into the elite of the empire. And what was Lavr Georgievich really like, outside the events of the First World War, the revolution and the Civil War?
Childhood, family
From birth he was called Lavr Yegorovich. Only after graduating from the Academy of the General Staff did Captain Kornilov "ennoble" the sound of his patronymic - he became Georgievich. In a poor family there were 10 children, she led a subsistence economy - none of them grew up with a white hand. But the father of the future general cannot be called a "Cossack proletarian" either.
The Kornilov clan in the Siberian Cossack army has been conducted since 1665 with Yakov Grigorievich Kornilov. And in the 17th century, only the Cossack nobility wore a surname and patronymic. The commander's grandfather Nikolai Gerasimovich served as a translator for Khan Kunanbai Uksenbaev, a descendant of the Kazakh tribal aristocracy; in the imperial bureaucracy, he held the rank of provincial secretary.
The mother of the legendary rebel Maryam (Maria) was the daughter of the head of a noble Kazakh family who converted to Orthodoxy. At the age of 17, she was married to a well-born Siberian Cossack. From her, Lavr Georgievich received "inheritance" Asian facial features and love for the culture of the peoples of the East.
Cadet Corps
Young Lavrik was assigned to the Omsk Cadet Corps. When the boy left his father's house for Omsk, his father presented him with the book "Collection of letters from an old officer to his son" with a parting inscription: "To whom money is more precious than honor, leave the service." With this motto, Lavr Kornilov walked through life until his last day.
Lavr graduated with honors from the cadet corps, which gave him the right to choose a military school. Despite his Cossack origin and love for horses, he chose not the cavalry, but the capital's Mikhailovsky Artillery School. And he also graduated with honors, but he never had a chance to command artillerymen in battle. Captain Kornilov graduated from the Academy of the General Staff with a silver medal.
Apparently, from the grandfather-interpreter of the Kazakh Khan, the grandson inherited a propensity for languages: in addition to English, French and German, Lavr Georgievich was fluent in Kazakh, Turkmen, Tatar, Farsi, and the northern dialect of Chinese. In 1899-1903. as an agent of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the General Staff, he traveled to the regions of northwestern China, Afghanistan, Persia, northern India, where he was engaged in what is now called "military geography".
Overgrown with a beard, in a tattered robe of an eastern pilgrim, under a false name, GRU captain Kornilov overcame the mountain passes of the Pamirs and the deserts of Turkmenistan - he studied the routes of the likely movement of various branches of the armed forces, marked on the map sources of drinking water, probable or already under construction fortifications near the border.
Returning from secret expeditions, he sat down at his desk. Soon the printing house of the headquarters of the Turkestan military district issued two works by Kornilov - “Kashgaria or East Turkestan” (Kashgaria then called the regions of northwestern China) and “Information concerning countries adjacent to the Turkestan military district”. It was a voluminous and rich in texture report on the transport, landscape, climatic and military-economic features of the countries with which the Russian Empire had borders in the south and east. This scientific work fully deserved the gold medal of the Russian Geographical Society. But, alas, for obvious reasons, Lavr Georgievich could not even be accepted as a member.
Significant month of Kornilov
The last month of summer was significant for Lavr Georgievich. August 18 (old style), 1870, he was born. In August 1889 he was enlisted as a cadet of the Moscow Artillery School. In August 1901, he married Taisiya Vladimirovna Markovina. In August 1904, for his feat in the Russo-Japanese War, he was awarded the Order of St. George IV degree. On August 28, 1916, on the second attempt, he escaped from Austrian captivity and went out to his own. The day of August 28, 1917, when he announced his disobedience to the Provisional Government, inscribed his name in the history of the revolution.
The military merits of the general in the Russo-Japanese and World War I have been described many times. It is important to note only one fact. By 1917, more than 60 Russian generals were languishing in captivity, but only Lavr Kornilov made a successful escape.
Was he an ardent monarchist, as he is sometimes portrayed? A fan personally of Nicholas II - no. Although it was this monarch who, on September 1, 1916, presented him with the Order of St. George III degree. And it was General Kornilov who arrived in Tsarskoye Selo on March 2, 1917, to announce to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna that from that day on she was only a "Romanov citizen." But he was undoubtedly a supporter of a strong state.
Death of Kornilov
It is generally accepted that on April 13, 1918, Kornilov was killed by a stray three-inch projectile on the eve of the storming of Yekaterinodar by volunteers. However, the clay, flimsy building of the dairy farm, covered with thatch, did not shatter when the shell hit it. None of the officers who were crowded in the next room were even scratched. Only dust covered the room where the leader of the volunteers was bending over the map, and two boards fell from above. The low power of the explosion proves that it was not the artillery shell of the "red" battery that killed the leader of the volunteers, but a hand grenade thrown under his feet by someone whom he considered "his".
Lavr Kornilov - biography of personal life
In August 1901, Lavr Kornilov got married in one of the Orthodox churches in Tashkent with Taisiya Vladimirovna Markovina (daughter of a titular adviser). The general's widow survived her husband by only 5 months - Taisiya Vladimirovna died in September 1918. The orphaned daughter Natalia and son Yuri were taken under guardianship by General Denikin. He took them with him to emigration in April 1920.
General Kornilov was and remains one of the most interesting and controversial historical figures in Russian history. He swore allegiance to the emperor, arrested the empress, wanted to overthrow the provisional government, and died at the hands of the Bolsheviks.
Versions of origin
Lavr Georgievich Kornilov was born in Ust-Kamenogorsk on August 30, 1870. What is significant for Kornilov, historians are still arguing even about his origin. According to one version, his father, Georgy Nikolaevich, was a former cornet of the 7th Siberian Cossack regiment. Eight years before the birth of Lavr, he left the Cossack estate and moved to the rank of collegiate registrar.
According to the Omsk local history writer Vladimir Shuldyakov, Kornilov was born into the family of a hereditary Cossack Georgy Nikolayevich Kornilov, the son of an interpreter from the Karkaralinskaya village of the Siberian Cossack army, who married a local Cossack Praskovya Ilyinichna Khlynovskaya, in whose family there were Kalmyks - hence Lavr, the fourth child in the family , had a characteristic "oriental appearance".
According to another version, the historian Shovunov, Lavr Kornilov - Lavga Gildzhirovich Deldinov. He was born in the family of a Kalmyk Cossack and a Russian Cossack woman in the Don village of Semikarakorskaya. When the family broke up, the young Lavga was adopted by his uncle Georgy Kornilov, who lived in Ust-Kamenogorsk and was recorded by Lavr.
There is another version that Kornilov's mother was a Kazakh, and in this case, Lavr Georgievich did not have a drop of Russian blood.
"Quiet, modest, kind"
Lavr Kornilov was from a breed of tenacious, stubborn and ambitious provincials who were not accustomed to follow patronage. In the military school, the cadet Kornilov was given the following description:
“Quiet, modest, kind, hardworking, obedient, diligent, affable, but due to insufficient education it seems rude ... Being very proud, inquisitive, serious about science and military affairs, he promises to be a good officer.”
Short, thin, inconspicuous, he stood out in the learning process, perhaps only for his exotic appearance, but every time exams, passing tests, became for Kornilov his “finest hour”. He showed brilliant knowledge in all sciences and disciplines. Kornilov could have had a quiet military career at the Academy, but he chose a different path.
war hero
After the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, Kornilov rushed to the front and knocked out the post of headquarters officer of the 1st brigade of the Consolidated Rifle Corps. In fact, he began to act as chief of staff.
His characterization was impeccable: “... Health is good, mental abilities are outstanding, moral qualities are very good ... strong will, hardworking and with great ambition ... due to excellent abilities, as well as great pride, he will cope with all sorts of things ... ".
Kornilov became a hero of the Russo-Japanese, distinguished himself in the battle of Mukden (took command and withdrew units from the encirclement), received the St. George Cross of the 4th degree.
Orientalist-scout
Lavr Kornilov was not only a talented military leader, but also a successful intelligence officer. From 1907 to 1910 he served as a military agent in China. Thanks to Kornilov, the Russian Empire received large amounts of intelligence.
The productivity of Lavr Georgievich's work was rooted in the strictest discipline, which Kornilov himself followed and which he expected from his subordinates. Lieutenant Colonel Afanasiev, who served as Kornilov's assistant in Mukden, wrote several reports about Kornilov's excessively authoritarian style of leadership.
The last Hero
Lavr Georgievich Kornilov was the last military commander appointed to his post by Nicholas II. The emperor signed the appointment a few hours before the abdication, at the insistence of Duma Chairman M.V. Rodzianko.
Kornilov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Petrograd district, because in this place they wanted to see "a valiant military general, whose name would be popular and authoritative among the population ...".
And Kornilov was famous. His military successes, his successful escape from Austrian captivity, made him a real example. At the same time, it must be said that his military glory was far from unambiguous. Brusilov wrote about him:
“It is strange that General Kornilov never spared his division: in all the battles in which she participated under his command, she suffered horrific losses, and yet the officers and soldiers loved him and believed him. True, he did not spare himself either, he was personally brave and climbed forward headlong.
loyal subject
One of the first assignments, which Lavr Georgievich undertook personally, was the arrest of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. She later recalled this: "Kornilov behaved these days like a real loyal subject."
It must be said that Kornilov took up the performance of his duties with his characteristic zeal. He called for an end to anarchy, to militarize the entire country, he believed that it was necessary to create not one army, but three: at the front, in the rear and on the railways. Kornilov prepared a program for the militarization of the country, the introduction of the death penalty, the fight against agitators, and the influence of the Soviets. What was surprising - Kerensky supported him.
Kornilov rebellion
The so-called Kornilov rebellion is still one of the most mysterious events in Russian history. Neither his motives nor what the commander wanted to achieve are fully understood.
One thing is clear: having trusted politicians, primarily Alexander Kerensky, Lavr Kornilov was mistaken. Kerensky, with the help of Lvov, staged a provocation at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, where it was said that Kornilov was planning a rebellion. After that, Kornilov was removed from the post of commander in chief. For him it was a shock, Lavr Georgievich did not even immediately believe that he was declared a traitor.
Kerensky was forced to turn to the Bolsheviks for support. They immediately created a slogan: "Whoever is for Kornilov is against the revolution, who is against the revolution, he is against the people, who is against the people, he is against the salvation of the motherland."
As a result, the units moving towards Petersburg were stopped.
The legendary "Wild Division" also went over to the side of the Petrograd Soviet. Ironically, just at that time, the All-Russian Muslim Congress was taking place in Petrograd, from which agitators were sent towards the Native Division and stopped it. Kornilov's speech was called an attempt to return the monarchy, although Kornilov's words are known that he said when it came to the return of the monarchy: "I will not go on any more adventures with the Romanovs."
The reaction of the former emperor to newspaper reports about "Kornilov's betrayal" was interesting. Colonel Romanov was very indignant and "bitterly said:" Is this Kornilov a traitor?
The ambiguity of the results of the rebellion is still noted by historians. It was after Kornilov's speech that the Bolsheviks got the opportunity to act, to arm the Red Guard, and the process of Bolshevization of the soviets began.
The rebellion cannot end in success, otherwise it is called differently.
Marshak S.Ya.
The Kornilov rebellion took place from 25 to 30 August 1917. Opponents were the supreme commander of the army, General Kornilov, and Prime Minister Kerensky. The events of those days raise more questions than answers. The official version says that General Kornilov rebelled and tried to seize power. He tried to concentrate power in his hands in order to become the sole ruler of Russia, destroying the fruits of the February revolution. As part of today's article, I want to give some facts from the Kornilov rebellion, which will indicate the weaknesses of the official version, and also allow you to look at this historical event from a different point of view.
Kornilov's path to power
Lavr Georgievich Kornilov was born in 1870. He graduated from the Omsk Cadet Corps, gaining the highest score. In 1898 he graduated from the Academy of the General Staff. Participated in the Russo-Japanese War, heroically proving himself in the battle of Mukden. With the beginning of the First World War, he took command of an infantry division. In its composition he was captured in April 1915, and in July 1916 he fled. March 2, 1917 was appointed commander of the Petrograd Military District. Participated in the dispersal of demonstrations in the April crisis days. After a conflict with the Soviets, he returns to the front and takes command of the aria. They are almost the only one who successfully fights. On July 19, he took over as Commander-in-Chief, replacing Brusilov in this position.
Why did the rebellion occur?
On July 25, at Headquarters, which was in Mogilev, Lavr Kornilov expressed ideas that consisted in restoring order in the country. To this end, the following measures were supposed to be implemented:
- Immediate introduction of martial law in the country.
- Cancellation in whole or in part of Order No. 1.
- The introduction of courts-martial in the army.
- Prohibition of political activity bartender.
These measures were supposed to restore order at the front and in the rear.
On August 3, Kornilov arrived in Petrograd and on the same day published his “Report to the Provisional Government” in the newspaper Izvestia. The report caused a wide resonance, since the people who had gained power as a result of the February revolution felt threatened. Kornilov's report received full approval among the generals and among public organizations in Russia.
From August 12 to 15, 1917, Kerensky and Kornilov spoke at the State Conference. Kerensky spoke of a truce and condemnation of all forms of extremism. Kornilov talked about taking decisive measures to restore order in the country. Kornilov's speech was met with much more enthusiasm than Kerensky's. After Kornilov, General of the Cossack troops Kaledin spoke at the meeting, who partially supported the ideas of the commander in chief, declaring that all revolutionary organizations within the country should be destroyed.
Kornilov was popular with the army, public organizations, and the bourgeoisie. It was a significant force to be heeded. Therefore, Kerensky decided to negotiate. On August 23, Deputy Minister of War Savinkov, following an order from Kerensky, conducts negotiations with Kornilov. As a result of these negotiations, the following positions were formed:
- On August 29, 1917, martial law was introduced in Petrograd.
- The Petrograd military garrison was completely transferred to the command of the commander-in-chief.
- To restore order in Petrograd, the 3rd cavalry corps of General Krymov is transferred to the city.
- Establishment of an emergency council of people's defense to govern the country. The council was to include Kornilov, Kerensky, Alekseev, Kolchak, Savinkov and Filonenko.
On August 25, the army of General Krymov, which included the First Don Cossack Division, the Ussuri Cavalry Division, and the Caucasian Native Cavalry Division, began to move towards Petrograd. Kornilov was at headquarters.
rebellion
On August 22, Vladimir Nikolaevich Lvov, the former chief prosecutor of the Synod, met with Kerensky and offered his services in negotiations with Kornilov to settle their differences. Then there are 2 versions of events. Lvov says that Kerensky agreed, while Kerensky claims that he did not agree to the meeting. Who to believe? It is necessary to consider the totality of the following actions in order to understand the answer to this question.
On August 24, Lvov meets with Kornilov at Headquarters. The general confirms all 4 points previously agreed upon, and declares that he is waiting for Kerensky in Mogilev for the transfer of authority.
On August 26, Lvov returned to Petrograd and conveyed his demands to Kerensky. Thus began the Kornilov "mutiny". It is impossible to unambiguously form a chronicle of the events of this day, since there are very few sources left. Around midnight, Kerensky convenes an emergency meeting of the government and announces Kornilov's betrayal. At the same time, he demands:
- All power for yourself
- Creation of a Directory that will govern the country.
The Prime Minister received none of this. All the ministers of the emergency meeting resigned. It was a turning point, when Kerensky actually lost his footing.
On August 27, Kerensky sends an order to Headquarters. In it, he orders Kornilov to step down as commander in chief, transferring them to his chief of staff, Lukomsky. Lukomsky responded with a refusal and the full support of his commander. Kerensky himself appeals for support to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, which forms the "Committee of the People's Struggle against Counter-Revolution."
Russia, our Motherland is dying! Her end is near! The Provisional Government, which supports the majority of the Soviets, is carrying out the plan of the German General Staff in full. The government is killing the army and shaking the country from within. I, General Kornilov, declare that I do not need anything but the preservation of Russia and its power. I vow to lead the people through victory to the Constituent Assembly, at which the fate of the state and state life will be decided.
Davr Kornilov
On August 28, an special issue of the Izvestia newspaper is published, in which Kerensky accuses General Kornilov of treason and an attempted rebellion. He confirmed that on August 26, through Lvov, he received an ultimatum from Kornilov about transferring all full state and military power to him. In the article, he repeated the order to Kornilov to surrender the post of commander, and also notified the transfer of Petrograd to martial law.
General Krymov and his role
Meanwhile, the army of General Krymov, who had no idea about what was happening, was marching towards Petrograd. He had begun his nomination even before the quarrel between Kerensky and Kornilov and was absolutely sure that everything was going according to plan. However, near Pskov, he receives 2 orders that shocked him. At the same time comes Kornilov's order to march on Petrograd, and Kerensky's order to retreat immediately. After deliberation, he decides to carry out the order of his commander. But there were problems. The army was ready to march on Petrograd, but it was going there to restore order, and then it turned out that they were going to save Kornilov and shoot Kerensky. Therefore, Krymov went to the trick. He announced to the army that there were riots in Petrograd and the army must enter there in order to put things in order. There were 2 problems:
- The Don Cossack division under the command of Khreschatitsky refused to move on.
- The native division in full strength announced the cessation of operations.
Of particular interest is the case of the Native Division. It consisted of Caucasian peoples. By the way, in Petrograd they were extremely afraid of her arrival, because they understood that the Caucasians did not care who was “right” and who was “left” - they would simply cut everyone. But at that very time, a congress of leaders of Muslim communities was taking place in the city, who went to the division and communicated with it for an hour. After that, the Caucasians decided not to fight.
In fact, Krymov was left without an army, and for the first time in his career there was a situation that the army refused to follow his orders. He was always proud of his relationship with the soldiers, whom he understood well. But here is a twist. In fact, this Kornilov rebellion was over.
General Krymov arrives in Petrograd on August 30 to meet with Kerensky. We do not know what they were talking about, we only know that on the same night Krymov shot himself.
The arrest of Kornilov
On the side of Kerensky was the famous General Alekseev, who enjoyed great respect among the troops. August 31 Alekseev arrives in Mogilev. The content of his conversation with Kornilov is also unknown, but after it Kornilov agreed to resign as commander-in-chief if the authorities let Denikin and other generals who were arrested as traitors, and also recognizes the fact that they are misunderstood and will not declare anyone rebels. Alekseev transmits these demands to Petrograd, after which Kerensky appoints himself commander in chief, Alekseev chief of staff, and General Verkhovsky minister of war.
Kerensky did not keep his promises. Alekseev was ordered to deal with the rebels and on September 2 he arrested Kornilov with 21 more people from his army.
After 3 days, Kerensky arrives at the headquarters, who personally scolded Alekseev that there were very few arrested people and that as many people as possible should be punished more severely. Alekseev refused and resigned.
General Kornilov was under arrest in Mogilev. Then he escaped and took part in the Civil War, dying near Ekaterinograd.
Can the Kornilov rebellion be called a rebellion?
Soviet historians have unequivocally said that the Kornilov rebellion was a plot to destroy the freedoms won by the revolution. In the post-Soviet era, it is increasingly said that there was an agreement between Kerensky and Kornilov, which at the last moment did not go according to plan, which led to a confrontation. Indeed, Kerensky's "red banner of revolution" and Kornilov's "faithful army" could bring order to the country.
The rebellion itself and the way it was presented by the Soviets has a number of very controversial points:
- General Kornilov did not leave Mogilev all the time of the "mutiny". Can you imagine that a riot has begun, and its leader is hundreds of kilometers away?
- If we assume that it really was a rebellion, then the center of the rebellion was Mogilev, where the Headquarters was located. Consequently, the whole army revolted. Then it is absolutely incomprehensible why, after Krymov's suicide, Kornilov did not send other regiments to Petrograd. After all, the army was for him ...
- How did you manage to arrest the general at Headquarters, which was the center of the rebellion?
In fact, Kornilov, like a soldier, wanted to save Russia, which was threatened by war. His demands were reasonable. The general demanded full power for himself until the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, but that is exactly what Kerensky did. The prime minister, knocking before an official announcement, demanded full power for himself. The problem is that Kerensky needed power to strengthen his position, and Kornilov needed it to save the army and the country, preventing defeat at the front.
In the end, I propose to answer the fans of the classic version of a simple question - who suppressed the Kornilov rebellion? Someone suppressed all the rebellions and riots. Even if you do not remember the name of a particular person, you can remember the army that put down the Razin rebellion, the Copper Riots and other rebellions. But who suppressed the rebellion of General Kornilov? It turns out that no one. The rebellion arose on its own and disappeared on its own. It's not logical...
Historical implications
In the historical assessment of the events of August 1917, one can understand how the Kornilov rebellion influenced the October Revolution. The fact is that all parties, except for the Bolsheviks, were somehow involved in the events of the "mutiny". Ultimately, this undermined people's faith in them. But the Bolsheviks were wiser. They did not support either Kornilov or Kerensky, as a result of which the people saw them as their own, and not people ready to do anything for the sake of power. This led to their support and strengthening of their positions, which in turn led to the October Revolution.
A. Nikolaev. General L. Kornilov: Hero or traitor?
The name of General L.G. Kornilov is still surrounded by a certain halo for many. A brave officer who escaped from German captivity, the leader of the "Kornilov rebellion" - the performance of patriotic officers against the Provisional Government of A. Kerensky, the Leader of the White Struggle, who died heroically in battle with the Reds - this is how he appears on the pages of books, brochures and newspapers.
Moreover, the popularization of his personality is carried out not only by authors and publications professing the Kornilov ideology. Kornilov's apologies are found even in monarchical publications.
How justified is such an attitude towards Kornilov of people who profess monarchist views? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to recall certain facts relating to the last period of the general's life.
On March 2/15, 1917, even before receiving official news of the abdication of Nicholas II, General Kornilov accepted from the Provisional Government an appointment to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Petrograd Military District. This choice was not accidental - according to the testimony of General A. Denikin, “everyone who knew at least a little Kornilov felt that he should play a big role against the backdrop of the Russian revolution” (Essays on Russian Troubles, vol. 1, p. 76). Obviously, he was prepared for the post of commander in advance, and from the very first days of the revolution he declared himself to be its staunch supporter.
Having taken the first step, L. Kornilov went much further. In his new capacity, he committed the dirtiest act in his life - by order of the Provisional Government, he arrested the defenseless Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the Heir-Tsesarevich and the August Daughters. He did this not only without external, or at least internal protest, but with visible pleasure.
Clumsy attempts to justify this vileness do not stand up to scrutiny. General Arkhangelsky wrote, taking it almost as a merit, that Kornilov arrested the Imperial Family "without any antics or words offensive to Her Majesty." As one of the leaders of the Russian monarchist emigration, I. Yakobiy, rightly noted: “Does the gene understand well. Arkhangelsk meaning and meaning of what he writes? After all, the Bolshevik monsters also shot the Royal Family “without any antics or words offensive to them. Tov. Yurovsky even ordered to bring three chairs for his victims before the murder.
A. Kersnovsky claims: “The Empress was pleased that the arrest was entrusted not to anyone, but to a well-known war hero, and told the head of security, Colonel Kobylinsky, that “Kornilov behaved these days like a real loyal subject.”
We do not know the source of this information. And he's hardly trustworthy. The Empress did not suffer from a lack of logic and was fully aware that Kornilov, to put it mildly, did not correspond to the idea of loyalty. In the book of N. Sokolov "The Murder of the Royal Family" - the most detailed study on this topic - there is not even a hint of something like that. But there is evidence of a different nature. According to them, the Martyr Empress spoke of Kornilov’s behavior in the following way: “I understood and understand the hatred of Guchkov, Kerensky and others for Us, but why do people like General Kornilov, whom Nicky so kindly caress, hate Us so much? You have known Me for a long time and you know that I know how to control myself, but at that hour when General Kornilov with a red bow next to the Order of St. listen to the order of the Provisional Government,” my eyes grew dark.”
The betrayal of some of the courtiers, who “abandoned their Sovereign to the mercy of enemies”, “hidden” and “saved their lives thanks to Kornilov’s volunteers”, about which, shielding Kornilov, Kersnovsky writes, in no way justifies the general himself. Everyone is responsible for himself: the courtiers for passive treason, Kornilov for active treason.
By his order, the guards of Tsarskoye Selo were changed, where Emperor Nicholas II and His Family were under arrest. Moreover, the new detachment was formed from such persons who not only protected the new government (what else can be understood), but subtly mocked the Royal Martyrs. All this was done with the knowledge of Kornilov.
On April 6, 1917, L. Kornilov also defiled the same St. George Cross, with which he displays his chest in photographs and portraits. On this day, the revolutionary commander promoted to lieutenant and awarded the St. George Cross to non-commissioned officer L.-Gds. Volyn regiment of T. Kirpichnikov, whose “feat” was that he RAISED A REVOLT IN HIS REGIMENT AND PERSONALLY KILLED CAPTAIN LASHKEVICH. Soon, issue 16 of the Niva magazine came out, decorated with a portrait of the killer under the following inscription: “Georgievsky Cavalier for Civil Merit. Senior non-commissioned officer of the Volynsky regiment Timofey Ivanovich Kirpichnikov, the first to raise the banner of insurrection among the soldiers, was awarded the gene. Kornilov St. George Cross and now elevated to ensign.
When in June 1917, in view of the catastrophic collapse of the Army, Kornilov was approached with a proposal to carry out a coup and restore the Monarchy, he categorically stated that “he will not go on any adventure with the Romanovs” (Denikin A. Essays on Russian Troubles. vol. 1, in 2, p. 198). What the generations of his ancestors lived, what inspired many more honest Russian people, and what he himself swore, the general now dared to call "adventure."
Thus began the revolutionary career of Kornilov. But maybe later he realized the fallacy and criminality of his behavior? Is not his August speech against the Provisional Government a confirmation of this?
Alas, the so-called "Kornilov rebellion" was by no means counter-revolutionary, as leftist historians and some of Kornilov's apologists claimed. The corps of General Krymov went to Petrograd at the request of Kerensky. The Kornilovites themselves testified that Kornilov wanted to "strengthen the authority and power of the Provisional Government." But on August 28, Kerensky, who set up a provocation, declared Kornilov a traitor. Like spiders in a jar, the revolutionaries bit and crushed each other. The “Prisoner of Bykhov” became the victim of this squabble. But understanding never came.
Having escaped from prison, Kornilov set about creating the Kornilov shock regiment. The first cell of the officer corps of this regiment were warrant officers, who "almost all considered themselves republicans or sympathizers of the Socialist Revolutionary Party" (see Kornilov shock regiment; edited by Gen. Skoblin and Gen. Golovin). One of these ensigns composed a song with the following words: “We do not regret the past, the Tsar is not our idol!” Kornilov liked the song so much that he asked to rewrite the text for him. When a shell fragment hit the general, on his bloody chest, the associates found a piece with this particular song, after which it became the official march of the Kornilov regiment. You can’t think of anything more symbolic - Kornilov died an enemy of the Monarchy, never realizing that his efforts under the slogan “For Kornilov and the Motherland” instead of “For Faith, Tsar and Fatherland!” - were doomed.
Republican views and hatred of the Monarchy and the Dynasty, the general considered it his duty to constantly emphasize. Speaking at the beginning of January 1918 before the 1st officer battalion of the Volunteer Army in Novocherkassk, Kornilov specifically noted that he was a staunch republican, a republican to such an extent that if the Constituent Assembly spoke in favor of restoring the House of Romanov to the Throne, he would put up with it, but immediately leave the borders of Russia. The commander's statement was met with a standing ovation from his fans.
The Kornilovites always violently protested against any manifestation of monarchical feelings, and even in Gallipoli they fired at the tents of Russian soldiers and officers who sang "God save the Tsar!"
When, after World War II, former associates of Kornilov intended to erect a memorial plaque in his honor in the Temple-Monument to the Tsar-Martyr in Brussels, this caused a storm of protests from the monarchist emigration. The Honorary Chairman of the Committee for the Construction of the Memorial Church, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, wrote: “I am deeply indignant at the decision of the Committee to build a plaque with the name of Gen. Kornilov in the Temple-Monument - of course, there can be no place for such a board there. Protopresbyter Alexander Shabashev noted that Kornilov “glorified himself with the exploits of the betrayal of the Martyr Emperor, insulting behavior with the Empress, and even awarding the soldier with the St. George Cross for civil exploits, expressed in the murder of his officer and raising (as in the original - A.N.) state order." Count Tatishchev, as it were, sums up: “General Kornilov openly expressed his sympathy for the revolution, he participated in it, he used the authority of his name not to serve his Sovereign, but against Him, he went against those who remained faithful to the Sovereign and for Him, for they gave their lives to Him in moments of struggle against treason, he covered himself with shame, deciding to take upon himself the arrest of the Royal Family, he sanctioned in the face of the entire Russian Army the criminal gesture of a soldier who killed his valiant officer for loyalty to his oath to the Tsar. There is NO PLACE for the name of General Kornilov in the Temple-Monument dedicated to the memory of the Tsar-Martyr.
Kornilov Lavr Egorovich
- Life dates: 18.08.1870-31.03.1918
- Biography:
Orthodox. The son of a collegiate secretary, who had served as a soldier, a native of the Semipalatinsk region. Educated in the Siberian Cadet Corps (1889). Entered service on August 29, 1889. He graduated from the Mikhailovsky Artillery School (1892; 1st category). Released from the school by Lieutenant (Art. 08/04/1892) in the Turkestan art. brigade. Lieutenant (Art. 08/10/1894). Headquarters Captain (Art. 07/13/1897). Graduated from the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff (1898; 1st category; with a small silver medal and entering his name on a marble plaque). Captain (Art. 05/17/1898). Consisted with the Turkestan Military District. Assistant Art. adjutant of the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District (08/11/1899-10/19/1901). Headquarters officer for assignments at the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District (10/19/1901-06/13/1904). Lieutenant Colonel (Art. 12/06/1901). While serving in the Turkestan Military District, he made a number of long research and reconnaissance expeditions in East Turkestan (Sinkiang), Afghanistan and Persia, during which he mastered the local languages well. K. edited the secret edition of the headquarters of the district - "Information concerning countries adjacent to the Turkestan military district" and published a number of works, including "Kashgaria, or East Turkestan." He served as a licensed company commander in the 1st Turkestan Str. Battalion (03.10.1902-30.09.1903). During his service in Turkestan, K. was awarded his first order - St. Stanislav 3rd class. and Bukhara Order of the Golden Star of the 3rd class. In 1904 he was transferred to serve in the General Staff. Head of the clerk Headquarters (13.06.-30.09.1904). With the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, he expressed a desire to go to the theater of operations. Headquarters officer in the management of the 1st page of the brigade (09/30/1904-05/01/1906). In fact, he was the chief of staff of the brigade. For military distinctions he was awarded the Order of St. George 4th class. (VP 09/08/1905), Golden Weapon (VP 05/09/1907), promoted to the rank of Colonel (Article 12/26/1905). Clerk of the management of the general quarter. gene. headquarters (05/01/1906-04/01/1907). Military agent in China (04/01/1907-24/02/1911). He was awarded numerous foreign orders. Commander of the 8th Estonian Infantry Regiment (24.02.-03.06.1911). Head of the 2nd Zaamursky district of a separate corps of the border guards (2 infantry and 3 cavalry regiments) (06/03/1911-07/04/1913). Major General (Article 12/26/1911). In 1912, by order of the head of the district, he made an inquiry about the supply of troops with poor-quality products, after which the case was transferred to a military investigator, and, according to the decision of the prosecutor's supervision, some commanding persons were involved in the investigation as accused. When the investigation was terminated by the Highest command, and the head of the district, gen. E.I. Martynov submitted a letter of resignation, K., on a personal request, was transferred on 07/04/1913 to the military department as commander of the 1st brigade of the 9th Siberian division stationed in Vladivostok. Commander of the 48th Infantry Division (since 08/19/1914). He entered World War II in Galicia as part of the 8th Army of the Southwestern Front. The courage of a soldier, which K. showed in battle, created his reputation as a military commander. Participated in the battle of Grodek and the Carpathian operation. Lieutenant General (pr. 02/16/1915; art. 08/26/1914; for differences in affairs ...) with approval in the position. After the breakthrough by the troops of Gen. Mackensen of the positions of the 3rd Army of the Southwestern Front in the Gorlitse-Tarnov sector, the K. 21.04.-24.04.1915 division was surrounded by enemy troops in the Dukla area. Refusing to surrender, K. went to the mountains with his staff. After a 4-day wandering, K. 04/23/1915, together with the headquarters, surrendered to one of the Austro-Hungarian units. For his actions, K. was awarded the Order of St.. George 3rd class. (VP 04/28/1915). 05/12/1915 expelled from office for being in captivity. In 07.1916 he escaped from captivity to Romania, which entered the war on the side of the Entente. Commander of the 25th Army Corps (since 09/13/1916), commander of the troops of the Petrograd Military District (since 03/02/1917). 03/07/1917, by order of the Provisional Government, he arrested Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in Tsarskoe Selo. On April 21, 1917, street riots took place in Petrograd, which K. proposed to suppress with the use of district troops. After the statement of the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, according to which all orders of the district headquarters were subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, which undermined the position of the district commander, and the lack of support from the government, K. resigned. Commander of the 8th Army (from 04/29/1917). General of Infantry (06/27/1917). Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the Southwestern Front (from 07/10/1917), Supreme Commander-in-Chief (from 07/18/1917). 08/03/1917 K. presented to the government a program that was considered "excessive". The plan provided for the restoration of the disciplinary power of commanders with the limitation of the powers of commissars and various committees, in addition, K. insisted on the introduction of the death penalty not only at the front, but also in the rear. To calm the country and successfully conduct the war, K. insisted on declaring the military industry and railways under martial law with the prohibition of rallies and strikes. 08/13/1917, speaking at the State Conference in Petrograd, K. called the cause of the crisis in the army "legislative measures" of the government, once again calling for equating the rear with the front. Through intermediaries, K. negotiated with the government on the transfer of full power to him. On August 23, 1917, B.V. arrived at Headquarters. Savinkov, who assured K. of the approval of the Provisional Government of his project. On the evening of August 24, 1917, K. appointed Gen. A.M. Krymov as commander of the Separate Army in Petrograd, and Gen. P.V. Krasnov - commander of the 3rd cavalry corps. V.N. Lvov, who acted as an intermediary between K. and the government, conveyed to Kerensky (in his presentation) K.’s demands: to declare the capital under martial law, transfer full power to K., and announce the resignation of the entire government. After hesitation A.F. Kerensky 08/29/1917 expelled K. from office with a trial for rebellion. 09/02/1917 K. was arrested. Contained in Bykhov. On November 19, 1917, he was released and, accompanied by the Tekinsky cavalry regiment, went to the Don, where, under the leadership of General. Alekseev, the Volunteer Army was unfolding. After a series of unsuccessful clashes with the Red Guard detachments, he left the regiment and made his way to Novocherkassk alone (arrived on 12/06/1917). From 12/25/1917 commander of the Volunteer Army. In 01.1918 the army was transferred to Rostov-on-Don. In view of the unwillingness of the Don Cossacks to resist the Bolsheviks, it was decided to move to the Kuban, in the hope of a more favorable attitude towards the army of the government of the Kuban army. During the 1st Kuban (Ice) campaign, the Volunteer Army, avoiding the railways and fighting constant battles with the Red detachments, managed to reach the river. Kuban, which was forced at Art. Ust-Labinskaya. However, by this time the detachment of the Kuban Pr-va had already left Yekaterinodar, occupied by the Reds on 01(14).03.1918. 11 (24) 03/1918 Volunteer army united with the Kuban detachment Polk. Pokrovsky near the village of Shenjiy. Having taken 15 (28) 03/1918 after a fierce battle, Art. Novo-Dmitrievskaya, the army remained there until 03/22 (04/02). 1918, when the movement began, which had the goal of taking Ekaterinodar. 27.03 (09.04).-31.03 (13.04).1918 stubbornly defending Yekaterinodar was stormed. Killed on March 31, 1918 (old style) by a grenade explosion. Taken command of the army, Gen. Denikin stopped the assault on Yekaterinodar and began to withdraw the army. K.'s body was buried on 04/02/1918 in the Gnachbau colony. The next day after the departure of the Volunteer Army, the Bolsheviks entered the colony. The corpse of K. was exhumed and abused, and then burned.
- Ranks:
- Awards:
- Additional Information:
- Sources:
- Gorlitskaya operation. Collection of documents of the world imperialist war on the Russian front (1914-1917). M., 1941.
- Brusilov A.A. My memories. M. 2001
- Zalessky K.A. Who was who in the First World War. M., 2003.
- Rutych N.N. Biographical reference book of the highest ranks of the Volunteer Army and the Armed Forces of the South of Russia: Materials for the history of the White movement. M., 2002.
- Slashchev-Krymsky Ya.A. White Crimea 1920. M., 1990
- Yushko V. 48th infantry. division.
- Eliseev F.I. Labintsy. Escape from Soviet Russia. M. 2006
- "Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. Bio-Bibliographic Reference" RGVIA, M., 2004.
- List of the General Staff. Corrected on 06/01/1914. Petrograd, 1914
- List of the General Staff. Corrected on 01/01/1916. Petrograd, 1916
- List of the General Staff. Corrected on 01/03/1917. Petrograd, 1917
- List of generals by seniority. Compiled on 07/10/1916. Petrograd, 1916
- Ismailov E.E. Golden weapon with the inscription "For bravery". Lists of cavaliers 1788-1913. M. 2007
- Russian Disabled. No. 243, 1915 / Information provided by Yuri Vedeneev
- VP for the military department / Scout No. 1272, 03/24/1915
- VP for the military department / Scout No. 1273, 03/31/1915
- VP for the military department / Scout No. 1279, 05/12/1915
- VP for the military department / Scout No. 1286, 06/30/1915
