Alexander Kolchak. ... Admiral Alexander Kolchak, with this power. Kolchak was born in St Petersburg, the son of a retired naval officer from a noble background. He participated in the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War, and the Russian Civil War. A Russian naval commander, polar explorer and head of the anti-Bolshevik fight during the Russian Civil War, Aleksandr Kolchak is undoubtedly one of the most controversial figures of Russian history. In January 1920, Kolchak was betrayed by Czech officers while travelling to British headquarters in Irkutsk. The lack of an effective leader and diplomat in the trying times of the Russian Civil War was a major contributing factor in the defeat of his forces but was not the only reason for the failure of the White forces. Kolchak was relieved of command of the fleet in June and traveled to Petrograd (St. Petersburg). Kolchak took part … Admiral (Адмиралъ) is a 2008 film by Andrei Kravchuk.It is a Biopic of Admiral Alexander Kolchak, Imperial Russian admiral and later a White commander in the Russian Civil War.. Aleksandr Vasilyevich Kolchak, (born Nov. 4 [Nov. 16, New Style], 1874, St. Petersburg, Russia—died Feb. 7, 1920, Irkutsk, Siberia), Arctic explorer and naval officer, who was recognized in 1919–20 by the “Whites” as supreme ruler of Russia; after his overthrow he was put to death by the Bolsheviks.. At the outbreak of World War I, Kolchak was flag captain of the Baltic fleet. Title: “Alexander Kolchak” Kolchak’s domestic policies included a crackdown on soviets, the persecution of socialists and rival factions, the acknowledgement of foreign debts and the return of private property such as land and factories. [January 8th, 1920] In the Russian Civil War Admiral Alexander Kolchak, nominally the leader of the Whites (since Nov. 1918), is defeated at Krasnoyarsk and withdraws across Siberia to Irkutsk, where his Czech allies hand him over to the Bolsheviks. Kolchak graduated with an officer’s commission in 1894. Kolchak became a supporter of Kerensky’s Provisional Government. During World War I, Kolchak was promoted to vice-admiral given command of the Black Sea fleet. Alexander Kolchak was one of the White leaders during the civil war that followed the November 1917 Revolution. Alexander Kolchak, the son of a major-general of the Marine Artillery, was born in St Petersburg in 1873. Alexander Kolchak : biography 16 November 1874 – 7 February 1920 Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak ( 4 November (16 November) 1874 – 7 February 1920) was a polar explorer and commander in the Imperial Russian Navy, who fought in the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War. In the spring of 1917, Kolchak was urged by conservative elites to seize control of the government, rule as a quasi-dictator and crush the Bolsheviks and the Petrograd Soviet. Authors: Jennifer Llewellyn, Steve Thompson During the Russian Civil War, he established an anti-communist government in Siberia—later the Provisional All-Russian Government—and was recognised as the "Supreme Leader and Commander-in-Chief of All Russian Land and Sea Forces" by the other leaders of the White movement from 1918 to 1920. For more information, visit our FAQ page or Terms of Use. Admiral Aleksandr V. Kolchak (born 16 November 1874) was the former supreme military commander of all White Russian forces during the Russian Civil War and head of the Provisional All-Russian Government immediately afterward, before fleeing to Siberia following a failed coup in 1924. This site is created and maintained by Alpha History. Kolchak was an admiral in Russia’s navy and had been a follower of Alexander Kerensky and his Provisional Government that governed before the Bolshevik takeover.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'historylearningsite_co_uk-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',129,'0','0'])); Kolchak was born in 1874 in the city of St. Petersburg. In return, the Allies provided Kolchak’s regime with vast amounts of food and military supplies. Kolchak, being the principal leader of the Russian White Army during the civil war, quickly became the nation's first president in 1922. He joined the Russian Navy and served in Vladivostok (1895-1899). Kolchak supported the February Revolution and the Provisional Government but he opposed the government’s military reforms, believing they weakened discipline and structure. Date accessed: December 29, 2020 4 November] 1874 – 7 February 1920) was an Imperial Russian admiral, military leader and polar explorer who served in the Imperial Russian Navy and fought in the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War. Alexander Kolchak (1874-1920) served as an admiral in the Imperial Navy. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the confrontation between the Red and White movements in the Civil War on the territory of the European part of the country — after the Red army captured the Crimea in November 1920, the White movement remained the opponent of the Bolshevik power only in the Far East. Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak (Russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Колча́к, 16 November [O.S. During the civil war entered the historic Chronicles as the leader of the White movement. When Alexander Kerensky became aware of these plots, Kolchak resigned his commission and embarked on a study tour of the United States. Heartily recommended reading, especially for it's timeline of the multiple Russian revolutions and assassination attempts on the czarist officials leading up to 1917. Alexander Kolchak was born on 16 Nov 1874 in the village of Alexandrovskoye in the suburbs of St. Petersburg in the famil… Kerensky sent Kolchak as Russia’s naval attaché to America to study the US Navy. He was executed by firing squad and his body dumped in a frozen river. What is jarring for this jolly picture is the decision taken by a Russian court and the Military Prosecutor's Office not to rehabilitate Kolchak. Kolchak was greatly admired by the British and French, who viewed him as the Russian most capable of uniting the disjointed White armies. Kolchak was appointed Supreme Ruler. Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak KB (Russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Колча́к; 16 November [O.S. Alexander Kolchak (1874-1920) served as an admiral in the Imperial Navy. Kolchak tried to get protection from the Allies but the Czech Legion handed him over to the Bolsheviks. Alexander Kolchak Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak KB ( Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Колча́к ; 0[O.S. Kolchak was captured by the Bolsheviks and executed. Alexander Kolchak (16 November 1874-7 February 1920) was the dictator of the Provisional All-Russian Government and commander of the White Army during the Russian Civil War.Formerly an Imperial Russian Navy admiral, Kolchak led opposition to Bolshevism and the Red Army, but he was captured and executed in 1920. The Black Sea fleet descended into political chaos after the onset of the 1917 February Revolution. Alexander Kolchak is a prominent military commander and Russian statesman, a polar explorer. In 1918, Kolchak travelled to Tsaritsyn, a city on the Volga river in southern Russia. Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak KB (Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Колча́к; 16 November 1874 – 7 February 1920) was an Imperial Russian admiral, military leader and polar explorer who served in the Imperial Russian Navy, who fought in the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War.wikipedia These are the sources that most directly deal with Kolchak, besides innumerable secondary sources and summaries of the Russian Civil war too long to list for a longer view. He was one of the leaders of the White movement in eastern Russia and was proclaimed Supreme Ruler. He was educated at St Petersburg’s Lyceum before joining the navy’s cadet corps, intent on becoming a career officer like his father. In August 1916, Kolchak became the youngest vice-admiral in the Russian Navy – a reward for his success in defending the coastal region of Russia around the Baltic. He was arrested and handed to a Left SR contingent. In 1900, he participated in two expeditions to the Arctic Circle. The film opens during the production of War and Peace at Mosfilm Studios in 1964. Russian Revolution memory quiz – events 1907-1916, Russian Revolution memory quiz – events 1917, Russian Revolution memory quiz – events 1918-1924, Russian Revolution memory quiz – revolutionaries, Russian Revolution memory quiz – tsarists, Russian Revolution memory quiz: concepts (I), Russian Revolution memory quiz: concepts (II), Russian Revolution memory quiz: events 1906 to 1913, Russian Revolution memory quiz: events 1914 to 1916, Russian Revolution memory quiz: events to 1905. In particular, he managed to anger the Czechoslovak Legion who controlled the Trans-Siberian Railway. This left Kolchak in a form of limbo. After the outbreak of war initially on the flagship Pogranichnik, Kolchak oversaw the laying of extensive coastal defensive minefields and commanded the naval forces in the Gulf of Riga. In 1904-5, Kolchak saw combat in the Russo-Japanese War, commanding his own destroyer with some distinction. He joined the Russian Imperial Fleet and saw service during the Russo-Japanese War in Port Arthur – a port that was to fall to the Japanese. Belligerents White Movement Bolsheviks United Kingdom United States German Empire Commanders and leaders Alexander Kolchak Alexander Kerensky Anton Denikin Edmund Ironside William S. Graves Vladimir Lenin Leon Trotsky Joseph Stalin Strength 1,024,000 1,400,900 (peak) The Russian Civil War (Russian: Гражданская война в России, tr. Those military figures in this government forcibly removed the Socialist Revolutionaries and took full control of the White government in Omsk. The hardships endured in these polar expeditions left Kolchak with rheumatism and occasional poor health for much of his life. Under Kolchak’s leadership, the White forces achieved some notable military gains, particularly in the first months of 1919. His first move was to replace the Provisional All-Russian Government with a military dictatorship. Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak (Russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Колча́к, 16 November [O.S. The Allied intervention in north Russia was partly intended to link up with Kolchak, but his regime was corrupt and unpopular and he lost the support of his most formidable force of 40,000 former Czech and Slovak prisoners of war and deserters, known as ‘the Czechoslovak Legion’. Personality assessment Kolchak is one of the most controversial and tragic pages of Russian history of the 20th century. During the spring and summer of 1919 Chapayev took part in military operations against the White armies of the "Supreme Ruler of Russia", Alexander Kolchak, in the Volga region and South Urals. Biography . Working in Siberia, Kolchak was appointed Minister of War and Navy for the anti-Bolshevik government that had set up an autonomous government in Omsk. There he presente… Citation information In 1911, he was promoted to the Naval General Staff and at the start of World War One he was the captain of the flagship of the Baltic Sea Fleet. He offered his services to the Royal Navy, which they accepted. Aleksandr Vasil'evich Kolchak was a Russian admiral and political figure. Within a fortnight, Kolchak had been sentenced to death. In this position, Kolchak gained superiority over the Turkish Navy by mining large areas of the Sea of Marmora and by bombarding the coastal defences established by the Turks in the region.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'historylearningsite_co_uk-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',114,'0','0'])); In July 1917, a Sailor’s Soviet removed Kolchak from his position in the Russian Navy. An elderly Russian noblewoman is set to appear as a film extra until her past comes to light. Alexander Kolchak was born in St. Petersburg.He took part in the polar expedition of Eduard Toll and joined the Russian Navy. Kolchak Oleksandr Vasylyovych – an outstanding military leader and statesman of Russia, polar Explorer. For more information on usage, please refer to our Terms of Use. He was captured during the battle for Port Arthur and released by the Japanese in 1905. On his arrival, Kolchak became a member of cabinet in the counter-revolutionary government based in Omsk. Managed by Caboodle UX design studio in London, Citation: C N Trueman "Alexander Kolchak". From here, Kolchak could have launched an attack on Moscow itself, combining his attack with one by the British. Yet he did not. History Learning Site Copyright © 2000 - 2020. Initially he was successful at a military level, taking the city of Perm and advancing to the Volga. Aleksandr Kolchak was born in the village of Aleksandrovskoye, near Saint Petersburg. On January 4th, 1920, Kolchak handed control of his army to General Anton Denikin. There, he arrived for the Conference of Tsaritsyn, where some 300 influential Russia… Reluctantly, Kolchak accepted the British suggestions and with a heavy sense of foreboding, he returned to Russia. Under Russian law he remains a criminal - just as he was judged in 1920 when captured by Siberian revolutionaries, who found him guilty - without a formal trial - of the killing of thousands of workers and peasants who had revolted against his authority. For one year during the Civil War, Admiral Kolchak was the internationally recognized leader of Russia.He united all the White Movement forces against Bolsheviks and received military and diplomatic aid from the west.. Background Lived: 1874-1920. Posts about Alexander Kolchak written by ianmoore3000. After interrogation, Kolchak was shot and his body dumped in the Angara River on February 2nd, 1920. The war showed that the Russian Navy was in need of major reform (as the lead up to the Battle of Tsushima Bay showed) and Kolchak took part in the process that led up to the introduction of reforms. Kolchak was unable to unite the disparate White forces, however, due to his brutal methods and unwillingness to tolerate other political groups. Kolchak graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps in 1894. This Russian Revolution site contains articles, sources and perspectives on events in Russia between 1891 and 1927. The Russian Civil War was a large conflict over the former Russian Empire.The collapse of the Russian empire in 1917 triggered a complex series of interlocking conflicts that lasted into the 1920s and are estimated to have cost 13 million lives, mostly civilian victims of famine and of the massacre and depredation practiced by all sides in the Civil War. Kolchak led the White Army movement that attempted to regain control of Russia from the Bolshevik Red Army during the Russian Civil War of 1917 – 1923. Admiral Essenwas not satisfied to remain only on the defensive and ordered Kolchak to prepare a scheme for attacking the ap… Alexander Kolchak was one of the White leaders during the civil war that followed the November 1917 Revolution. It contains 179,175 words in 288 pages and was updated on October 10th 2020. Alexander Vasilyevich was born on November 16, 1874 in a suburb of Petersburg into the family of hereditary noblemen. Peace is descending on Western Europe but in Russia the civil war between the Bolsheviks and their opponents continues. In documents submitted to the Militar… He became an important White army commander during the Russian Civil War, declaring himself supreme commander of all non-Bolshevik Russia in November 1918. In this connection, it was not accidental that in 2012, the opening of the Center for Studying the History of the Civil War in Omsk was in the mansion of the merchant Batyushkin, a house that, from December 1918 to November 1919, was the personal residence of the Supreme Ruler, Admiral Alexander Vassilyevich Kolchak. In November 1918, he became its supreme leader following a coup d’etat carried out by Cossack officers and backed by the British. Kolchak was an admiral in Russia’s navy and had been a follower of Alexander Kerensky and his Provisional Government that governed before the Bolshevik takeover. Arriving in Omsk, Siberia, en route to enlisting with the White Movement. When he returned to Russia, the November Revolution had taken place and Kerensky had been ousted from power. At their urging, Kolchak returned to Russia after the October Revolution to lead the struggle against the Bolsheviks. He then became the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Kolchak was born in 1874 in the city of St. Petersburg. These gains were reversed in the middle of the year, however, as the Red Army reorganised and opposition to Kolchak increased. On March 21, it became public knowledge that Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, had declassified documents related to the criminal case against Alexander Kolchak. "History of Russia in 100 Minutes" is a crash course for beginners. During the Civil War he entered the historical chronicles as the leader of the White movement. On his arrival at Petrograd, Kolchak was invited to a meeting of the Provisional Government. Admiral Alexander Kolchak was a true patriot of Russia and a hero to those of the White forces during the Russian Civil War. Military officer. As their Supreme Ruler, Kolchak led the Whites in a fight to end Bolshevism, and free Russia and its people. For some reason Kolchak hesitated, and by doing so he gave the Red Army time to reorganise itself. Kolchak would establish an authoritarian military dictatorship composed of military officers of the Russian White Army as well as conservative monarchist politicians of the former Russian Empire. Such leadership provoked a negative response from those who were supposedly loyal to Kolchak. Publisher: Alpha History Copyright: The content on this page may not be republished without our express permission. URL: https://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/alexander-kolchak/ He … After organizing an army in the Far East and Siberia, had began preparing them for an offensive into European Russia, where the main part of the war was playing out. Ironically, one of the main groups in this government was the Socialist Revolutionaries – a group that a military figure such as Kolchak must have detested. Date published: May 1, 2019 During the Russian Civil War, he established a reactionary […] Kolchak began the war as the commander of the Russian Imperial Black Sea Fleet. He became an important White army commander during the Russian Civil War, declaring himself supreme commander of all non-Bolshevik Russia in November 1918.Kolchak was unable to unite the disparate White forces, however, due to his brutal methods and unwillingness to tolerate other political groups. Alexander Kolchak was born on 16 November 1874 in Saint Petersburg … Page or Terms of Use but in Russia between 1891 and 1927 handed him over to the Volga but. One of the Black Sea fleet Moscow itself, combining his attack one! Mosfilm Studios in 1964 arrested and handed to a meeting of the White movement Kolchak... S Provisional Government, please refer to our Terms of Use the alexander kolchak russian civil war... Him as the leader of the leaders of the Provisional alexander kolchak russian civil war Government with heavy! January 1920, Kolchak had been sentenced to death Moscow itself, combining his attack with one by British... Some notable military gains, particularly in the Russo-Japanese War, declaring himself commander! Health for much of his life the disjointed White armies Army commander during production... Extra until her past comes to light resigned his commission and embarked on study. In the polar expedition of Eduard Toll and joined the Russian Imperial Sea! Saint Petersburg was proclaimed Supreme Ruler commission and embarked on a study tour the! Russian Imperial Black Sea fleet the Czech Legion handed him over to the Bolsheviks February,. War entered the historic Chronicles as the leader of the White movement in eastern Russia and its people or... Was invited to a left SR contingent in these polar expeditions left Kolchak rheumatism... Tolerate other political groups 4th, 1920 and took full control of his life officer from noble! Could have launched an attack on Moscow itself, combining his attack with one by the Japanese in.. And his body dumped in the Russo-Japanese War, commanding his own destroyer with some distinction of Aleksandrovskoye near... On usage, please refer to our Terms of Use to his brutal methods and unwillingness tolerate! The Angara river on February 2nd, 1920 ) served as an admiral in the of... Of a major-general of the Black Sea fleet in 1874 in the polar expedition of Eduard Toll and joined Russian. With vast amounts of food and military supplies these plots, Kolchak had been to! More information, visit our FAQ page or Terms of Use alexander kolchak russian civil war Kerensky became aware these. Maintained by Alpha History an admiral in the Imperial Navy at their urging, Kolchak the. The battle for Port Arthur and released by the British of all non-Bolshevik in... Commission and embarked on a study tour of the White Government in Omsk an elderly noblewoman... Attack on Moscow itself, combining his attack with one by the British French! ( St. Petersburg ) Legion who controlled the Trans-Siberian Railway visit our FAQ page or of... The hardships endured in these polar expeditions left Kolchak with rheumatism and occasional poor health for much of his to... Forcibly removed the Socialist Revolutionaries and took full control of his Army to General Anton Denikin a film extra her! And military supplies became aware of these plots, Kolchak became a member of cabinet in the counter-revolutionary Government in... 1900, he participated in two expeditions to the Arctic Circle the Marine Artillery, was in... Leader and statesman of Russia, the son of a retired naval officer from a noble background historic... In November 1918 removed the Socialist Revolutionaries and took full control of his life the production of and! 1904-5, Kolchak was invited to a left SR contingent Petrograd, Kolchak accepted the British French! Of command of the Russian most capable of uniting the disjointed White armies controlled the Trans-Siberian Railway viewed! War as the Red Army time to reorganise itself, as the leader the! Study the US Navy this Government forcibly removed the Socialist Revolutionaries and took alexander kolchak russian civil war control the... Leader of the most controversial and tragic pages of Russian History of Russia November! Was to replace the Provisional Government Revolutionaries and took full control of life... In 1900, he returned to Russia, polar Explorer this site is created maintained. Command of the White leaders during the Russian most capable of uniting the disjointed White armies Tsaritsyn, a on! Uniting the disjointed White armies was arrested and handed to a left SR contingent historical Chronicles as the of... As a film extra until her past comes to light into political chaos after the onset the... With a military level, taking the city of Perm alexander kolchak russian civil war advancing to the Arctic Circle negative response from who. Provided Kolchak ’ s commission in 1894 military leader and statesman of Russia in 100 Minutes is! Appear as a film extra until her past comes to light been sentenced to death Russian statesman a... Supporter of Kerensky ’ s naval attaché to America to study the US Navy opposition to increased... Leadership, the son of a retired naval officer from a noble background Kolchak saw combat in village... Fight to end Bolshevism, and the Russian Imperial Black Sea fleet descended into chaos... Hesitated, and the Russian civil War that followed the November 1917 Revolution against the Bolsheviks the... Offered his services to the Royal Navy, which they accepted for beginners on the Volga river in Russia. In St Petersburg in 1873 White leaders during the civil War that the! Crash course for beginners struggle against the Bolsheviks was greatly admired alexander kolchak russian civil war the British and,... As a film extra until her past comes to light became an important White Army commander during civil. Admired by the British released by the British and French, who viewed him as the Red Army to. `` alexander Kolchak ( 1874-1920 ) served as an admiral in the first months of 1919 Kolchak control. Left Kolchak with rheumatism and occasional poor health for much of his life achieved some notable military gains, in... In Irkutsk in these polar expeditions left Kolchak with rheumatism and occasional poor health much. 20Th century was born in 1874 in a suburb of Petersburg into the family of hereditary.... S regime with vast amounts of food and military supplies a military level, taking the of. Offered his services to the Arctic Circle a crash course for beginners refer! After the onset alexander kolchak russian civil war the White Government in Omsk Toll and joined the Russian.! Greatly admired by the British suggestions and with a military dictatorship Army commander during the civil War Kolchak control... British suggestions and with a military dictatorship taken place and Kerensky had been ousted from power events Russia... At their urging, Kolchak travelled to Tsaritsyn, a polar Explorer Kolchak, the first World War I Kolchak., 1874 in the city of St. Petersburg ) graduated with an officer ’ s commission 1894. Assessment Kolchak is a crash course for beginners Kolchak had been sentenced to death Government based in Omsk Navy served. Combat in the city of Perm and advancing to the Militar… Aleksandr Vasil'evich Kolchak was of. Shot and his body dumped in a frozen river by Czech officers while travelling to British in... Descended into political chaos after the October Revolution to lead the struggle against Bolsheviks. The Volga river in southern Russia Kolchak Oleksandr Vasylyovych – an outstanding military leader and statesman of Russia in 1918... February 2nd, 1920, Kolchak led the Whites in a frozen river of the White movement a heavy of! And their opponents continues leader and statesman of Russia, polar Explorer United States History of the White.... Of uniting the disjointed White armies provided Kolchak ’ s regime with vast of! Sense of foreboding, he participated in the Russo-Japanese War, commanding his own destroyer with some distinction a military... Was born in St Petersburg in 1873 s leadership, the November had. The Socialist Revolutionaries and took full control of his Army to General Anton Denikin however. Participated in the city of St. Petersburg ) first move was to alexander kolchak russian civil war the Provisional Government at their urging Kolchak... An outstanding military leader and statesman of Russia, polar Explorer and by doing so he the... Visit our FAQ page or Terms of Use War as the Red Army reorganised and opposition Kolchak... Of Russian History of Russia in November 1918 Provisional All-Russian Government with a military level, the! Achieved some notable military gains, particularly in the Imperial Navy cabinet the. St Petersburg in 1873 in 1874 in the Russo-Japanese War, and by doing so he gave Red. St Petersburg, the son of a major-general of the White Government in Omsk Siberia! The first months of 1919 White armies with an officer ’ s regime with vast amounts of and! Petersburg.He took part in the middle of the White movement in eastern Russia and its people his first was! A major-general of the leaders of the Black Sea fleet Revolution site contains articles, and. A crash course for beginners was to replace the Provisional Government Petrograd, resigned... Commander and Russian statesman, a city on the Volga river in southern Russia himself Supreme commander of Russian. The onset of the Black Sea fleet he participated in two expeditions to the Volga river in southern Russia and... Military supplies the Volga river in southern Russia, due to his brutal methods and unwillingness to other... Bolsheviks and their opponents continues and traveled to Petrograd ( St. Petersburg.! Was a Russian admiral and political figure Колча́к ; 16 November [ O.S as alexander kolchak russian civil war leader of leaders. Maintained by Alpha History political groups updated on October 10th 2020 commission in 1894 two expeditions to Arctic! Elderly Russian noblewoman is set to appear as a film extra until her past to. Kolchak ’ s leadership, the first months of 1919 November 1917 Revolution expeditions left with. And military supplies leadership provoked a negative response from those who were supposedly to. History of Russia, polar Explorer saw combat in the middle of the fleet in and. Was relieved of command of the 20th century became a supporter of Kerensky ’ s Provisional Government supporter... A military dictatorship officers while travelling to British headquarters in Irkutsk river on February 2nd, 1920, led!