Молодежный инновационный вестник

2415-7805

Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Воронежский государственный медицинский университет имени Н.Н. Бурденко" Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации

8383

Unclassified

ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ADMIRAL A.V. KOLCHAK

Averyanova

Polina Vladimirovna

studentaveryanovapv@rambler.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4680-6475

Voronezh State Medical University named after N. N. Burdenko

20042023

12S2288291

14022023

16022023

2023

Relevance. The topic is borderline at the junction of two sciences - political (elitology) and historical. The study of A.V. Kolchak's diverse activities is an integral part, firstly, of elitology, which studies the formation, activity and collapse of the Russian elite, and also of historical science, because these activities took place in the early twentieth century and culminated in the global changes in the country. Research Objective. To examine and analyze the dynamics of development, trends, and identify the factors that influenced the formation. Materials and methods. The following methods have been applied: a logical method, a comparative method, a descriptive method and a comparative method. Results. The correlation of historical processes with the formation of Admiral Kolchak as a figure that influenced the development of some events in the national history is revealed. Conclusion. It is impossible to give an unequivocal estimation of his life path and activity. In recent decades, active attempts have been made to rehabilitate the heroes of the White movement, including A.V. Kolchak. The public perceives him from two positions: either as a Siberian executioner, creator of concentration camps for Red Army soldiers, dictator and monarchist, or as a "polar idealist". Thus, because of such a sharp discrepancy in the assessment of active participants in the White movement (not only with regard to Kolchak), Russian society is split into two camps.

Kolchakrevolutionhistoriography

Колчакреволюцияисториография

Relevance. The study of A.V. Kolchak's diverse activities is an integral part, firstly, of elitology, which studies the formation, activity and collapse of the Russian elite, as well as of historical science, because these activities took place in the early twentieth century and ended with the global changes in the country. From a historical perspective, the issue is relevant for a number of reasons. In civil wars there has always been a problem of winners and losers. In modern Russia, yesterday's victors have intensified, some of them found themselves in power and insist on the return to Russian history of prominent figures of the monarchist camp, the white movement, to which Kolchak belonged. Particular interest in Kolchak can also be explained by contemporary geopolitical processes in which Russia is embroiled. For example, the Russian Federation has embarked on a major project to develop the Northern Arctic and to make the Northern Sea Route one of the world's competitive trade routes. As a result of the eastward expansion of the European Union and NATO's bases near Russia's borders, the Baltic, Barents and Black Seas are at risk and Russia must defend its rights in these regions. Research Objective. To analyse and characterise the scientific and political activity of Admiral A.V. Kolchak Materials and methods. The source base of the chosen problem is represented first of all by the published archival materials, memoirs and materials of the periodical press. The bibliography of scientific and popular scientific works devoted to Kolchak is numerous and varied. Our work also uses scientific literature devoted to the problems of development of the Russian elite of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Problems of formation of the Russian elite in the studied period, features and causes of its collapse are considered in it. Results. After completing his primary education Kolchak entered the Naval Cadet Corps - the most privileged institution of higher education in Russia, which trained mostly the children of hereditary noblemen. As a cadet, he had already developed an interest in science, particularly in polar expeditions and the South Pole. While serving on his first ship, the battleship Rurik, Kolchak studied oceanography and the hydrology of the Pacific Ocean. In other expeditions he seriously explored the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, the sea area adjacent to the Russian Far East. But his systematic scientific work began during an expedition led by Baron E.V. Toll (1900-1902) on board the vessel "Zarya" with the official aim of sailing along the Northern Sea Route to Vladivostok. In this expedition A.V.Kolchak fulfilled the professional duties of hydrologist and assistant magnetologist. It is worth noting that three months before the expedition the young officer had scrupulously mastered the subtleties of these specialties in the main physical observatory in St. Petersburg, in the Pulkovo Magnetic Observatory, and then interned with the famous polar explorer F. Nansen in Norway, who like no other polar explorer knew the latest technologies of research in the Arctic ice. Baron E.V.Toll's expedition succeeded in making a number of geographical discoveries, exploring the Taimyr Peninsula, the Novosibirsk Islands and Kotelny Island. During the work, in early June 1902, the team split up: E.V. Toll and three companions went to study the geological structure of Bennett Island, but they did not return by the agreed deadline and in 1903 the Academy of Sciences sent out several teams to find them. Kolchak led one of these teams. While surveying Bennett Island, he discovered Baron Toll's winter hut and his letter attesting to the death of the entire detachment. Returning to the capital, Kolchak delivered Toll's documents and geological collections to the Geographical Society. Kolchak was awarded state decorations for this expedition and the Russian Geographic Society awarded him the Grand Konstantinov Medal. The 32 year old scientist Kolchak was elected a member of the Russian Geographical Society. One of the Kara Sea islands was named after him. Kolchak had to be engaged in scientific work, with certain interruptions, one of which was the Russian-Japanese War. After the war, Kolchak continued exploration work: he wrote and published various articles, gave talks on the materials of the expedition of Baron E.V. Toll, and also prepared for publication his monograph, "The Ice of the Kara and Siberian Seas", published in 1909. This scientific work summarised the results of his research in the Arctic. In 1910-1915, despite his employment at the Naval General Staff, Kolchak participated in a hydrographic expedition to the Arctic Ocean on a new type of icebreaker, "Vaigach", which was designed and assembled with his direct participation. This episode ended a scientific page in the life of Kolchak, who in the next period was forced to apply his abilities and talents to planning the construction of Russia's newest naval fleet, and then to military operations in the Baltic and Black Seas. The young officer's baptism of fire took place in 1905, on the ships of the Port Arthur squadron. Having received a positive response to his report, he was transferred to the Naval Department from the Academy of Sciences and was seconded to Port Arthur, where he met with Vice-Admiral S.O. Makarov, who highly appreciated the young officer for his professional qualities. While there was the Port Arthur squadron, A.V. Kolchak engaged in mine-protection - a completely new direction in the naval field, commanding the minesweeper "Amur", and then the destroyer "Angry". He was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 4th class, with the inscription "For Bravery" for his actions at sea. It should be noted that here he opened his personal account as a minesweeper. With the beginning of land defense of the fortress Lieutenant A.V. Kolchak came ashore and commanded the batteries of 47-mm and 120-mm guns on the north-eastern part of the fortress' defense. On December, 12th for actions on land Kolchak has been awarded a Gold saber with the inscription "For courage" and an Order of St. Stanislav of the II-st degree with swords. Freed from Japanese captivity and cured his health, Kolchak, together with his closest friends, initiated the creation of a naval club, which he headed. The Circle's task was to create a plan to revive the Russian navy. This task was put into practice after the establishment of the Naval General Staff. It was established for the first time in the history of Russia. And the young officers, led by Kolchak, were tasked with developing a naval shipbuilding programme. Note that until that moment, the construction of warships in Russia was carried out, according to Kolchak's remarks, in accordance with the means of the state budget: as much money as the ship. Kolchak was directly involved in the Baltic area. In the Naval General Headquarters, he headed the department of Russian statistics and actively worked on a project to build the fleet. The programme had to be implemented with mandatory discussion in the State Duma. And he visited the State Duma several times with his colleagues, defended the main points of the programme and met the leaders of political parties, particularly Guchkov. It is of interest that in the early stages his group analysed the state and development of the international situation in the world and on the Baltic, and in particular came to the conclusion that a world war in which Russia and Germany would become enemies was inevitable. The German military program was known to Russian experts, and Kolchak and his group in creating the Russian program were guided by the realities of the German navy and the timing of the outbreak of war. This scientific approach made it possible to develop a programme that could stop the possible capture of the Russian capital, St Petersburg, by the German navy. Analysts were of the opinion that war would break out in 1915. By that time, the bulk of the Russian shipbuilding programme was to have been completed. But Mr Chance intervened in history: the Serbian nationalist Princip shot and killed the heir to the Austrian throne and World War I broke out in August 1914. As a result, the Russian shipbuilding programme was not completed by the beginning of the war, and by August 1914, mines were the main weapon of the Russian sailors. Kolchak, who was at the same time attached to Admiral Essen, commander of the Baltic Fleet, constantly advised the Baltic miners and participated in their maritime campaigns. The most successful mines were set on the Danzig traverse in February 1915, when a significant number of German warships of various classes were undermined and put out of action. Also extremely successful were the mines laid in the way of German transports carrying iron ore from Sweden to Germany. These transports were stopped before the end of the war. The career of A.V. Kolchak developed rapidly. In July 1916 he was promoted to rear admiral, and a few months later was appointed commander of the Black Sea Fleet and promoted to vice-admiral. He arrived at his new duty station as the best miner in the world. In the Mediterranean, where the Russian fleet was inferior to the Turkish fleet, which included two German modern cruisers, the new commander had to make use of the minesweeping experience gained in the Baltic. The Russian ships mined the exits from the Bosporus and into the harbour of the Bulgarian port of Varna. In fact, the Turkish fleet was trapped in the straits and was unable to influence the situation on the Caucasus front. And the Russian command began to freely transport a variety of goods necessary for the Caucasian army from Novorossiysk. All forces Kolchak concentrated on the preparation of the Bosporus operation, which he was to conduct in the spring of 1917. The plan was to land a landing on the shores of the Bosporus, capture Istanbul and remove Turkey from the war. But the February Revolution prevented this operation from taking place. Subsequently, during the interrogation in Irkutsk in 1920, Kolchak disagreed with the point of view of the investigators about the responsibility of the autocracy and personally Tsar Nicholas I in the February Revolution. Kolchak argued that there was an example of monarchical countries that successfully developed as monarchies. It is not about the political system, but about the ability of the elite of society to be active in life, the ability to set and solve the most daring tasks. In Russia, he did not find in the actions of the elite to work for social progress. The bureaucracy which ruled the country was not the result of civic initiative, but of class origin. Therefore Russia lagged behind Germany, England and France. In this position A.V. Kolchak expressed his attitude to the Russian state elite[5].In his opinion, this elite, because of inactivity, negligence in state affairs, exhausted the trust of people and therefore in the February Revolution there were no social forces and institutions that would have supported the collapsing Tsarist regime. For several months it strived to maintain military discipline in the navy, to prevent discussions on party topics, to preserve the combat efficiency of the fleet and the respect of the sailors and officers. But this proved impossible. The revolutionary events developed according to their own logic. The situation escalated to a meeting of sailors who demanded the removal of Kolchak and other officers from all positions on 3 June 1917. The incident ended with Kolchak relinquishing command of the squadron and symbolically throwing his Admiral's sabre into the sea. Having transferred command of the fleet to another senior officer, Kolchak left for St Petersburg and then on a business trip to the United States. He returned home through the Far East and Siberia. Omsk in October 1918. - a small town on the Trans-Siberian Railway, united Siberia and the Urals and claimed to unite the whole of Russia. The question therefore arises: why did Vice-Admiral Kolchak, intending to go to the south of Russia, suddenly stay in Omsk? There are two answers in the historical literature on this subject. First: Kolchak was aware of the importance of Siberia in the process of liberating Russia from the Bolsheviks. The second view is that the Admiral followed the advice of the Entente and the White Chechens to stop in Omsk. I adhere to the first point of view. An additional argument in favour of Omsk was the proposal made by the Directorate, a socialist body which had recently moved from the European part of Russia to Omsk, to join this government. Kolchak became Minister of War in that government and was soon appointed Supreme Ruler of Russia and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces. Most of the White generals did not immediately accept this appointment[3] Kolchak opened hostilities against the Soviets immediately after receiving this rank. The hostilities took place in the northern section of the front and Kolchak's troops had to establish a link with General Miller's forces in northern Russia. On December 8, 1918, Perm came under Kolchak's control. But the offensive on other parts of the front proved unsuccessful. The situation on the front stabilized. Kolchak's actions irritated the leaders of the White Guard movement in Russia[4]. They reproached him for following the Entente's advice and refusing to act with them against the common enemy. The victories of the Supreme Ruler were so solid that in May of the same year the leaders of the White movement in the European part of Russia recognized him as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and Supreme Ruler. But within a month, the Red Army units had already gone on the offensive. Kolchak's army began to retreat, and there were no reserves to fill the gap that had formed on the front. Kolchak was forced to order the entire Western Army to retreat to the Urals, and then to Siberia. On 15 October the Red Army took Omsk. The Directory and Kolchak evacuated along the Siberian railway to the east. In January 1920, realizing the defeat of his army, he relinquished the title of Supreme Governor and handed it over to Denikin. From that moment Kolchak became a private person and was handed over to the security of the Czechoslovaks, who handed over Kolchak and his prime minister, Pepelyaev, to the SRM-menshevik political centre which seized power in Irkutsk on 5 January 1920. Both arrestees were taken into custody at the Irkutsk prison, where the investigation was taking place. But soon, under circumstances which remain unclear, the Irkutsk Politcenter ruled that Kolchak and Pepelyaev should be shot. The sentence was carried out on February 7, 1920, on the bank of the Angara River. Discussion. The peculiarities of Russian philosophy were formed under the influence of both world historical processes, becoming a natural reaction, and with the peculiarities of the inner flavor and problems characteristic of Russian consciousness. Conclusion. Alexander Kolchak is a controversial figure in the national historiography. It is impossible to give an unequivocal estimation of his life way and activity. In recent decades, active attempts are made to rehabilitate the heroes of the White movement, including A.V. Kolchak. The public perceives him from two positions: either as a Siberian executioner, creator of concentration camps for Red Army soldiers, dictator and monarchist, or as a "polar idealist". Thus, because of such a strong divergence in the assessment of active participants in the White Movement (this does not only apply to Kolchak), Russian society is split into two camps.

Горшков С.Г. Морская мощь государства, М., 1979

Черкашин Н.А. Адмирал Колчак: диктатор поневоле, М.,2005

Переверзев А.Я.,Кулешов О.С., Комуч. Директория.Колчак: антисоветский лагерь в гражданской войне на Востоке России в документальном изложении, портретах и лицах., Воронеж,2003

Деникин А.И. Путь русского офицера, М.,2014

Стариков Н.В Адмирал Колчак. Протоколы допросов с предисловием Николая Старикова. Спб.,