The new section of the online project “Belarus in the first World War”, developed by the National Library of Belarus, is about commanders and military leaders, born in Belarus or in families of our compatriots expelled after the 1863 uprising.
In the Year of the Native Land, the National Library has collected information about thirty-three compatriots who led operations at the fronts of the First World War, commanded armies and corps, regiments and divisions.
Along with the biographies of military leaders, the section contains information about units they headed: the Iron Brigade, Wild Division and First Polish Corps.
Some talented commanders of Belarusian origin were also military writers and journalists, whose works are presented in the project.
The project also features a selection of encyclopedias, biographies and bibliographies from the collections of the National Library.
During the First World War, the military leaders of Belarusian origin showed martial prowess, courage and loyalty to the Fatherland. They participated in major combat operations: Brusilovski breakthrough, Vilna, Baranovichi and Narochanskaya battles. The officers’ fate was different: most of them joined the White movement, some went to the Red Army, many found themselves in emigration. Among the 36 generals of the Russian army, who gave their lives on the fronts of the First World War, six were natives of Belarus.
Here are some interesting facts about prominent figures presented in the project.
Vladislav Bowfal at the beginning of the war led the 4th rifle brigade which proved itself in fight and defense and received the honorary title of “Iron”.
Vasily Gurko was among the most successful commanders and author of books about the activity of subordinate units, tactics and strategy of the warring parties and the political changes that took place in Russia. One chapter of the book The Generals of the Great War, recently published in Moscow, is dedicated to our compatriot.
Vyacheslav Ivashkevich was a general in Russian Imperial Army, later the divisional general of the Polish Army. He led the 3rd Polish rifle division which was part of the First Polish Corps. Information about this military unit has been ignored for a long time. However, this year, a book by Igor Melnikov Forgotten Corps was published. The publication covers the unit’s history from inception in 1914 until the 1920s.
Mikhail Kaygorodov was the first commandant of Grodno Fortress and general of infantry. He wrote and published the Collection of Tactical Tasks for the Plans of the Western Frontier Space together with co-author Lieutenant Colonel Prezhentsov.
General Platon Lechytsky and Lieutenant-General Anatoly Kelchevsky are considered the "fathers" of the legendary Brusilovski breakthrough.
Vladimir May-Mayevsky, a commander of Russian Imperial Army and White movement, was a prototype of commander of the Volunteer Army General Kovalevsky in Soviet the television mini-series “Adjutant of His Excellency”. Petr Makhrov belonged to a military dynasty: his two brothers, Nicolay and Vsiliy, also commanded the units of Russian Army. Petr Makhrov is also known as a military writer. He is the author of eight books, two of which are kept in the National Library of Belarus: The White Army of General Denikin and The Balkan War 1912–13.
Yakov Yuzefovich, general lieutenant, came from a Belarusian Tatar noble family. He was appointed chief of staff at the Wild Division, 90% consisted of volunteers Muslims. The adherents of Islam were not recruited into the royal army. The Wild Division was formed of volunteers from the Caucasus, Ingush, Chechens and Dagestani. This untypical military formation of the royal army was led by the tsar’s brother Michael.
Alexey Edrikhin aka Vandam was a general, military intelligence operative, authors of books about geopolitics, geostrategy and strategic geography. He is regarded as one of the founders of Russian geopolitical school. At the beginning of the 21st century the writing of General Vandam was "rediscovered" and reprinted three times.
The Museum of the Great Patriotic War is now hosting an exhibition timed to the 135th anniversary of the birth of General Sergey Voytsekhovsky, who has been unknown until recently. The organizer of the exhibition is the Embassy of the Czech Republic, as the commander is better known as General of the Czech Army, though he was born in Vitebsk.
The identification of the generals of Belarusian origin continues.
We invite you to get acquainted with a new section “Generals and Commanders Born in Belarus” of the online project "Belarus in the First World War."
The project is prepared by the Information and Analytic Activity Department and the Internet Portal Maintenance Department.
The National Library of Belarus offers the exhibition “Belarus in the Great War 1914–1918”, timed to the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
