Orenburg Independent Army
Orenburg Independent Army | |
---|---|
Оренбургская отдельная армия | |
Active | 1918–1920 |
Disbanded | March 1920 |
Allegiance | White movement |
Size | 10,000 |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Alexander Dutov |
The Orenburg Independent Army (Russian: Оренбургская отдельная армия) was an anti-Bolshevik Army on the Eastern Front during the Russian Civil War.
History
The Army was formed on 17 October 1918 from Orenburg Cossacks and others troops which rebelled against the Bolsheviks, under the command of Alexander Dutov. The army was subordinated to the Supreme Commander-in-chief appointed by the
On 28 December the army was renamed the Orenburg Independent Army, consisting of:
- the 1st Orenburg Cossack Corps
- and 2nd Orenburg Cossack Corps,
- the 4th Orenburg Army,
- the consolidated Sterlitamak and Bashkirian (4 Infantry Regiments) Corps
- and the 1st Orenburg Cossack Plast Division.
The Army counted some 10,000 men.[1]
Operations
In 1918, the Army operated with varying success in the Southern Urals and northern regions of the Steppe region (now Kazakhstan), mainly against the 1st Red Army, defending the Orenburg Oblast. However, in late 1918/early 1919 serious setbacks occurred. In January the Army was forced to abandoned Orenburg and Orsk. The defeats can be explained primarily by fatigue, the unwillingness of a large part of the Cossacks to continue the war, the rise of pro-Soviet sentiment, desertion and even the changing to the Red side of entire units. This was largely the result of Bolshevik propaganda amongst the troops and in their rear.
When in the spring of 1919, Kolchak launched the
The Army then participated in the failed
By the end of October 1919, the Orenburg Army consisted of only 4,300 men, 16 machine guns, and 4 light weapons. During the winter 1919–20, she retreated to
Commanders
- Alexander Dutov (17 October 1918 − 23 May 1919),
- Petr Belov (23 May 1919 − 21 September),
- Alexander Dutov (21 September 1919 – 16 October 1919).
References
- ISBN 978-1-4422-5281-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4422-5281-3.