Special Corps of Gendarmes

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Separate Corps of Gendarmes Отдельный корпус жандармов
Agency overview
Formed	1827
Dissolved	1917
Employees	5,200 soldiers
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Russian Empire
General nature	Gendarmerie
Operational structure
Overseen by	Guberniya

The Separate Corps of Gendarmes (Russian: Отдельный корпус жандармов) was the uniformed security police of the Imperial Russian Army in the Russian Empire during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its main responsibilities were law enforcement and state security.

The responsibilities of the Gendarmes also included the execution of court orders, pursuit of fugitives, riot control, and detainment of "unusual" criminals. Gendarmes could also be assigned to assist local police and officials.

Establishment

The precursors of the Corps were the Imperial Army

although the office of the Head of the Third Section did not formally merge with that of the Chief of Gendarmes until 1839.

Organisation

In 1836, the Gendarmerie of the Internal Guards was transformed into the Separate Corps of Gendarmes, under the Chief of Gendarmes. The Commander of the Corps and Chief of Staff of the Corps were also Directors of the Third Section under the executive director. The Corps was divided into seven territorial Districts, six of them located in Russia and one in the

Gubernial

Directorates, was also created. The Army's Gendarmerie regiment joined the Corps in 1842.

As of 1867 statute, the Corps consisted of:

• Main Directorate
• Surveillance staff
• Caucasus, Warsaw and Siberia Districts
• Gubernial
  Directorates (56)
• Uyezd
  Directorates (50)
• Railroad Directorates
• St. Petersburg, Moscow and Warsaw divisions
• Mounted units (13)

Expanded role

In 1871, the Gendarmes acquired the right to investigate both political and criminal cases, as the judicial investigators were dismissed.

Only the most competent army officers holding noble ranks could be appointed to the Corps of Gendarmes. In August 1880, both the

. The Minister of Internal Affairs took up the office of Chief of Gendarmes, and the Commander of the Corps became his Deputy. Many Gendarme officers were transferred to the new Department of Police.

Following the 1902 assassination of MVD Minister

units of the General Staff and the Department of Police.

Disbandment

During the February 1917 Russian Revolution, Gendarmes stationed at Kronstadt remained loyal to the tsarist regime, fired on demonstrators and were later imprisoned for trial.^[1] On 17 March [O.S. 4 March] 1917 the Corps of Gendarmes was formally abolished by the order of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, along with the regular tsarist police.^[2]

Directors

• Alexander von Benckendorff (1826–1844, its founder and first chief)
• Vasily Andreyevich Dolgorukov (?–?)
• Aleksandr Potapov (1861–1864)
• Pyotr Andreyevich Shuvalov (1866–?)
• Alexander Drenteln (1878–1880)
• Pyotr Dmitrievich Sviatopolk-Mirskii
  (1900–1905)

Ranks and uniforms

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The Gendarmes used cavalry ranks of the Russian military ranks system introduced in 1826. Most branches of the Separate Corps wore light blue uniforms in contrast to the dark green of the regular army and police. Gendarmes of the Railroad Directorates were, however, distinguished by dark blue tunics.

Rank insignia 1884-1907

Commissioned officer ranks

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
					Генерала-от-кавалерии Generala-ot-kavalerii		Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt		Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór		Полко́вник Polkóvnik		Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik		Майо́р Majór		Ротмистр Rotmistr		Штабс-ротмистр Shtabs-rotmistr		Поручик Poruchik		Корнет Kornet

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
									Вахмистр Vakhmistr		Ста́рший унтер-офицер Stárshiy unter-ofitser						Мла́дший унтер-офицер Mládshiy unter-ofitser						Ефре́йтор Efréĭtor				жандарм Zhandarm

See also

• Jailbirds of Kerensky
• Ministry of Police of Imperial Russia
• National Guard of Russia
• Police Department of Russia
• Internal Troops

References

Further reading

• Political police and political terrorism in Russia (second half of XIX – beginning of XX). Collection of documents. Compiled by V.I. Kochanov, N.N. Parfyonova, M.V. Sidorova, Ye. I. Sherbakova. Moscow, AIRO-XX (2000).
  ISBN 5-88735-079-2
  . (in Russian)

External links

• Official history of the
  MVD of Russia: 1825–1856 1857–1879 1880–1904 1905–1916
  (in Russian)