Aleksandr Gerngross
Encyclopedia
Baron Alexandr Gerngross (August 4, 1851 – March 17, 1925) was a general in the Imperial Russian Army
during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
family in Smolensk
. He entered military service in 1868, and graduated from the Riga School of Infantry. Commissioned as an ensign in 1871, he served with the 63rd Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1873 and to lieutenant in 1875. Serving with distinction during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) he received a field commission as brevet
captain, which was formally confirmed in 1879. He rose to lieutenant colonel in 1887.
He served in Russian Turkestan
from 1891–1897, during which time he was responsible for land surveys for the Trans-Caspian Railway
. He was promoted to colonel in 1894, and became commander of the Transcaspian Infantry Battalion to August 1897. Gergross then commanded the border guards units of the Russian Ministry of Finance through 1901. In 1900, he was stationed in Harbin
, and played an important role in the defense of Harbin during the Russian suppression of the Boxer Rebellion
in 1900-1901. He was awarded the Order of St. George
(4th class) for heroism during this campaign.
From 1902, Gerngross was commander of the 1st Siberian Infantry Brigade, which was subsequently active in combat during the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905. He was promoted to general in 1904. During the Battle of Te-li-Ssu
, his division came under a strong artillery attack from the Imperial Japanese Army
, and suffered heavy losses. Although the promised reinforcements never arrived, he personally lead two regiments in a successful counterattack on Japanese positions. He was wounded in the battle, and was subsequently awarded the Golden Sword of St. George for valor.
During the Battle of Sandepu
, Gerngross led a detachment consisting of the 2nd, 3rd, 35th and 36th Infantry Regiments in a successful night attack, which split the Japanese 3rd division and succeeded in securing a foothold within the fortified village of Sandepu. However, his action was part of the unauthorized offensive mounted by General Georgii Stackelberg
, and he was again obliged to withdraw, sustaining heavy losses.
During the Battle of Mukden, Gerngross and General Konstantin Tserpitsky led a counterattack, which temporarily halted the advance of the Japanese Third Army
.
After the end of the War, Gerngross was made commander of the 1st Siberian Army Corps. He held this position from May 23, 1905 to June 7, 1910. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of infantry general, and commander of the 24th Army Corps until January 20, 1913.
Made a member of the Military Council on November 20, 1913, he then commanded the 26th Army Corps in World War I
, from August 15, 1914 to December 28, 1916. He went into retirement after the Russian Revolution, and died of a heart attack in Leningrad
in 1925.
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Biography
Gerngross was from a nobleRussian nobility
The Russian nobility arose in the 14th century and essentially governed Russia until the October Revolution of 1917.The Russian word for nobility, Dvoryanstvo , derives from the Russian word dvor , meaning the Court of a prince or duke and later, of the tsar. A nobleman is called dvoryanin...
family in Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. He entered military service in 1868, and graduated from the Riga School of Infantry. Commissioned as an ensign in 1871, he served with the 63rd Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1873 and to lieutenant in 1875. Serving with distinction during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) he received a field commission as brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
captain, which was formally confirmed in 1879. He rose to lieutenant colonel in 1887.
He served in Russian Turkestan
Russian Turkestan
Russian Turkestan was the western part of Turkestan within the Russian Empire , comprising the oasis region to the south of the Kazakh steppes, but not the protectorates of the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Khiva.-History:-Establishment:Although Russia had been pushing south into the...
from 1891–1897, during which time he was responsible for land surveys for the Trans-Caspian Railway
Trans-Caspian railway
The Trans-Caspian Railway is a railway that follows the path of the Silk Road through much of western Central Asia. It was built by the Russian Empire during its expansion into Central Asia in the 19th century. The railway was started in 1879, following the Russian defeat of Khokand...
. He was promoted to colonel in 1894, and became commander of the Transcaspian Infantry Battalion to August 1897. Gergross then commanded the border guards units of the Russian Ministry of Finance through 1901. In 1900, he was stationed in Harbin
Harbin
Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
, and played an important role in the defense of Harbin during the Russian suppression of the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in 1900-1901. He was awarded the Order of St. George
Order of St. George
The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
(4th class) for heroism during this campaign.
From 1902, Gerngross was commander of the 1st Siberian Infantry Brigade, which was subsequently active in combat during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904-1905. He was promoted to general in 1904. During the Battle of Te-li-Ssu
Battle of Te-li-Ssu
The Battle of Te-li-ssu , also called Battle of Wafangou after the nearby railway station, was a land battle of the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought at a hamlet some north of Port Arthur, Manchuria. The hamlet is known today as Delisi, and is located just north of Wafangdian, Liaoning Province,...
, his division came under a strong artillery attack from the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, and suffered heavy losses. Although the promised reinforcements never arrived, he personally lead two regiments in a successful counterattack on Japanese positions. He was wounded in the battle, and was subsequently awarded the Golden Sword of St. George for valor.
During the Battle of Sandepu
Battle of Sandepu
The Battle of Sandepu, was a major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought within a group of villages about 36 miles southwest of Mukden, Manchuria.-Background:...
, Gerngross led a detachment consisting of the 2nd, 3rd, 35th and 36th Infantry Regiments in a successful night attack, which split the Japanese 3rd division and succeeded in securing a foothold within the fortified village of Sandepu. However, his action was part of the unauthorized offensive mounted by General Georgii Stackelberg
Georgii Stackelberg
Baron Georgii Karlovich Stackelberg was a cavalry general in the Imperial Russian Army during the late 19th century and early 20th century.-Biography:...
, and he was again obliged to withdraw, sustaining heavy losses.
During the Battle of Mukden, Gerngross and General Konstantin Tserpitsky led a counterattack, which temporarily halted the advance of the Japanese Third Army
Japanese Third Army
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army based in Manchukuo as a garrison force under the overall command of the Kwantung Army during World War II, but its history dates to the Russo-Japanese War.-History:...
.
After the end of the War, Gerngross was made commander of the 1st Siberian Army Corps. He held this position from May 23, 1905 to June 7, 1910. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of infantry general, and commander of the 24th Army Corps until January 20, 1913.
Made a member of the Military Council on November 20, 1913, he then commanded the 26th Army Corps in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, from August 15, 1914 to December 28, 1916. He went into retirement after the Russian Revolution, and died of a heart attack in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in 1925.
Awards
- Order of St. Anne
Order of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
3rd degree with swords and bow, 1877 - Order of St. Stanislaus 2nd degree with swords, 1878
- Order of St Vladimir 4th degree with swords and bow, 1879.
- Order of St. AnneOrder of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
2nd degree with swords 1879 - Order of St. GeorgeOrder of St. GeorgeThe Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
, 4th class, 1900 - Order of St. Stanislaus 1st degree with swords, 1901
- Order of St Vladimir 2nd degree with swords, 1905.
- Order of St. AnneOrder of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
1st degree with swords 1905. - Golden Sword of St. George. 1906
- Order of the White Eagle, with swords, 1906
- , Order of St. Alexander NevskyOrder of St. Alexander NevskyThe Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire.-History:The introduction of the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was planned by Emperor Peter I of Russia...
, 1912