Ippolit Giliarovsky
Encyclopedia
Ippolit Giliarovsky was the second in command of the Battleship Potemkin during the mutiny. He more than anyone was held responsible for the uprising due to his brutal treatment of the sailors. He was killed during the mutiny.
Ippolit Giliarovsky was a tall, thin, autocratic officer who fantasized about killing anti war liberals. He was decorated for his part in the Battle of Chemulpo Bay
during the Russo-Japanese War
. He routinely brutalised the sailors. Once he punched a sailor in the face for not knowing his name.
He was made the executive officer on the Potemkin, which meant spying on the crew, searching them regularly along with administering punishment. Captain Golikov actually complained to his superiors that he was too harsh. On 27 June [O.S. 14 June] 1905, the crew refused Borscht
made with maggoty beef. Gilirovsky demanded to know why they were only eating bread and butter. He informed the ship's Doctor Smirnov. He said:
"I already told them the meat is fine. The maggots are nothing more than larvae eggs that flies had laid there. They simply need to be washed away with salt and water. The cook did this on my instructions. If the crew continues to refuse to eat, then it is they who are spoiled. That's it."
He then went to the captain, saying "We have to teach them a lesson." The captain summoned the crew,threatening any who didn't accept the borscht. Giliarovsky screamed "Come on, come on,hurry up!" but only 12 came forward. He ordered the boatswain to take all the rebels' names. The marines were called, the sailors scattered. He then shouted:
"So it's mutiny is it? Alright we know how to deal with that. If you think there's no discipline in the navy, I'll show you how wrong you are. Bosun, bring the tarpaulin."
This was stretched on the floor for sailors about to be shot so the deck stayed clean. The sailors armed themselves, Giliarovsky grabbed a guards' rifle and ordered them to shoot. He shot Vakulenchuk
, a revolutionary sailor, in the chest. He wrestled the rifle off him and was then shot in the back by a petty officer. Afanasi Matushenko
fired and missed, Giliarovsky ordered the guards to shoot,they ran away, he tried to shoot them but 2 sailors fired. His last words were:
"I know you, you scoundrel. You may escape from the ship now, but I'll find you." He was tossed overboard by the sailors.
Ippolit Giliarovsky was a tall, thin, autocratic officer who fantasized about killing anti war liberals. He was decorated for his part in the Battle of Chemulpo Bay
Battle of Chemulpo Bay
The Battle of Chemulpo Bay was an early naval battle in the Russo-Japanese War , which took place on 9 February 1904, off the coast of present-day Incheon, Korea.-Background:...
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...
. He routinely brutalised the sailors. Once he punched a sailor in the face for not knowing his name.
He was made the executive officer on the Potemkin, which meant spying on the crew, searching them regularly along with administering punishment. Captain Golikov actually complained to his superiors that he was too harsh. On 27 June [O.S. 14 June] 1905, the crew refused Borscht
Borscht
Borscht is a soup of Ukrainian origin that is popular in many Eastern and Central European countries. In most of these countries, it is made with beetroot as the main ingredient, giving it a deep reddish-purple color...
made with maggoty beef. Gilirovsky demanded to know why they were only eating bread and butter. He informed the ship's Doctor Smirnov. He said:
"I already told them the meat is fine. The maggots are nothing more than larvae eggs that flies had laid there. They simply need to be washed away with salt and water. The cook did this on my instructions. If the crew continues to refuse to eat, then it is they who are spoiled. That's it."
He then went to the captain, saying "We have to teach them a lesson." The captain summoned the crew,threatening any who didn't accept the borscht. Giliarovsky screamed "Come on, come on,hurry up!" but only 12 came forward. He ordered the boatswain to take all the rebels' names. The marines were called, the sailors scattered. He then shouted:
"So it's mutiny is it? Alright we know how to deal with that. If you think there's no discipline in the navy, I'll show you how wrong you are. Bosun, bring the tarpaulin."
This was stretched on the floor for sailors about to be shot so the deck stayed clean. The sailors armed themselves, Giliarovsky grabbed a guards' rifle and ordered them to shoot. He shot Vakulenchuk
Vakulenchuk
Vakulenchuk is a town in Chudniv Raion, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. The population was 2,192 ....
, a revolutionary sailor, in the chest. He wrestled the rifle off him and was then shot in the back by a petty officer. Afanasi Matushenko
Afanasi Matushenko
Afanasy Nikolayevich Matushenko , was a Ukrainian political activist, a non-commissioned officer in the Black Sea Fleet, and head of the uprising on the Russian battleship Potemkin....
fired and missed, Giliarovsky ordered the guards to shoot,they ran away, he tried to shoot them but 2 sailors fired. His last words were:
"I know you, you scoundrel. You may escape from the ship now, but I'll find you." He was tossed overboard by the sailors.