Mladorossi
Encyclopedia
The Union of Mladorossi was a political group of Russian émigré
monarchists (mostly living in Europe) who advocated a hybrid of Russian monarchy and the Soviet system, best evidenced by their motto "Tsar and the Soviets".
The organization started in 1923, as the "Union of Young Russia" (in Russian: Союз Молодой России, Soyuz Molodoi Rossii) in Munich
, changing its name to the Union of Mladorossi in 1925.
was merely the beginning of an evolutionary process that would create a new, young Russia (hence their use of the prefix mlado which means "young").
. Other émigré movements and organizations, such as National Alliance of Russian Solidarists
(NTS), the Russian Imperial Union Order
, and the ROVS, were hostile to these movements, feeling they were trying to justify the October Revolution
and reconcile with the Bolsheviks.
popularized by Benito Mussolini
to salute its leader (renounced when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa
). The organization, however, kept away from any open associations with fascist movements.
The Mladorossi were also monarchist oriented. They recognized Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich Romanov
as the legitimate heir of the Russian throne and the latter became supportive of the organization.
The founder of the Mladorossi, Alexander Kazembek
, was implicated of having ties with the Soviet consulate and OGPU. In 1937, after being spotted in a cafe in France
speaking to several Soviet diplomats, Kazem-Bek resigned his post. After World War II
he emigrated to the United States
and lived in California
, then Connecticut
, and thereon after moved to the USSR where he lived out the rest of his years.
At the start of World War II many Mladorossi volunteered to join the French Resistance
. After the war's end, the organization dissolved and was no longer heard of.
White Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
monarchists (mostly living in Europe) who advocated a hybrid of Russian monarchy and the Soviet system, best evidenced by their motto "Tsar and the Soviets".
The organization started in 1923, as the "Union of Young Russia" (in Russian: Союз Молодой России, Soyuz Molodoi Rossii) in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, changing its name to the Union of Mladorossi in 1925.
Early years
The Mladorossi, as they were popularly known, at first declared themselves as anti-communists. In contrast to other émigré political organizations, they argued against the idea of creating a "free Russia" on non-Russian soil, believing strongly that the Soviet occupied Russia was the only Russia that could be in existence. The Mladorossi believed that the Soviet government, for all its negative ideology, was preserving the Russian state and defending its national interests. They also believed that the October RevolutionOctober Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
was merely the beginning of an evolutionary process that would create a new, young Russia (hence their use of the prefix mlado which means "young").
Similar groups
Several émigré movements with a similar ideology evolved at around the same time, notably the Evraziitsi, and the SmenovekhovtsiSmenovekhovtsi
The Smenovekhovtsy is the name for a political movement in the Russian émigré community that began shortly after the publication of the magazine "Smena Vekh" in Prague, in the year 1921...
. Other émigré movements and organizations, such as National Alliance of Russian Solidarists
National Alliance of Russian Solidarists
The National Alliance of Russian Solidarists ), known by its Russian abbreviation "NTS" is a Russian far-right anticommunist organization founded in 1930 by a group of young Russian anticommunist White emigres in Belgrade, Serbia .The organization was formed in response to the older generation of...
(NTS), the Russian Imperial Union Order
Russian Imperial Union Order
The Russian Imperial Union-Order is an organization of Russian monarchists-legitimists. It was established on 8 October 1929 in Paris by white emigrants living abroad...
, and the ROVS, were hostile to these movements, feeling they were trying to justify the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
and reconcile with the Bolsheviks.
Ideology
The Mladorossi organization had a fascist influence as demonstrated by its doctrine and as visible through its use of the Roman saluteRoman salute
The Roman salute is a gesture in which the arm is held out forward straight, with palm down, and fingers touching. In some versions, the arm is raised upward at an angle; in others, it is held out parallel to the ground. The former is a well known symbol of fascism that is commonly perceived to be...
popularized by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
to salute its leader (renounced when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
). The organization, however, kept away from any open associations with fascist movements.
The Mladorossi were also monarchist oriented. They recognized Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich Romanov
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia was a member of the Russian Imperial Family. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the deaths of Tsar Nicholas II and his brother Michael, Cyril assumed the Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia and later the title Emperor and Autocrat of all the...
as the legitimate heir of the Russian throne and the latter became supportive of the organization.
Fall of the Mladorossi
In the 1930s, the Mladorossi adopted an increasingly open pro-Soviet position, claiming that they were to become the "second Soviet party". While still declaring Stalin as their enemy, the Mladorossi believed that a Tsar could fully function in the Soviet system that was in place at the time in the USSR. This earned the Mladorossi the label of being "Soviet patriots" amidst the White émigrés, and speculation began that the organization was being influenced if not controlled by the Soviet secret police.The founder of the Mladorossi, Alexander Kazembek
Alexander Kazembek (White emigré)
Alexander Lvovich Kazembek , often spelled Kazem-Bek or Kasem-Beg, was a Russian émigré and political activist, and founder of the Mladorossi political group.-Life:Kazembek was born into a wealthy noble family of Azeri origin...
, was implicated of having ties with the Soviet consulate and OGPU. In 1937, after being spotted in a cafe in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
speaking to several Soviet diplomats, Kazem-Bek resigned his post. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and lived in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, then Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and thereon after moved to the USSR where he lived out the rest of his years.
At the start of World War II many Mladorossi volunteered to join the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. After the war's end, the organization dissolved and was no longer heard of.
See also
- Inner LineInner LineThe Inner Line was a secret intelligence and counter-intelligence organization of the Russian All-Military Union , leading Russian White emigre organization....
- National Alliance of Russian SolidaristsNational Alliance of Russian SolidaristsThe National Alliance of Russian Solidarists ), known by its Russian abbreviation "NTS" is a Russian far-right anticommunist organization founded in 1930 by a group of young Russian anticommunist White emigres in Belgrade, Serbia .The organization was formed in response to the older generation of...
- Russian All-Military UnionRussian All-Military UnionThe Russian All-Military Union was founded by White Army General Pyotr Wrangel in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes on September 1, 1924...
- White émigréWhite EmigreA white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....