Nikolai Ruzsky
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Vladimirovich Ruzsky ( - October 18, 1918), was a Russian general of World War I
.
Career=
His military career prior to the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 took him to both the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) and the Russo-Japanese War
, where he was Chief of Staff to the Second Manchurian Army. In between he served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kiev Military District
(1896-
1902). He was influenced by General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov
.
In August 1914 he was in command of the Third Army
, and was soon involved in the Battle of Galicia. He was given command over the Northwest Front in September 1914. His greatest achievement during the war was his part in the defence of Lodz in November 1914. He was given command of Sixth Army
in March 1915 and of the
Northern Front
in the winter of 1916, but he was replaced by Alexei Kuropatkin in February 1916 because of his excessive caution and indecision. He later was reinstated by the Tsar
in July.
Following the February Revolution
of 1917 he resigned his command and went south to the Caucasus, where he joined other Tsarist generals. Captured
by the Bolsheviks on September 11, 1918, in Essentuki
, he was executed along with the last remaining loyal officers and generals in Pyatigorsk
.
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...
.
Career=
His military career prior to the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 took him to both the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) and 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...
, where he was Chief of Staff to the Second Manchurian Army. In between he served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kiev Military District
Kiev Military District
The Kiev Military District was a Russian unit of military-administrative division of the Imperial Russian Army and subsequently of the Ukrainian Army, RKKA, and Soviet Armed Forces...
(1896-
1902). He was influenced by General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov
Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov
Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov was a Russian general and military writer....
.
In August 1914 he was in command of the Third Army
3rd Army (Russian Empire)
The Russian Third Army was a World War I Russian field army that fought on the Eastern theatre of war.Field management was established in July 1914 at the headquarters of the Kiev Military District. The unit was disbanded in the beginning of 1918...
, and was soon involved in the Battle of Galicia. He was given command over the Northwest Front in September 1914. His greatest achievement during the war was his part in the defence of Lodz in November 1914. He was given command of Sixth Army
6th Army (Russian Empire)
The Russian Sixth Army was a World War I Russian field army that fought on the Eastern theatre of war.- Commanders :* 01.09.1912—26.08.1914 — General of Infantry Благовещенский, Александр Александрович...
in March 1915 and of the
Northern Front
Northern Front (Russian Empire)
The Northern Front was a major unit of the Imperial Russian Army during the First World War.-Composition:*1st Army *5th Army *6th Army The Northern Front was a major unit of the Imperial Russian Army during the First World War.-Composition:*1st Army (April 1916 - July 1917, Sept. 1917 - early...
in the winter of 1916, but he was replaced by Alexei Kuropatkin in February 1916 because of his excessive caution and indecision. He later was reinstated by the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
in July.
Following the February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
of 1917 he resigned his command and went south to the Caucasus, where he joined other Tsarist generals. Captured
by the Bolsheviks on September 11, 1918, in Essentuki
Essentuki
Yessentuki is a city in Stavropol Krai, Russia, located at the base of the Caucasus Mountains. The city serves as a railway station in the Mineralnye Vody—Kislovodsk branch, and is situated southwest of Mineralnye Vody and west of Pyatigorsk. It is considered the cultural capital of Russia's...
, he was executed along with the last remaining loyal officers and generals in Pyatigorsk
Pyatigorsk
Pyatigorsk is a city in Stavropol Krai on the Podkumok River, about from Mineralnye Vody. Since January 19, 2010 it has been the administrative center of the North Caucasian Federal District of Russia...
.