Viktor Pokrovsky
Encyclopedia
Viktor Leonidovich Pokrovsky (1889 - November 9, 1922)- Russian lieutenant general
and one of the leaders of anti-communist counterrevolutionary
White Army during Russian Civil War
.
aviation military schools. He served in the Russian army during First World War as a pilot and was awarded Cross of St. George
for bravery.
coup (see Russian Revolution of 1917
) he formed an anti-Bolshevik
army unit in the Kuban
region of southern Russia. Kuban Rada
promoted him to the rank of colonel
and later to the rank of major general
.
In March 1918, after heavy fighting with the Red Army
, his units were forced to leave Yekaterinodar. After this, on March 26, 1918, Viktor Pokrovsky joined Volunteer Army
of general Lavr Kornilov
(later led by generals Anton Denikin and Pyotr Wrangel and known also as the Armed Forces of South Russia
). General Pokrovsky was in charge of Kuban Cossacks
and Caucasus
army units of the White Army.
Pokrovsky’s men played a key role in the capture of Tsaritsyn and Kamyshin
from the Bolshevik forces in the summer of 1919. Many in the White movement, including military officers, complained about Pokrovsky's penchant to hang prisoners.
because general Wrangel did not appoint him to any key positions at his headquarters. In emigration, he settled in Bulgaria
and continued anti-Soviet activities. On November 9, 1922, he was kiled by the Bulgarian police while resisting arrest in a murder investigation.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and one of the leaders of anti-communist counterrevolutionary
Counterrevolutionary
A counter-revolutionary is anyone who opposes a revolution, particularly those who act after a revolution to try to overturn or reverse it, in full or in part...
White Army during Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
.
Biography
Viktor Pokrovsky graduated from Pavlovsk army cadet and SevastopolSevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
aviation military schools. He served in the Russian army during First World War as a pilot and was awarded Cross of St. George
Cross of St. George
thumb|Original Cross of St. George.Ist and 2nd class were in gold.The Cross of St. George ', or simply the George's Cross, was, until 1913, officially known as the Sign of Distinction of the Military Order of St. George....
for bravery.
Russian Civil War
Following the October BolshevikOctober 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...
coup (see Russian Revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
) he formed an anti-Bolshevik
Anti-bolshevism
Anti-bolshevism has two principal forms:* Anti-bolshevik Anti-communism* Anti-Bolshevik Communism...
army unit in the Kuban
Kuban
Kuban is a geographic region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Don Steppe, Volga Delta and the Caucasus...
region of southern Russia. Kuban Rada
Kuban Rada
The Kuban Rada was the supreme organisation of the Kuban Cossacks, that represented all the heads of the districts. Its head however, Nakazny Ataman, was appointed by the Tsar directly. After the February Revolution, in April 1917 the Rada proclaimed itself as the supreme administration of the...
promoted him to the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and later to the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
In March 1918, after heavy fighting with the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, his units were forced to leave Yekaterinodar. After this, on March 26, 1918, Viktor Pokrovsky joined Volunteer Army
Volunteer Army
The Volunteer Army was an anti-Bolshevik army in South Russia during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920....
of general Lavr Kornilov
Lavr Kornilov
Lavr Georgiyevich Kornilov was a military intelligence officer, explorer, and general in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I and the ensuing Russian Civil War...
(later led by generals Anton Denikin and Pyotr Wrangel and known also as the Armed Forces of South Russia
Armed Forces of South Russia
The Armed Forces of South Russia was formed on the 8th of January 1919, it incorporated many of the smaller formations of the White army in that area under them, including the Volunteer Army ....
). General Pokrovsky was in charge of Kuban Cossacks
Kuban Cossacks
Kuban Cossacks or Kubanians are Cossacks who live in the Kuban region of Russia. Most of the Kuban Cossacks are of descendants of two major groups who were re-settled in the Western Northern Caucasus during the Caucasus War in the late 18th century...
and Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
army units of the White Army.
Pokrovsky’s men played a key role in the capture of Tsaritsyn and Kamyshin
Kamyshin
Kamyshin is a city in Volgograd Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Volgograd Reservoir of the Volga River, in the estuary of the Kamyshinka River. Population: 101,000 ; 24,000 ....
from the Bolshevik forces in the summer of 1919. Many in the White movement, including military officers, complained about Pokrovsky's penchant to hang prisoners.
Exile
In April 1920, he emigrated from CrimeaCrimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
because general Wrangel did not appoint him to any key positions at his headquarters. In emigration, he settled in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and continued anti-Soviet activities. On November 9, 1922, he was kiled by the Bulgarian police while resisting arrest in a murder investigation.
See also
- White movementWhite movementThe White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
- Volunteer ArmyVolunteer ArmyThe Volunteer Army was an anti-Bolshevik army in South Russia during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920....
- Russian Civil WarRussian Civil WarThe Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...