 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Russian. (July 2024)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Mikhail Alekseyev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1857-11-15)15 November 1857 |
| Died | 8 October 1918(1918-10-08) (aged 60) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Russian EmpireRussian Republic |
| Branch | Imperial Russian ArmyVolunteer Army |
| Service years | 1876–1918 |
| Rank | General of Infantry |
| Conflicts | Russo-Turkish War Russo-Japanese War World War I Russian Civil War |
| Awards |  Order of St. Stanislav Order of St. George Order of St. Vladimir Order of St. Anne |
Mikhail Vasilyevich Alekseyev (Russian:Михаи́л Васи́льевич Алексе́ев) (15 November [O.S. 3 November] 1857 – 8 October [O.S. 25 September] 1918) was anImperial Russian Army general duringWorld War I and theRussian Civil War. Between 1915 and 1917 he served asTsarNicholas II'sChief of Staff of theStavka, and after theFebruary Revolution, was its commander-in-chief under theRussian Provisional Government from March to May 1917. He later played a principal role in founding theVolunteer Army in the Russian Civil War and died in 1918 of heart failure while fighting theBolsheviks in the Volga region.[1]
Alekseyev was born inVyazma, in theSmolensk Governorate of theRussian Empire (present-daySmolensk Oblast,Russia). His father, Vasili Alekseyev, was an army captain in the 64th Kazan Regiment from a modest background. In 1873 Alekseyev entered as a volunteer in the 2nd Grenadiers Regiment inRostov. He graduated from the Moscow Infantry School in 1876 and was commissioned an ensign in the same 64th Kazan Regiment. He served as an orderly to GeneralMikhail Skobelev during theRusso-Turkish War (1877–1878), and was wounded in combat nearPleven,Bulgaria. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 1881, and captain in May 1883.
In 1893, Alekseyev entered theNicholas General Staff Academy, and in 1896 became a lecturer.[2]: 20
In 1890 with the rank oflieutenant colonel, he was posted as a senior adjutant in the headquarters of the 1st Army Corps in theSt. Petersburg Military District. In March 1904, he was promoted to the rank of major general.
With the outbreak of theRusso-Japanese War, in October 1904 Alekseyev was appointedQuartermaster General of the Russian3rd Manchurian Army.[2]: 20 During the war he was awarded agold sword, theOrder of St. Stanislav, and theOrder of St. Anne.
After the war, he returned to the General Staff Academy as a Professor of the history of military science.[2]: 20
In 1908 he was madeChief of Staff of theKievmilitary district and promoted tolieutenant general. In 1912 Alekseyev was given command of the 13th Army Corps.
The beginning ofWorld War I saw Alekseyev appointed Chief of Staff toN. I. Ivanov, Commander of theSouthwestern Front[2]: 20 (which held the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Armies), where he planned the Russian offensive intoGalicia with the rank of General-of-Infantry. He was subsequently awarded theOrder of St. George (4th class). In March 1915 Alekseyev became the overall commander of the RussianNorthwestern Front.
On 5 September 1915, whenGrand Duke Nicholas Nikolayevich of Russia stepped down as Russian supremeCommander-in-chief in August 1915 to be replaced by Tsar Nicholas II, Alekseyev was appointed as Chief of Staff of the General Headquarters (Stavka) and placed in charge of all military operations.[2]: 20 He served in this capacity from August 1915 to March 1917.
In his capacity as Chief of Staff, Alekseyev proved to be a more adaptable and flexible commander than his predecessor. He was, however, incapable of changing a political system that allowed the promotion of incompetent commanders through nepotism, patronage and the use of court intrigue. Alekseyev remained committed to the Allied cause of the Entente, which is proved by the undertaking of the summer offensive in 1916. However, the Russian Army did not manage to exploit strategic benefits of the successful offensive and the situation at the front did not improve significantly.
During theFebruary Revolution of 1917, Alexeyev forwarded telegrams to the Tsar from the generals commanding the front, advising him to abdicate the throne. These telegrams led to the Tsar's decision to abdicate on the 15 March 1917 in favour of his brotherGrand Duke Michael.[3]
From March to May 1917, Alekseyev's position remained ambiguous. While he was the Commander-in-chief and later adviser to theProvisional Government, he spoke out against theSoviets and thedemocratization of the army. On 30 August 1917 Alekseyev became Chief of Staff of the Stavka under Commander-in-ChiefAlexander Kerensky. His goal was to prevent the Kornilov movement (seeKornilov Affair) from developing into civil war. That same day, Alekseyev arrived at the General Headquarters, arrested GeneralLavr Kornilov and his men and sent them toprison inBykhov (a town inMogilev oblast inBelarus), from which they would "break away" with the help of GeneralNikolai Dukhonin.[4]
On 13 November, after theOctober Revolution, Alekseyev fled Petrograd, arrivingNovocherkassk on 15 Nov. With the support of theDon CossacksAtaman, GeneralAlexey Kaledin, he formed the Alekseev Organization, which would become the core of the anti-BolshevikVolunteer Army.[2]
On 19 December, he was joined by Kornilov. According toPeter Kenez, "AsDenikin remarks, it was obvious from the first moment that cooperation between Alekseev and Kornilov would not be easy. Their backgrounds, personalities, and followers were very different, their past associations had left bitter memories, and they disliked each other." On 31 December, Kornilov took military command of the Volunteer Army, while Alekseyev took responsibility for civil authority, foreign affairs and finances. Kaledin had responsibility for the government of the Don district. After the death of Kornilov, Alexeyev appointed Denikin commander of the Volunteer Army, successfully completing theIce March. In June, Alekseyev set up a political office in Novocherkassk.[2]: 74–75, 116
However, Alekseyev, sick for some time, died of heart failure inEkaterinodar in September 1918. He was first buried in the crypt of theCossack host cathedral, but his family moved his remains to theNew Cemetery, Belgrade, where they remain to this day.
