Yakov Grigoryevich Zhilinsky | |
|---|---|
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| Chief of the General Staff | |
| In office 2 February 1911 – 4 March 1914 | |
| Monarch | Nicholas II |
| Preceded by | Yevgeny Gerngross |
| Succeeded by | Nikolai Yanushkevich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1853-03-27)27 March 1853 |
| Died | 1918 (aged 64-65) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Branch/service | Russian Imperial Army |
| Years of service | 1876–1917 |
| Rank | General of the Cavalry |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | |
Yakov Grigoryevich Zhilinsky (Russian:Яков Григорьевич Жилинский; 27 March 1853 – 1918) was aRussiancavalry general,chief of staff of theImperial Russian Army from 2 February 1911to 4 March 1914. Hewas considered to be[clarification needed] one of the main culprits of the failure of theEast Prussian Campaign in the early stages of theFirst World War.
Zhilinsky was born on March 15, 1853, inMikhaylov in theRyazan Governorate.[1]: 225 His family were nobility from theSmolensk Governorate, and he was born to Colonel Grigori I. Zhilinsky and Catherine Petrovna (née Muromtseva). In an early age, he attended theGymnasium Creiman inMoscow.
He joined active service as a cadet in theSumy Hussar Regiment. In 1876, he graduated from theNicholas Cavalry College [ru] inSt. Petersburg and was assigned to the Horse Guards Regiment of theImperial Guard as acornet. He was considered one of the best riders in the school and was in charge of training the regiment.
In 1883, he graduated fromNikolaev Academy of the General Staff at the first category. For excellent success, he was promoted tocaptain. After serving as a senior aide to the staff of the 1st Grenadier Division, he served from 14 February 1894 on the Military Scientific Committee of the General Staff, amilitary intelligence organization responsible for the study of foreign countries.
During theSpanish–American War Zhilinsky was a Russianmilitary observer with theSpanish Army inCuba. On his return, he published a book on the war, which analyzed the causes of Spain's defeat.[1]: 225
In 1899, Zhilinskiy served as a member of Russian delegation at theHague Peace Conference. He was appointed commander of the 52nd Dragoons Regiment from August 1899. In 1900, he was promoted to the rank of major general and was appointedQuartermaster general.
In theRusso-Japanese War (1904–1905), Zhilinsky wasChief of Staff to the Viceroy of the Far East, AdmiralYevgeni Alexeyev, until Alexeyev was dismissed in October 1904.[1]: 438 He remained in the combat zone to serve the Minister of War,Aleksey Kuropatkin until the end of the conflict. From 27 January 1906, he was commander of the 14th Cavalry Division in Poland, and from 7 July 1907 of the 10th Army Corps. Promoted to Cavalry general on 18 April 1910, Zhilinskiy was appointed commander of theWarsaw Military District andGovernor-General of Warsaw in 1911.
Zhilinsky also served from 22 February 1911 to 4 March 1914 asChief of theGeneral Staff of theImperial Russian Army. At the beginning ofWorld War I, he assumed command of theNorthwestern Front. The Northwestern Front included the1st Army and2nd Army under the command of GeneralPaul von Rennenkampff and GeneralAlexander Samsonov. After the unsuccessfulEast Prussian Campaign and the losses at theBattle of Tannenberg and theFirst Battle of the Masurian Lakes, he was relieved of command despite attempts to blame Rennenkampff for the fiasco.[2] Zhilinsky was sent as a military representative to France from 1915 to 1916 and was recalled to Russia in the autumn of 1916. On 19 September 1917, he was ordered to retire.[1]: 438
After theOctober Revolution, he attempted to flee Russia but was killed in south Russia in undetermined circumstances.[3]
Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd degree, 1880.
Order of St. Anne, 3rd degree, 1888Order of St. Stanislaus, 2nd degree, 1894.Order of St. Anne, 2nd degree, 1896
Order of St Vladimir, 4th degree, 1899Order of St Vladimir, 3rd degree, 1902Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st degree with swords, 1904.Order of St. Anne, 1st degree with swords, 1905Order of St Vladimir, 2nd degree, 1906
Order of the White Eagle, 1912
Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, 1913 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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