The Western Russian Volunteer Army, unlike the pro-EntenteVolunteer Army, was supported and in fact created by Germany. The Compiègne Armistice, article 12, stipulated that troops of the former German Empire were to remain in the Baltic provinces of the former Russian Empire to help fight Bolshevik advances and were to withdraw once the Allies determined the situation was under control. The order to withdraw was given after the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919.
However, only a small portion of the Freikorps in the Baltic retired; the rest stayed under the leadership of General Rüdiger von der Goltz. To avoid casting blame on Germany and infuriating the Allies, he withdrew into the background and merged his troops with the "Special Russian Corps", led by Cossack General Pavel Bermondt-Avalov. The two generals recruited about 50,000 men: mostly Freikorps, Baltic Germans, as well as some Russian POWs captured by Germany in World War I and then released on the promise that they would help fight against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War. The Army declared that it joined the forces of Aleksandr Kolchak and marched to attack Bolsheviks, but their real goal was to sustain German power in the Baltic region.
Confrontation with the governments of Latvia and Lithuania
Bermontians' planes captured by the Lithuanian Army near Radviliškis
The political situation in the Baltic region continued to deteriorate. A new government in Lithuania refused to allow White Russians to pass troops through and establish a military base. After initially supporting the White Russians the Weimar government, under pressure from the Entente, banned the transfer of German soldiers to the Russians and ordered the Reichswehr to block the East Prussian border to block Freikorp's supplies. General von der Goltz was finally recalled on October 4.
In this circumstances Bermondt-Avalov launched an offensive using Freikorps in attempt to force the Republic of Latvia to negotiate. With the support of British naval artillery and Estonianarmoured train, a Latvian counter-offensive followed in November, which forced Bermondt's army to withdraw. Mitau was also lost in loss-making fights.
In October 1919, the West Russian Volunteer Army attacked the newly independent states of Lithuania and Latvia, to which Germany had granted independence. It briefly occupied the west bank of the Daugava River in Riga and the government of Kārlis Ulmanis had to request military assistance from Lithuania and Estonia. The Estonians sent two armoured trains to aid the Latvians while the Lithuanians were engaged in battles with the Bolsheviks and could only issue diplomatic protests. The Latvians also received assistance from the guns of a British Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Vanoc, in Riga harbour.
Upon defeat Bermondt-Avalov fled to Denmark. The German Freikorps were handed over to the German Lieutenant General von Eberhardt, successor of the Goltz as commander of the VI Reserve Corps in Allenstein. After the involvement of the Entente military mission, General Eberhardt was able to organize evacuation of the remaining German Freikorps via Lithuania to East Prussia. This was completed by mid-December 1919.
Army
The Army uniforms of the West Russian Volunteer Army were provided by Germany and decorated with Russian distinctive signs, in particular the shoulder legs according to the model of the Russian Imperial Army and an Orthodox cross worn on the left sleeve.
^Inta Pētersone (ed.): Latvijas Brīvības cīņas 1918–1920. Enciklopēdja. Preses nams, Riga 1999, ISBN9984-00-395-7, page 78.
Bibliography
Von der Goltz, Rüdiger (1920). Meine Sendung in Finnland und im Baltikum (in German). Leipzig: Verlag von K.F. Koehler. OCLC 186846067.
Bermondt-Avalov, Pavel (1925). Im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus. Erinnerungen von General Fürst Awaloff, Oberbefehlshaber der Deutsch-Russischen Westarmee im Baltikum (in German). Glückstadt, Hamburg: Verlag J.J. Augustin. OCLC 15188750.
Bischoff, Josef, Die letzte Front. Geschichte der Eiserne Division im Baltikum 1919, Berlin 1935.
Darstellungen aus den Nachkriegskämpfen deutscher Truppen und Freikorps, Bd 2: Der Feldzug im Baltikum bis zur zweiten Einnahme von Riga. Januar bis Mai 1919, Berlin 1937; Bd 3: Die Kämpfe im Baltikum nach der zweiten Einnahme von Riga. Juni bis Dezember 1919, Berlin 1938.
Die Baltische Landeswehr im Befreiungskampf gegen den Bolschewismus, Riga 1929.
Eesti Vabadussõda 1918-1920, Tallinn, Mats, 1997. ISBN9985-51-028-3.
Kiewisz, Leon, Sprawy łotewskie w bałtyckiej polityce Niemiec 1914-1919, Poznań 1970.
Paluszyński, Tomasz, Walka o niepodległość Łotwy 1914-1920, Warszawa 1999.
Von den baltische Provinzen zu den baltischen Staaten. Beiträge zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Republiken Estland und Lettland, Bd I (1917-1918), Bd II (1919-1920), Marburg 1971, 1977.
Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Bermondtists". Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. I. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 335–336. LCC 74-114275.
Notes
^Russian: Русская Западная добровольческая армия, romanized: Russkaya Zapadnaya dobrovol'cheskaya armiya
west, russian, volunteer, army, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2013, learn, when, remove, this, temp. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The West Russian Volunteer Army a or Bermontians b was a pro German military formation in Latvia and Lithuania during the Russian Civil War in 1918 20 West Russian Volunteer ArmyOnly surviving flag of the West Russian Volunteer ArmyActive1918 20AllegianceRussian State Officially German Empire Unofficially Size50 000EngagementsRussian Civil War Estonian War of Independence Latvian War of Independence Lithuanian Wars of IndependenceCommandersNotablecommandersGen Pavel Bermondt AvalovGen Rudiger von der GoltzInsigniaArmy Flag Contents 1 History 2 Confrontation with the governments of Latvia and Lithuania 3 Army 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 NotesHistory EditThe Western Russian Volunteer Army unlike the pro Entente Volunteer Army was supported and in fact created by Germany The Compiegne Armistice article 12 stipulated that troops of the former German Empire were to remain in the Baltic provinces of the former Russian Empire to help fight Bolshevik advances and were to withdraw once the Allies determined the situation was under control The order to withdraw was given after the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919 However only a small portion of the Freikorps in the Baltic retired the rest stayed under the leadership of General Rudiger von der Goltz To avoid casting blame on Germany and infuriating the Allies he withdrew into the background and merged his troops with the Special Russian Corps led by Cossack General Pavel Bermondt Avalov The two generals recruited about 50 000 men mostly Freikorps Baltic Germans as well as some Russian POWs captured by Germany in World War I and then released on the promise that they would help fight against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War The Army declared that it joined the forces of Aleksandr Kolchak and marched to attack Bolsheviks but their real goal was to sustain German power in the Baltic region Confrontation with the governments of Latvia and Lithuania Edit Bermontians planes captured by the Lithuanian Army near Radviliskis The political situation in the Baltic region continued to deteriorate A new government in Lithuania refused to allow White Russians to pass troops through and establish a military base After initially supporting the White Russians the Weimar government under pressure from the Entente banned the transfer of German soldiers to the Russians and ordered the Reichswehr to block the East Prussian border to block Freikorp s supplies General von der Goltz was finally recalled on October 4 In this circumstances Bermondt Avalov launched an offensive using Freikorps in attempt to force the Republic of Latvia to negotiate With the support of British naval artillery and Estonian armoured train a Latvian counter offensive followed in November which forced Bermondt s army to withdraw Mitau was also lost in loss making fights In October 1919 the West Russian Volunteer Army attacked the newly independent states of Lithuania and Latvia to which Germany had granted independence It briefly occupied the west bank of the Daugava River in Riga and the government of Karlis Ulmanis had to request military assistance from Lithuania and Estonia The Estonians sent two armoured trains to aid the Latvians while the Lithuanians were engaged in battles with the Bolsheviks and could only issue diplomatic protests The Latvians also received assistance from the guns of a British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Vanoc in Riga harbour In November the Latvian army managed to drive the Bermondt Avalov forces into Lithuanian territory Mitau was also lost Finally the West Russian Volunteer Army suffered heavy defeats by the Lithuanians near Radviliskis a major railway centre Upon defeat Bermondt Avalov fled to Denmark The German Freikorps were handed over to the German Lieutenant General von Eberhardt successor of the Goltz as commander of the VI Reserve Corps in Allenstein After the involvement of the Entente military mission General Eberhardt was able to organize evacuation of the remaining German Freikorps via Lithuania to East Prussia This was completed by mid December 1919 Army EditThe Army uniforms of the West Russian Volunteer Army were provided by Germany and decorated with Russian distinctive signs in particular the shoulder legs according to the model of the Russian Imperial Army and an Orthodox cross worn on the left sleeve The army included 1 Corps Graf Keller Colonel Potozki from 7 000 to 10 000 soldiers near Jelgava Corps Virgolitsch Colonel Virgolitsch from 3 500 to 5 000 soldiers stationed in northern Lithuania Iron Division Major Bischoff about 15 000 to 18 000 at Jelgava joined in August German Legion de Captain Sievert about 9 000 to 12 000 soldiers who had come together from various independent free corps Freikorps Plehwe Captain von Plehwe de about 3 000 soldiers the former 2nd Guard Reserve Regiment before Libau Freikorps Diebitsch about 3 000 soldiers for railway protection in Lithuania Freikorps Rossbach de about 1 000 soldiers appeared at the end of October after a march over 1 200 km off Riga See also EditWhite Movement Freikorps in the Baltic United Baltic Duchy Estonian War of Independence Latvian War of Independence Lithuanian Wars of IndependenceReferences Edit Inta Petersone ed Latvijas Brivibas cinas 1918 1920 Enciklopedja Preses nams Riga 1999 ISBN 9984 00 395 7 page 78 Bibliography Edit Von der Goltz Rudiger 1920 Meine Sendung in Finnland und im Baltikum in German Leipzig Verlag von K F Koehler OCLC 186846067 Bermondt Avalov Pavel 1925 Im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus Erinnerungen von General Furst Awaloff Oberbefehlshaber der Deutsch Russischen Westarmee im Baltikum in German Gluckstadt Hamburg Verlag J J Augustin OCLC 15188750 Bischoff Josef Die letzte Front Geschichte der Eiserne Division im Baltikum 1919 Berlin 1935 Darstellungen aus den Nachkriegskampfen deutscher Truppen und Freikorps Bd 2 Der Feldzug im Baltikum bis zur zweiten Einnahme von Riga Januar bis Mai 1919 Berlin 1937 Bd 3 Die Kampfe im Baltikum nach der zweiten Einnahme von Riga Juni bis Dezember 1919 Berlin 1938 Die Baltische Landeswehr im Befreiungskampf gegen den Bolschewismus Riga 1929 Eesti Vabadussoda 1918 1920 Tallinn Mats 1997 ISBN 9985 51 028 3 Kiewisz Leon Sprawy lotewskie w baltyckiej polityce Niemiec 1914 1919 Poznan 1970 Paluszynski Tomasz Walka o niepodleglosc Lotwy 1914 1920 Warszawa 1999 Von den baltische Provinzen zu den baltischen Staaten Beitrage zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Republiken Estland und Lettland Bd I 1917 1918 Bd II 1919 1920 Marburg 1971 1977 Simas Suziedelis ed 1970 1978 Bermondtists Encyclopedia Lituanica Vol I Boston Massachusetts Juozas Kapocius pp 335 336 LCC 74 114275 Notes Edit Russian Russkaya Zapadnaya dobrovolcheskaya armiya romanized Russkaya Zapadnaya dobrovol cheskaya armiya Latvian Bermontiesi Lithuanian Bermontininkai Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Russian Volunteer Army amp oldid 1125236276, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
