Russian Civil War

First Chapters of "White Armies"

Officer's Rifle General of Drozdovsky Division 1918-1920

by A. Deryabin
translated by Tom Hillman

Page 15

OFFICERS RIFLE GENERAL of DROZDOVSKY DIVISION, 1918-1920

The "Drozdovskys" was the name for the officers and other ranks of a diverse military unit accorded the honor of the patron name of Brigadier-General M.G. Drozdovsky. Toward the end of 1917 in the Romanian lines he started forming three detachments of Russian volunteer brigades to fight against the Bolsheviks. Its first Commander was General Staff Colonel M.G. Drozdovsky. In February 1918, following a command to disband the volunteer units, Drozdovsky chose not to submit to it and on 26 February (11 march) 1918 at the head of this brigade, with some other small units trailing with it, came forward from Town of Yassas to the Don, to join the Volunteer army. Detachment Drozdovsky brought over units of all of armies (except of aviation) elements and counted 667 officers, 370 soldiers, 14 doctors, priests and officials and 12 sisters of mercy. After a 61-day march, walking for 1200 verst, detachments of M.G. Drozdovsky arrived to the Don where they gave essential help to Don Cossacks in rebelling against the Bolsheviks.

The Drozdovskys joined the Volunteer Army and became her 3rd Division, to be commanded by the then Colonel Drozdovsky. The division participated in 2nd Kuban March and in battles for Stavrpol and Armavip to autumn 1918, where Drozdovsky was mortally injured. The 2nd Officer Rifle Regiment first appears in the main body of the 3rd Division of M.G. Drozdovskys when it transferred in December 1918 to the Don Basin. On 4(17) January 1919 by command of the HQ Armed Forces of Russia South it was renamed to the 2nd Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment. (One would assume that 3-4 regiments existed in this DIV from the start, T.H.)

After completion of operations in Don basin, they went out on the Ukraine and Kharkov region on 27 July (9 August) 1919 and the regiment was divided into two units, 2nd and 4th Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment. On 30 July (12 august) both regiments were formed into the Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Brigade commanded by Brigadier-General K. Kelner. On 25 August (7 September) the 4th Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment was renamed to the 2nd , and former 2nd to the 1st. On 21 September (4 October) in Kharkov was formed the 3rd Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment and was included in the composition of the AFSR's 3rd Infantry Division. 14(27) October the division was renamed to the Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Division. It participated in all of the Volunteer's operations of autumn 1919 to the winter of 1920 up to the evacuation to the Crimea in March 1920. In autumn 1919 the 3rd Artillery Brigade was regenerated to become the Drozdovsky Artillery Brigade, taken to Gallipoli as a divizion.

In the Crimea on 16(29) April, the General Drozdovsky Rifle Division comprised: Headquarters, 1st , 2nd , 3rd General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment, Drozdovsky Artillery Brigade (Headquarters, 1st , 2nd and 4th artilleries Divizions), Independent engineering General Drozdovsky Company and Reserve battalion of the division (7(20) October it was renamed to the 4th General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment). The Division participated in battles in North Tavri and Perekope. In November 1920 in Gallipoli all Drozdovsky Infantry were formed into the Composite General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment, renamed afterwards to the 2nd Officer General Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment. In August 1921 all of the Drozdovskys were conveyed to Bulgaria, and in 1922 their existence as independent military units ended.

One of the very renowned Drozdovsky units was the 2nd General Drozdovsky Horse Regiment, which started its beginning as a squadron, formed by Rotmister B. A. Gaevsk in Yassa. After joining with the Horse-pioneer Squadron of Rotmister Dvoychenko (he began 2nd by horse squadron) on 5(18) March 1918 in Dobossarakh it was formed into a Horse Demi-regiment (2 squadrons) under Gaevsk's command. In Novocherkassk on 29 April (12 may) the Demi-regiment expanded to a Horse Regiment (4 squadron, command, horse-machine-gun and field engineers). On 31 May (13 June) by Denikin's command the division's Horse Regiment was renamed to the 2nd Horse Regiment, participating in 2nd Kuban march. The number of squadrons permanently grew and by August there was already nine. On 13 (26) July the regiment took Brigadier-General M. M. Chekatov and under his command "Drovdovskys" horse participated in all of operations of the Volunteer Army. Toward the end of 1918 the regiment was transferred over to the Yuzovki region, from there marched across to North Tavriyu and battled with the Makhovists. Afterwards the regiment retreated into the Crimea to river-Manaysk positions.

On 22 May (4 June) 1919 the regiment became an Independent Cav-brigade of the 4th Infantry Division and was under the command of Colonel I.G. Barbov, participating in the liquidation of Red Partisan in the Kerch Quarries. After going to the Crimea the brigade was re-formed into the 2nd Cavalry Division, by adding a Composite 2nd Brigade and 2nd Horse Regiment. In July the regiment was transferred to Colonel A.G. Shapron Du Larre, and under his command he captured the Station of Bakhmach, and after moved in the direction Cheringov to Kiev. On 10 (23) October by command of the AFSR the regiment was granted the honor of patronage of Brigadier-General Drozdovsky, and it was named the 2nd General Drozdovsky Horse Regiment. At the close of November the regiment (now under colonel Silkina) went clear out to the Dniester to Yelisavetgrado, where it conducted battles to middle January of 1920, whereupon fell back to 1058; iraspol and to the Dobossarams.

The Regiment participated with armies group marching with General H.E. Bredov along the Dniester into Poland, after which on 2(15) March it was included as an Independent Cav-brigade of the Independent Russian Volunteer Army of General Bredov. The Ranks of the regiment were interned in camps in Krakow and in Pikolikhafs. Afterwards 650 men of the "Drozdovsky" horse went to the Crimea and in 6(19) August, under Colonel Silkin, participated in battles.

While most of the regiment was in Poland, in the Crimea getting well from wounds and illnesses were soldier and officers in wagon trains (support units). They were commanded to form the Drozdovsky Horse Demi-regiment (3 squadrons) and were assigned on April 6th (or 7th ?) to the Cav-regiment of the Independent Cav-brigade of the 1st Army Corps. At the close of April they were transferred to the 5th Cav-regiment of the 2nd Cavalry Division of that same corps. On 8 (21) August following the command to disband the 5th Cav-regiment the Drozdovskys were transferred, going from there to form the Independent General Drozdovsky Horse Demi-regiment in the Composite General Drozdovsky Rifle Division, where later came in the ranks of the 2nd Horse regiment, arriving from Poland. This Demi-regiment under the command of Colonel M. A. Kabarov continued to campaign to 1920 before leaving the lines. In camps at Gallipoli the Demi-regiment was attached to the 2nd Officer Rifle General Drozdovsky Regiment.

PLATE I (page 16)

Ensign - standard-bearer of the Kornilov Shock Regiment.

Adjutant Kornilov Shock Regiment.

Private Kornilov Shock Regiment.

Private detachment of volunteers from invalid (wounded) army, 1917.

*Note: the invalid army would refer to the combat wounded soldiers that have been placed into rear area duties to recuperate. The shock units recruited from this pool of experienced combat veterans before they were reassigned to the front or released from duty. Shock units were based on the German Stormtrooper units. Units trained in assault tactics with extra assault weapons. Kornilov initiated their use in the Russia's Army. T.H.*

I. SHOCK UNITS, 1917.

On 10 July 19l7 on a review of the detachment, General Kornilov awarded the ranks the wear of a steel helmet of the French style with a skull on it, black/red shoulder-boards and the renowned Kornilov sleeve emblem. Upon the right arm above the elbow was given to wear the black/red Shock Unit long service stripe. Then the detachments were handed standards – colored black/red, with white skull and bones and inscribed: " 1st Shock Detachment ".

On 27 August 1917 Nezhenyev presented to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief General L.G. Kornilov a design of the uniform for the Kornilov Shock Regiment, which at the time was already worn by most ranks. In accordance with this design - based on the uniform of the infantry regiments –

Officers:

  • wore service cap with white piping and skull instead of cockade; winter cap – dark with white piping and double cap-band: upper half -dark, lower - red.

  • On the helmet instead of an eagle - skull.

  • Single-breasted tunic with high collar and trousers - with white piping, officer's tab (with white piping) on the overcoat it was double colored: upper half –black and lower - red.

  • Shoulder-boards - with silver lace, black piping and black/red (divided in two) halves; on the shoulder-boards - white letter "K " and similar skull with crossed dagger under it. Button - also white.

For soldiers:

  • a forage cap with skull instead of cockade and helmet with skull.

  • On the greatcoat - tab, like the officers.

  • Shoulder-boards - double colors (in two): upper half - black with white skull with crossed dagger, lower - red with white letter "K".

  • On the left arm, two fingers below the shoulder-boards, all ranks of the regiment wore an emblem in Russia's National Colors - blue shield with white inscription: "KORNILOV", skull with crossed dagger under it and intersecting sword hilt upward; under sword - red flaming grenade.

On 31 August General Kornilov established the uniform clothing for the regiment. Even when the Kornilov Regiment was renamed to Slavic Shock Division it preserved its founding colors and emblems. Imprinted upon illustrations private – Kornilov soldier of renown, upon his breast are St.George's Cross 4th , 3rd and 2nd class. Enacted, 22 July 1917, by the Provisional Government of Russian, Mar-Nov. 1917, the 1st detachment of volunteer - recovering veterans (wounded) were reformed to take the field. They were clothed as the standard army infantryman, but with red shoulder-boards, along the edges were white-black-red lacing and gold Junker lace; along the outside edge of the shoulder-boards was a braid in St. George's colors (i.e. black-orange). Very visible is the volunteer badge sewn upon his uniform, a black circle with white skull with crossed bones and red angled chevron placed with Cyrillic black letters " д y".

For reference see illustration 4: volunteer badge on the left arm, Cross of St. George 4th Class on the breast. On the arm under the letters is an example of a wound stripe.

And if you want to get the rest of the info, including the incredibly array of black and white photos and color plates, order R12 - White Armies from Craig Martelle - Tom was kind enough to translate the entire book! (note blatant commercialism at this point).

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