Russian Civil War

First Chapters of "White Armies"

Partisan Alekeev General Infantry Division 1918-1920

by A. Deryabin
translated by Tom Hillman

Page 13

PARTISAN ALEKSEEV GENERAL INFANTRY DIVISION, 1918-1920

Alekseevs - name for the ranks of a military unit accorded honor of the patron name General of Infantry M.V. Alekseev. At first it was a Partisan Foot Cossack Regiment, formed in Stanitsa Olginskoy in 10(23) to 14(27) February 1918 from Don foot partisans. Its first commander was Brigadier-General A.P. Bogaevsky. The Regiment participated in the "1st Kuban ("Ice") Campaign or March" and after joined the Volunteer Army with the forces of the Kuban Rada (Government). The regiment, now already under the command Brigadier-General B.I. Kazanov, was placed in the 2nd Independent Infantry Brigade of General Bogaevsky. They actively participated in battles. After Ekaterindar they returned to the Don. The Volunteers reorganized before the 2nd Kuban Campaign at the end of May. In June the regiment, then commanded by Colonel P.K. Pisarev, went into the composition of the 2nd Infantry Division of General A. A. Borovsky. In the second half of October it was temporarily commanded by Colonel E.I. Emelyanovs, after 15(28) December 1918 - Colonel (in November - Brigadier-General) P.K. Pisarev, and in 17(30) January 1919 - Colonel Duke Gagarin.

Following the death of General M.V. Alekseev, 26 September (8 October) 1918, the Regiment on 27 November (10 December) was renamed to the General Alekseev Partisan Infantry and in November because of heavy losses it was taken aside to Novorossik. About this time (6(19) December) the Alekseev artillery unit made its first appearance. The 2nd battery of the 2nd of Light Artillery Divizion (two batteries) was renamed in 2nd General Alekseev Battery.

In January 1919 the regiment was transferred over to the Donets Basin, where it conducted battles to April, whereupon it participated in the Volunteer's offensive Northward. 10(23) October 1919 the command was issued for the development of the regiment into the 1st and 2nd General Alekseev Partisan Infantry Regiments. On 14(27) October the order was issued to form the Partisan General Alekseev Infantry (Alekseev Infantry) Division with the following composition: Headquarters, 1st and 2nd Partisan General Alekseev Infantry Regiments (3rd Regiment was to be formed afterwards on special order, but this remained a project), Alekseev Artillery Brigade: Headquarters, 1st (1st General Alekseev Light and 2nd Batteries), 2nd (3rd and 4th batteries) and 4th (7th and 8th Batteries) Divizions, company of engineers and reserve battalion at division, and also attached Samorsk Infantry Regiment, and temporarily had attached a division from the 5th Cavalry Corps.

However, a fully formed Division did not happen because of the defeat of Volunteers in Kursk and Orel regions and the aftermath following the general retreat. On the way to Novorossik in March 1920 the remainders of Composite- Grenadier Division (see MAA #305 for color plates, T.H.) was joined with Alekseevs. After evacuation to the Black Sea Coast the Alekseevs were transferred to the Crimea, where in 25 March (7 April) the division was re-formed to Partisan General Alekseev Infantry Brigade. After the unsuccessful battle for G. Genicheske on 5(18) the May Brigade was broken up, and the remaining Alekseevs formed the 2nd Alekseev Battalion combined with the 52nd Vilensk Infantry to make the General Alekseev Regiment. This composition carried out the guarding of the Azov Sea-coast.

On 9(22) May survivors of the 1st Battalion Alekseev Artillery Brigade was renamed to Alekseev 13th Artillery Brigade of the 13th Infantry Division. On 7(20) July the 13th Artillery Brigade was reassigned from her and re-formed into the Independent Alekseev Artillery Divizion of Composite Division and this composition actively participated in landings on the Kuban.

On 14(27) June from Vilensk Regiment was ordered to pick out the former 1st and 2nd Partisan General Alekseev Infantry Regiments, to form from them 1st Partisan General Alekseev Infantry Regiment and subordinate to a command in Kerck. On 1(14) August the regiment was commanded by Colonel P.G. Bozona, being in the composition of Lieutenant-General B.I. Kazanov's Composite Division, going into the special Armies Group of Lieutenant-General S.G. Olagaya. They landed on the Kuban and participating in all of the battles suffering heavy losses. On retreat from landing 4(17) September the Independent Alekseev Artillery Divizion was renamed to Alekseev Artillery Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division, and Alekseev Regiment was sent after Dnieper to city of Aleksandrovsky.

In November 1920 after evacuation from Crimea to Gallipoli the surviving Alekseevs and remains of the 6th , 7th , 13th and 34th Infantry Divisions and ranks of a Guard's detachment were formed into the Partisan General Alekseev Infantry Regiment. In 1921 it was conveyed to Bulgaria, and in 1922 existence was brought to a stop as a military unit.

Still another Alekseev unit - 1st Cavalry (or Horse-partisan) Regiment - was formed in time for the First Kuban Campaign in 25 March (7 April) 1918 from the 1st (former 1st Cavalry of Colonel 1042; . 1057; . Gershchelmana) and 2nd (former 2nd Cavalry of Colonel P.V. Glazenap) Cavalry Demi-Regiments. Commander was appointed to Colonel Glazenap. After the retreat from the campaign the regiment in spring to summer participated in battles in Don Province and in Second Kuban Campaign. Afterwards it was transferred over to the Black Seacoast; during this time it was commanded a Colonel V.P. Glindsksy. On 14(27) February 1919 1st Cavalry Regiment was renamed in 1st General Alekseev Cavalry Regiment, and on 7(20) April its command was appointed to Colonel Saborovs.

In order to form units and combine regular cavalry regiments, on 27 May (9 June), it was ordered reassigned from the 1st Infantry Division to join the 1st Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division of the 5th Cavalry Corp. In which the regiment operated during the summer and autumn 1919 and winter 1920. In ranks of the 1st Cavalry Regiment in these diverse times were parts of old cavalry regiments like the 15th Tartars Lancers and Cheringovski Hussars Demi-regiments, Pskov Life-Dragoons Squadron. On 30 December 1919 (12 January 1920) because of big decrease in personnel they combined the regiment to form the 1st Composite Squadron, 1st Composite Cav-regiment of Composite Cav-division. After the evacuation from Novorossik and arrival to the Crimea in 2(15) May 1920 the Alekseev Cavalry went into the 1st Cav-regiment of 1st Brigade of 1st Cav-Division of General-Major I.G. Barbovish. On 8(21) August following a command to form the 6th Infantry Division the Alekseev's Cavalry in the 1st Cavalry Regiment became the Independent General Alekseev Cavalry Demi-regiment. On November 1920 in Gallipoli a newly formed Alekseev Regiment was created from the Alekseev Cavalry Demi-regiment, in which the remains came in from the Vilensk Horse (of the 13th Infantry Division) and Simferopolsk (of the 34th Infantry Division) Demi-regiments.

(I know of yet another unit named after the General. The 1st General Alekseev Air/Detachment. Formed in early 1918 it performed its duty with honor. This is another story that will be found in the RCW Air War text. TH)

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