From n Letter from Kolchak to his son Rostislav: "My dear darling Slavushok ... I wanted you too, when you grow up, to follow the path of serving the Motherland that I have followed all my life. Read military history and the deeds of great people and learn from them how to act - this is the only way to become a useful servant of the Motherland. There is nothing higher than the Motherland and serving Her."

And ice, and the fleet, and the scaffold. Who was, is and will be Admiral Kolchak for Russia?

The name of Admiral Kolchak today is again in the center of political and cultural attention. Why did they start talking about him almost a century later? again?S On the one hand, his Arctic research is becoming particularly relevant due to the fact that in the international arena there is now an active struggle for the redistribution of the territories of the Arctic Ocean. On the other hand, on October 9, Russian viewers will enjoy a large-scale premiere of the film “ Admiral "(the picture is released in a record number of copies - 1250), dedicated to life, career, love and death Kolchak.O about how great Kolchak’s role is in Russian history, and about how interesting his fate may be to a wide audience today, “ AiF " asked the editor and one of the authors of the book to tell us " Admiral . Encyclopedia of Film” by Doctor of Historical Sciences Yulia KANTOR.

Arctic Kolchak

— In my opinion, in Russian history the beginning XX century, it is difficult to find a more striking and controversial figure than Kolchak. If Kolchak’s historical and political mission can still be interpreted in different ways and needs a comprehensive study free of ideology, then his role as a scientist and Arctic researcher is unlikely to cause conflicting assessments. But, alas, to this day it is still underestimated and little known.

Kolchak's role as an outstanding military leader and naval commander during the First World War also deserves attention. He did a lot, firstly, to create the Russian military fleet as such. Secondly, Kolchak made a great contribution to the protection of the shores of the Baltic Sea. And the famous “mine nets” he invented, placed to ward off the enemy during the First World War, were also useful during the Great Patriotic War.

Path to Golgotha

The figure of Kolchak has caused and continues to cause considerable controversy, primarily in connection with his activities as a politician. Yes, the admiral was absolutely not a politician. However, he assumed the position of Supreme Ruler with dictatorial powers. He did not have a political program as such, Kolchak did not know how to be a diplomat at all, he was a suggestible and trusting person, and this is destructive even in simpler historical periods. In addition, the admiral was a man of duty and honor - “inconvenient” qualities for a politician. But it is naive to assume that he is a democrat - a clear authoritarianism is visible in his aspirations. At the same time, the admiral was very vulnerable, reflective and insecure.

This becomes quite obvious when you read his personal correspondence. And at the same time, you understand what efforts it took him, as he himself said, “to accept the cross of this power.” Kolchak was well aware of the Calvary he was ascending to, and had a presentiment of how everything could end for him.

Today, a sufficient number of films are being released about historical characters, which filmmakers were prohibited from addressing in Soviet times. But there is a special interest in Kolchak. Both cinema and literature will remember him more than once. He is a complex, multifaceted personality, his life is interesting to understand. And then, which is important for works of art, through Kolchak’s biography there passes a strikingly beautiful, uncomplicated love story - for Anna Timireva . This is a novel of stunning depth and tragedy, unfolding against the backdrop of dramatic historical events and having a documentary basis. And love is a theme for all time.

http://amnesia.pavelbers.com

Admiral Kolchak is an outstanding Russian statesman, military leader, one of the most famous representatives of the White movement, who participated in the Civil War. During this period he was one of its leaders. The assessment of his personality is still one of the most controversial and controversial issues in the Russian history of the 20th century.

Childhood and youth

Admiral Kolchak was born on November 16, 1874. He was born in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, in the village of Aleksandrovskoye. He was a hereditary nobleman. The Kolchak family gained fame over many years in the royal service, especially distinguishing itself in the military field. For example, Alexander Vasilyevich’s father was a hero of the defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean campaign.

Until the age of 11, Alexander received his education exclusively at home. In 1885 he entered the sixth gymnasium of the Russian capital, where he graduated from three classes. After this, the boy was transferred to the Naval Cadet Corps. At the family council, it was decided that he would follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and become a military man, a defender of the homeland. He demonstrated diligence in his studies, excelling in almost all subjects.

As the best student in his class, the future Admiral Kolchak was enrolled in the class of midshipmen, and was eventually appointed sergeant major. He graduated from the Cadet Corps in 1894, receiving the rank of midshipman.

Early career

His first place of service was the Baltic and Pacific Fleet. At that time he was known as an Arctic explorer and completed three voyages around the world. He explored the features of the Pacific Ocean, most of all he was interested in the northern territories.

In 1900, the young lieutenant, who showed great promise, was transferred to the Academy of Sciences. His first scientific works date back to this time, in particular, an article on observations of sea currents. It should be noted that the officer’s ultimate goal was always not theoretical, but practical research. He dreams of organizing a polar expedition.

Arctic explorer Baron Eduard Toll soon became interested in his publications and ideas. He invites the hero of our article to go in search of the legendary Sannikov Land. This is a ghost island, which according to legend is located in the Arctic Ocean. It was allegedly observed by several researchers in the 19th century. Including the Russian merchant from Yakutsk Yakov Sannikov, who studied the New Siberian Islands. According to modern scientists, there is no Sannikov Land. Apparently, like many Arctic islands, it consisted not of rocks, but of permafrost, fossil ice, on top of which a layer of soil was applied. When the ice melted, Sannikov Land disappeared, like some other islands in those places.

Kolchak went in search of Toll's missing expedition. First he sailed on the schooner "Zarya", then on dog sleds he made a risky crossing, discovering the remains of dead researchers. Kolchak himself became seriously ill during this campaign; he caught a cold and barely survived. Toll died.

Participation in the Russo-Japanese War

In the spring of 1904, the Russian-Japanese War broke out in the Far East. Kolchak, despite the fact that he was never able to fully recover from his illness after returning from the polar expedition, achieved an appointment to Port Arthur, which at that time was already besieged by Japanese troops. On the destroyer "Angry" he took part in the placement of barrage mines in the immediate vicinity of the route along which Japanese ships were supposed to pass. Thanks to this successfully carried out operation, he managed to blow up several enemy ships.

Throughout the siege of Port Arthur he remained in the vicinity of the city. He commanded coastal artillery units, which inflicted significant damage on the enemy. During one of the battles he was wounded, after the fortress was captured, he was captured. The Japanese command highly appreciated his fighting spirit and courage. Therefore, Kolchak was released from captivity, and his weapons were even returned to him.

For his heroism in the Russo-Japanese War, the hero of our article was awarded the Orders of St. Stanislav and St. Anne, as well as the Arms of St. George.

Having regained his strength in the hospital, Kolchak received a six-month leave. But he was unable to fully rest. He was very worried about the fact that Russia had actually lost its entire fleet in the Far East due to the war with Japan. He began to carry out active work aimed at its revival.

Already in the summer of 1906, he headed a commission at the Naval General Staff, which began to clarify and analyze the reasons for which the defeat at Tsushima took place. This was one of the most sensitive and painful pages in the history of the Russian fleet. Kolchak spoke in the State Duma as a military expert. At the hearings, he convinced deputies of the need to allocate the necessary additional funding for the support and development of domestic warships.

The hero of our article developed a project that was dedicated to the revival of the domestic fleet. In fact, it became the theoretical basis for the entire Russian military shipbuilding of that time. As part of its implementation, from 1906 to 1908, Kolchak personally supervised the construction of two icebreakers and four battleships.

The government and the emperor highly appreciated his contribution to Arctic exploration. As a result, Lieutenant Kolchak was even elected to the permanent membership of the Russian Geographical Society. At that time he even received the nickname Kolchak the Polar.

At the same time, he continues to work on systematizing the materials of his past expeditions. In 1909, he published a scientific work devoted to the ice cover of the Siberian and Kara seas. This work was considered successful; science was able to make a significant step forward in the study of ice covers.

World War I

From the very beginning of the war, the Russian capital was under threat; at that time it was St. Petersburg. The fact is that the command of the German army and navy was preparing to carry out a blitzkrieg. To do this, Henry of Prussia was planning, already in the first days after the start of the military campaign, to travel along the Gulf of Finland, reach St. Petersburg and bombard the city with powerful guns, forcing it to surrender.

According to the German plan, key objects in the city were to be destroyed within a few hours of artillery bombardment. Then it was planned to land troops and capture the Russian capital. The implementation of this operation was prevented solely by the experience and brave actions of Russian naval officers.

Realizing that the German fleet significantly outnumbered the Russian fleet, it was initially decided to use mine warfare tactics. Kolchak’s division already in the first days of the war placed about six thousand mines in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. They became a reliable shield for the defense of the capital, thwarting the plans of the German fleet to capture Russia.

Having achieved the first successes, Kolchak insisted on the need to move on to aggressive actions. Soon, an operation was undertaken to mine the Danzig Bay, located directly off the enemy’s coast. This action turned out to be very successful, because as a result it was possible to blow up 35 enemy ships at once.

Kolchak's successes did not go unnoticed. In the fall of 1915, he was appointed commander of the Mine Division. In October, he had already undertaken a bold and risky maneuver when he landed troops on the shore of the Gulf of Riga to help the armies of the Northern Fleet. The operation was so successful that the Germans did not even realize the presence of the Russians and the true reasons for their failures.

In the summer of 1916, Kolchak was appointed commander-in-chief of the Black Sea Fleet.

Revolution in Russia

When the revolution occurred in February 1917, Kolchak remained loyal to the Russian emperor until the very end. He categorically refused to hand over his weapons to the sailors, throwing his award saber overboard.

He urgently arrives in Petrograd, where he blames the Provisional Government for the collapse of the entire country and its own army. At this moment, he turned out to be disliked by everyone. Even when the abdication of the emperor from the throne was actively discussed at the top, he remained faithful to Nicholas II. As a result, it was decided to remove it. In fact, Kolchak was sent into political exile. At the head of the allied military mission, he went to America.

While the fate of Russia was being decided, he was unable to spend much time away from his homeland. Already in December 1917, Kolchak turned to the Provisional Government with a request to enlist him in military service. This happened after he learned about the Bolsheviks’ plans to make peace with Germany. By this moment, influential politicians have already appeared, for whom the hero of our article becomes an influential leader with authority in order to be able to lead the fight against Bolshevism.

From April to September 1918, he tries to form a unified armed force on the Chinese Eastern Railway to fight the Germans and Bolsheviks, but faces active resistance from the Japanese. As a result, he decides to leave the Far East and join the Volunteer Army, which at that time was being formed in the south of Russia. In addition, several disparate governments that did not recognize each other operated in the East and Siberia.

By September 1918, they managed to unite into the Directory, which at the same time acted extremely inconsistently, which caused distrust in business and military circles. It was Kolchak who was entrusted with the mission of becoming a kind of “strong hand” that would be able to carry out a “white coup.” In November in Omsk, the hero of our article was appointed Minister of Naval and War in the government of the Directory. However, on November 18, the Directory was abolished as a result of a military coup. The left-wing Cadets and right-wing Socialist-Revolutionaries, who were part of its leadership, were removed. Power passed to the Council of Ministers. At the next meeting, Kolchak was promoted to full admiral, and he was also asked to accept the title of Supreme Ruler of Russia.

The key goal of the policy of Admiral Kolchak, whose photo is presented below, was the complete restoration of the foundations that existed in the Russian Empire.

With his first decrees, he banned all extremist parties. The government of Siberia, headed by Admiral Kolchak, stated that it was striving to achieve reconciliation between all groups and segments of the population without the participation of both right-wing and left-wing radicals. To overcome the political crisis, economic reform was developed. In particular, it envisaged the creation of a powerful and extensive industrial base in Siberia.

The Supreme Ruler of Russia, Admiral Kolchak, declared that his most important task was to increase the combat effectiveness of the army, and put the victory over the Bolsheviks in second place. The activities of his government were aimed at ensuring that the temporary power of the Supreme Ruler would allow the fate of the state to be transferred to the hands of the people. At least that's what was declared.

The coming to power of Admiral Kolchak, which took place in Omsk on November 18, 1918, was associated with the arrest of all representatives of the Social Democratic wing of the Directory. One of his first orders, he canceled the decree that Jews were subject to eviction from the front-line zone as potential spies.

Having turned out to be the Supreme Ruler, Admiral Kolchak, whose biography is described in this article, helped ensure that the Whites recovered from the defeats inflicted on them in the Volga region by the Red Army in the fall. At the same time, his political platform narrowed noticeably, finally turning from anti-Bolshevik to the White movement.

Civil War

A photo of Admiral Kolchak at that time appeared in many domestic and foreign publications. He hoped to unite disparate political forces in order to create a fundamentally new state power. At first, military successes contributed to this.

In December 1918, Admiral Kolchak, whose biography you can learn from this article, managed to occupy Perm, which was of great strategic importance throughout the Civil War, since large reserves of military equipment were concentrated in the city.

At the same time, in Omsk itself, where Kolchak’s headquarters was located, on the night of December 23, a Bolshevik uprising occurred. The admiral himself was seriously ill at that moment, but the uprising was brutally suppressed.

Having suppressed the coups, Kolchak built a strong vertical of power. Even the Bolsheviks themselves reported to Lenin that in Siberia the counter-revolution had formed into an organized state with a powerful army and an extensive state apparatus.

Most of Russia's gold reserves ended up in Kolchak's hands. It was captured from the Bolsheviks in Kazan by the people's army of Komuch, commanded by General Kappel. From there she was sent to Samara, and then to Ufa and Omsk. At the same time, the admiral prohibited the use of gold to stabilize the financial system and fight inflation. Part of the money was spent on the purchase of uniforms and weapons, and secured loans were obtained from foreign banks.

Perm operation

The fate of Admiral Kolchak today is of great interest to historians and anyone interested in the Civil War in Russia. The Supreme Ruler's plan was to abandon the attack on Moscow, sending troops to Vologda to link up with the white units based in the north and receive help from the allies through the ports of Arkhangelsk and Murmansk.

At first, the army of the white admiral Kolchak advanced successfully. Soviet troops constantly had to retreat. Near Perm, about 30,000 Red Army soldiers were captured. In certain directions, entire regiments of the Red Army gave up resistance. The capture of Perm was highly appreciated by foreign allies. Personal congratulations to Admiral Kolchak, whose life is described in this article, were sent by the French Prime Minister Clemenceau.

General offensive

According to Kolchak’s plan, it was supposed to launch an offensive in the Samara-Saratov and Perm-Vyatka directions. Then continue moving, and as a result reach Moscow from three sides at once - from the south, north and east. According to history, Admiral Kolchak planned a general offensive for April 1919.

At first everything went well. The Siberian army united with the troops of the Arkhangelsk government. Ufa, Sterlitamak, Naberezhnye Chelny, and Bugulma were taken. By the end of April, the troops of the White movement approached Samara, Kazan and Simbirsk. Having occupied these territories, Kolchak would have received carte blanche to attack Moscow.

The advance of the White Army was even called the “Flight to the Volga,” which caused enthusiasm in public and bourgeois circles.

In mid-1919, the Bolsheviks sent their main forces to the Eastern Front, realizing that the biggest threat was coming from there. The white armies initially resisted desperately, but were then forced to retreat. On June 9, Ufa passed into the hands of the Bolsheviks, and the strategic initiative was lost by Kolchak’s army. The emerging personnel shortage led to the final defeat of the White Army.

After the Bolsheviks occupied Omsk, Kolchak was forced to begin the Great Siberian Ice Campaign. This was the name given to the retreat to the east in the winter of 1920. Kolchak tried to get to Irkutsk, but was blocked in Nizhneudinsk. The admiral's echelons were stopped by the Czechoslovaks. In fact, the Supreme Ruler was under arrest, although this was not officially announced. A plan emerged to leave for Mongolia, and a personal convoy of more than 500 fighters remained with him. The admiral informed his supporters that he refused to go to Irkutsk, inviting everyone who believed in him to stay with him. The next morning, out of 500 people, 10 remained. Realizing that he was betrayed, he turned gray overnight.

As a result, the admiral's echelon was sent to Irkutsk with the support of allies whom he did not trust. Immediately following the admiral's carriage was the "golden echelon", which was guarded by the Czechoslovak corps. Arriving in Irkutsk, the Czechoslovaks announced to Kolchak that he had been arrested and would be handed over to local authorities.

On January 21, 1920, interrogations of Kolchak began by a specially created Extraordinary Commission of Investigation. The admiral turned out to be very frank, realizing that in fact they were becoming a kind of memoir, his last word, which he could address to his descendants. Now you can familiarize yourself with them. Historian Nikolai Starikov published the book "Admiral Kolchak. Interrogation Protocols."

On the night of February 7, Kolchak, together with the Chairman of the Council, Minister of the Russian Government Viktor Pepelyaev, were shot without trial by order of the Military Revolutionary Committee. According to the widespread version, the bodies of the dead were thrown into an ice hole. The fate of the hero of our article is described in detail in the book by Vladimir Maximov “The Star of Admiral Kolchak”.

Historians believe that the order for the secret murder of Kolchak without trial was personally given by Lenin in a telegram to Efraim Sklyansky.

Personal life

The biography and personal life of Admiral Kolchak is of interest not only to his contemporaries, but also to current historians. His wife was the hereditary noblewoman Sofya Omirova. It is known that Admiral Kolchak’s wife waited for him for several years from his protracted polar expedition. Therefore, their official wedding took place only in the spring of 1904 in a church in Irkutsk.

In the biography of Admiral Kolchak, personal life played a big role. He had three children. True, the first daughter, born in 1905, died in infancy. In 1910, a son, Rostislav, was born. In 1912, another daughter, Margarita, died, but she also died when she was two years old. So the admiral raised only one child.

In 1919, Sophia emigrated with her son to Constanta and then to Paris. British allies helped her in this. She died in 1956 and was buried in a Paris cemetery.

Rostislav Kolchak was an employee at the Algerian Bank and participated in World War II on the side of the French army. Died in 1965. He left behind a son, Alexander, born in 1933. Now he lives in Paris.

In the last years of his life, significant changes took place in the personal life of Admiral Kolchak. His last love was Anna Timireva, whom he met in 1915 in Helsingfors, where she was vacationing with her husband, a naval officer. In 1918, she divorced her husband and followed the admiral to the east of the country. After his execution, she was arrested and spent about 30 years in prison and exile. It was finally rehabilitated only in 1960. After that, she settled in Moscow, worked as a consultant at Mosfilm, and starred in a cameo role in Sergei Bondarchuk’s film War and Peace.

She died in 1975 at the age of 81 and was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery.

Memory of the Admiral

The biography of Admiral Kolchak and his personal life often became the reason for the creation of works of art. In 2008, Andrei Kravchuk’s military-historical film “Admiral” was released. It tells in detail the biography of a white officer and his love story.

The monument to Admiral Kolchak was erected in Irkutsk in 2004. Also at the site of his supposed death there is a cross on the Angara River. The admiral's name is carved in the Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois cemetery on the monument to the heroes of the White movement.

Kolchak Alexander Vasilyevich is a prominent military leader and statesman of Russia, polar explorer. During the Civil War, he entered the historical chronicles as the leader of the White movement. The assessment of Kolchak’s personality is one of the most controversial and tragic pages in Russian history of the 20th century.

Alexander Kolchak was born on November 16, 1874 in the village of Aleksandrovskoye in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, into a family of hereditary nobles. The Kolchakov family gained fame in the military field, serving the Russian Empire for many centuries. His father was a hero of the defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean campaign.

Education

Until the age of 11, he was educated at home. In 1885-88. Alexander studied at the 6th gymnasium in St. Petersburg, where he graduated from three classes. Then he entered the Naval Cadet Corps, where he showed excellent success in all subjects. As the best student in scientific knowledge and behavior, he was enrolled in the class of midshipmen and appointed sergeant major. He graduated from the Cadet Corps in 1894 with the rank of midshipman.

Carier start

From 1895 to 1899, Kolchak served in the Baltic and Pacific fleets and circumnavigated the world three times. He was engaged in independent research of the Pacific Ocean, most of all interested in its northern territories. In 1900, the capable young lieutenant was transferred to the Academy of Sciences. At this time, the first scientific works began to appear, in particular, an article was published about his observations of sea currents. But the goal of the young officer is not only theoretical, but also practical research - he dreams of going on one of the polar expeditions.

Interested in his publications, the famous Arctic explorer Baron E.V. Toll invites Kolchak to take part in the search for the legendary “Sannikov Land”. Having gone in search of the missing Toll, he takes a whaleboat from the schooner "Zarya", and then makes a risky journey on dog sleds and finds the remains of the lost expedition. During this dangerous campaign, Kolchak caught a severe cold and miraculously survived severe pneumonia.

Russo-Japanese War

In March 1904, immediately after the start of the war, having not fully recovered from his illness, Kolchak achieved a referral to besieged Port Arthur. The destroyer "Angry", under his command, took part in the installation of barrage mines dangerously close to the Japanese raid. Thanks to these hostilities, several enemy ships were blown up.

In the last months of the siege, he commanded coastal artillery, which inflicted significant damage on the enemy. During the fighting he was wounded, and after the capture of the fortress he was captured. In recognition of his fighting spirit, the command of the Japanese army left Kolchak with weapons and released him from captivity. For his heroism he was awarded:

• St. George's weapon;
• Orders of St. Anne and St. Stanislav.

The struggle to rebuild the fleet

After treatment in the hospital, Kolchak receives six months' leave. Sincerely experiencing the virtually complete loss of his native fleet in the war with Japan, he is actively involved in the work of reviving it.

In June 1906, Kolchak headed a commission at the Naval General Staff to determine the reasons that led to the defeat at Tsushima. As a military expert, he often spoke at State Duma hearings with justification for allocating the necessary funding.

His project, dedicated to the realities of the Russian fleet, became the theoretical basis for all Russian military shipbuilding in the pre-war period. As part of its implementation, Kolchak in 1906-1908. personally supervises the construction of four battleships and two icebreakers.

For his invaluable contribution to the study of the Russian North, Lieutenant Kolchak was elected a member of the Russian Geographical Society. The nickname “Kolchak the Polar” stuck to him.

At the same time, Kolchak continues his efforts to systematize materials from past expeditions. The work he published in 1909 on the ice cover of the Kara and Siberian seas is recognized as a new stage in the development of polar oceanography in the study of ice cover.

World War I

The Kaiser's command was preparing for the blitzkrieg of St. Petersburg. Heinrich of Prussia, the commander of the German fleet, expected to sail through the Gulf of Finland to the capital in the first days of the war and expose it to hurricane fire from powerful guns.

Having destroyed important objects, he intended to land troops, capture St. Petersburg and put an end to Russia's military claims. The implementation of Napoleonic projects was prevented by the strategic experience and brilliant actions of Russian naval officers.

Given the significant superiority in the number of German ships, mine warfare tactics were recognized as the initial strategy to combat the enemy. The Kolchak division already during the first days of war laid 6 thousand mines in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. Skillfully placed mines became a reliable shield for the defense of the capital and thwarted the plans of the German fleet to capture Russia.

Subsequently, Kolchak persistently defended plans to switch to more aggressive actions. Already at the end of 1914, a daring operation was undertaken to mine the Danzig Bay directly off the enemy’s coast. As a result of this operation, 35 enemy warships were blown up. The successful actions of the naval commander determined his subsequent promotion.

In September 1915, he was appointed commander of the Mine Division. At the beginning of October, he undertook a bold maneuver to land troops on the shore of the Gulf of Riga to help the armies of the Northern Front. The operation was carried out so successfully that the enemy did not even realize that the Russians were present.

In June 1916, A.V. Kolchak was promoted by the Sovereign to the rank of Commander-in-Chief of the Black Sea Fleet. In the photo, the talented naval commander is captured in full dress uniform with all the military regalia.

Revolutionary time

After the February Revolution, Kolchak was faithful to the emperor to the end. Hearing the proposal of the revolutionary sailors to surrender their weapons, he threw his award saber overboard, arguing for his action with the words: “Even the Japanese did not take away my weapons, I will not give them to you either!”

Arriving in Petrograd, Kolchak blamed the ministers of the Provisional Government for the collapse of his own army and country. After which the dangerous admiral was actually sent into political exile at the head of the allied military mission to America.

In December 1917, he asked the British government to enlist in military service. However, certain circles are already betting on Kolchak as an authoritative leader capable of rallying the liberation struggle against Bolshevism.

The Volunteer Army operated in the South of Russia, and there were many disparate governments in Siberia and the East. Having united in September 1918, they created the Directory, the inconsistency of which inspired distrust in the wider officer and business circles. They needed a “strong hand” and, having carried out a white coup, invited Kolchak to accept the title of Supreme Ruler of Russia.

Goals of the Kolchak government

Kolchak's policy was to restore the foundations of the Russian Empire. His decrees banned all extremist parties. The Siberian government wanted to achieve reconciliation of all population groups and parties, without the participation of left and right radicals. An economic reform was prepared, involving the creation of an industrial base in Siberia.

The greatest victories of Kolchak’s army were achieved in the spring of 1919, when it occupied the territory of the Urals. However, after the successes, a series of failures began, caused by a number of miscalculations:

• Kolchak’s incompetence in the problems of government;
• refusal to resolve the agrarian question;
• partisan and Socialist Revolutionary resistance;
• political disagreements with allies.

In November 1919, Kolchak was forced to leave Omsk; in January 1920 he gave his powers to Denikin. As a result of the betrayal of the allied Czech Corps, it was handed over to the Bolshevik Revolutionary Committee, which seized power in Irkutsk.

Death of Admiral Kolchak

The fate of the legendary personality ended tragically. Some historians cite the cause of death as a personal secret order, fearing his release by Kappel’s troops rushing to the rescue. A.V. Kolchak was shot on February 7, 1920 in Irkutsk.

In the 21st century, the negative assessment of Kolchak’s personality has been revised. His name is immortalized on memorial plaques, monuments, and feature films.

Personal life

Kolchak's wife, Sofya Omirova, is a hereditary noblewoman. Due to the protracted expedition, she waited for her fiancé for several years. Their wedding took place in March 1904 in the Irkutsk church.

Three children were born in the marriage:

• The first daughter, born in 1905, died in infancy.
• Son Rostislav, born March 9, 1910.
• Daughter Margarita, born in 1912, died at the age of two.

In 1919, Sofya Omirova, with the help of British allies, emigrated with her son to Constanta, and subsequently to Paris. She died in 1956 and was buried in the cemetery of Russian Parisians.

Son Rostislav, an employee of the Algerian Bank, participated in battles with the Germans on the side of the French army. Died in 1965. Kolchak's grandson - Alexander, born in 1933, lives in Paris.

The last years of his life, Kolchak's actual wife became his last love. She met the admiral in 1915 in Helsingfors, where she arrived with her husband, a naval officer. After the divorce in 1918, she followed the admiral. She was arrested along with Kolchak, and after his execution she spent almost 30 years in various exiles and prisons. She was rehabilitated and died in 1975 in Moscow.

1. Alexander Kolchak was baptized in Trinity Church, which is known today as Kulich and Easter.
2. During one of his polar campaigns, Kolchak named the island in honor of his bride, who was waiting for him in the capital. Cape Sophia retains the name given to him to this day.
3. A.V. Kolchak became the fourth polar navigator in history to receive the highest award of the geographical society - the Konstantinov Medal. Before him, the great F. Nansen, N. Nordenskiöld, N. Jurgens received this honor.
4. The maps that Kolchak compiled were used by Soviet sailors until the end of the 1950s.
5. Before his death, Kolchak did not accept the offer to blindfold him. He gave his cigarette case to the Cheka officer in charge of the execution.

Admiral Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak in the history of the White movement is perhaps the most striking and tragic figure. A fearless polar explorer, oceanographer, brilliant naval officer, who in 1916, at less than 42 years old, became the youngest commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Most recently, "Motherland" wrote in detail (N10 for 2016) about the denouement of his fate - betrayal of the allies, arrest in Nizhneudinsk, execution in Irkutsk on February 7, 1920...

And what do we know about his wife, to whom the admiral addressed his last letter: “The Lord God will preserve and bless you and Slavushka”? I have been researching the life of Sofia Fedorovna Kolchak in exile for many years. I hope these notes will be of interest to Rodina.

The son is not responsible for his father

Sofya Fedorovna was 42 years old when she ended up in France with her nine-year-old son Rostislav - Slavushka, as he was affectionately called in the family.

Was there an opportunity to stay?

We need to remember Sevastopol in June 1917 - the unruly sailors openly called for disobedience to the officers. Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral A.V. Kolchak was accused by the Provisional Government of failing to prevent a riot and, together with flag captain M.I. Smirnov summoned to Petrograd for explanations. Sofya Feodorovna and her son remain in the city, where revolutionaries destroy apartments every night and carry out lynchings against officers and their families.

What fear for the life of her little son must have been felt by a woman who had already mourned the loss of her children twice... Tanechka died as a baby in 1905, at which time Alexander Vasilyevich participated in the defense of the Port Arthur fortress. In 1914, when Sofya Feodorovna, again without a fighting husband, was getting out from Libau under German shelling with four-year-old Rostislav and two-year-old Margarita, her second daughter fell ill on the way and died...

For the time being, Sofya Kolchak was hiding in Sevastopol with reliable people under a false name. But after the October coup, the husband was chosen as the leader of the White movement and the Supreme Ruler of Russia - the main enemy of the Soviet Republic. One can imagine what fate awaited his family when the Red Army began its offensive in the spring of 1919.

The mother could not put her son in danger.

On April 19, 1919, in the Saturday issue of the Eco de Paris newspaper, in the “Latest News” section, the article “Admiral Kolchak’s wife was forced to flee from Sevastopol” appeared.

The note reported that on April 18, the cruiser L Isonzo (flying the English flag) arrived in Marseille from Malta, on which among the passengers were “the wife of the Russian Admiral Kolchak, who is currently playing a very important role in the fight against the Bolsheviks.” The newspaper's correspondent conducted a short interview with Sofia Fedorovna; she spoke about the difficult and dangerous situation in Crimea, which prompted her to seek help from the British authorities. She did not hide the fact that their escape with her son from Sevastopol was prepared.

I found confirmation of these words in one of the French archives. A personal card drawn up in the name of Sophie Koltchak nee Omiroff in 1926 indicated that she arrived in France on a diplomatic passport.

Execution confirmed

Mother and son will spend several months in Paris. About this is a small message “Madame Kolchak in Paris” in the daily newspaper “Le Petit Parisien” dated April 20, 1919. About this is Sophia’s news to her husband (letter dated May 16, 1919), which she transmitted through authorized persons to Siberia: they arrived safely, feeling good. I was worried that there had been no news for a long time, and in the signature she assured: “yours, with all my heart”...

She will carry this loyalty throughout her entire bitter life.

At first, Sophia received attention. Including from unscrupulous people who hoped to make money - due to her high status and money that was regularly transferred to Kolchak’s wife from bank accounts holding the funds of the White movement. Later, from January 1920, the Russian Mission in Paris transferred her 15,000 francs monthly.

She will not participate in the vibrant life of the emigrant community, although she will maintain some acquaintances. In the metric book of the Paris Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky there is an entry dated January 25, 1920: at the baptism of the daughter of an English subject, Maria Owen, the godmother was the wife of Admiral Sofya Fedorovna Kolchak. Still a wife...

On February 14, 1920, the newspaper Eco de Paris published several lines under the heading “Kolchak’s execution has been confirmed.”

Denunciation of a Parisian baker

The widow and son will leave for the south of France and settle in the town of Pau at the foot of the Pyrenees. Perhaps the special microclimate of these places suited Rostislav better. Villa Alexandrine, boulevard Guillemin"...

I visited the quiet aristocratic quarter of this city. I sat on a bench opposite a beautiful two-story mansion, peering out the windows. Was Sofia Feodorovna’s life quiet behind them? He had to send his son as a student to the Jesuit College - the oldest religious educational institution, "Immaculate Conception" (which currently exists). And the mother was tormented by excruciating headaches. The death of her husband aggravated the illness, which began in Russia, and was affected by her worries about the death of her daughters. Like many Russian emigrants, she tried to take up gardening, but the experience ended disastrously. And the debts of Kolchak’s widow kept growing, about which a certain baker from Pau did not fail to complain to Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré in the fall of 1922.

This denunciation had the most detrimental effect on Sofia Feodorovna’s financial situation. From the beginning of 1923, her monthly allowance was cut to 300 francs. This money was transferred to the family of the “dictator and reactionary” so that they would not die of hunger, he bitterly ironizes in a letter to General N.N. Yudenich Admiral V.K. Pilkin, who carried out financial transfers.

Sofya Fedorovna had to move from the aristocratic area to Montpensier Street (rue Montpensier). I also visited here, near an ordinary apartment building. A few steps away from it there is also a Jesuit college, where Rostislav Kolchak was educated from 1920 to 1926. A small Orthodox church has also been preserved, one of the three oldest churches in France, consecrated in honor of Alexander Nevsky. A deeply religious woman, Sofya Fedorovna went to services every day and prayed for the repose of the soul of her husband Sashenka.

Another captivity of Kolchak

In 1927, Rostislav graduated from college and returned to Paris with his mother. It was necessary to give my son a good education and the opportunity to start an independent life with dignity. The young man successfully passed the exams and entered the Higher School in two specialties: political science and law. But the mother did not have the funds to pay for education. Unable to work due to illness, Sofya Fedorovna now lived in the Russian House (senile home, as it is now called) in the town of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois. Here she will remain until her last days. For the sake of his son, in despair, he will write a letter for help to the famous Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen, with whom the young officer Kolchak trained before his first polar expedition...

Many people helped her. B.A. transferred money from America. Bakhmetyev, who played a prominent role in the political circles of the Russian emigration. General N.N. helped Yudenich and Kolchak’s former classmate in the Naval Corps, Rear Admiral A.A. Pogulyaev. In 1930, in the decade of the admiral’s death, the former manager of the Naval Ministry in the Kolchak government and his friend Rear Admiral M.I. Smirnov published a book of memories about him. Proceeds from sales were used to help the Kolchak family. "Maritime Journal" collected funds to complete Rostislav's education...

The mother's dream came true - her son received a diploma. And soon he got married. His chosen one was Ekaterina Razvozova, the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Alexander Vasilyevich Razvozov. The wedding took place on January 3, 1932 in the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky (now in the status of a cathedral) - the spiritual center of Russian emigrants in Paris on Daru Street.

Rostislav received a position in one of the banks in Algeria, where the young family had gone. Sofya Feodorovna remained to wait for news. A year later, good news came: a grandson was born, whom his parents named Alexander in honor of their illustrious grandfathers. Alas, the tropical climate was not suitable for the baby, he became seriously ill, the doctors recommended urgently taking away the little one, who was weakening every day.

And again Sofya Fedorovna is working for her relatives. The daughter-in-law's godmother, a wealthy woman, lives in Switzerland - Alexander Kolchak's grandmother turns to her. And the godmother helps...

But Sofya Fedorovna was not given the opportunity to prevent a world disaster. In 1939, France entered the war with Germany, and Rostislav Kolchak was mobilized to the front. In June 1940, after the defeat of French troops near Paris, the admiral's son was captured.

How was this captivity in the Kolchak family? What did the sick mother go through during those months of ignorance and waiting?

Inscription in French

In 1947, Rostislav, Ekaterina and minor Alexander received French citizenship. The son and his family settled in the city of Sainte-Mandé, on the border with Paris. Their mother-in-law, Maria Aleksandrovna Razvozova (née Osten-Driesen), lived in the apartment with them. The grandson and his father visited their grandmother in the Russian House. For periods she lived with them in Sainte-Mande.

Sofya Fedorovna never received French citizenship, remaining until the end with a refugee passport. The admiral's widow died on March 6, 1956 in a hospital in the small town of Longjumo. The family reported her death to the Russian Thought newspaper.

The farewell service took place in the Russian House Church. Among the 11,000 graves in the Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois cemetery (of which more than half are Russian), her last resting place is made of light stone. At the base of the Orthodox stone cross there is an inscription: “In memory of the admiral’s wife. S.F. Kolchak 1876-1956, nee Omirova, widow of the Supreme Ruler of Russia.”

The inscription is in French.

For many years, Sofya Fedorovna kept her husband’s last letter, which ended with the words: “The Lord God will preserve and bless you and Slavushka.” Alexander Vasilyevich blessed his wife and son with life, and she fulfilled his order. A graduate of the Smolny Institute, who knew seven languages, she knew how to not only behave beautifully, but also steadfastly withstand the blows of fate in the name of the noble and main maternal goal - to preserve her offspring.

This woman deserves a bright and kind memory.

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What happened to the descendants of Alexander Kolchak

Son Rostislav spent a lot of time studying the Kolchak family. In memory of his father, in 1959 he wrote an essay on the family chronicle “Admiral Kolchak. His lineage and family.” His life was short-lived; German captivity affected his health - Rostislav Aleksandrovich died in 1965. Ten years later, Ekaterina Kolchak passed away. Sofia Feodorovna's son and daughter-in-law are buried with her in the same grave in the Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois cemetery.

Grandson Alexander Rostislavovich (he asks to pronounce his patronymic in the old Russian manner - Rostislavich) Kolchak lives in Paris. He received a good education, speaks several languages, and draws beautifully. For some time he worked as a cartoonist in one of the Parisian newspapers. The humor of his works is laconic and simple, but at the same time, not everyone can make him smile. Part of A. R. Kolchak’s life is connected with America, where he worked for several years and where he found his passion - jazz. Alexander Rostislavich is an interesting conversationalist; his speech in correct Russian captivates the listener. He looks like his grandfather not only in appearance. Sofya Fedorovna also noted the similarity of the characters of the two Alexanders.

And then there is Alexander Kolchak the third, as Alexander Rostislavich calls his son.

February 7, 2010 marks 90 years since the day when Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak, a Russian admiral, one of the organizers of the white movement in Russia during the civil war, was shot by the verdict of the Irkutsk Military Revolutionary Committee.

Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak was born on November 4, 1874 in the village of Aleksandrovskoye, Petersburg district, Petersburg province, in the family of Major General, military engineer Vasily Ivanovich Kolchak.

In 1984, Alexander Kolchak graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps and was promoted to midshipman. From 1894 to 1900 he served on warships in the Baltic, then in the Pacific Ocean, while at the same time independently studying hydrology and oceanography. At the same time he began to publish in the scientific press. In 1900, he was seconded to the Academy of Sciences, and he became a member of the Russian polar expedition of Baron Eduard Toll. One of the islands of the Kara Sea was named in honor of Kolchak (currently called Rastorguev Island).

In 1903, Kolchak led the search for Toll, who had not returned from Bennett Island, using dogs, then on a whaleboat he made a risky passage from Tiksi Bay to Bennett Island, found traces of Toll’s presence and scientific materials, but was convinced of his death. Afterwards, based on the results of the expedition, he published a number of special works, the main of which was “Ice of the Kara and Siberian Seas.”

With the beginning of the Russian-Japanese War, despite chronic pneumonia and articular rheumatism, which were the result of polar expeditions, Kolchak achieved a return to the Naval Department and a posting to Port Arthur and was appointed to command a destroyer. Under the leadership of Kolchak, minefields were placed at the entrance to Port Arthur Bay. Alexander Kolchak also commanded a coastal artillery battery, where he was wounded during the battle.

After the surrender of the fortress, he was captured, but in April 1905 he returned through America to St. Petersburg. Upon his return, Kolchak was awarded the Arms of St. George, the Order of St. Anna, 4th degree, and the Order of St. Stanislav, 2nd degree with swords.

In 1905-1906, Kolchak put the materials of the Russian polar expedition in order - the work was so informative that it was published until the end of the 1920s.

In 1906, Kolchak was elected a full member of the Russian Geographical Society and awarded a large gold Konstantinov medal for “an outstanding geographical feat involving difficulty and danger.”

Kolchak became one of the founders and chairman of the semi-official Naval Officers' Circle in St. Petersburg, which set as its task the reconstruction and reorganization of the Russian fleet on a scientific basis. With the formation of the Naval General Staff in 1906, Kolchak became one of its first employees, was engaged in the development of operational-strategic plans in the main, Baltic theater of the proposed military operations, was engaged in developments for the reorganization of the navy, spoke in the State Duma as an expert on naval questions. In 1908 he moved to the Naval Academy.

In 1907-1910, Kolchak was involved in preparing the Hydrographic Expedition of the Arctic Ocean, one of the tasks of which was to explore the Northern Sea Route. In 1909-1910, the expedition, in which Kolchak commanded the icebreaking transport Vaygach, made the transition from the Baltic Sea through the Indian Ocean to Vladivostok, and then towards Cape Dezhnev. This voyage became Kolchak’s last expedition to the Arctic seas. Since 1910, Kolchak headed the Baltic operational department of the Naval General Staff and was also involved in the development of the Russian shipbuilding program, combining this with teaching at the Maritime Academy.

Since 1912, Kolchak was in the active fleet, commanded a destroyer in the Baltic, and in December 1913 he was promoted to captain of the 1st rank and appointed flag captain of the operational unit of the headquarters of the fleet commander. During the First World War, Kolchak led the mining of the entrance to the Gulf of Finland and the Bay of Danzig, the amphibious landing on the Riga coast behind German lines and other military operations. From September 1915, he commanded the Mine Division and directed the defense of the Gulf of Riga. In the same year, Kolchak was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree. In April 1916, Kolchak was promoted to rear admiral, in June he was appointed commander of the Black Sea Fleet and at the same time promoted to vice admiral - “for distinguished service.”

After the February Revolution, Kolchak himself informed the sailors about the course of events in Petrograd. On March 5, 1917, he ordered a parade and prayer service to mark the victory and took the fleet to sea to demonstrate combat readiness to the enemy. However, under the influence of the agitation of the envoys of the “Kronstadt Republic” and the general development of events in the country, the delegate meeting of Sevastopol sailors, soldiers and workers on June 6 decided to disarm the officers and remove Kolchak from office. Kolchak defiantly threw his dirk into the sea, announced his resignation, and on June 8 left for Petrograd. In Petrograd, at a meeting of the Provisional Government, Kolchak made a speech about the reasons for the collapse of the army and navy. Even then, he began to be considered by liberal-conservative circles of society as a possible candidate for dictator.

In August, Kolchak left at the head of the Russian naval mission, with stops in England and the United States, where he stayed until mid-October, sharing his combat experience with the Americans and getting acquainted with their military-technical training. In November he arrived in Yokohama (Japan), where he learned of the Bolsheviks' intention to make peace with Germany. In December, he applied to be accepted into English military service. At the beginning of 1918, Kolchak went to the Mesopotamian front, but was returned from Singapore along the way and went to Beijing, where he was elected to the board of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). In April-September 1918, he tried to form united armed forces on the Chinese Eastern Railway to fight the “German-Bolsheviks,” but encountered resistance from the Japanese and their protege, Ataman Georgy Semenov.

Having resigned his duties as a member of the board of the CER, Kolchak decided to make his way south and join the Volunteer Army. In mid-October he arrived in Omsk and on November 4 was appointed Minister of War and Naval Affairs of the Government of the Directory. On November 18, as a result of a military coup, the Directory, which was a bloc of right-wing Social Revolutionaries and left-wing Cadets, was abolished, and power passed into the hands of the Council of Ministers. At the next meeting of this Council, Kolchak was elected Supreme Ruler of Russia and promoted to full admiral.

Kolchak's power was recognized by the leaders of the main white formations in other regions of Russia, including Anton Denikin. Kolchak found himself in the hands of Russia's gold reserves; he received military-technical assistance from the United States and the Entente countries. By the spring of 1919, he managed to create an army with a total strength of up to 400 thousand people.

The successes of Kolchak’s armies occurred in March-April 1919, when they occupied the Urals. However, after this, defeats began. Kolchak was not prepared for the role of a dictator in a civil war: he had little understanding of political issues, problems of public administration and was dependent on the integrity of his advisers. In November 1919, under the pressure of the Red Army, Kolchak left Omsk, and in December his train was blocked in Nizhneudinsk by the Czechoslovaks.

On January 4, 1920, Kolchak transferred power to Denikin, and command of the armed forces in the East to Ataman Semenov. Kolchak's safety was guaranteed by the allied command, however, at the request of the rebel workers of Irkutsk, on January 15, the Czechoslovaks handed Kolchak over to the Socialist-Revolutionary-Menshevik Political Center formed in Irkutsk, which undertook to hand him over and transfer the gold reserves to the Soviet command.

On February 7, 1920, Kolchak was shot by the verdict of the Revolutionary Committee. The remnants of Kolchak's troops went to Transbaikalia.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources