Ural workers in Kolchak's army. St. George banner of the Izhevsk division "Izhevsk division of Kolchak" in books

II. Kolchak's offensive

Printed analogue: Simonov D.G. Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents: adaptation of volunteers in the armed forces of Admiral A.V. Kolchak // Political adaptation of the population of Siberia in the first third of the XX century. Collection of scientific articles / Scientific editor V.I. Shishkin. Novosibirsk: Parallel, 2015, pp. 100–120.

The article deals with the issue of adaptation in the armed forces of Admiral A.V. Kolchak workers of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk factories, who took up arms against the Bolshevik authorities in August 1918. It is shown that the initial adaptation of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents in the Kolchak army was difficult and ambiguous. Due to the lack of development at the state level of mechanisms for attracting volunteers to the troops and the conditions for their service, the status of Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents was not determined and caused the collapse of their organization. The White command clearly underestimated the role of volunteers in the civil war, and in military construction they relied on mass mobilization of the population into the troops. In May - June 1919, during the decisive battles on the Eastern Front, the Izhevsk brigade and the Votkinsk division were excluded from the Kolchak armed forces, which was one of the factors in their defeat. Measures aimed at the adaptation of volunteers in the army began to be taken only in the context of the general collapse of the White movement in eastern Russia.

During the civil war, Russian society was in a split state. This split, a powerful catalyst for which was the collapse of the monarchical state, took place in a variety of directions, due to socio-political, socio-economic and socio-cultural contradictions in the life of pre-revolutionary Russia. The widest sections of the population were drawn into active military-political activity, often against their will.

In the conditions of civil confrontation, a number of centers of political attraction emerged, claiming power on a regional or national scale. Their prospects were determined not by slogans and declarations, but above all by the ability to create regular armed forces - the main success factor in the struggle. In the course of military construction, both the Soviet government and the anti-Bolshevik political regimes, when solving the issues of manning the armed forces, relied on the forced mobilization of certain groups of the population. But the mass armies created in this way could acquire political stability and, consequently, combat effectiveness, if they had a significant stratum of ideological fighters - volunteers.

The Bolsheviks throughout the entire civil war purposefully and successfully solved this problem, making the most of the agitation and propaganda opportunities at their disposal. As a result, the Red Army had such a layer, and most of its units and formations were initially formed on the basis of volunteer detachments. By and large, the Bolsheviks managed to curb the revolutionary energy of the masses and direct it in the direction they needed.

When considering the recruitment system for the anti-Bolshevik armed forces in eastern Russia at the decisive stage of the civil war, a very small percentage of volunteers in them attracts attention. In this regard, the history of two volunteer formations of the armed forces of Admiral A.V. is of particular interest. Kolchak - Izhevsk and Votkinsk rifle divisions and the problem of adapting their personnel to serve in the White Army. Events related to the Izhevsk-Votkinsk uprising and the subsequent service of the rebels in the Russian army of Admiral A.V. Kolchak are reflected in sufficient detail in the memoirs of S.N. Lotkova, D.I. Fedichkina, A.G. Efimova, V.M. Molchanov, has been repeatedly covered in Soviet and modern Russian historiography.

A large-scale civil war in Russia began at the end of May 1918, when the troops of the Czechoslovak Corps, located along the Trans-Siberian Railway, began active military operations against the Soviet armed forces. By the end of August, the Czechs, together with the Russian anti-Bolshevik military formations, overthrew Soviet power throughout the entire space from the Volga to the Pacific Ocean. State power in this territory passed to two competing bodies - the Socialist Revolutionary Committee of members of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly in Samara and the Provisional Siberian Government in Omsk.

The People's Army of Komuch and the Siberian Army were initially staffed by volunteers. On June 1, 1918, "Temporary Conditions for the Formation of Siberian Volunteer Regiments in the West Siberian Military District" were published. Citizens not younger than 18 years old were accepted into the Siberian Volunteer Army, "morally unstained and who expressed their sincere readiness to faithfully serve the idea of ​​democracy carried out by the Provisional Siberian Government." The service life was set at 6 months. All military personnel of the Siberian army received a salary from the government. The salary did not depend on the ranks, but on the positions held and was established in such amounts: an ordinary soldier - 60 rubles, a detached soldier - 75 rubles, a platoon - 90 rubles, a sergeant major - 120 rubles, in addition, uniforms were to be issued to all servicemen and maintenance: for families - a state-owned apartment or apartment money, for families - a monthly allowance of 100 rubles.

According to the "Provisional Rules on the Organization and Service of the People's Army", approved by Komuch on June 17, 1918, the army was recruited from volunteers with a minimum service life of three months. Access to the ranks of the army was open to all citizens of Russia at least 17 years old, "ready to give their strength and life to defend the Motherland and Freedom." All volunteers, without exception, were placed on full allowance and were supposed to receive 15 rubles. monthly salary. For the duration of their service, they were also owed money: ordinary soldiers - 1 rub. per day, separated commanders - 2 rubles, platoon commanders - 3 rubles. In addition to salaries and per diems, each family volunteer was promised an allowance of 100 rubles, and those who had more than three children - 150 rubles.

The Provisional Siberian Government and Komuch had different attitudes towards the role of volunteerism in the anti-Bolshevik struggle. Already in July 1918, the head of the military ministry of the Provisional Siberian Government, General A.N. Grishin-Almazov came to the conclusion that, in view of the insignificant influx of volunteers, it was impossible to create an army capable of winning a civil war. Therefore, he made a bet on the calls of recruits. It was the young soldiers of 1898-1899. birth, both numerically and qualitatively, made up the combat power of the Siberian, and then the Russian army.

The leaders of Komuch also initiated a mass recruitment of young people into the People's Army, but believed that the troops formed in this way could only be used in the fight against an external enemy - Germany and Austria-Hungary. To participate in military operations against the Red Army, that is, to participate in the civil war, only volunteer units were intended. However, Komuch did not make any noticeable efforts to attract volunteers to the army.

The anti-Bolshevik uprising in the Izhevsk-Votkinsk region, which broke out in August 1918, was a notable event in the initial stage of a large-scale civil war in Russia. The centers of the uprising were Izhevsk and Votkinsk, which housed large state-owned defense plants - at the Izhevsk and Votkinsk plants in May 1918, respectively, 26.7 and 6.3 thousand workers were employed, the basis of which were highly qualified personnel.

The danger of this uprising for the Soviet power was manifested not only in the military, but also in the ideological sense, since the workers, representatives of the social stratum, who were considered the support of the Bolsheviks, stood at the head of the counter-revolutionary movement. At the time of the highest rise, the uprising covered a territory with a population of more than 1 million people, and the number of the rebel army reached 25 thousand. The 2nd Red Army, one of the five armies of the Soviet Eastern Front, was created specifically to put down this uprising.

The history of the uprising is as follows. From the very first days of the revolution of 1917, a Soviet of Workers' Deputies was formed in Izhevsk. With the seizure of state power in Russia by the Bolsheviks in Izhevsk, on the basis of this Soviet, sharp frictions began to occur between the workers and representatives of the new government. Elections to the Izhevsk Soviet of Workers' Deputies always produced a composition of deputies that the Bolsheviks did not want. The last re-elections of the Soviet were held in June 1918 and once again gave a majority of non-party deputies. Then the Bolsheviks summoned a military detachment from Kazan, which dispersed the Soviet of Workers' Deputies and declared the Executive Committee, consisting only of Bolsheviks, to be the plenipotentiary authority in Izhevsk. After a number of atrocities committed by the Bolsheviks, the consolidation of the active part of the population began in Izhevsk to counteract the Bolshevik terror. Thus, the “Union of Front-line Soldiers” arose, which united officers, military officials and soldiers demobilized from the old Russian army. The main reason for the adhesion of this organization was the rumors about the upcoming mobilization of front-line soldiers in the ranks of the Red Army. A similar "Union of Front-line Soldiers" was formed in Votkinsk.

"Union of front-line soldiers" of Izhevsk in 1918

On August 7, 1918, telegraphic news arrived in Izhevsk about the capture of Kazan by units of the Czechoslovak Corps and the Komuch People's Army. On the same day, the Bolsheviks called the workers to a rally and announced an order to mobilize into the ranks of the Red Army all former servicemen who arrived from the fronts of the 1st World War. The front-line soldiers, according to a decision they had previously made, declared that they would not go anywhere from Izhevsk without weapons and uniforms. In response, the Bolsheviks began to arrest the leaders of the front-line soldiers and sentence them to death. The next day, August 8, the factory horn signaled the start of an anti-Bolshevik uprising in Izhevsk. Preparing for the performance, the workers stocked up with rifles in advance and kept them in their homes. 7 thousand rifles were captured at the factory. By evening, the city was completely cleared of the Bolsheviks.

In the very first appeal to the population, it was announced that Izhevsk recognized the Committee of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly as the only and legitimate supreme power in Russia. The Local Council was declared "only a class workers' organization." State power in the territory liberated from the Bolsheviks passed to the Kama Committee of the members of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly. The organization of this authoritative body was taken over by the Socialist-Revolutionary V.I., who was in Izhevsk. Buzanov, member of the Constituent Assembly, elected from the Vyatka province. On August 10, members of the "Prikamsky Komuch" were co-opted into the Executive Committee of the Izhevsk Council of Workers' Deputies. The command of all the armed forces operating against the Soviet troops was entrusted to Colonel D.I. Fedichkin, who received the status of commander of the Izhevsk People's Army.

Already on August 8, a delegation from the Votkinsk "Union of Front-line Soldiers" arrived in Izhevsk, asking them to send weapons to Votkinsk as soon as possible. In response to this request, a company of 250 people was formed in Izhevsk under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Vlasov, and each fighter had to carry two rifles. On August 17, Izhevsk approached Votkinsk and attacked it from the direction from which the Soviet troops did not expect a threat. At the same time, the Votkinsk front-line soldiers attacked the Red Army from the rear. After a three-hour street fight, the Reds were defeated and fled. Captain G.N. was appointed military commandant of Votkinsk. Yuriev, member of the factory committee.

On September 7, 1918, the Kama Komuch authorized the creation of the headquarters of the Kama People's Army and appointed D.I. Fedichkin, who retained direct command of the Izhevsk People's Army. The Votkinsk People's Army was commanded by Captain G.N. Yuryev, who from October 20, 1918, after the resignation of Fedichkin, became the Commander-in-Chief of the Kama region. In a fairly short time, it was possible to create combat-ready armed forces, provided with weapons and led by experienced and authoritative commanders among the local population. The initial procedure for accepting orders provided for their mandatory approval by three persons: the Commander-in-Chief of the Kama People's Army, an authorized representative of the Union of Front-line Soldiers and a member of the local Council of Workers' Deputies. As the scale of the uprising grew, the army was reorganized. In September-October, companies in the People's Army were consolidated into larger military units up to and including brigades. By September 13, the number of the rebel army amounted to about 15 thousand people.

In early September, the Soviet troops of the Eastern Front went on the offensive and defeated units of the Czechoslovak Corps and the Komuch People's Army. On September 11, Kazan was taken by them, and on October 10, Samara. At the same time, the onslaught against the Kama rebels intensified. Formations of the 2nd Red Army under the command of V.I. On October 5, Shorin was taken by the city of Sarapul, and on the morning of November 8, as a result of fierce fighting, they entered Izhevsk. On November 11, due to the impossibility of defending the city, the rebels left Votkinsk without a fight. Thus, time was won for the construction of a pontoon bridge across the river. Kama, along which the main forces of the Kamka People's Army crossed to the right bank on November 14. In total, about 15 thousand soldiers of the Votkinsk People's Army and the same number of members of their families, as well as about 8 thousand combat-ready Izhevsk, left for Kama.

During the entire period of the struggle from August to November 1918, the Kama rebels had no permanent connection with either Samara or Ufa, where the headquarters of the Komuch People's Army were located. It was not possible to establish contact with the Siberian army, the closest units of which were operating in the Krasnoufimsk region at that time. Both the leaders and the rank and file of the rebels never left a feeling of resentment for the fact that they were not provided with any help from outside and left to the mercy of fate.

Meanwhile, major political events were taking place in the east of the country. At the end of September 1918, at the State Conference in Ufa, the Provisional All-Russian Government (Directorate) was formed, headed by the Socialist-Revolutionary N.D. Avksentiev, in connection with which Komuch and the Provisional Siberian Government were subject to self-abolition. Omsk was chosen as the seat of the new government. However, the predominance of the Social Revolutionaries in the new power structure provoked a response from military circles. On November 18, a coup d'etat took place in Omsk, as a result of which the Directory was overthrown, and Admiral A.V. came to power. Kolchak, proclaimed Supreme Ruler and Supreme Commander.

The Social Revolutionaries, relying on the still functioning political, administrative and military organizational structures of Komuch, tried to organize opposition to the advancing military dictatorship. And above all, they sought to win over to their side parts of the former People's Army.

Head of the Department of Internal Affairs Komucha P.D. Klimushkin attributed Izhevsk and Votkinsk to the troops, which, in his words, "we could well have." At the same time, he, obviously exaggerating, estimated their number at 20 and 10 thousand people, respectively, and only 30 thousand out of 40-45 thousand people on whom the Socialist-Revolutionaries could count. Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs Komucha M.A. Vedenyapin also characterized the Izhevsk and Votkinsk people as "our devoted units."

However, the hopes of the Social Revolutionaries for the support of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk people in their struggle against Kolchak were purely speculative and did not take into account the real mood of the officers and soldiers. According to A.G. Efimova, the commander of the Izhevsk brigade, captain Zhuravlev, a protege of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, spoke out against Kolchak at a meeting of officers and called for support for the eliminated Directory, but no one heard him. The entire composition of the brigade - both officers and soldiers - supported Kolchak without any disputes.

Soon, at the initiative of Captain Yuryev, a similar meeting of officers was held in the Votkinsk Rifle Division. When Yuryev announced Admiral Kolchak's accession to the post of Supreme Ruler, the Votkinsk people unanimously responded to this with a thunderous cheer. The delegation from Izhevsk, represented by Captain Zuev, who was present at the same time, immediately reported that they already had a meeting and that they also decided to follow Kolchak.

Under these conditions, staff captain Zhuravlev arbitrarily, without informing the Votkinsk people, removed the brigade from their positions and took it to the area of ​​​​the Ufa corps, whose commander, General S.N. Lupov did not dare to recognize Kolchak for a long time. But within a few days after the coup d'état, almost all commanders and senior commanders officially recognized Kolchak as the Supreme Ruler and Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The commander of the Izhevsk brigade, staff captain Zhuravlev, was one of the few, if not the only commander who remained on the side of the Directory. On December 13, 1918, he and several of his accomplices, having seized 2 million rubles, disappeared from the brigade. The search for him was unsuccessful.

At the end of December 1918, during the reorganization of the anti-Bolshevik armed forces, two armies were formed by Kolchak's order - the Siberian, under the command of General R. Gaida, and the Western, General M.V. Khanzhin. Unauthorized, politically oriented orders of staff captain Zhuravlev led to the fact that Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents, according to their territorial deployment, ended up in different armies. Parts of the Izhevsk region from January 3, 1919 were included in the Western Army, and parts of the Votkinsk region from January 1 were included in the Siberian Army.

At the same time, there were changes in the leadership of the rebel formations. Instead of G.N. Yuryev was appointed Colonel N.P. Albokrinov, who took command of the Votkinsk division on January 11, 1919. Captain Zuev, who temporarily commanded the Izhevsk people after Zhuravlev's flight, was replaced by Colonel V.M. Molchanov, who arrived from the headquarters of the Western Army.

Izhevsk and Votkinsk people officially, de jure, based on the previously adopted relevant provisions of the Provisional Siberian Government and the Committee of Members of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly, were not volunteers of the Russian army. They took up arms regardless of the appeals of those authorities that formed in the Volga region, in the Urals and in Siberia in the summer of 1918. The anti-Bolshevism of the Kama rebels was more of a moral-psychological than a political-ideological character. This explains why they were ready to fight the Bolsheviks under any political banner. It was with the appearance in the ranks of the Russian army of Izhevsk and Votkinsk, whose status as military personnel did not fit into the existing schemes of military development, Admiral Kolchak officially allowed volunteers to be accepted into the troops for a period until the liberation from the Bolsheviks of those settlements whose inhabitants they were.

This order was intended to at least somehow formalize the actual volunteer status of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents and ensure their further participation in active military operations against the Soviet troops. There were no other legal grounds to force the Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents to remain in the army. They had a complete and indisputable right to switch to the position of civilians at any time. And the commanders of the Siberian and Western armies did not have every reason to demand from them the unquestioning execution of military orders. The promises and guarantees voiced in the orders by the commanders were connected with this conflict.

In an order for the Siberian Army dated January 15, 1919, General Gaida, addressing the military personnel of the Votkinsk division, made a promise: “After the occupation of the factories, you will be able to return to your families and then only those who wish to continue the fight with weapons in their hands will be enrolled in the ranks of the division, so that together with other valiant units to continue the great cause of the liberation of the Motherland. On January 20, "appreciating the merits to the Motherland of the former Votkinsk People's Army," General Gaida ordered that the soldiers of the Votkinsk division be given maintenance according to the salaries established for the volunteers of the Siberian Army.

On February 21, 1919, General Khanzhin, in an order for the army, calling on the people of Izhevsk to new exploits in the name of the Motherland, made a promise:

“After the liberation of the Izhevsk plant, you will be given the opportunity to return to your families, and only those who wish will remain in the ranks of the valiant Izhevsk brigade, in order to continue the great work of liberating the Motherland from red traitors with arms in hand, together with other parts of the army.”

“The stupidest mistake,” General V.M. called these orders. Molchanov.

Such a frivolous attitude of the army commanders to the future of the volunteer formations subordinate to them is apparently due to the fact that at that time, Kolchak's orders initiated a mass mobilization of front-line soldiers of the 1st World War into the troops of the Siberian and Western armies, as a result of which the total strength of the army was supposed to be increased by May 1919 up to 600 thousand people. In this mass of military personnel, the role and place of the Kama volunteers did not seem significant.

Gaida and Khanzhin might not have promised to send the Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents home if by that time the volunteer service had been institutionalized on a nationwide scale. However, the military ministry of the Russian government could not resolve this issue for more than three months. Only on February 25, 1919, the Council of Ministers of the Russian government adopted the "Temporary regulation on volunteer service in the ground forces."

According to the regulation, Russian citizens aged at least 17 years old were accepted into the troops as volunteers for a period of at least six months. Members of committees and councils of political parties, as well as persons deprived of the right to enter the civil service by a court sentence, found guilty of theft or fraud, who were under investigation or court, brought to the inquiry on charges of state crimes or involvement, could not be volunteers. to them. During the service, volunteers were provided with all types of allowances established for compulsory service soldiers, but received an increased monetary salary: privates - by 50%, commanders of squads and platoons, as well as sergeants - by 150%. In addition, upon entering the army, volunteers received 200 rubles at a time, and after each six-month period of service, respectively, 300, 400, 500 and 600 rubles. Families of volunteers were given a monthly ration of 100 rubles. and housing money in the amount of 1/3 of the salary received by the heads of families ex officio.

There was another problem as well. Votkintsy, being part of the Siberian army, had a direct opportunity to participate in the liberation of the Votkinsk region from the Bolsheviks. Izhevsk did not get such an opportunity, since the offensive zone of the Western Army was located much south of Izhevsk. At the end of March 1919, the Quartermaster General of the Western Army, Colonel A.Ya. Naryshkin reported to the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief:

“All thoughts and desires of Izhevsk residents are directed to the city of Izhevsk. If we let them into the rear of Sarapul through Menzelinsk to Izhevsk, we will liquidate the Sarapul Bolshevik army in the shortest possible time, unless, of course, there is due assistance from the Siberian army from the Osa region.

At the same time, Naryshkin asked the Headquarters to resolve the issue initiated by the army headquarters on the transfer of the Izhevsk brigade from the Western army to the Siberian army and its direction through Menzelinsk to Sarapul. In return, Naryshkin asked to send a separate Omsk brigade to the Western Army, which, by order of the Headquarters, was to become part of the Siberian Army.

“Things would move forward a lot,” Naryshkin concluded his report, “mainly bearing in mind the high rise of the Izhevsk people and their faith in success. Every day they ask to be allowed into the rear of the Reds, but we keep them in reserve. Resolve this issue as soon as possible, then Sarapul's days are numbered."

This rotation was not carried out - the proposal of the headquarters of the Western Army was belated, since the Omsk brigade was already fighting on the front of the Siberian army. The main thing was that the headquarters of the Siberian army was very skeptical about the proposal of the headquarters of the Western Army, saying that the Gaida troops themselves would cope with the task of defeating the 2nd Red Army.

During the offensive of the Kolchak armies in March - April 1919, the Izhevsk and Votkinsk people showed brilliant fighting qualities, and the Izhevsk brigade established itself as one of the combat-ready and successful formations. The total number of prisoners and trophy weapons captured by the Izhevsk people significantly exceeded their own combat strength. But, according to Colonel A.G. Efimov, when parts of the Siberian army liberated Izhevsk, “Izhevsk residents began to gather home. It was natural and understandable. There at the factory they left their homes and families […]. Finally, they had a promise from the army commander to let them go home as soon as Izhevsk was liberated.” But, "General Khanzhin did not attach much importance to his promise and was going to send the Izhevsk people for a new strike to the south, even further from their native places."

Since the requests and desires of the Izhevsk people were not satisfied, they themselves took action. In the twentieth of April, the commander of the 2nd Ufa Corps, General S.N. Voitsekhovsky was forced to report to the headquarters of the Western Army that the Izhevsk brigade refused to go to the front, while it was given the most important task for the entire army to capture the area of ​​​​the city of Buzuluk. Concluding the report, Voitsekhovsky stated:

“Of course, there is no real force to fight them, and this is hardly acceptable for reasons of a moral and political nature. Izhevsk demand on the basis of the order of the gene. Khanzhin to let them go after the capture of Izhevsk by our troops ... General Khanzhin gave the soldiers a verbal promise when visiting the hospital that the brigade would be withdrawn to Izhevsk to be reorganized into a division.

The refusal of the brigade to fulfill the combat order was reported to the Supreme Ruler, since no persuasion and exhortation from the local authorities helped. On April 29, Kolchak's resolution followed: “I allow the Izhevsk brigade to be withdrawn to the area of ​​​​the Izhevsk plant for reorganization immediately - after the advance of the Western Army units to the river. Volga and occupations of the city of Samara. At the same time, in the name of the commander of the brigade, General V.M. Molchanov received a telegram signed by the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, which reported that Kolchak ordered the brigade to immediately comply with all orders of the commander of the Western Army, and if the Izhevsk people left without permission, they would be met by the shock regiments of the Siberian army, General Gaida.

The threat backfired. On the same day, April 29, 1919, having lost hope of obtaining official permission, the Izhevsk people “began to leave without permission. Company after company, in perfect order, under the command of sergeants or non-commissioned officers, went to the head of the brigade, said goodbye to him and headed home. Thus, the Western army lost about four thousand of its best fighters overnight.

On April 30, the chief of staff of the 2nd Ufa Corps telegraphed to the headquarters of the Western Army:

“All Izhevsk residents have left and there is no hope of returning and they are unlikely to catch up with them ... The promise to stop them by force made them not go, but flee to Izhevsk ...”.

At the same time, the corps commander reported to Khanzhin that there was no longer any Izhevsk brigade left in the corps. The departure of the Izhevsk people frustrated his plan - to leave the Izhevsk brigade with one regiment of the 8th division in the entire sector of the offensive of the corps from the city of Chistopol to the city of Sergievsk, and to throw all the rest of the corps forces in a southwestern direction to capture the city of Samara.

To resolve the situation, the Headquarters could not develop any other measures than repressive ones. On May 4, 1919, General P.G. Burlin sent a telegram addressed to the commanders of the Siberian and Western armies: “Some of the workers in the ranks of the Izhevsk brigade arbitrarily left their units and headed home to the Izhevsk plant area without the permission of their command staff. The Supreme Ruler and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered all the aforementioned workers arriving in the area of ​​the Siberian Army without the documents corresponding from their combatant superiors on dismissal on vacation, on transfer to the primitive state, on transfer to the reserve, with dismissal from service altogether, or, finally, on enrollment in factory service as qualified military service workers - not to be allowed to go to the right bank of the Kama, to concentrate on the left bank of the Kama at points at the discretion of the army commander of the Siberian and by his order to bring to justice. The indicated command of the Supreme Ruler is to be announced to all units of the Izhevsk brigade, the Votkinsk division and the entire population of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk plants.

A similar story took place with the Votkinsk rifle division, with the exception that the commander of the Siberian army, General Gaida, tried to avoid conflict and on May 10, 1919 officially allowed all soldiers of the Votkinsk division to be transferred to the reserve and sent home. Soldiers who wished to remain in the ranks of the division were invited to join the troops on the basis of the "Temporary regulation on the service of volunteers" of February 25, 1919.

The collapse of the Izhevsk separate rifle brigade and the Votkinsk rifle division, which had a total of about 13 thousand fighters ( see table), was one of the most important factors in the loss of the strategic initiative by the armies of Admiral A.V. Kolchak in May - June 1919 and their subsequent defeat.

Table. The combat composition of the Votkinsk Rifle Division and Izhevsk
separate rifle brigade on April 1, 1919 *

* Compiled according to: RGVA. F. 39500. Op. 1. D. 52. L. 3–4, 9–10.

If Khanzhin's plan to send Izhevsk to Buzuluk at the end of April 1919 was implemented, the concentration of units of the Southern Group of the Soviet Eastern Front could be upset, and its counteroffensive in May could not take place. In the case of the implementation of Voitsekhovsky's plan to advance the Izhevsk people in the Menzelinsky direction, the Whites would have been able to fend off the attack undertaken by the Reds in the second half of May at the junction of the Western and Siberian armies.

At the same time, General Gaida was planning an offensive by the forces of the Northern Group of the Siberian Army against Glazov and the Southern Group against Kazan. Parts of the 8th Army Kama Corps, the only combat-ready formation of which was the Votkinsk division, were supposed to remain directly subordinate to the army commander through Votkinsk to provide communication between the two groups. In connection with the demobilization of the Votkinsk people on May 3, General Gaida was forced to transfer the section of the front that was occupied by them to the troops of the Northern and Southern groups, stretching their left and right flanks, respectively. As a result, the White offensive launched in mid-May was carried out by smaller forces and did not bring the expected success.

During February - May 1919, in the rear of the Siberian and Western armies, an accelerated formation of reserve formations was carried out, including the Siberian shock and the 1st Volga army corps. Their combat strength was about three times higher than that of the Izhevsk brigade and the Votkinsk division. However, after going to the front in May 1919, the "drummers" and "Volzhans", despite their large numbers, showed weak stability in battle and were unable to carry out the combat missions entrusted to them. At the same time, a number of their units and subunits voluntarily went over to the side of the Red Army.

According to Colonel A.G. Efimov, after the departure of the Izhevsk people, 180 officers and a small number of soldiers remained in the brigade. In the first days of May, about 2 thousand people arrived to replenish it, mainly young, untrained Bashkirs. From the remnants of the old composition and the new contingent, the 1st Separate Rifle Brigade was formed, which was already thrown into battle on May 9th. As A.G. Efimov, “one of the battalions was attacked by the red Cossacks of Kashirin. Dancing in charge on their horses, they caused a panic among the young Bashkirs, who threw themselves on the ground and buried their faces in the mud. Officers and machine gunners were cut down." General V.M. Molchanov reported on the incompetence of his formation and received permission to take him to the rear, to the reserve of the Western Army.

The Votkinsk rifle division after demobilization remained on the lists of the Siberian army, but in the statements of the combat strength of the army in May-June 1919 it was listed as being on reorganization without indicating the available bayonets, sabers, guns and machine guns. In connection with the collapse of the division, by order of the Siberian Army of June 27, the 8th Army Kama Corps was disbanded, and the 15th Votkinsk and 16th Sarapul divisions included in it were consolidated into one 15th Votkinsk rifle division. The regiments of the division received the names of the 57th Votkinsky, 58th Kazansky, 59th Laishevsky and 60th Chistopolsky.

Meanwhile, at the end of May 1919, the troops of the 2nd and 3rd armies of the Soviet Eastern Front switched to active offensive operations and, during the Sarapulo-Votkinsk operation, captured Sarapul on June 2, and by June 12 occupied the Izhevsk-Votkinsk industrial region. In a letter from ensign of the 14th Irtysh Siberian Rifle Regiment Stepanenko, sent on July 2, 1919, to the Supreme Ruler Admiral Kolchak, interesting thoughts were expressed about the reasons for the retreat of the whites from the Kama region. In his opinion, the situation at the front could have been improved on the eve of the surrender of Sarapul, when the Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents, “seeing that they were also threatened,” turned to the commander of the Southern Group of the Siberian Army, General G.A. Verzhbitsky with a request to give them weapons to protect the factories. “These,” Stepanenok notes, were the same people who had already fought along with us against the Reds, but their proposal was rejected.

According to him, "the commanders came to their senses" when the Reds took Sarapul and were 20 miles from Izhevsk. Then the commander of the Consolidated Siberian Division, Colonel N.N. Casagrandi appealed to those who had previously offered their services, but it was too late. Although the Izhevsk residents responded to the appeal, 2/3 of them, having taken their property, wives and children, had already left the plant, and the rest also had to save their families. “If, Stepanenok concludes, they were formed on time, when their families were sitting in their native huts, there would be a different picture, and they would have more desire to protect their property.”

At this time, the 1st Separate Rifle Brigade, located in the reserve of the Western Army, north of the station. Berdyaush, the people of Izhevsk began to return. According to A.G. Efimov, "fate forced them to abandon the plant for the second time." Many were detained by Colonel Kazagrandi, having replenished his Siberian units. But most of the Izhevsk people, especially those who had previously been in the ranks of the brigade, sought to return to their former units to their commanders. “They made their way alone and in groups, sometimes units of the old composition. Lieutenant Shmakov, who went on vacation to the factory, gathered his 12th company of the first regiment and brought it in full strength. The return of the Izhevsk, although not in the same number, immediately restored the brigade's combat capability.

General K.V. provided great assistance to General Molchanov in restoring the brigade. Sakharov, who replaced Khanzhin as commander of the Western Army on June 22. According to the army order of June 29, 1919, the 1st Separate Rifle Brigade again became known as Izhevsk. By order of July 29, the brigade was deployed to the Izhevsk rifle division of four regiments. At the same time, the brigade was not supposed to be sent to the rear for reorganization, and new regiments were to be created directly at the front.

Not only ordinary soldiers, but also former commanders of Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents began to return to the ranks. In June 1919, Colonel G.N. Yuryev was appointed to the post of head of the 15th Votkinsk Rifle Division. Then Colonel D.I. Fedichkin was appointed to the post of assistant chief of the Izhevsk Rifle Brigade. The high command took a number of measures to restore and further strengthen the Izhevsk and Votkinsk divisions. By order of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and Minister of War of the Russian Government, General M.K. Diterichs dated August 22, 1919, all Izhevsk and Votkinsk volunteers in various parts of the armies were ordered to be immediately sent to the Izhevsk and Votkinsk rifle divisions. In the city of Tomsk, Colonel Fedichkin organized a special point for the reception of volunteers, through which only 2.8 thousand soldiers were sent to the Izhevsk division by the end of October 1919.

The people of Izhevsk began to enjoy increased attention from the Supreme Ruler. On August 22, Kolchak personally arrived at the location of the division, bringing gifts with him on several trucks - cigarettes, canned food, jam, cocoa, etc. The admiral held a review and presented awards to officers and soldiers. By his order of August 22, the chief of staff of the division, Captain A.G. Efimov was promoted to lieutenant colonel for military distinctions, and veterans of the division - commanders of the 1st and 2nd Izhevsk regiments, staff captains D.I. Mikhailov and V.P. Lyapunov - captain. In total, on this day, 67 officers of the division were promoted, and 29 cadets, ensigns and non-commissioned officers were promoted to the first officer rank of ensign.

According to A.G. Efimov, “After the ceremonial march, Admiral Kolchak gathered the Izhevsk people closer to him and addressed them with a speech. He thanked for the glorious military deeds and selfless service to the Motherland. He tried to explain the goal of the fight against the Bolsheviks, he wanted to say something about the condition of the workers, but he became confused and embarrassed. The people of Izhevsk tried to rescue the admiral, voices were heard: “No need to speak!”, “We believe you!”, “We will go with you to the end!” etc., […] his sincerity and desire to find a way to a soldier’s heart were understandable and made more of an impression than if he had delivered a brilliant speech from an experienced orator used to speaking.

In late August - early September 1919, the Izhevsk division, during the counteroffensive of the troops of the white Eastern Front, achieved a major military success, and on September 9 it was again visited by the Supreme Ruler. He announced the awarding of General Molchanov with the Order of St. George IV class, and the division with the St. George Banner. The order to award the division, signed by Kolchak on September 16, 1919, said: “The Izhevsk Rifle Division, formed from volunteer workers of Izhevsk, and recently other Ural factories, from the moment of its existence, has invariably shown high valor and exemplary stamina in cruel fight against the enemy, for the benefit of the resurgent Russia. The Izhevsk Rifle Division marked itself with especially heroic, combat exploits during the period from August 30 to September 5 of this year in battles near the Bogaty, Dubrovny, Sunzharsky settlements and the villages of Bolshoe and Maloye Priyutnoye, when it broke the stubbornness of the enemy with especially cruel blows, inflicting enormous losses on him, and, captured a large number of trophies and prisoners, forcing the enemy to flee to the West. In retribution of valiant heroic merits, courage and courage, I welcome the Izhevsk Rifle Division St. George's Banner ....

In all battles, the Izhevsk and Votkinsk divisions, as before, showed brilliant fighting qualities. In late 1919 - early 1920, in the conditions of the collapse of Kolchak's Russian army, these two formations, among the few, retained their organization and combat capability. During the Siberian ice campaign, the Izhevsk division constantly acted as a rearguard of the retreating army, ensuring the exit of its remnants in Transbaikalia in February - March 1920. The Votkinsk division during this retreat was the only formation that retained all of its artillery. Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents remained implacable fighters against Bolshevism until the end of the civil war in the Far East at the end of 1922.

The initial adaptation of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk people in the armed forces of Admiral Kolchak was difficult and ambiguous. Due to the lack of development at the state level of mechanisms for attracting volunteers to the troops and the conditions for their service, the status of Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents was not determined and caused the collapse of their organization. The White command clearly underestimated the role of volunteers in the civil war, and in military construction they relied on mass mobilization of the population into the troops. In May - June 1919, during the decisive battles on the Eastern Front, the Izhevsk brigade and the Votkinsk division were excluded from the Kolchak armed forces, which was one of the factors in their defeat. Measures aimed at the adaptation of volunteers in the army began to be taken only in the context of the general collapse of the White movement in eastern Russia.

NOTES

1. Lotkov S.N. Kama-Votkinsky plant and its workers // Bulletin of the Society of Russian Veterans of the Great War. San Francisco. July - December 1941. No. 179−181.
2. Fedichkin D.I. Izhevsk uprising in the period from August 8 to October 20, 1918 // Pervopokhodnik. 1974. February. No. 17.
3. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy (Struggle against the Bolsheviks 1918–20). San Francisco, 1974; He is. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy. Fight against the Bolsheviks 1918–1920 M., 2008.
4. Molchanov V.M. The last white general. Oral memoirs, articles, letters, documents. M., 2009.
5. Maksimov V.A. Kulak counter-revolution and Izhevsk uprising (1918). Izhevsk, 1933; Kulikov K.I. In the battles for Soviet Udmurtia. Izhevsk, 1982;
6. Dmitriev P.N., Kulikov K.I. Rebellion in the Izhevsk-Votkinsk region. Izhevsk, 1992; Churakov D.O. Rebellious Proletarians: Workers' Protest in Soviet Russia (1917–1930s). M., 2007; Hare N. The Dead End of the Third Way: Essay on the Izhevsk-Votkinsk Uprising, 2012. URL: // http://scepsis.net/library/id_3338.html
7. GATO. F. 1362. Op. 1. D. 287. L. 93–94.
8. GANO. F.P. 5. Op. 5. D. 3. L. 1.
9. Report of a member of the Central Committee M.A. Vedenyapin to the Central Committee of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party on 29/IV.1919 // Anti-Bolshevik Russia. From the White Guard and emigrant archives. M., 1995. S. 47–48.
10. Dmitriev P.N., Kulikov K.I. Rebellion in the Izhevsk-Votkinsk region ... S. 73.
11. Churakov D.O. Rebellious proletarians ... S. 197.
12. Fedichkin D.I. Izhevsk uprising...
13. Tsvetkov V.Zh. White business in Russia. 1917–1918 (formation and evolution of the political structures of the White movement in Russia). Part 1. M., 2008. S. 339–342.
14. FedichkinDmitry Ivanovich(1885–1966) - Colonel in the old army. In the rank of non-commissioned officer, he participated in the Russo-Japanese War, was awarded the St. George Cross IV and III Art. He graduated from the Kazan Infantry Junker School (1908). He served in the 6th Trans-Caspian Rifle Battalion. In 1911–1917 was in the ranks of the 13th Turkestan Rifle Regiment. Awarded the Order of St. George IV Art. (1916). August 13 - October 23, 1918 - Commander of the Izhevsk People's Army From December 3, 1918 - commandant of the city of Tomsk. By order of the troops of the Western Army dated June 24, 1919, the assistant chief of the 1st separate rifle Izhevsk brigade (then - the division) was appointed. He emigrated to China, then lived in the USA. Died October 24, 1966 in San Francisco.
15. Fedichkin D.I. Izhevsk uprising...
16. Yuriev(Bimman) Georgy Nikolaevich(1876–1920) - old army captain. He graduated from the Kiev Cadet Vladimir Corps and the Mikhailovsky Artillery School. Served in the 5th Artillery Brigade. From September 2, 1918 - Chief of Staff, October 17 - October 20, 1918 - Commander of the Votkinsk People's Army, then - Commander of all armed forces of the Kama region. For differences in battles by orders of adm. A.V. Kolchak on January 24, 1919 was promoted to lieutenant colonel and awarded the Order of St. George IV class; by order of January 29, 1919 he was promoted to colonel. In January - May 1919 he was on leave to improve his health. In May - October 1919 he commanded the 15th Votkinsk Rifle Division. October 17, 1919 enrolled in the reserve ranks at the headquarters of the Omsk military district. He was captured by the Reds near Kechug in January 1920. He was shot by order of the Yenisei GubChK in June 1920.
17. Kulikov K.I. In the battles for Soviet Udmurtia ... S. 41.
18. Tsvetkov V.Zh. White business in Russia… S. 339–342.
19. Karevsky A.A. On the history of the anti-Bolshevik uprising in Izhevsk and Votkinsk // Izhevsk-Votkinsk uprising. Moscow: Posev, 2000, pp. 5–15.
20. Korobeinikov A.V. Votkinsk shipbuilding and the Civil War. Izhevsk, 2012. S. 106.
21. Klimushkin P.D. Civil war on the Volga. Part 2. Liquidation of democracy. Memories. Prague, 1926 // Anti-Bolshevik Russia ... S. 103.
22. Report of a member of the Central Committee M.A. Vedenyapin to the Central Committee of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party on 29/IV.1919 // Anti-Bolshevik Russia… S. 75.
23. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy ... S. 94–98.
24. RGVA. F. 39499. Op. 1. D. 16. L. 118; F. 39736. Op. 1. D. 140. L. 14.
25. AlbocrinovNikolai Petrovich(1886–1920) - lieutenant colonel (1917) He graduated from the Alexander Military School (1907). He served in the 3rd Pernovsky Grenadier Regiment. Awarded the Order of St. George IV Art. (1916). In the summer of 1918 he served on mobilization in the Red Army; in autumn he went over to the side of the Votkinsk People's Army. From October 1918 - Chief of Staff of the Votkinsk People's Army. By order of the troops of the Votkinsk People's Army of December 1, 1918, he was approved with the rank of colonel. From January 16 to May 1919 - head of the Votkinsk rifle division, then - assistant chief of the 15th Votkinsk rifle division. For differences in battles by order of adm. A.V. Kolchak on May 16, 1919 was awarded the Order. St. Vladimir III Art. with swords; by order of July 22, 1919 he was promoted to major general. He surrendered to the Reds near Krasnoyarsk. Shot in Tomsk.
26. RGVA. F. 39736. Op. 1. D. 140. L. 14.
27. MolchanovViktorin Mikhailovich(1886–1975) - lieutenant colonel (1917) He graduated from the Moscow (Alekseevsky) military school (1906). In 1906–1908 served in the 2nd Caucasian sapper battalion, in 1908-1910. - in the 2nd East Siberian sapper battalion, in 1910-1914. - in the 6th Siberian sapper battalion, in 1914-1916. - in the 5th Siberian sapper battalion. In 1916–1917 - Commander of an engineering company of the 3rd Siberian Rifle Division, in 1917-1918. - Headquarters officer for assignments and office work at the corps engineer of the VI Siberian Army. corps. In September-October 1918 - commanded the anti-Bolshevik Alnash squad and the Yelabuga people's army, then - the commander of the 32nd Kama Rifle Regiment. From January 1919 to April 1920 - head of the Izhevsk separate rifle brigade (division). For differences in battles by order of adm. A.V. Kolchak of February 9, 1919 was promoted to colonel, by order of April 20, 1919 - to major general. September 11, 1919 awarded the Order of St. George IV Art. In 1920–1922 - Commander of the 3rd Corps of the Far Eastern Army. By order of ataman G.M. Semenov on June 30, 1920 promoted to lieutenant general. Emigrated to the USA. Died in San Francisco.
28. GAAC. F. 252. Op. 1. D. 21. L. 109 (telegram of the Chief of Staff of the Siberian Army dated December 5, 1918)
29. RGVA. F. 39736. Op. 1. D. 140. L. 12 a, 17.
30. RGVA. F. 39624. Op. 1. D. 137. L. 94. The full text of the order is given by A.A. Petrov in his preface to the book: Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy. The fight against the Bolsheviks. 1918–1920 M., 2008. S. 29.
31. Molchanov V.M. The last white general. Oral memoirs, articles, letters, documents. M., 2009. S. 125.
32. GANO. F. P. 5. Op. 2. D. 1506. L. 7–8.
33. Eikhe G.H. Kolchak's Ufa adventure. M., 1960. S. 192–193.
34. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy ... S. 120.
35. Eikhe G.H. Ufa adventure of Kolchak ... S. 193-194.
36. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy ... S. 120.
37. Eikhe G.H. Ufa adventure of Kolchak ... S. 194.
38. RGVA. F. 39736. Op. 1. D. 11. L. 28.
39. RGVA. F.39736. Op. 1. D. 140. L. 185.
40. RGVA. F. 39736. Op. 1. D. 58. L. 181; D. 59. L. 8.
41. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy ... S. 122.
42. RGVA. F. 39736. Op. 1. D. 140. L. 250.
43. Letters to the authorities in the era of revolution and civil war (March 1917 - November 1919) / Comp. and scientific ed. IN AND. Shishkin. Novosibirsk, 2014. S. 204.
44. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy ... S. 140, 142, 165.
45. Russian army. 1919. August 24.
46. GA RF. F. 182. Op. 1. D. 59. L. 18.
47. Russian army. 1919. September 21.
48. Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy ... S. 167.
49. Russian army. 1919. October 16.

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Uniform of the 15th Votkinsk and Izhevsk rifle divisions (1919); Izhevsk-Votkinsk brigade of the Far Eastern army (1920-1922).

A. Karevsky. On the issue of Izhevsk-Votkinsk uniforms.

The first sign of distinction between Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents was an armband worn on the left sleeve. In relation to the Votkinsk People's Army, the description of which was announced signed by the Chief of Staff Zebziev and senior adjutant Kotsyuba in the newspaper "Izhevsk Defender" dated September 3, 1918 (No. 3), which said: "The People's Army of Votkinsk has a distinctive sign on the left on the sleeve - a red armband, on which two black stripes are depicted (in the form of an St. Andrew's cross, a drawing in the newspaper is attached - A.K.), at the top of a revolver, from the sides the letters "NA", which means "People's Army". Printed at the bottom: "Mr. Votkinsk. The present is made in contrast to the Red Army soldiers, who do not have any distinctive signs. Comrade soldiers, we ask you to remember this in order to avoid misunderstandings and mistakes. As for the Izhevsk people, it is more difficult to say anything definite here: in the Izhevsk People's Army, in general, less attention was paid to strict organizational forms. Although, in the article by I. Kobzev a description of the armbands is given - with crossed revolvers from Votkinsk and crossed rifles from Izhevsk. Officer ranks in both armies were not formally abolished, but they were not used either, so it can be said with certainty that shoulder straps were not worn in them. Those who used uniform headdresses wore St. on this account did not exist.

With a retreat for the river. Kama, the former armed forces of the Kama Territory, reorganized into the Votkinsk division and the Izhevsk brigade, became part of the Kama army group (General S.N. Lupov), and thus fell under the relevant regulations made for the Russian army of the Ufa directory. According to the order of the Commander-in-Chief, General D.V. Boldyrev dated October 2, 1918 No. 7, for the armed forces, the marching uniform of the former army was established with the appropriate insignia and a cockade intertwined with a white-blue-red ribbon ("until the development of a new cockade"). Whether it was worn in rebel units is hard to say. Probably, instead of a cockade, most of them wore only ribbons sewn obliquely on the band of their caps. In the form of continuity with armbands, a red triangular chevron with two crossed revolvers appeared in the Consolidated Votkinsk Infantry Division. This was done in order to externally distinguish the ranks of the division against the background of the rest of the army, as well as to emphasize the commonality of the Votkinsk military personnel in the absence of uniform uniforms (suffice it to recall the review made by the units by General Timanov and described by A.G. Efimov).

Most likely, it was in the army of the Supreme Ruler of Russia, Admiral A.V. Kolchak, Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents received their famous blue shoulder straps and buttonholes with white piping and gaps. According to unverified data, they also had colored caps - with a blue band, a dark green crown and three white piping. Until now, there are disputes about the appearance of the ciphers "Izh" and "VTK". Not a single intelligible image has been preserved, so there are two opinions about the regiment. Either they were capital, or - straight, Slavic style. The image of this encryption on the St. George banner of the Izhevsk division (substitute banner) speaks in favor of the first option. The color also raises questions: in all known photographs on the shoulder straps of Izhevsk and Votkinsk residents, something darker than white is visible; on the banner of the Izhevsk people mentioned, the letters were yellow. However, the instrumental metal of these parts was considered silver (white). Finally, according to the manufacturing technique, they were most likely stenciled for the lower ranks and sewn for officers (sewing with satin stitch, colored silk) - everyone’s shoulder straps were soft, anything metallic and laid on in the photographs would immediately catch the eye. At the exhibition held in the Istra Regional Museum of Local Lore, the Russian Army allegedly exhibited the authentic uniform of Colonel A.G. Efimov - the last commander of the Izhevsk-Votkinsk brigade. These are dark blue diagonal riding breeches with white cloth piping, a light green semi-woolen tunic with two patch pockets (without colored piping) and smooth brass buttons; on the shoulders - sewn-on shoulder straps of dark blue cloth with white fabric piping and gaps and a yellow capital cipher "Izh". The belt is French, without shoulder straps. The cap was missing. True, the origin of this uniform is more than doubtful for me: the collector who provided it refused. explain where this uniform came from and how it got to him.

Another controversial issue was the existence of part numbers on shoulder straps. In the available photographs, the officers have neither letters nor numbers; on the other hand, the numbers on the shoulder straps of other regiments in the army of the Supreme Ruler were an obligatory component: an exception was hardly made for Izhevtsy or Votkintsy. On our reconstructions, we present possible options for shoulder straps with numbers and letters.

An interesting fact: in Transbaikalia, the ranks of the Votkinsk artillery battalion, in commemoration of their feat, were granted St. George buttonholes (A.G. Efimov writes about this), and S.N. Lotkov adds that the ranks of the division had the St. George cord on shoulder straps as a distinction. It seems that the artillerymen had buttonholes from the St. George ribbon on their overcoats (on the model of the Reserve St. George regiments of 1917), blue epaulettes with a white edging and a twisted black-orange cord around the perimeter, yellow encryption "Vtk." under crossed gun barrels.

Uniforms of the ranks of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk rifle divisions: captain of the 1st Izhevsk rifle regiment, private of the Izhevsk rifle battalion, colonel of the 57th Votkinsk rifle regiment named after August 17, private of the Votkinsk rifle regiment. Reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

I. 15th Votkinsk and Izhevsk rifle divisions.

Izhevtsy and Votkintsy considered the blue color to be a symbol of the inextricable connection with their factories - iron and steel - the color of their shoulder straps, piping, buttonholes. The letters "Izh" were on the shoulder straps of the Izhevsk people, the letters "Vtk" were worn by the Votkinsk people. Officers and ensigns of the Izhevsk-Votkinsk units never wore galloon shoulder straps: the same blue shoulder straps had white gaps, zigzags, and edges.

Filimonov B.B. White rebels. Khabarovsk campaign. Winter 1921-1922 Shanghai: Word, 1932. Book 1. P.32.

Shoulder straps of the Izhevsk separate rifle division (as of August 1919): major general, division commander (V.M. Molchanov); captain (1st Izhevsk Rifle Regiment); ensign (4th Izhevsk Rifle Regiment R11; version of shoulder straps sent by the Supreme Ruler in September 1919); ensign (Izhevsk artillery division) - reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

Shoulder straps of the Izhevsk separate rifle division (as of August 1919): corporal (1st Izhevsk rifle regiment); junior non-commissioned officer (2nd Izhevsk Rifle Regiment); senior non-commissioned officer (3rd Izhevsk rifle regiment; sergeant major (4th Izhevsk rifle regiment). - reconstruction of A. Karevsky.

Shoulder straps of the Izhevsk separate rifle division (as of August 1919): Corporal (Izhevsk engineering division (later R11; company); junior non-commissioned officer (Izhevsk artillery division); private (Izhevsk reserve battalion); Private (Izhevsk cavalry regiment and Izhevsk Jaeger Battalion) - reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

Officer of rifle units (here R11; wearing a colored cap, which was rare); shooter of the 2nd Izhevsk rifle regiment; officer of the Izhevsk Cavalry Regiment (formerly R11; Izhevsk Cavalry Division). Artist - A. Lebedeva.

(December 1918, Prikamye). The parts of the People's Army reduced to a division began to be called the Consolidated Votkinsk Infantry Division. A distinctive sign was a red triangular chevron on the left arm with two painted crossed revolvers.

Prostnev S.K. The 15th Votkinsk Rifle Division in the armies of Admiral Kolchak and the governments of the Far East // Votkinsk Mosaic. Votkinsk, 2003. Part 1. S. 119.

(Patch "Votkinsk" signs and epaulettes - reconstructions of A. Karevsky, K. Kulagin).

(September 1919 Tobolsk operation). Back in September, during the offensive to Tobol, Admiral Kolchak, foreseeing the possibility of complications in the rear, was going to send a tested, reliable unit with an energetic commander to Irkutsk to maintain order and tranquility at this important point. His choice fell on the Izhevsk division under the command of Gen. Molchanov. For preliminary preparations for the movement of the division, Admiral Kolchak sent to Gen. Molchanov one staff officer from his headquarters. The envoy arrived at the division, brought to the entire composition of the division, as a gift from Admiral Kolchak, khaki shoulder straps ...

Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy // Bulletin of the pioneer. Los Angeles, 1970. No. 92. P.41.

The uniforms of the Izhevsk-Votkinsk and Volga Rifle Brigades were insufficient. Parts performed in overcoats of the old Russian model, in boots or boots. Hats - who had hats, but the vast majority - cloth hats with ears, adopted in the Siberian army under Admiral Kolchak. Warm knitted shirts were issued for part of the squad. For hands - shooting gloves on goat fur.

In this form, the units went to the front. Already there, for the units of the first line (Izhevsk-Votkinsk, Volga, 1st Rifle and 2nd Rifle Brigades), a significant number of American high rubber galoshes were issued in Iman. Such shoes were unsuitable for hiking: dressed on boots, they became an extra burden. Without boots, in the conditions of Russian Siberian campaigns, it was inapplicable, because: 1) in a warm room, rubber gives moisture, footcloths get wet, quickly freeze when they enter the cold, and frostbite becomes more possible, 2) for infantry wandering through bushes, bumps and stones, rubber breaks very quickly. Light and comfortable in a peaceful environment, galoshes were absolutely unsuitable in a campaign. Rumors said that the galoshes were supplied by the Merkulov brothers themselves.

The equipment of the fighters consisted of leather artillery satchels or various types of duffel bags up to and including English bread bags. The cartridges were placed in pouches (of the old Russian model), a pair per fighter, and bandoliers sewn from a drill. These bandoliers were no good, as the clips fell out easily.

Filimonov B.B. White rebels. Khabarovsk campaign. Winter 1921/22// The last battles in the Far East. M., 2005. S.85-87.

The mention of shoulder straps of the Votkinsk division is found in the book by V.M. Naumov “My Memoirs” (San Francisco, 1975), where a reconnaissance skier of the 1st Votkinsk Regiment, on page 19, recalled: “There were terrible frosts. And then came the wagons with shoulder straps. And they were ordered to wear epaulettes. We said so: "They sent a wagon full of shoulder straps." Before that, we wore armbands with the sign of the People's Army and to us, to the people's militia, whole companies with officers and volunteers came from the villages. With the advent of shoulder straps, this stopped ... "

The “Memo about the struggle of Izhevtsev and Votkintsev with the Bolsheviks” (page 12) mentions the following episode: “Before reaching the station of Yegorshino, the Votkintsy had to again engage in battle with the pressing Reds. Here, in the 60th Chistopolsky Regiment, a battalion was cut off under the command of Lieutenant Bulygin. He gathered a battalion and ordered everyone to take off (do not cut off! - S.P.) shoulder straps, and then led the shooters through the forests, trying not to go out onto the roads and to settlements, and went to the city of Kamyshlov ”(Kamyshlov was taken on July 25 - S.P.).

In the article “Votkintsy”, published in the newspaper “Nasha Zarya” (Omsk, August 15, 1919), the following was said: “They say about this division that it is far from the same as it was before; they still don’t wear shoulder straps; people are not disciplined, do not salute, etc. All this is noted as follows. The Votkinsk people really did not wear shoulder straps, because they often carried out intelligence service, what to do with shoulder straps is completely impossible. when shoulder straps and honor were not required. Officers and soldiers treat each other simply, often in a familiar way, which is always observed in troops living for a long time at the front in a purely combat situation.

The materials were kindly provided by the Votkinsk researcher S.K. Prostnev

(January 1919 Izhevsk brigade)

In the 2nd regiment, the soldiers were mainly from the villages around the Izhevsk plant. This regiment was drawn up to welcome me, with a band of sixty men. They had virtually no form. For example, one of the musicians was in civilian clothes, someone was wearing ordinary boots, someone was wearing felt boots. God knows how they were dressed, but they played excellently ... The 1st regiment was less disciplined during the review than the rest, but they certainly knew how to handle rifles. I walked slowly around and inspected their formation. Their orchestra was the same as the one I had already heard. I told them: "I will not take any of you into battle if you are not properly dressed." The 7th company of the 1st regiment consisted exclusively of former artisans of the Izhevsk plant. These were educated people, and they were said about them like this: "They do not like discipline, but they are always the first in battle." I did not attach great importance to discipline during the review, but I understood that the first thing I had to do was to bring them into a “Christian look”, as far as clothes and uniforms were concerned. I then called them "ragamuffins" ... In the cavalry battalion, the uniform was terrible, in the 2nd squadron, most were sitting not in saddles, but on pillows.

Molchanov V.M. Interview recorded by B. Raymond (Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley, USA) in 1970// Molchanov V.M. The last white general. M., 2009. S. 113, 115, 117.

Shortly after the review, I received an order to move my brigade to the front lines by March 6, 1919, and prepare for a general offensive. I was included in the 3rd Army Corps, commanded by General Golitsyn. Once he came to us to review the brigade. He didn't say anything after that, but I could see from the expression on his face that he thought we were complete ragamuffins. This was due to the fact that some of his other regiments, for example, in the 7th Ural division, were trained according to pre-war Prussian standards.

Molchanov V.M. Interview recorded by B. Raymond (Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley, USA) in 1970// Molchanov V.M. The last white general. M., 2009. P.117.

(April 1919)

Then I learned that Admiral Kolchak, as the Supreme Ruler, promoted me to the rank of major general. The soldiers heard about this and handed me the general's pants with stripes, they were the only ones I had.

Molchanov V.M. Interview recorded by B. Raymond (Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley, USA) in 1970// Molchanov V.M. The last white general. M., 2009. P.125.

(September 1919)

When I was still with the division on the Tobol River, an officer of the General Staff, a colonel from Kolchak, came to me and brought Izh shoulder straps for the entire division (2nd Izh, 3rd, 4th, and so on). And I have shoulder straps. I tell him:

We can keep these shoulder straps, but when we go into battle, we don’t have officers, we don’t have any ranks, we all have privates. And if he was captured, no one will ever extradite an officer. This is our first condition.

R.: So that the Reds do not shoot?

Yes, because we are all the same ... I say:

I can also wear these distinctions only when I am in the rear, but when I go into battle, I don’t have any distinctions.

Molchanov V.M. Interview recorded by B. Raymond (Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley, USA) in 1970// Molchanov V.M. The last white general. M., 2009. P.141.

Shoulder straps of the 15th Votkinsk rifle division (as of May 1919): colonel (57th Votkinsk rifle regiment named after August 17); second lieutenant (15th Votkinsk Light Artillery Battalion); ensign (15th Votkinsk sapper battalion). Reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

Shoulder straps of the 15th Votkinsk Rifle Division (as of May 1919): Corporal (57th Votkinsk Rifle Regiment named after August 17); junior non-commissioned officer (58th Saygatsky named after Czechoslovakian rifle regiment); senior non-commissioned officer (59th Osinsky named after Minin and Pozharsky rifle regiment); sergeant major (60th rifle regiment named after the Allied Powers) Reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

Shoulder straps of the 15th Votkinsk Rifle Division (as of May 1919): Private (15th Votkinsk Engineer Battalion); Corporal (15th Votkinsk Light Artillery Battalion); private (15th Votkinsk reserve regiment). Reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

Sergeant Major of the Votkinsk Artillery Division (Transbaikalia-Primorye); shooter and officer of the Votkinsk rifle units. (artist A. Lebedeva).

II. Izhevsk-Votkinsk brigade of the Far Eastern Army (1920-1922)

(Transbaikalia, 1920) The dashing Votkinsk artillerymen had a special distinction - the St. George cord on shoulder straps; they are led by their regiment commander. Almazov made up an extremely close-knit artillery family. To everyone’s surprise, they were the only ones in the entire Siberian army who took all their guns with them from the Ice Campaign ...

Lotkov S.N. Kamsko-Votkinsky plant and its workers // Ural and Kama region. November 1918 - January 1919: Popular resistance to communism in Russia. Paris: YMCA-press, 1982. P. 439.

Shoulder straps of the Izhevsk-Votkinsk rifle brigade (as of 1920-1922): Lieutenant (Votkinsk artillery division); private (Izhevsk Rifle Regiment); private (Votkinsky rifle regiment). Reconstruction by A. Karevsky.

(Transbaikalia, 1920) The Votkinsk people retained their artillery during the entire Siberian campaign and came with it to Transbaikalia. For this, the composition of the division was awarded the St. George's buttonholes.

Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy // Bulletin of the pioneer. Los Angeles, 1967. No. 71-72. P.22.

Molchanov V.M. Interview recorded by B. Raymond (Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley, USA) in 1970// Molchanov V.M. The last white general. M., 2009. P.162.

Buttonholes: Votkinsk units, Izhevsk units, St. George award buttonholes of the Votkinsk artillery division. (Reconstruction - A. Karevsky).

Fragment of an overcoat and epaulette of an ensign of the 1st Votkinsk artillery battalion (Reconstruction by K. Kulagin).

(Khabarovsk campaign, winter 1921-1922) The uniforms of the Izhevsk-Votkinsk and Volga region rifle brigades were insufficient. Parts performed in overcoats of the old Russian model, in boots or boots. Hats - who had hats, but the vast majority - cloth hats with ears, adopted in the Siberian army under Admiral Kolchak. Warm knitted shirts were issued for part of the squad. For hands - shooting gloves on goat fur.

Filimonov B.B. White rebels. Khabarovsk campaign. Winter 1921/22// The last battles in the Far East. M., 2005. P.85.

(Izhevsk-Votkinsk brigade, January 1922) ... Colonel Efimov decided in orders to call the regiments by numbers: 1st, 2nd and kondiv, but so that there would be no misunderstandings when meeting with his ... he added "Blue" to the numbers - shoulder strap color...

Filimonov B.B. White rebels. Khabarovsk campaign. Winter 1921/22// The last battles in the Far East. M., 2005. P.346.

III. Shoulder straps and overcoat of Lieutenant General V.M. Molchanov (camp in Girin, 1923).

(General V.M. Molchanov, 1921) ... in a gray soldier's overcoat with blue buttonholes, piping and shoulder straps with white cloth, and not a silver general zigzag and the letters "Izh" on them ...

Filimonov B.B. White rebels // White Army of Admiral Kolchak. M.: Reitar, 1997. P. 126.

Reconstruction from photographs in the book: Efimov A.G. Izhevtsy and Votkintsy. The fight against the Bolsheviks 1918-1920. M., 2008. P.321.