Aleksandr Mikhailovich Krymov (Russian: Крымов Александр Михайлович; 23 October 1871 – 31 August 1917) was a Russian lieutenant general and military commander of during the Russo-Japanese War, World War I and the Russian Revolution.

Aleksandr Mikhailovich Krymov
Alexandr Krymov
Born(1871-10-23)23 October 1871
Russian Empire
Died31 August 1917(1917-08-31) (aged 45)
Petrograd, Russian Provisional Government
Cause of deathSuicide by gunshot
Allegiance Russian Empire
 Russian Republic
Service / branchRussian Empire Imperial Russian Army
Russian Republic White Movement
RankGeneral of the cavalry
Commands3rd Cavalry Corps
Savage Division
Battles / warsRusso-Japanese War
World War I
AwardsSee awards

On 4 April 1917, he was appointed acting commander of the 3rd Cavalry Corps, which included the Savage Division. He refused to accept the appointment of Military Minister by the Russian Provisional Government. On 24 August 1917, Commander-in-Chief Lavr Kornilov appointed Krymov commander of the detached Petrograd Army (отдельная Петроградская армия) to secure the Russian capital of Petrograd.

Early life

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Krymov was part of the nobility of the Warsaw Governorate. Krymov participated in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I.

Kornilov affair

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On 25 August, Kornilov's troops were given the order to occupy Petrograd, disperse the Soviet, and disarm the city's garrison in case of a Bolshevik uprising.[1] He was given the order to advance on Petrograd to rescue the Provisional Government from what was believed to be a Bolshevik coup.[2] On 29 August, Kerensky made himself commander-in-chief, and ordered Krymov via cable to halt the advance of his troops, some of whom were moving through the southern suburbs of Petrograd.[3] The Soviet executive in the capital now decided to support the now 'Revolutionary Dictator' Kerensky on news of the advance of Krymov's soldiers, and his troops were 'harangued' by Bolsheviks.[4]

Krymov and his staff, travelling on the train of the 1st Don Cossack Division, were halted at Luga by the railway workers, and they continued to be harangued by Soviet deputies.[5] Powerless, Krymov could only watch in his train compartment as Cossacks in large numbers defected to the Soviet side.[6] On 30 August, he agreed to travel with a government representative to Petrograd, and on 31 August, he met with Kerensky, where he tried to explain that he had only brought his troops in an attempt to defend the government, but Kerensky ordered him to trial by military court.[6]

Death

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Despondent after the meeting with Kerensky, Krymov left for a friend's apartment, where he was heard saying: "The last card for saving the Fatherland has been beaten – life is no longer worth living." He retired to a private room where he wrote a short note to Kornilov, before he shot himself through the heart.[6]

Honours and awards

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References

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  1. ^ Figes, p. 447.
  2. ^ Figes, p. 451.
  3. ^ Figes, pp. 451–452.
  4. ^ Figes, p. 452.
  5. ^ Figes, pp. 452–453.
  6. ^ a b c Figes, p. 453.

Bibliography

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  • Figes, Orlando (2014). A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution 1891–1924. London: The Bodley Head. ISBN 9781847922915.
  • Krymov's biography (in Russian)