The role of Wrangel in the civil war is brief. Literary and historical notes of a young technician

Wrangel Petr Nikolaevich (1878-1928) - Russian military and political figure, one of the leaders White movement.

Born on August 15 (27), 1878 in Novoaleksandrovsk, Kovno province (modern Zarasai, Lithuania) into a noble family. Father N.E. Wrangel is a scion of an ancient Swedish baronial family; landowner and large entrepreneur. He graduated from the Rostov Real School (1896) and the Mining Institute in St. Petersburg (1901). In 1901 he entered the 1st category as a volunteer in the Life Guards Horse Regiment; in 1902 he was promoted to officer (guard cornet) and enlisted in the guards cavalry reserve.

In 1902-1904 - an official for special assignments under the Irkutsk Governor-General. During the Russo-Japanese War he volunteered for the front: with the rank of cornet he served in the 2nd Verkhneudinsk Regiment of the Transbaikal Cossack Army, in the 2nd Argun Cossack Regiment and in the 2nd Hundred of the Separate Scout Division; in September 1905 he was promoted ahead of schedule to the rank of captain. For military services he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 3rd and 4th degree, and St. Stanislav, 3rd degree.

After the war, he decided to remain in military service. In January 1906 he received the rank of staff captain; transferred to the 55th Finnish Dragoon Regiment. In August 1906 he was assigned to the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment; from March 1907 - lieutenant of the guard. In 1907-1910 he studied at the Nikolaev Academy General Staff. After graduating from the Academy, he refused staff work. He returned to the Horse Regiment and in May 1912 became squadron commander. In August 1913 he was promoted to captain of the guard.

At the very beginning of the First World War, he distinguished himself in the battle of Kaushen (East Prussia); awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree. In September 1914 he was appointed chief of staff of the Combined Cavalry Division, then assistant commander of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment. In December he became aide-de-camp and colonel of the guard. In February 1915 he showed heroism during the Prasnysz operation (Poland); awarded the Arms of St. George. From October 1915 he commanded the 1st Nerchinsk Regiment of the Ussuri Cossack Division, and from December 1916 - the 1st Brigade of this division. In January 1917, he was promoted to major general for military merits.

The February revolution was met with hostility. He fought for the preservation of military discipline, against the omnipotence of soldiers' committees. On July 9 (22), 1917, he became commander of the 7th Cavalry Division, and on July 11 (24) - commander of the Consolidated Cavalry Corps. During the Tarnopol breakthrough of German troops (mid-July) he covered the retreat of Russian infantry to the Zbruch River; awarded the soldier's St. George Cross, 4th degree. In September 1917, in an atmosphere of increasing anarchy in the army, he refused his appointment to the post of commander of the Minsk Military District and resigned.

After October revolution left Petrograd for Crimea. In February 1918 he was arrested in Yalta by Black Sea sailors; barely escaped execution. He rejected the offer of P.P. Skoropadsky, who became the ruler of Ukraine with the support of Germany, to head the headquarters of the future Ukrainian army. In August 1918 he moved to Yekaterinodar, where he joined the Volunteer Army; appointed commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. Successfully fought against the Bolsheviks in Kuban. In November 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the 1st Cavalry Corps. On January 8, 1919, A.I. Denikin, who headed the Armed Forces of the South of Russia, handed over to him the post of commander of the Volunteer Army.

By the end of January 1919, his troops ousted the Bolsheviks from North Caucasus. On May 22 he became commander of the Caucasian Army. Objected to strategic plan Denikin for the capture of Moscow, which provided for the division of the white forces into three strike groups. He led the offensive in the Saratovo-Tsaritsyn direction. Tsaritsyn was taken on June 30, Kamyshin was taken on July 28. During the Red counteroffensive in August-September 1919, his troops were thrown back to Tsaritsyn. In October he resumed his offensive to the north, which was soon stopped.

People of the older generation well remember the famous Bolshevik hit “White Army, Black Baron,” but not everyone knows that it so darkly referred to Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich, whose biography formed the basis of this article. And few people know that he received this nickname during his lifetime not for any dark deeds, but only because of his passion for the black Circassian coat, which he preferred to an ordinary uniform.

Famous graduate of the Mining Institute

Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich was born on August 15, 1878 in the city of Novoaleksandrovsk, Kovno province. He inherited his baronial title from his ancestors, whose names appear in chronicles dating back to the 13th century. Representatives of the Wrangel family also occupied a worthy place among statesmen and scientists of subsequent centuries.

In his youth, Pyotr Nikolaevich hardly thought about a military career; in any case, in 1896 he entered the St. Petersburg Mining Institute, after graduating from which he became an engineer. However, belonging to the highest aristocratic circle implied the presence of an officer rank, and in order not to break tradition, he served for two years as a volunteer in the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, after which, having successfully passed the exam, he was promoted to cornet.

Official career and happy marriage

Having resigned, Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel went to Irkutsk, where he was offered a very promising position as an official on special assignments under the Governor General. That's how he would live, rising to set time up the steps of the career ladder, if not Russo-Japanese War. Not considering himself the right to remain aloof from the events that took place in the Far East, Pyotr Nikolaevich returned to the army and took part in battles, where he was awarded a number of awards for his heroism and promoted to lieutenant. From now on, military service becomes his life's work.

Another thing happens soon an important event- he marries Olga Mikhailovna Ivanenko, the daughter of one of the dignitaries of the Highest Court. This marriage, which resulted in four children, was a true gift from heaven for both, and, having gone through the most difficult trials together, hard years, the couple did not part until the death of Pyotr Nikolaevich.

New war and new differences

Returning to the capital, Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel continued his education, this time within the walls of the Nikolaev Military Academy, after graduating from which he met the First World War as a squadron commander of the Horse Regiment. The next three years became a period of amazing growth in his officer's career. Having served at the front as a captain, in 1917 he returned with the rank of major general - holder of most of Russia's highest military awards. This is how the Motherland celebrated the battle path of its devoted soldier.

The path to the Volunteer Army

He perceived the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks and the violence they committed as a crime, and, not wanting to participate in them, he and his wife left for Yalta, where at a dacha they owned he was soon arrested by local security officers. The Red Terror had not yet been unleashed, and people were not shot just for belonging to the noble class, therefore, not finding a reason for further detention, he was soon released.

When German units entered Crimea, Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel received relative freedom of movement, and, taking advantage of it, left for Kyiv, where he hoped to establish cooperation with Hetman Skoropadsky. However, having arrived there and familiarized himself with the situation, he soon became convinced of the weakness and unviability of his pro-German government and, leaving Ukraine, departed for Yekaterinodar, which was occupied at that time by the Volunteer Army.

In August 1918, Lieutenant General Wrangel took command of the 1st Cavalry Division of the Volunteer Army. In battles with the red units, he showed the same extraordinary leadership talent as he once did on the fronts of the First World War, only now his compatriots became his opponents, which could not but affect the general morale of the commander.

Nevertheless, putting above all else the duty of a soldier who has sworn an oath of allegiance to the Tsar and the Fatherland, he devotes himself entirely to the fight, and soon his military labors receive due appreciation - a new promotion in rank, this time he becomes a lieutenant general and a cavalier of new military awards

The tactics he developed have gone down in the history of military art, in which cavalry units are not dispersed along the front line, but gathered into a single fist inflict a crushing blow on the enemy, which in most cases decides the outcome of the entire battle. This is how he managed to win a series major victories in the North Caucasus and Kuban.

Master of the south of Russia

Despite the success that invariably accompanied his units, Wrangel was forced to resign at the height of the war. The reason for this was his disagreement with the commander of the Southern Front, General A.I. Denikin, only after whose departure he again continued his activities, taking his place.

From now on, Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel became the sovereign master of the south of Russia. The white movement, which had previously swept the entire country, was practically suppressed by the beginning of 1920, and the capture of Crimea by units of the Red Army was essentially only a matter of time. Nevertheless, even in such a situation, when the outcome of the war was already a foregone conclusion, for six months he retained in his hands this last stronghold of the former Russia.

Latest efforts

Pyotr Nikolaevich is trying to turn the tide of events by attracting to his side the most diverse segments of the population of the southern regions of the country. For this purpose, he developed agrarian reform, if adopted, the bulk of agricultural land passed into the possession of peasants. Changes were also made to labor legislation to provide workers with increased wages. However, time was lost, nothing could be changed.

In the current situation, the only realistically feasible task was to ensure evacuation military units, and civilian population who did not want to be under the rule of the Bolsheviks. Wrangel coped with this task brilliantly. Under his leadership, in November 1920, more than 146 thousand refugees were transported from Crimea to Constantinople. Together with them, Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel left his homeland forever.

They deserve special attention, after all, they indicate that, once abroad, Wrangel did not fall out of the sight of the Russian special services; a real hunt was organized for him. The first link in this chain of events was an incident that occurred in the roadstead of Constantinople, where the yacht “Lucullus” was moored, on which Pyotr Nikolaevich lived with his family. One day she was sunk by a ship that came from Batum that crashed into her for no apparent reason. Then, fortunately, the couple were not injured, as they were on the shore.

Having moved to Europe and leading the union he created, which united more than 100 thousand. former members White movement, Pyotr Nikolaevich began to pose a real danger to the Bolsheviks, and on April 25, 1927, he was poisoned by a specially sent OGPU agent. Death overtook him in Brussels, where he worked as an engineer at one of the companies. His body was buried there.

How this and a number of other special operations to eliminate Wrangel were developed became known only during the years of perestroika after part of the archives of the special services were declassified. In subsequent years, the descendants of Wrangel Peter Nikolaevich transferred his ashes to Belgrade, where he was reburied in the fence Orthodox Church Holy Trinity.

His children Elena (1909 - 1999), Natalya (1913 - 2013), Alexey (1922 - 2005) and Peter (1911 - 1999), unlike their father, turned out to be long-lived, but none of them returned to Russia. The current generation of Wrangels also has no connection with their historical homeland.

Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich (1878-1928), baron, one of the leaders of the White movement, lieutenant general (1917).

Born on August 28, 1878 in the city of Novo-Alexandrovsk (Lithuania). Soon the family moved to Rostov-on-Don. Son of the director of an insurance company. After graduating from the Mining Institute (1901), he volunteered in the Life Guards Horse Regiment. A year later, he passed the exams for the rank of guard officer at the Nikolaev Cavalry School and was promoted to cornet.

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. commanded a hundred of the 2nd Argun Cossack Regiment. He was distinguished by great personal courage, and was promoted twice in rank in two years. In 1910 he graduated from the Imperial Nikolaevskaya military academy.

Since 1912 he commanded a squadron of the Horse Regiment.

During the First World War, Wrangel became one of the first Russian officers to be awarded the Order of St. George for bravery.

In January 1917 he commanded a cavalry division. Wrangel's fame as a talented cavalry commander grew, and in July he was already heading the cavalry corps. In the summer of 1917, he was awarded the soldier's St. George Cross, 4th degree, for covering the infantry's retreat to the Sbrug River.

After the October Revolution, Wrangel went to the Crimea, and then to the Don, where he joined Ataman A. M. Kaledin, whom he helped in the formation of the Don Army.

After Kaledin's suicide in August 1918, he joined the ranks of the Volunteer Army and soon became the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, and from November - the 1st Cavalry Corps. On December 27, 1918 he led the Volunteer Army - the most combat-ready unit Armed Forces south of Russia (VSYUR).

After the resignation of A.I. Denikin, by decision of the majority of the senior command staff, on March 22, 1920, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the AFSR. Wrangel tried to attract broad masses of peasants to the movement by adopting a new agrarian program. According to it, peasants received land ownership. But time had already been lost - practically only Crimea remained under the control of the Russian Army, as the White troops were called.

In May, Wrangel, having gathered the remnants of the army, launched an offensive in Northern Tavria. On the night of November 8–9, the Reds, at the cost of huge losses, managed to break through the defenses of Wrangel’s troops at Perekop and break into Crimea. On November 14, Wrangel was forced to evacuate to Turkey along with the army. About 150 thousand people moved to Istanbul on more than 120 ships. Since 1921, the former commander lived in the city of Serbski Karlovci (Yugoslavia), and since 1927 - in Brussels.

In 1924, the baron created the Russian All-Military Union, which united white military emigration. The Union intended to continue the war with the Bolsheviks and conduct sabotage actions.

Wrangel died suddenly on April 25, 1928 in Brussels; there is a version that he was poisoned by NKVD agents. In October 1929, the ashes were transferred to the Russian Church of the Holy Trinity in Belgrade

Pyotr Wrangel was born in 1878 into a noble family. The Wrangel family went down in history back in the 13th century - in those days there lived Henricus de Wrangel, a Teutonic knight who became famous for his exploits in the military field. The future “white” commander-in-chief was a direct descendant of Herman the Elder, a military man who lived in the 17th century. Almost all of Peter Wrangel's male relatives were involved in military affairs - they participated in almost all the wars waged by Russia. Representatives of the Wrangel family became famous public figures, civil servants, had extensive family ties.

The Wrangel estate was located in Rostov. Nikolai Wrangel, the father of the future “white” commander, worked in the shipping and trade society. Pyotr Wrangel's childhood years were spent in Rostov - a boy with early age showed interest in hunting, was an excellent shot, was distinguished by agility, good reaction, and strength.

In 1895, a misfortune occurred in the family - tragic death youngest son, which forced the Wrangels to move to St. Petersburg. There at famous family There were also connections - Nikolai Wrangel began working in the financial circles of the city, and Peter entered the Mining Institute. At that time it was educational institution was considered one of the most prestigious. Wrangel stood out from total mass students with his views and upbringing, had an extraordinary aristocratic appearance - he was quickly accepted into high society cities. In 1901, Pyotr Wrangel brilliantly completed his studies at the institute. IN student years have finally taken shape Political Views– Wrangel was a convinced monarchist.

After training, Wrangel ended up in the Cavalry Regiment, which was traditional for men of his kind - this regiment was considered one of the elite, since the commander-in-chief was himself Russian Emperor. A year later, the future commander-in-chief received the rank of cornet. However, his character played a cruel joke on him. Wrangel’s drunken antics aroused the interest of the regiment officers, since commander Trubetskoy himself became a witness. The prank closed all paths for development for young Wrangel and career growth in the Horse Regiment.

Wrangel becomes an official under Governor General A. Panteleev. However, two years later it begins - Pyotr Nikolaevich volunteers for the Manchurian army. Here Wrangel will make many useful contacts that will help in his future career.

During the military operations, Wrangel repeatedly distinguished himself, showing courage and valor. During the war, he received the rank of centurion of the Cossack troops, and after the hostilities he became a captain.

After the Russo-Japanese War, he entered the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff, from which he graduated brilliantly in 1910, but did not want to develop as a staff employee, so he went to cavalry school, and two years later he entered service in his regiment.

During the First World War, he proved himself to be a valiant warrior - Wrangel’s feat is known when he managed to attack the enemy with a mounted army and capture their guns. This happened in the Kaushensky battle - the maneuver was not only heroic, but also the only cavalry battle during the war. For his feat, Wrangel received the Order of St. George. In 1915 he was awarded the Arms of St. George.

After the First World War, he received the rank of major general for his services. Wrangel was appointed commander of the Cavalry Corps, but as a result of the revolution in the country he did not take command. Wrangel considered the Bolshevik revolutionaries to be enemies of the Motherland and refused to serve them.

Wrangel was offered to enter the service of Hetman Skoropadsky, the leader of the Ukrainian state. In fact, Skoropadsky's rule was completely subordinated to the German administration, which held real power in the Ukrainian territories. Wrangel refused to serve the Germans, against whom he fought during the First World War. In 1918 he went to the Don, where the Volunteer Army was being formed at that time.

Wrangel is one of the most famous leaders of the White Movement - he personified the ideals of most “white” officers: a nobleman, a monarchist, who received an excellent education and extensive experience in military operations. At the second stage of the Civil War, Wrangel led the Caucasian army. It was thanks to Wrangel’s decisive actions that Tsaritsyn was captured in 1919.

Wrangel was the commander of the cavalry detachments. Initially he developed difficult relationship with Denikin - their views on combat were radically different. Wrangel criticized Denikin’s “Moscow Directive”, considering it destructive for the army. He believed that the Volunteer Army of the South should unite with Kolchak’s troops. In 1919, for some time he commanded troops operating in the Moscow direction, but he did not stop disagreements with the command and was removed from command.

In 1920, A. Denikin left the post of commander-in-chief of the Volunteer Army, and Wrangel, who at that time was in Constantinople, was chosen in his place.

Wrangel became commander-in-chief during a difficult period - the “whites” were losing not only on the fronts, but also in foreign and domestic policy. Pyotr Nikolaevich tried to strengthen the support of the “whites” among the population. He tried to conclude a peace agreement and get support from the leader of the UPR Directory, S. Petlyura, promising recognition of the independence of Ukraine. However, by that time Petliura himself had lost control over the territories. It was also not possible to establish contacts with the rebel formations - the Makhnovists shot the negotiators sent by Wrangel. During the period of leadership of the White Army, Wrangel attempted to create public education in Crimea, but already in 1920 the Bolsheviks drove the “whites” out of Crimea.

Like many other “white” commanders, Wrangel ended up in exile. Lived in Belgium, Yugoslavia, Turkey. Died in Brussels in 1928.

Wrangel Petr Nikolaevich (born August 15 (August 27), 1878 - death April 25, 1928) Baron, lieutenant general, participant in the Russian-Japanese, World War I and Civil Wars, commander of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia and the Russian Army.

Awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree (1914), the soldier's Cross of St. George (1917) and other orders. Author of the memoirs “Notes: in 2 parts” (1928).

Origin

The Wrangel family, dating back to the 13th century, was of Danish origin. Many of its representatives served under the banners of Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Holland and Spain, and when Livonia and Estland finally gained a foothold in Russia, the Wrangels began to faithfully serve the Russian crown. There were 7 field marshals, 18 generals and 2 admirals in the Wrangel family (the islands in the Arctic and Pacific oceans are named after one of them, F. Wrangel).

Many of the representatives of the Wrangel family in Russia devoted their lives to military careers. However, there were also those who refused it. One of them was Nikolai Georgievich Wrangel. Having abandoned his military career, he became director of the Equitable insurance company, which was located in Rostov-on-Don. Nikolai Georgievich had the title of baron, but had neither estates nor fortune. He inherited the title to his son, Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel, who became one of the most famous military figures of the early 20th century.

Education

Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich was born in Novoaleksandrovsk on August 27, 1878. Elementary education he got a home, and then entered the Rostov real school. After graduating from college, Peter went to St. Petersburg, where in 1896 he successfully passed the exams at the Mining Institute.

The title of baron and family ties allowed the young Peter Wrangel to be accepted into high society, A higher education gave him the opportunity to serve military service, mandatory for Russian citizens, for only one year and choose his own place of service.

Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905

Peter Wrangel graduated from the Institute in 1901 and in the same year he volunteered in the Life Guards Horse Regiment. The following year he was promoted to cornet, having passed exams for officer rank at the Nikolaev Cavalry School. Then, having retired to the reserve, he went to Irkutsk to serve as an official for special assignments under the Governor-General. The outbreak of the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. found him in Siberia, and Wrangel again enters active duty military service, and goes to Far East. There Pyotr Nikolaevich was enlisted in the 2nd Argun Regiment of the Transbaikal Cossack Army.

1904, December - Pyotr Wrangel was promoted to centurion - “for distinction in cases against the Japanese.” During military operations, for courage and bravery, he received his first military orders - St. Anne of the 4th degree and St. Stanislav. 1905 - served in a separate reconnaissance division of the 1st Manchurian Army and by the end of the war received the rank of captain ahead of schedule. During the war, Wrangel strengthened his desire to become a career military man.

Revolution 1905-1907

The first Russian revolution of 1905-1907. marched across Siberia, and Pyotr Nikolaevich, as part of the detachment of General A. Orlov, took part in pacifying the riots and eliminating the pogroms that accompanied the revolution.

1906 - with the rank of headquarters captain he is transferred to the 55th Finnish Dragoon Regiment, and the next year he is a lieutenant of the Life Guards Horse Regiment.

1907 - Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel entered the Nikolaev Military Academy of the General Staff, from which he graduated in 1910 among the best - seventh on the list. It should be noted that the future marshal studied on the same course with Wrangel Soviet Union B. Shaposhnikov.

1911 - he takes a course at the cavalry officer school, receiving a squadron under his command, and becomes a member of the regimental court in the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment.

First World War

The outbreak of the First World War brought Pyotr Nikolaevich to the front. Together with the regiment, with the rank of captain of the guard, he became part of the 1st Army of the North-Western Front. Already in the first days of the war he was able to distinguish himself. 1914, August 6 - his squadron attacked and captured a German battery. He was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree. After the unsuccessful East Prussian operation, Russian troops retreated, but despite the fact that there was practically no active combat, Wrangel was repeatedly awarded for bravery and heroism. He was promoted to colonel and awarded the Golden Arms of St. George. For him the rank of officer was makes a lot of sense, and he said that he was obliged to set an example to his subordinates through personal courage.

1915, October - Pyotr Nikolaevich was transferred to the Southwestern Front and took command of the 1st Nerchinsky Regiment of the Transbaikal Cossack Army. Upon transfer, he was given the following description by his former commander: “Outstanding courage. He understands the situation perfectly and quickly, and is very resourceful in difficult situations.”

Under his command, the regiment fought in Galicia and took part in the famous “Brusilovsky breakthrough”. 1916 - Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel was promoted to major general and he became commander of the 2nd brigade of the Ussuri Cavalry Division. By the end of the war, he is already heading the division.

Wrangel was a monarchist by his convictions, but often criticized both the senior command staff and personally in conversations. He associated failures in the war with the weakness of the command. He considered himself a true officer and made high demands both on himself and on anyone who wore officer's shoulder straps. Wrangel repeated that if an officer admits that his order may not be carried out, then “he is no longer an officer; officer's shoulder straps No". He was highly respected among fellow officers and ordinary soldiers. He considered the main things in military affairs to be military valor, the intelligence and honor of the commander and strict discipline.

Civil War

Wrangel with his wife Olga Ivanenko

Pyotr Nikolaevich accepted the February Revolution immediately and swore allegiance to the Provisional Government. But the collapse of the army, which began soon, had a very difficult impact on her state of mind. Not wanting to continue to take part in this, Pyotr Nikolaevich, citing illness, went on vacation and went to Crimea. For almost a year he led a very secluded life and practically did not communicate with anyone.

1918, summer - Wrangel decides to act. He comes to Kyiv to the former commander of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, General, and now Hetman Skoropadsky, and becomes under his banner. However, the hetman cared little about the revival of Russia; he fought for the “independence” of Ukraine. Because of this, conflicts began to arise between him and the general, and soon Wrangel decided to leave for Yekaterinodar.

Having joined the Volunteer Army, Wrangel received a cavalry brigade under his command, with which he participated in the 2nd Kuban campaign. Having extensive combat experience behind him, without losing his courage, determination and courage, Pyotr Nikolaevich very soon received recognition as an excellent commander, and his command was initially entrusted to the 1st cavalry division, and 2 months later the entire 1st Cavalry Corps.

He enjoyed great authority in the army and often addressed the troops with bright patriotic speeches. His orders were always clear and precise. 1918, December - he was promoted to lieutenant general. It should be noted that Wrangel under no circumstances allowed a weakening or violation of discipline. For example, during successful operations In Ukraine, cases of looting have become more frequent in the Volunteer Army. Many commanders turned a blind eye to this, justifying the actions of their subordinates by the poor supply of the army. But the general did not want to put up with this and even used it in the units entrusted to him. public executions marauders as a warning to others.

Successful actions in the south significantly increased the front of the offensive. At the end of May 1919, a decision was made to create a new Caucasian army for operations in the Lower Volga. Pyotr Nikolaevich Wrangel was appointed commander of the army. The offensive of the Caucasian Army began successfully - they were able to take Tsaritsyn and Kamyshin and launch a campaign against Saratov. However, by the autumn of 1919, large Red forces were gathered against the Caucasian Army, and its victorious offensive was stopped. In addition, all reserves were transferred from the general to the Volunteer Army, which was advancing towards Tula and Moscow, which significantly weakened the Caucasian Army.

Having suffered a crushing defeat under counterattacks from the Southern Front, the Volunteer Army retreated. The remnants of the white armies were consolidated into one corps under the command of Kutepov, and Wrangel was instructed to go to Kuban to form new regiments. By this time, the disagreements between him and Denikin, which began in the summer of 1919, had reached their highest point. General Wrangel criticized Denikin both for the methods of military leadership, and on issues of strategy, and for the civilian policy he pursued. He opposed the undertaken campaign against Moscow and insisted on joining with. The result of the disagreement was that Wrangel was forced to leave the army and go to Constantinople.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the South

1920, March - Denikin resigns and asks the Military Council to find a replacement for him. Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich was elected (unanimously) as the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the South.

Having taken office, Pyotr Nikolaevich first began to put the army in order and began to reorganize it. The generals whose troops were distinguished by indiscipline - Pokrovsky and Shkuro - were fired. The commander-in-chief also changed the name of the army - now it became known as the Russian Army, which, in his opinion, should attract more supporters to its ranks. He himself and the “Government of the South of Russia” he created tried to create a new state on the territory of Crimea that could fight the Soviets with an example of the best government structure. The reforms carried out by the government were not successful, and the support of the people was not received.

1920, early summer - the Russian army numbered 25,000 people in its ranks. Wrangel carried out a successful military operation to capture Northern Tavria, taking advantage of the fact that the main forces of the Reds were in Poland. In August, he sent a naval landing force to Kuban, which, not meeting the support of the Cossacks there, returned to Crimea. 1920, autumn - The Russian army tried to take active steps to capture Donbass and break through to Right Bank Ukraine. The size of Wrangel's army by this time had reached 60,000 people.

Fall of White Crimea

But soon military operations in Poland were stopped, and 5 armies were sent against the Russian army, including two cavalry armies under the command of M.V. Frunze, numbering more than 130,000 people. It took the Red Army just one week to liberate Northern Tavria, break through the Perekop fortifications and break into Crimea. The Russian army, unable to withstand a numerically superior enemy, began to retreat. General Wrangel nevertheless managed to make this retreat not a disorderly flight, but an organized withdrawal of units. From Crimea, tens of thousands of Russian army soldiers and refugees were sent to Turkey on Russian and French ships.

Emigration

Baron Wrangel stayed in Turkey for about a year, remaining with the army, maintaining order and discipline in it. During this year, the soldiers of the Russian army gradually dispersed around the world, and many went back to Russia. At the end of 1921, the remnants of the Russian army were transferred to Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

Instead of the collapsed Russian army, the Russian All-Military Union (ROVS) was founded in Paris, which had departments in the countries where they found shelter former officers and members of the White movement. The purpose of the EMRO was to preserve officer cadres for future struggle.

Until his death, Baron Wrangel remained the leader of the EMRO and did not stop fighting the Bolsheviks. The EMRO carried out extensive reconnaissance work and had a combat department that developed plans for carrying out armed actions on the territory of the USSR.

Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich died in Brussels on April 25, 1928, several months short of his 50th birthday. His body was transported to Yugoslavia and solemnly buried in Belgrade in the Russian Church of the Holy Trinity.