The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)

This article examines a previously underexplored aspect of the Russian Civil War during its critical phase in late 1918–1919: the logistical support provided by the Entente to the White armies in the South, set against the backdrop of the final military interventions. The authors concentrate on the...

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Main Authors: G. G. Popov, T. G. Chshiev, O. Yu. Kazenkov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MGIMO University Press 2024-07-01
Series:Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
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Online Access:https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/3706
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author G. G. Popov
T. G. Chshiev
O. Yu. Kazenkov
author_facet G. G. Popov
T. G. Chshiev
O. Yu. Kazenkov
author_sort G. G. Popov
collection DOAJ
description This article examines a previously underexplored aspect of the Russian Civil War during its critical phase in late 1918–1919: the logistical support provided by the Entente to the White armies in the South, set against the backdrop of the final military interventions. The authors concentrate on the interactions between General A.I. Denikin's regime and the British authorities, who were the primary proponents of the Entente's intervention in Russia, as well as the conditions surrounding the involvement of the French armed forces.The research primarily draws on documents from the Russian State Military Archive, created by officers of the White armies of Southern Russia, and the National Archives of Great Britain. This comprehensive source base enables a reassessment of some long-held views in Russian historiography regarding the Entente's intervention in the Black Sea region. The study aims to delineate the scope and nature of the Entente’s support and to understand why this assistance failed to secure a victory for the White forces.Post-Soviet historiography commonly posits that the Red Army enjoyed an economic advantage in terms of weapons and ammunition supply for most of the Civil War. This article, however, reveals that the support from Entente countries was substantial and that the use of foreign weapons and equipment significantly influenced the late 1918-1919 period. Nonetheless, the critical factor, as argued by the authors, was the timing of deliveries. The peak of the Entente’s military-technical support to the Armed Forces of Southern Russia occurred after the Red Army had already fortified its positions with adequate firepower. The lengthy strategic decision-making processes of the British Cabinet, characteristic of British democratic and bureaucratic systems, resulted in delayed assistance to Denikin’s troops, ultimately undermining its effectiveness.
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spelling doaj-art-8478172666fe4aba90170163d7c469122025-01-30T12:16:18ZengMGIMO University PressVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta2071-81602541-90992024-07-0117317019610.24833/2071-8160-2024-3-96-170-1962603The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)G. G. Popov0T. G. Chshiev1O. Yu. Kazenkov2Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)Moscow Institute of Modern Academic EducationYaroslavl State University named after P.G. Demidov; Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of SciencesThis article examines a previously underexplored aspect of the Russian Civil War during its critical phase in late 1918–1919: the logistical support provided by the Entente to the White armies in the South, set against the backdrop of the final military interventions. The authors concentrate on the interactions between General A.I. Denikin's regime and the British authorities, who were the primary proponents of the Entente's intervention in Russia, as well as the conditions surrounding the involvement of the French armed forces.The research primarily draws on documents from the Russian State Military Archive, created by officers of the White armies of Southern Russia, and the National Archives of Great Britain. This comprehensive source base enables a reassessment of some long-held views in Russian historiography regarding the Entente's intervention in the Black Sea region. The study aims to delineate the scope and nature of the Entente’s support and to understand why this assistance failed to secure a victory for the White forces.Post-Soviet historiography commonly posits that the Red Army enjoyed an economic advantage in terms of weapons and ammunition supply for most of the Civil War. This article, however, reveals that the support from Entente countries was substantial and that the use of foreign weapons and equipment significantly influenced the late 1918-1919 period. Nonetheless, the critical factor, as argued by the authors, was the timing of deliveries. The peak of the Entente’s military-technical support to the Armed Forces of Southern Russia occurred after the Red Army had already fortified its positions with adequate firepower. The lengthy strategic decision-making processes of the British Cabinet, characteristic of British democratic and bureaucratic systems, resulted in delayed assistance to Denikin’s troops, ultimately undermining its effectiveness.https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/3706civil war in russiarussian southallied intervention in the russian civil wargeneral anton denikinbolshevismred armywhite movement
spellingShingle G. G. Popov
T. G. Chshiev
O. Yu. Kazenkov
The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)
Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
civil war in russia
russian south
allied intervention in the russian civil war
general anton denikin
bolshevism
red army
white movement
title The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)
title_full The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)
title_fullStr The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)
title_full_unstemmed The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)
title_short The Entente’s Support for the White Armies in Southern Russia (Late 1918–1919)
title_sort entente s support for the white armies in southern russia late 1918 1919
topic civil war in russia
russian south
allied intervention in the russian civil war
general anton denikin
bolshevism
red army
white movement
url https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/3706
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