Alexander Mikhailovich Krymov - major general, an active participant in the First World War and the Russo-Japanese War. One of the members of the conspiracy against Nicholas II. After the February Revolution, he received the post of commander of the Petrograd Army, which was created to eliminate popular unrest. Supporting the Kornilov performance at that difficult time, Alexander Mikhailovich already had unquestioned authority in the army. Moreover, Krymov was admired not only among Russian officers, but also in the army regiments, as well as in the Provisional Government. His passing away from life has the right to be imprinted in the memory of posterity after a hundred years from the moment of those events.
Study and service
The future general Krymov (photo presented in the article) was born into a noble family in 1871. After graduating from the Pskov cadet corps and the Pavlovsk school, the young officer was assigned the rank of second lieutenant in the sixth artillery brigade. By 1898, Alexander rose to the rank of staff captain and decided to continue his education by entering the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. In 1902, he successfully graduated from it. General M. D. Bonch-Bruevich gave Krymov the following description: “This artillery officer was a courteous and pleasant conversationalist. He distinguished himself with his intelligence and education from other foot soldiers. ”
Overthrow of the king
On the way to the rank of Major General Krymov managed to go through the First World War and the Russo-Japanese War, as well as the Revolutionary Events. Alexander Mikhailovich took an active part in the overthrow of Nicholas II, whom he considered a bad ruler. Krymov, along with his comrades-in-arms, wanted the accession of a direct heir and successor to the throne of Tsarevich Alexei. In this case, Mikhail Alexandrovich (brother of Nicholas II) was to become regent. This approach distinguished Krymov from the Bolsheviks and other anti-monarchists.
Interim government
Unfortunately, the officer party lost, and power passed into the hands of the Provisional Government. And he was led by a manic-paranoid and power-hungry character named Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky. After the overthrow of the king, he served as head of state. Kerensky was panicky afraid of losing power and saw the enemy in everyone who did not agree with his opinion. And one of such enemies for him was General Kornilov, who was Krymov's faithful ally. Subsequently, Kerensky terribly avenges this, humiliating officer honor.
Loyalty to the commander
But no blackening of Krymov’s personality will erase a number of documentary evidence of his compatriots who considered the general a noble officer. According to them, he defended the interests of the Empire with honor. Although General Krymov possessed a quick-tempered character, the mountain and Cossack units treated the commander with devotion and warmth.
Alexander Mikhailovich, even in dealing with higher authorities, never neglected strong expressions, defending the interests of his own army units. Everything that was useful to the soldier was useful to Krymov himself. It is not surprising that his Cossack troops were distinguished by such devotion.
Characteristic
Here is how General Shkuro described Krymov, who often had to be with Alexander Mikhailovich: “In appearance he is rude and harsh in words. He carried his subordinates without choosing expressions, and pulled himself up with his superiors for any reason. Despite this, General Krymov enjoyed warm love and unlimited respect for the entire composition of his subordinates. By his order, the soldiers without hesitation followed into the water and fire. He was a man of undaunted courage, indomitable energy and iron will. Even in the most complicated and complicated military situation, General Krymov could quickly orientate and make the best decision. He perfectly studied the shortcomings and strengths of his wards in order to maximize their use in battle. For example, Cossacks were inclined to keep horses near them, so that in the event of a retreat they would quickly change their location. Therefore, Alexander Mikhailovich kept the horse guides 50 miles from the scene of the battle. Thanks to this, his Cossacks were on foot stronger than any resistant infantry. Knowing the firing area, Krymov with his hunters-Transbaikal people used the following method of fighting an attacking enemy: the general occupied all the mountain peaks with several platoons of Cossacks. Neither artillery fire nor the attacks of the Bavarians were able to smoke Cossacks from the mountain crevices. I did not work with the general for long, but I received many valuable lessons and keep a bright memory of this honest man and a valiant soldier who could not survive the shame of Russia. Eternal memory to him! ”
Support for the idea of Kornilov
We already mentioned above that General Krymov actively supported the idea of Lavr Georgievich about holding the front during the war (World War I), as well as suppressing rebellions in the rear until the end of hostilities. In addition, Alexander Mikhailovich shared the opinion of Kornilov that the Provisional Government should be removed from power. Krymov was openly disgusted with the positions of the Bolsheviks, who shook both the front and society. And this threatened a complete defeat of the Russian army.
Return to the capital
In August 1917, speeches of Soviets and Bolsheviks were being prepared in Petrograd with the aim of displacing the Provisional Government and seizing power in their hands. General Kornilov could not allow such a turn of events, so he sent Krymov’s unit to the capital. Alexander Mikhailovich had to control the city and brutally suppress, if necessary, the actions of enemy elements. But almost all the main authorities in the country were seized by a rebellious mood. The saddest thing is that they got into the railroad, putting many barriers to the advancement of troops. As a result, all parts of the general’s army were scattered along the road from Mogilev, where the General Staff of the Russian troops was located, to Petrograd itself. About to be in time for the deadline, there was no question. They immediately changed the plan - they waited for the concentration under the capital of all divisions and only then came forward. If unrest begins in their arrival in the city, they will immediately crush them and clear the capital of the rebels.
Negotiations with Kerensky
And in Petrograd, the head of the Provisional Government of Kerensky experienced another roll in his mind. Morally, he was on the side of his former soviets, comrades, and even supported their speeches. And here we are not talking about some kind of ideological solidarity, but about the desire to save their own lives in advance and not fall later under the blades of repression. For this purpose, Alexander Fedorovich called Krymov for negotiations, because he was very afraid of his "Wild Division" and the Cossacks. Alexander Mikhailovich could not stand Kerensky, but he realized that in the current situation it was necessary to retain the power of the Provisional Government with all his might. Therefore, he considered him an ally in the common cause. But in life everything turned out differently.
Indictment
Alexander Fedorovich began to express his unpleasant opinions to Krymov about the untimely arrival of his army units in the city. As if the army threatened the balance of power in Petrograd, which could lead to rebellion. Alexander Mikhailovich was indignant and shouted at all corridors. Krymov could not believe that he was so cynical and meanly betrayed. He was completely in the hands of Kerensky, who hinted that the general had become a rebel, who led his army to seize power and further transfer it to Kornilov. This could mean only one thing - very soon the hero of this article was subjected to humiliating interrogations with subsequent arrest.
Suicide
Alexander Mikhailovich never experienced such humiliation, even after rare defeats at the front. And here he lost in diplomatic tricks, hoping for the presence of honor and conscience among politicians. After much swearing and recognition of his own unenviable position, General Krymov shot himself: when he left Kerensky’s office, Alexander Mikhailovich directed the gun barrel into his chest. He could still be saved, but in the hospital the military fell into the hands of haters of Russian officers who began to scoff at this worthy man. As a result, General Alexander Krymov died of his own wound, and Kornilov lost his most devoted associate, ready for anything to achieve a common goal. But there is another version of the death of a military man.
Or murder
According to her, during a skirmish with Kerensky, General Krymov, whose biography is known to all lovers of military history, could not resist the fit of anger and raised a hand to him. The "adjutants" of Alexander Fedorovich instantly reacted and shot the general. The head of the Provisional Government banned a public funeral. Soon Krymov’s widow wrote a petition to Kerensky, and he nevertheless allowed the general to be buried according to the Christian rite, “but no later than six in the morning and in the presence of only nine people, including representatives of the clergy.”
The beginning of repression
After the death of Krymov, repressive actions against Russian officers began. A series of arrests of army officials followed, who did not want to cooperate with Kerensky. In fact, the head of the Provisional Government set fire to the fire of a future Civil War, which turned the tide of the history of the Russian state.
