ALEXANDER VASILYEVICH KOLCHAK
AN INFLUENTIAL NAVAL OFFICER AND COURAGEOUS POLAR EXPLORER BUT AN INEPT POLITICIAN
Kolchak was born into a military family and graduated first in his class from the Naval Cadet school in 1894. The following year he was assigned to the armoured cruiser Rurik. Following a period of work with the Russian Polar Expedition he joined the Pacific Fleet in Port Arthur, where he was taken prisoner when the city fell to the Japanese. He returned to active service in 1907 and, due to his written work, became an influential voice on naval matters. In 1912 he took command of a destroyer in the Baltic Fleet. In late 1915 he was made commander of the vessels responsible for mine warfare in the Baltic Sea, at which he proved a great success. Consequently he was promoted to command the Black Sea Fleet in 1916. Following the revolution of March 1917 Kolchak’s intemperate political comments led to him being sent abroad to discuss naval matters with Britain and the USA.
Returning to Russia in September 1918, Kolchak became convinced that the only solution to the empire’s problems was a military dictatorship. Following a coup while based in Siberia, he took on the roles of supreme ruler of Russia and supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian army. Both titles were recognised by other White Guard leaders elsewhere.
During the first months of 1919 Kolchak oversaw preparations for an offensive that aimed to drive the Red Army out of Siberia and take Moscow. Although his troops almost succeeded in achieving these objectives, his regime was weak and could not survive the military setbacks that occurred later in the year.
Pushed eastwards along the Trans-siberian Railway Kolchak was detained by the Czech Legion, which exchanged him for safe passage out of the country. Imprisoned and interrogated in Irkutsk, the approach of a rescue mission led to his execution by firing squad.