Sketches of Russian Turmoil

33 hrs. 2 min.

Language Russian

Author Anton Denikin

Narrator Yury Zaborovsky

Description

The work of this famous leader of the White movement will remain indispensable for anyone interested in our history of that period. We must admit this brilliant monograph is exemplary both in the detailed account of the tragic events and in the depth of their analysis. Denikin describes the obvious self-destruction of the Tsarist regime, which made the revolution not only unavoidable, but also eagerly desired by all layers of the society of the time. However, with the fall of the old regime, Russia was torn apart by irreconcilable class and party contradictions. The war with Germany—dragging on during this time and already having seized part of Russian regions—made the continuation of military operations inevitable, both to liberate their territories and to fulfill obligations to the Allies. Thus, the new regime required the ability to concentrate in its hands the full power needed for further reorganization of the country. But fatefully, the Provisional Government allows a parallel center of power: the Sovdep, widely represented by its committees within the army. It is this political aspect that was realized through Order No. 1, which completely undermined the army. The February Revolution proclaimed equality of all estates, but forces appeared that sought to “deepen” the revolution by setting different classes of Russian society against one another. How did this process unfold, and who bears responsibility for Russia’s disastrous condition—and what needs to be done to save it? Anton Denikin’s judgment is what we have here.

The second volume of “Essays on the Russian Turmoil” by A. I. Denikin is devoted to events of the second half of 1917 and the beginning of 1918. General Kornilov’s uprising, the Bolshevik October coup, attempts to establish legitimate power by convening the Constituent Assembly, the shameful Brest-Litovsk peace—these dramatic events finally split Russian society and prompted the military men who thought in terms of the state to create the Volunteer Army.

In the third volume, an analysis is provided of separatist currents on the outskirts of Russia, showing that certain national elites had persistent international preferences and behavioral stereotypes (which still exist to this day). The first military actions of the Volunteer Army are described—marked by both successes and defeats.