The Legendary Kornilov. 'Not a Man, but an Elemental Force'

“Not a man, but a natural force,” “he was always ahead and that attracted soldiers’ hearts,” “they loved him and believed him,” “he didn’t spare himself, personally was brave and threw himself forward headlong”—this is how Lavr Georgievich Kornilov was spoken of not only by his comrades but even by his enemies. The son of a Siberian Cossack and a baptized Kazakh woman, who rose to the very top of the military hierarchy. A fearless scout who carried out secret missions in Afghanistan, India, and China. A holder of the Order of St. George, a hero of the Russo-Japanese and Great Wars. Creator of the first shock units of the Russian army. Supreme Commander-in-Chief and a failed dictator of Russia. Leader of the White movement, who headed the legendary “Ice March” and died tragically during the assault on Yekaterinodar. The last hero of the Empire who could have stopped the revolution and saved the Fatherland. So think the “Kornilovites.”

“A revolutionary general” who betrayed the trust of Nicholas II and personally arrested the royal family. A failure who bungled the “Kornilov revolt” and thereby cleared the way for the Bolsheviks. A fire-starter of the Civil War who ordered “no prisoners.” This is how Kornilov is judged by his enemies. Is there at least a grain of truth in these accusations? Can an officer’s honor be kept unblemished amid fratricidal slaughter? Does heroic death make up for old mistakes? And will the mystery of the “mystical” death of General Kornilov—over which people still argue—be unraveled at last?