Kornilov Affair

Categories / Social Life
KORNILOV AFFAIR (Kornilov's Advance, in Soviet literature - Kornilov's Revolt and "Kornilovshchina"), an attempt by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief General L.G. Kornilov in August (September) 1917 to avert the seizure of power by left-wing radicals (Bolsheviks). The centre for the preparation of Kornilov's march was the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in Mogilev. With the social-political crisis in Russia and the collapse of Provisional Government authority, Kornilov became the right-wing forces' greatest hope. He formulated a programme for the "salvation of the Native land" (militarization of the country, liquidation of revolutionary-democratic organizations, re-introduction of the death punishment at the front and rear lines), which was mostly supported by A.F. Kerensky. Unfortunately, the attempt was considered "untimely". On 25 August (7 September) 1917, Kornilov moved General A. M. Krymov's 3rd Mounted Corp and the so-called Wild Division (Caucasian Native Cavalry Division) towards Petrograd, demanding the resignation of the Provisional Government, the transfer of special powers to him, and for Kerensky to appear in person at the his Headquarters. In response, Kerensky on 27 August (9 September) proclaimed Kornilov to a rebel and removed him from the position of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. All the left-wing parties united in order to fight off Kornilov's attack. The Central Executive Committee of the Soviets, on 27 August (9 September), created The Committee for the National Fight Against the Counter-Revolution, consisting of representatives of presidiums from the Central Executive Committee and the Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviet Deputies, the All-Russian and Petrograd Soviets of Professional Unions, the Petrograd Soviet, various Bolshevik parties (who entered under an "informational purpose"), the Mensheviks and the Socialist-Revolutionaries. The committee proclaimed their support for the Provisional Government, published numerous leaflets appealing to the people and to Kornilov's troops, describing the advance as a plot to restore "the Tsar's regime", and naming Kornilov "an enemy of people". The Bolsheviks took the most radical position, sharply criticising Kerensky's hesitation. Up to 15,000 workers entered Red Guard detachments in three days in answer to the socialist parties' call. Soldiers from the Petrograd garrison, sailors from the Baltic Fleet and Red Guards took the field in defence of Petrograd. Arrests were carried out among Kornilov's adherents throughout Petrograd. In order to avert the various formations' movement, railroad men disassembled the tracts. Propagandists were sent to the Cossacks, soldiers, and mountain-dwellers of the Wild Division (including those from the All-Russian Muslim Congress, which was held in Petrograd). By 30 August (12 September), Kornilov's troops had been halted almost without bloodshed, and low morale set in among his troops. General Krymov shot himself after a conversation with Kerensky in Petrograd. Leaders of Kornilov's march were arrested and sent to a prison in Bykhov. On 31 August (13 September), the determent of Kornilov's advance was announced officially. In historical literature, the advance is given a varying amount of importance.

References: Иоффе Г. З. "Белое дело": Ген. Корнилов. М., 1989; Его же. Семнадцатый год: Ленин, Керенский, Корнилов. М., 1995; Деникин А. И. Очерки русской смут u1099 . Т. 1: Борьба генерала Корнилова. 1998.

A. M. Kulegin. Kerensky Alexander Fedorovich
Kornilov Lavr Georgievich
Krymov Alexander Mikhailovich
Иоффе Г. З. "Белое дело": Ген. Корнилов. М., 1989
Деникин А. И. Очерки руссой смуты. Т. 1: Борьба генерала Корнилова, 1998
Иоффе Г. З. Семнадцатый год: Ленин, Керенский, Корнилов. М., 1995 Provisional Government of 1917
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