Why did Lenin replace the general with a warrant officer and what during the years of the Civil War meant "to send to the headquarters to Dukhonin"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Nikolai Nikolaevich Dukhonin is the last Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army. He took over these responsibilities after the Bolshevik seized power. He was demanded to begin peace negotiations with the Germans so that Russia would withdraw from the First World War, but the Commander-in-Chief disobeyed. And then Vladimir Lenin removed him from his post, replacing him with Warrant Officer Krylenko. Dukhonin understood that death awaited him, but he did not run away. He took the last fight of his life and, of course, lost. After all, all of his yesterday's allies unanimously went over to the side of the Soviet regime. And Nikolai Krylenko became a hero. However, not for long.

No man is an island

When the Russian Empire fell to the blows of the red fists, the country was still at war with Germany and its allies. Nikolai Dukhonin became the new Supreme Commander-in-Chief. A professional military man who until recently tried not to get involved in political intrigues. He was faced with a simple and at the same time impracticable task - to preserve the combat capability of the army. And to do this in that destructive (morally and physically) situation was virtually unrealistic. The soldiers did not want to fight. They were tired and did not understand why they risked their lives. In addition, the monarchy fell, the Bolsheviks came to power, who tried with all their might to convince the soldiers to abandon their weapons and go home.

Dukhonin, whose Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was located in Mogilev, did his best to protect the soldiers from Bolshevik influence. But, of course, he couldn't. Moreover, the communists who had gained strength began to put pressure on him. It was vital for them to subdue the army. Then no one thought about the price of that act.

On November 7, 1917, Nikolai Nikolaevich received a clear order from the Council of People's Commissars, the meaning of which was that he had to enter into negotiations with the Germans and try to make peace with them.

Dukhonin reacted sharply. The war, in fact, was already drawing to a close. The Germans suffered one defeat after another, and every day their situation only got worse. To call them to peace at this moment was a betrayal, a betrayal in relation to all soldiers (living and dead), military leaders and allies. In addition, Nikolai Nikolaevich did not recognize the power of the Bolsheviks. He said this to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

In fact, it was then that Dukhonin signed his own death warrant. He went against Lenin's demands, and the leader of the world proletariat could not forgive such a thing. In Smolny, they decided: the Commander-in-Chief should be removed from office.

No sooner said than done. The lieutenant-general was removed, and in his place was appointed a loyal man to the core. It was yesterday's ensign Nikolai Vasilyevich Krylenko. After that, Lenin informed Dukhonin of his verdict. He ordered Nikolai Nikolaevich to act as commander-in-chief until Krylenko arrived at Headquarters. And then he recalled the negotiations with the Germans.

In fact, Dukhonin had nothing to lose. During his life, as a true officer, he was not afraid. Therefore, the demand of Vladimir Ilyich again ignored, although he perfectly understood what it threatened. In addition, his pride was greatly hurt by the appointment of Krylenko. Dukhonin believed that everything that was happening was a bad dream. Who could have imagined that the post of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief would be … an ensign! This was the last straw. Nikolai Nikolaevich realized that the Bolsheviks act intuitively, at random. And positions and posts are handed out simply by personal sympathy.

Dukhonin gathered officers loyal to him at the Headquarters and ordered not to make contacts with the Germans, but, on the contrary, to fight to the last, because victory was already very close. In his heart, Nikolai Nikolaevich (as, incidentally, all supporters of the fallen monarchy) believed that the Bolsheviks would not be able to gain a foothold, because they had plenty of opponents. And Lenin's position could be shaken at any moment.

But Dukhonin did not have enough time or energy. The army got out of control thanks to the efforts of the ubiquitous red commissars. In addition, the entire War Department was in their hands. And not a single order was considered valid if it was not signed by the Bolshevik protege.

The fate of the Russian officer

Soon the spiritualized Krylenko arrived at the front. He tried with all his might to justify the trust of Vladimir Ilyich, therefore he acted quickly, toughly and unscrupulously. Nikolai Vasilyevich constantly addressed the soldiers on the radio and urged them to abandon the war, not forgetting to add that it was he who was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

And it worked. Tired and exhausted, the soldiers were only happy about the end of the war. Everyone wanted to go home. At the same time, few people understood what severe trials awaited them in the future. There was no thought of the approaching Civil War.

Then Nikolai Vasilievich entered into negotiations with the Germans. He sent envoys to the enemy and waited. The answer was not long in coming. The Germans could not refuse such a generous gift of fate.

On November 19, Krylenko, together with his people, went to Brest-Litovsk to discuss the details of the peace agreement. And before that, he gave the order to stop all hostilities against the Germans. Those who were going to violate the order, Nikolai Vasilyevich threatened with a military tribunal. The order, accordingly, concerned Dukhonin. But he ignored it again. By that time, Nikolai Nikolaevich had already become an "enemy of the people" who needed to be removed.

Nikolai Nikolaevich tried to urgently move the Headquarters to Kiev. But it did not work out, the local authorities refused the request. Moreover, when Krylenko and his soldiers arrived in Mogilev, the local military revolutionary committee welcomed them with open arms. Instantly went over to the side of the ensign and most of Nikolai Nikolayevich's comrades-in-arms, including the battalion of St. George's Knights, which was guarding the Headquarters. Dukhonin's fate was a foregone conclusion. He found himself alone surrounded by numerous opponents.

Nikolai Nikolaevich, of course, could have escaped. He had plenty of time. But he, like a true Russian officer, decided to meet his enemy face to face. To those few soldiers who were on his side, he said that he was not afraid of either Krylenko or death. And then he ordered them to leave Mogilev.

Dukhonin was arrested and locked up in the commander-in-chief's salon-car. On November 20, a huge crowd of soldiers and sailors gathered at the station. They demanded Nikolai Nikolaevich. And Dukhonin went out to them. A few seconds later, the crowd pounced on the lieutenant general and raised him with bayonets. So the life of the last Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army was cut short. After that, the phrase "Send to the headquarters to Dukhonin" began to circulate among the soldiers. It meant execution without trial or investigation.

Krylenko was considered a hero. He negotiated peace with the Germans, took the Headquarters and eliminated Dukhonin. The career of Nikolai Vasilyevich rushed up. He held the posts of both the chief prosecutor of the USSR and the people's commissar of justice. But Krylenko did not survive the cleaning at the end of the 30s. He suddenly became an "enemy of the people" and a traitor. And in 1938, Nikolai Vasilyevich himself was "sent to the headquarters to Dukhonin."

The period of the Civil War left a deep mark on the public life of Russia. It's enough to remember how the "red commissars" determined the fashion and customs of socialist society.