How Russian emigrants welcomed the attack on the USSR, and who stood up for the Russian people

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

The beginning of the Great Patriotic War stirred up numerous Russian emigrants scattered throughout Europe. Individuals even managed to support Adolf Hitler in his treachery, either hoping for a looming repatriation, or under the all-consuming hatred of the Bolshevik regime. But there were others who condemned the aggression against fellow countrymen, despite the absolute rejection of the new Russia.

Schism in the camp of European emigrants and cousin of Nicholas II

During the Great Patriotic War, a surprisingly large number of Russian emigrants were on the side of the Nazis. The supporters of the Third Reich later assured that this alliance was tactical, and that in order to suppress the Bolsheviks, it was necessary to temporarily cooperate even with Hitler. But such excuses look sly. It was no secret to anyone that Hitler went to Russia with the main goal - to destroy it as a state, and turn the people into slaves serving the German colonists.

Hitler did not hide his plans at all, and according to the recollections of witnesses, he was terribly annoyed when he was informed about the desire of Russian nationalists to cooperate with him. Among the former subjects of the Russian Empire, who happily supported Hitler's plan "Barbarossa" in hopes of the fall of the Bolshevik regime and the country's rollback to its origins, was a member of the Romanov dynasty. The contender for the Russian throne was the only son of the Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, who in 1924 proclaimed himself the Emperor of All Russia.

The head of the Imperial House, Vladimir Kirillovich, recognized as such by the majority of the reigning European houses and representatives of the Russian Diaspora, quickly got his bearings and already on June 26 addressed the public with a loud appeal. The Grand Duke called the German military initiative a crusade against the Communist Bolsheviks. The latter, according to the monarchist, have enslaved and oppressed Russia for the last decades. In this regard, Vladimir Kirillovich called on the devoted sons of his homeland to come out for the overthrow of the government in Soviet Russia and free the fatherland from the communist yoke.

Calls of the Don Ataman Krasnov

The first of the Cossack leaders to the German Kaiser Wilhelm II offered his services ex-General Peter Krasnov. The famous ataman of the Don Cossacks, even after the end of the revolution, dreamed of separating the Don from Russia. The Third Reich, at the facilities of the imperial Ministry of Occupied Territories, established the Main Cossack Directorate, and General Krasnov was offered to head it. Ideology did not allow the Germans to cooperate with the Slavs on an equal footing, and Hitler's ideologists took as a basis the myth of the origin of the Cossacks from the Ost-Goths. Addressing the Don Cossacks, the ataman recommended joining the German troops.

"May the Lord help German weapons and Hitler!" - exclaimed yesterday's Don chieftain on the very first day of Germany's attack on the USSR. Krasnov, who emigrated in 1920, was known throughout the pre-war years as a champion of Soviet power. But besides his rejection of Bolshevism, Krasnov openly sympathized with the Nazis. On the eve of World War II, Peter Krasnov enthusiastically portrayed Hitler in his publications, proclaiming the most daring racist cliches.

Shkuro's position and distrust of the Cossack units

In the spring of 1920, Denikin's Lieutenant General Shkuro, after a series of military failures, was expelled from the command staff by the new commander-in-chief Wrangel. After the defeat of the White Guards, the Kuban Cossack emigrated to Constantinople, and from there he moved to Paris. While living in France, the ex-military leader earned his living as a circus rider. Shkuro made the decision to cooperate with Hitler at the very beginning of World War II. Together with Krasnov, he helped to form Cossack troops in the ranks of the Wehrmacht, was responsible for the state of reserves from his subordinates.

The fact is that the Cossack units did not enjoy great confidence among the German leaders, therefore they participated in the battles on the eastern front only once. The reserves were kept mainly for the use by the Wehrmacht in the fight against the Belarusian and Yugoslav partisans. After the complete victory of the USSR, Shkuro, like other pro-fascist renegade Cossacks, was handed over to the Soviet authorities by the British command. Cossack generals were all sentenced to death.

Denikin's warnings about the cunning of the Germans and the attitude of General Voitsekhovsky to the Russian soldier

At the end of 1938, the recent White Guard commander, Lieutenant General Denikin, who had found a new refuge in France, made a presentation to the Europeans on the Russian question in the framework of the international situation. Anton Ivanovich addressed the newly minted followers of Hitler. He warned in a voice that the fascist companions from emigrants were not encroaching on KGB blood, but on Russian. Denikin understood that this was not the way to help Russia, but to help Hitler in the enslavement of Russia was the surest way.

It just so happened that the general's insight worked a year before the start of World War II. Denikin predicted with amazing accuracy the fate of those who soon went to Russia in the German ranks. Anton Ivanovich himself flatly refused to cooperate with Germany, which occupied France in the summer of 1940. Realizing the authority of the general in the emigre environment, the Germans came to him with an invitation to move to Germany, guaranteed a well-fed and comfortable life (in exile Denikin was known as a completely poor person).

Throughout the Great Patriotic War, Denikin, who had recently personally fought against the Red Army, admired the successes and victories of the USSR army, the courage and resilience of the Russian soldier. At the same time, he did not in the least hide his contemptuous attitude towards the Soviet political regime. The former ally of Kolchak in the white movement in Siberia, General Voitsekhovsky, reacted similarly to the initiatives of the Nazis. Not tired of hating the Bolsheviks, he declared to the Germans: "I will not go to war against the Russian soldier!"

In general, the history of the white generals is very indicative and interesting. Despite their position, they totally loved Russia. Kolchak, Denikin and Wrangel were each other's successors, and these events became the main ones in their lives.