gen. Bulak Balachowicz Forces
gen. Bulak Balachowicz Forces
I look for in formations about units commanded by gen. Joseph Bulak – Balachowicz specially photos of gen Balachowicz and their soldiers, it can be in Byelorussia’s or Russian language.
Here's a short overwiev about the Northern Corps on the period October 1918 - May 1919. You find also information about Bulak-Balakhovich here.
I wrote this text some time ago for a Yahoo group "Russian Civil War." It is based on my seminar-work.
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The official date of creation of the Pskov Independent Volunteers Corps of the Northern Army was 10. X 1918. The area of creation was Pskov – Ostrov – Rēzekne. Though the final aim was to create a full-sized army, at first only a corps was to be formed. It should have included two rifle divisions, a cavalry brigade and supporting units – alltogether about 50 000 men. But on 21. X 1918 on the meeting of senior officers it was decided that at the very beginning only a rifle division (three rifle regiments plus an artillery regiment) will be formed. Until 16. XI 1918 the corps was commanded by Gen.-Maj. Aleksei Vandam, his Chief of Staff was Gen.-Maj. Boris Malyavin. The 1st Volunteer Rifle Division was at first commanded by Gen.-Maj. Nikiforov. At the end of October Gen.-Lt. Panteleimon Simanskiy was appointed to this post, but on the second half of November the staff of the 1st Volunteer Rifle Division was disbanded, probably because in the corps there were to few soldiers for such two big staffs (corps and divisional).
The OOB for the corps on the 25. XI 1918, before the Red Army’s offensive:
Commander: Col. Heinrich-Karl-Timoleon von Neff
Chief of staff: Cpt. Wilhelm von Rosenberg. The corps’ staff (counter-intelligence included) numbered 180 – 220 men.
1st Pskov Volunteer Rifle Regiment. Col. P. Lebedev. 680 – 740 men, 8 MGs. This unit was formed in Pskov.
2nd Ostrov Volunteer Rifle Regiment. Col. Anton Dzerozhinskiy. 580 – 610 men, 4 – 6 MGs. Formed in Ostrov.
3rd Rezhitsa Volunteer Rifle Regiment. Col. Otto Heinze. 400 – 430 men, 0 – 2 MGs. Formed at first in Rezhitsa (Rēzekne), at the end of October transferred to Ostrov.
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment. Lt.-Col. Daniil Vetrenko. 100 men. This unit arrived from Ukraine during the first half of November.
1st Pskov Volunteer Riflemen Artillery Regiment. Col. Issaev. 260 men, 8 light cannons. Unit was formed in Pskov, it consisted of two batteries.
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment. Cpt. Stanislav-Maria Bulak-Balakhovich. 450 – 460 men, 10 MGs, 2 light cannons. This cavalry unit deserted from the Red Army at the end of October – at the beginning of November.
Colonel Bibikov’s Partisan Detachment. Col. Georgiy Bibikov. 150 men. A cavalry unit, which was formed in Ostrov. Later it is known as Horse-Jaegers Divizion.
Colonel Afanasev’s Partisan Detachment. Col. Afanasev. 150 men. Located in Rezhitsa (Rēzekne).
Detachment for Pskov’s Outer Defence. Cpt. Leonard Mikosha. 150 men, 2 MGs. This unit was formed for guarding duties on the demarcation line. It was formed from the holders of the St. George’s Cross (Georgievskiy krest) and is therefore later known as the Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment.
Talabsk Detachment. Cpt. Boris Permikin. 300 – 400 men, 2 MGs, 2 artillery pieces (probably trench artillery). On 20. X a group of officers (about 20 men) had landed on the Talabsk islands located in lake Pskov. They were invited by a delegation sent to Pskov by the islanders. The Red garrison on the islands surrendered. The Talabsk Detachment was formed from the locals.
1st Pskov Volunteer Engineer Company. 85 men.
Automobile Detachment. 50 men, 7 – 9 automobiles.
Signals Detachment. 40 men.
Special Detachment. 50 men.
Armoured Train Detachment. Col. V. Neplyuev. 30 men, 3 MGs. No armoured trains.
Aviation Detachment. 50 – 60 men. No airplanes.
Warehouses and workshops. 60 men.
Pskov’s Commandant Office. Col. A. von Stein. 20 men.
Lake Peipus Flotilla. Cpt. 2nd Rank Dmitri Nelidov. 4 armed ships (“Tsesarevich Aleksei,” “Imperator,” “Ganza,” “Delfin”) armed with 7 – 8 guns and 7 MGs. These ships deserted from the Red Peipus flotilla at the end of October 1918.
Also on 24. XI 1918 the Pskov’s Commandant Office started to form a self-defence unit from the inhabitants of Pskov – Detachment for Pskov’s Inner Defence, but obviously little was done in such a short time. Besides weapons were given to everybody who wanted, so surely local Reds also used the chance.
Alltogether on the eve of the Red’s offensive the corps consisted about 4000 men, up to 42 MGs and 19 – 20 artillery pieces (the flotilla included). The corps was poorly supplied. The Germans gave also broken equipment. There wasn’t enough proper clothing and footwear.
On the 25. XI 1918 the Reds forced the Whites to retreat from the Pskov area. Many soldiers deserted, part retreated to Courland. About 2 000 men arrived to Southern-Estonia. On 6. XII 1918 an agreement of alliance was made between the Whites and the Estonian Government. The corps was in bad shape. In the middle of December the situation was the following: the remnants of the Pskov, Ostrov, Rezhitsa, Vholyn regiments and Bibikov’s detachment were in the area of Valga. On 20. XII 1918 this group was named as the Western Detachment under Col. A. Dzerozhinskiy. The group played insignificant role in the defence of the area and by the beginning of January 1919 the units were collected to the rear for refitting. In the area of Tartu located a group of units under Cpt. S. Bulak-Balakhovich. It consisted Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment, Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment, Talabsk Detachment and 1st battery of the artillery regiment (the guns of the 2nd battery were left to Pskov since there were no horses to transport them). On 20. XII 1918 this group was named as the Eastern Detachment. These units were probably more combat-capable than those in the Western Detachment, but the Estonian command abandoned Tartu practically without any serious battle, since there was a Red mutiny in the town and the Estonian command panicked. By the beginning of January 1919 all the Russian Whites in Estonia were pulled to the rear. The Lake Peipus flotilla had at the end of November retreated to Tartu, where it’s ships were confiscated by the Germans and later given to the Estonians. One ship (“Ganza”) had been left to Pskov, since it’s engine had some problem. Colonel Afanasev’s detachment had retreated to Courland.
When the corps was put under Estonian command, it’s name was changed into Independent Corps of the Northern Army (semi-officially – the Northern Corps). From the 3. I 1919 the commander of the corps was Col. A. Dzerozhinskiy. The Chief of Staff was changed already on 10. XII 1918, when Col. Wilhelm von Wahl was appointed to this post. On 3. I 1919 also the 1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment was joined to the corps. This was commanded by Lt.-Col. Karl-Johan Badendick and at this moment consisted about 100 men. The unit was created at the end of December 1918 in Tallinn (Revel, Reval) in agreement with the Estonian government. On 3. I 1919 the Estonian Supreme Commander Col. Johan Laidoner also ordered to creat corps’ reserve units. In the Western Detachment (which was now commanded by Lt.-Col. Vasili Ananin) he ordered to disband the regiments and instead more manoeuvreable partisan units were to be formed. The corps’ artillery at this moment consisted of 5 light cannons. By the second half of March there were already 18 light cannons (not all of them in working-order though) and then Pskov Artillery Brigade (5 batteries) was formed. It was commanded by Col. Issaev. The Brigade was only administrative staff – the artillery batteries and platoons were distributed between the 1st and 2nd Rifle Brigade. During the following months the corps was reinforced by Russians of Estonia, volunteers form Estonian POW camps, deserters and prisoners from the Red Army, volunteers who came abroad (for example at the end of January 1919 Col. Afanasev arrived with 92 men). According to the data presented by the corps’ staff on 11. IV 1919 there were alltogether 5 610 men in the formation. Of them 2 411 (or 43%) were either from Estonian POW camps or Reds who deserted or were captured on the front and then taken into the White ranks.
On 17. IV 1919 new Chief of Staff was appointed for the corps – Col. Otton von Krusenstiern.
The first unit which went to the front was a squadron from the Col. Bibikov’s Partisan Detachment (Horse-Jaegers Divizion) – about 80 men. It served on the front in Northern-Estonia under the Estonian 1st Division 7. I – 28. II 1919. Then it was pulled back to the rear. There the Horse-Jaegers Division was formed into Horse-Jaegers Regiment, which returned to the Narva front on 3. IV 1919.
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Eastern Detachment was also sent to the front in January 1919. Now it was called Ataman Bulak-Balakhovich’s Composite Detachment and consisted of Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment, Talabsk Detachment and Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment. Alltogether about 900 men with two artillery pieces (horse-battery in Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Tetachment). The composite detachment was subordinated to the Estonian 2nd Division and 21. I – 29. I 1919 it participated in battles in Southern-Estonia in the area of Tõrva. At the beginning of the February it was sent to guard the Western bank of the lakes Peipus and Pskov – the lakes were frozen. There it served until 19. IV 1919 and also participated in heavy battles. Meanwhile, on 5. III, Gen.-Maj. Aleksandr Rodzyanko took over the command of this group and now it’s name was changed into Pskov Detachment. At the same time it was reinforced with the 53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment (Lt.-Col. D. Vetrenko). The regiment, which in January was part of the Western Detachment, was then disbanded. Vetrenko had now again formed it and most of the men were volunteers from Estonian POW camps. At the end of March the Pskov Detachment was named as the 2nd Rifle Brigade. By then it was also reinforced by two artillery platoons. Alltogether at the end of March the brigade had about 2 500 men, 7 artillery pieces (one of them, a 37-mm trench-gun was captured from the Reds). In the first half of the March Rodzyanko had named the Talabsk Detachment into Talabsk Rifle Regiment (from the end of March 3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment) and Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment into Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse Regiment. By 22. IV 1919 the 2nd Rifle Brigade was transferred to the Narva front for the planned assault on Petrograd.
In the Western Detachment the regiments were disbanded. Instead several partisan sotnias were formed. The 1st Partisan Sotnia (109 men, 2 MGs) under Lt. Aleksei Danilov reached the Narva front on 3. II 1919. There it was operationaly subordinated to the Estonian 1st Cavalry Regiment. On 8. II 1919 Col. Fedor Georg arrived to the Narva front as the commander of the Russian Composite Detachment. This detachment was the staff for all White Russian units on the Narva front. But until 9. III 1919 all the Russian units, which operated directly on the front, were operatively subordinated to the 1st Cavalry Regiment. At the middle of the February the 1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment (Lt.-Col. K. Badendick) arrived to the front. It consisted then 438 men (most of them not officers), 4 MGs, 2 57-mm cannons. Until 3. III it was held in reserve. On 24. II the 3rd Partisan Sotnia and the Staff of the Sotnias (alltogether 142 men, 1 MG) arrived to the front. The Staff of the Sotnias was commanded by Col. Tsibisov. They remained in reserve until 9. III 1919. On 5. III the 4th Partisan Sotnia arrived (93 men, 1 MG) and on 8. III the 2nd Partisan Sotnia (Col. Afanasev; 147 men, 1 MG). On 9. III the Estonian 1st Cavalry Regiment gave it’s front to the Russian Composite Detachment and now all the sotnias were sent to the front. On 10. III also Officer’s Sotnia (Col. Kazimir-Stanislav Ezhevskiy; 108 men) arrived to the front.
Russian Composite Detachment
1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment
Staff of the Sotnias (1st Partisan Sotnia, 2nd Partisan Sotnia, 3rd Partisan Sotnia, 4th Partisan Sotnia, Officer’s Sotnia)
On 11. III 1919 the Russian Composite Detachment consisted of alltogether 165 officers, 660 bayonets, 47 sabres, 23 MGs, 6 light cannons (4 of them were captured from the Reds, 2 arrived to the front on 10. III. The 57-mm cannons had broken down and were sent for repair).
At the end of the March the Russian Composite Detachment was renamed as the 1st Rifle Brigade. The 1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment was renamed as the 1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment and was now commanded by Col. K. Ezhevskiy. On thhe base of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Partisan Sotnias was fromed the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment. Between 25. III and 28. III 1919 also the staff and the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment arrived to the Narva front. The 2nd Battalion was composed from the men of the Soviet 86th Rifle Regiment, which had deserted to the Estonian army in January 1919. The 2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment was commanded by Lt.Col. V. Ananin, at the beginning of May Col. Mikhail Yaroslavtsev took over. The Officer’s Sotnia remained as an independent unit. On 27. III the brigade was reinforced with an artillery platoon (2 light cannons). On 30. III the brigade consisted of 107 officers, 1 002 bayonets, 58 sabres, 8 artillery pieces. The staff of the Western Detachment was disbanded.
The Narva front was quite peaceful most of the time, the Reds showed low activity here. The Whites did a number of succesful raids into enemy positions.
The structure of the Independent Corps of the Northern Army on 11. IV 1919
The Staff of the Corps
Supply Department
Detachments by the Staff of the Corps (Signals, Convoy, Court etc.)
Depot Company by the Staff of the Corps
1st Rifle Brigade
2nd Rifle Brigade
Reserve Brigade
Pskov Artillery Brigade
1st Rifle Brigade
1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment
2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment
Horse-Jaegers Regiment
Officer’s Sotnia
2nd Rifle Brigade
Supply Department
Hospital
Depot Company by the 2nd Rifle Brigade
3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse-Regiment
Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment
Pskov Artillery Brigade
1st Battery
2nd Battery
3rd Battery
4th Battery
5th Battery
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For the planned assault on Petrograd the whole corps was collected on the Narva front. The offensive started on 13. V 1919.
The combat OOB of the Independent Corps of the Northern Army on 12. V 1919.
Staff of the 1st Rifle Brigade – Col. F. Georg; 86 men (25 bayonets)
1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment – Col. K. Ezhevskiy; 607 men (379 bayonets, 20 sabres, 24 MGs, 2 mortars (note: the numbers also include the Officer’s Sotnia). The regiment consisted of 5 sotnias (sometimes also called companies).
2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment – Col. M. Yaroslavtsev; 973 men (562 bayonets), 22 MGs, 2 mortars. The regiment consisted of 6 sotnias (companies).
Horse-Jaegers Regiment – Col. G. Bibikov; 213 men (48 bayonets, 69 sabres), 4 MGs. The regiment consisted of a Horse Squadron and a Rifle Squadron.
1st Artillery Division – 215 men, 8 artillery pieces.
Staff of the 2nd Rifle Brigade – Gen.-Maj.. A. Rodzyanko; 149 men (70 bayonets).
3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment – Cpt. B. Permikin; 674 men (411 bayonets), 8 MGs, 2 mortars, 1 37-mm trench gun. The regiment consisted of 6 sotnias (companies).
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment – Col. D. Vetrenko; 553 men (420 bayonets), 8 MGs, 2 mortars. The regiment consisted of 6 sotnias (companies):
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse Regiment – Cpt. Iosif Bulak-Balakhovich (Col. Bulak-Balakhovich was appointed to the post of the Inspector of the Cavalry of the Corps at the beginning of April); 329 men (150 bayonets, 101 sabres), 8 MGs.
Georgievskiy Battalion – Lt.Col. L. Mikosha; 140 men (100 bayonets), 4 MGs. It seems that the battalion was in the middle of forming.
2nd Artillery Division – 180 men, 6 artillery pieces.
Conoy of the Corps Staff – Cpt. Stavskiy; 110 men (90 bayonets), 4 MGs.
Alltogether: 4 229 men (2 255 bayonets, 190 sabres), 78 MGs, 15 artillery pieces (of them 3 were not combat-ready), 8 mortars.
With corps’ staff, rear and reserve units (the Reserve Brigade was commanded by Gen-Maj. Wilhelm Hennings) there was probably up to 6 000 men in the corps. In April the Estonian command gave a couple of small ships to the disposal of the Whites – the Narva River Flotilla under the command of Cpt. 2nd Rank Schilling.
For the offensive the Baltic Regiment was operatively subordinated to the corps. This unit was composed of Germans living in Estonia and consisted of 900 men (450 bayonets and sabres), 17 MGs, 2 light cannons. The commander was Col. Constantin von Weiss.
In May the corps was still commanded by Col. A. Dzerozhinskiy, the Chief of Staff was Col. O. von Krusenstiern. The military operations were to be leaded by Gen.-Maj. A. Rodzyanko.
For the offensive the corps’ units were divided between combat sectors:
Right Combat Sector – Col. S. Bulak-Balakhovich
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse Regiment
Baltic Regiment
Central Combat Sector – Col. D. Vetrenko
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion of the 3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment
Left Combat Sector – Col. Aleksei-Friedrich-Leonid von der Pahlen
2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment
The Horse Squadron of the Horse-Jaegers Regiment
Narva Detachment – Col. F. Georg
1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment
Officer’s Sotnya
In the reserve remained:
Conoy of the Corps Staff
Georgievskiy Battalion
The Rifle Squadron of the Horse-Jaegers Regiment
The 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment was at the disposal of the commander of the Estonian 1st Division.
I wrote this text some time ago for a Yahoo group "Russian Civil War." It is based on my seminar-work.
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The official date of creation of the Pskov Independent Volunteers Corps of the Northern Army was 10. X 1918. The area of creation was Pskov – Ostrov – Rēzekne. Though the final aim was to create a full-sized army, at first only a corps was to be formed. It should have included two rifle divisions, a cavalry brigade and supporting units – alltogether about 50 000 men. But on 21. X 1918 on the meeting of senior officers it was decided that at the very beginning only a rifle division (three rifle regiments plus an artillery regiment) will be formed. Until 16. XI 1918 the corps was commanded by Gen.-Maj. Aleksei Vandam, his Chief of Staff was Gen.-Maj. Boris Malyavin. The 1st Volunteer Rifle Division was at first commanded by Gen.-Maj. Nikiforov. At the end of October Gen.-Lt. Panteleimon Simanskiy was appointed to this post, but on the second half of November the staff of the 1st Volunteer Rifle Division was disbanded, probably because in the corps there were to few soldiers for such two big staffs (corps and divisional).
The OOB for the corps on the 25. XI 1918, before the Red Army’s offensive:
Commander: Col. Heinrich-Karl-Timoleon von Neff
Chief of staff: Cpt. Wilhelm von Rosenberg. The corps’ staff (counter-intelligence included) numbered 180 – 220 men.
1st Pskov Volunteer Rifle Regiment. Col. P. Lebedev. 680 – 740 men, 8 MGs. This unit was formed in Pskov.
2nd Ostrov Volunteer Rifle Regiment. Col. Anton Dzerozhinskiy. 580 – 610 men, 4 – 6 MGs. Formed in Ostrov.
3rd Rezhitsa Volunteer Rifle Regiment. Col. Otto Heinze. 400 – 430 men, 0 – 2 MGs. Formed at first in Rezhitsa (Rēzekne), at the end of October transferred to Ostrov.
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment. Lt.-Col. Daniil Vetrenko. 100 men. This unit arrived from Ukraine during the first half of November.
1st Pskov Volunteer Riflemen Artillery Regiment. Col. Issaev. 260 men, 8 light cannons. Unit was formed in Pskov, it consisted of two batteries.
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment. Cpt. Stanislav-Maria Bulak-Balakhovich. 450 – 460 men, 10 MGs, 2 light cannons. This cavalry unit deserted from the Red Army at the end of October – at the beginning of November.
Colonel Bibikov’s Partisan Detachment. Col. Georgiy Bibikov. 150 men. A cavalry unit, which was formed in Ostrov. Later it is known as Horse-Jaegers Divizion.
Colonel Afanasev’s Partisan Detachment. Col. Afanasev. 150 men. Located in Rezhitsa (Rēzekne).
Detachment for Pskov’s Outer Defence. Cpt. Leonard Mikosha. 150 men, 2 MGs. This unit was formed for guarding duties on the demarcation line. It was formed from the holders of the St. George’s Cross (Georgievskiy krest) and is therefore later known as the Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment.
Talabsk Detachment. Cpt. Boris Permikin. 300 – 400 men, 2 MGs, 2 artillery pieces (probably trench artillery). On 20. X a group of officers (about 20 men) had landed on the Talabsk islands located in lake Pskov. They were invited by a delegation sent to Pskov by the islanders. The Red garrison on the islands surrendered. The Talabsk Detachment was formed from the locals.
1st Pskov Volunteer Engineer Company. 85 men.
Automobile Detachment. 50 men, 7 – 9 automobiles.
Signals Detachment. 40 men.
Special Detachment. 50 men.
Armoured Train Detachment. Col. V. Neplyuev. 30 men, 3 MGs. No armoured trains.
Aviation Detachment. 50 – 60 men. No airplanes.
Warehouses and workshops. 60 men.
Pskov’s Commandant Office. Col. A. von Stein. 20 men.
Lake Peipus Flotilla. Cpt. 2nd Rank Dmitri Nelidov. 4 armed ships (“Tsesarevich Aleksei,” “Imperator,” “Ganza,” “Delfin”) armed with 7 – 8 guns and 7 MGs. These ships deserted from the Red Peipus flotilla at the end of October 1918.
Also on 24. XI 1918 the Pskov’s Commandant Office started to form a self-defence unit from the inhabitants of Pskov – Detachment for Pskov’s Inner Defence, but obviously little was done in such a short time. Besides weapons were given to everybody who wanted, so surely local Reds also used the chance.
Alltogether on the eve of the Red’s offensive the corps consisted about 4000 men, up to 42 MGs and 19 – 20 artillery pieces (the flotilla included). The corps was poorly supplied. The Germans gave also broken equipment. There wasn’t enough proper clothing and footwear.
On the 25. XI 1918 the Reds forced the Whites to retreat from the Pskov area. Many soldiers deserted, part retreated to Courland. About 2 000 men arrived to Southern-Estonia. On 6. XII 1918 an agreement of alliance was made between the Whites and the Estonian Government. The corps was in bad shape. In the middle of December the situation was the following: the remnants of the Pskov, Ostrov, Rezhitsa, Vholyn regiments and Bibikov’s detachment were in the area of Valga. On 20. XII 1918 this group was named as the Western Detachment under Col. A. Dzerozhinskiy. The group played insignificant role in the defence of the area and by the beginning of January 1919 the units were collected to the rear for refitting. In the area of Tartu located a group of units under Cpt. S. Bulak-Balakhovich. It consisted Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment, Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment, Talabsk Detachment and 1st battery of the artillery regiment (the guns of the 2nd battery were left to Pskov since there were no horses to transport them). On 20. XII 1918 this group was named as the Eastern Detachment. These units were probably more combat-capable than those in the Western Detachment, but the Estonian command abandoned Tartu practically without any serious battle, since there was a Red mutiny in the town and the Estonian command panicked. By the beginning of January 1919 all the Russian Whites in Estonia were pulled to the rear. The Lake Peipus flotilla had at the end of November retreated to Tartu, where it’s ships were confiscated by the Germans and later given to the Estonians. One ship (“Ganza”) had been left to Pskov, since it’s engine had some problem. Colonel Afanasev’s detachment had retreated to Courland.
When the corps was put under Estonian command, it’s name was changed into Independent Corps of the Northern Army (semi-officially – the Northern Corps). From the 3. I 1919 the commander of the corps was Col. A. Dzerozhinskiy. The Chief of Staff was changed already on 10. XII 1918, when Col. Wilhelm von Wahl was appointed to this post. On 3. I 1919 also the 1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment was joined to the corps. This was commanded by Lt.-Col. Karl-Johan Badendick and at this moment consisted about 100 men. The unit was created at the end of December 1918 in Tallinn (Revel, Reval) in agreement with the Estonian government. On 3. I 1919 the Estonian Supreme Commander Col. Johan Laidoner also ordered to creat corps’ reserve units. In the Western Detachment (which was now commanded by Lt.-Col. Vasili Ananin) he ordered to disband the regiments and instead more manoeuvreable partisan units were to be formed. The corps’ artillery at this moment consisted of 5 light cannons. By the second half of March there were already 18 light cannons (not all of them in working-order though) and then Pskov Artillery Brigade (5 batteries) was formed. It was commanded by Col. Issaev. The Brigade was only administrative staff – the artillery batteries and platoons were distributed between the 1st and 2nd Rifle Brigade. During the following months the corps was reinforced by Russians of Estonia, volunteers form Estonian POW camps, deserters and prisoners from the Red Army, volunteers who came abroad (for example at the end of January 1919 Col. Afanasev arrived with 92 men). According to the data presented by the corps’ staff on 11. IV 1919 there were alltogether 5 610 men in the formation. Of them 2 411 (or 43%) were either from Estonian POW camps or Reds who deserted or were captured on the front and then taken into the White ranks.
On 17. IV 1919 new Chief of Staff was appointed for the corps – Col. Otton von Krusenstiern.
The first unit which went to the front was a squadron from the Col. Bibikov’s Partisan Detachment (Horse-Jaegers Divizion) – about 80 men. It served on the front in Northern-Estonia under the Estonian 1st Division 7. I – 28. II 1919. Then it was pulled back to the rear. There the Horse-Jaegers Division was formed into Horse-Jaegers Regiment, which returned to the Narva front on 3. IV 1919.
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Eastern Detachment was also sent to the front in January 1919. Now it was called Ataman Bulak-Balakhovich’s Composite Detachment and consisted of Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment, Talabsk Detachment and Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment. Alltogether about 900 men with two artillery pieces (horse-battery in Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Tetachment). The composite detachment was subordinated to the Estonian 2nd Division and 21. I – 29. I 1919 it participated in battles in Southern-Estonia in the area of Tõrva. At the beginning of the February it was sent to guard the Western bank of the lakes Peipus and Pskov – the lakes were frozen. There it served until 19. IV 1919 and also participated in heavy battles. Meanwhile, on 5. III, Gen.-Maj. Aleksandr Rodzyanko took over the command of this group and now it’s name was changed into Pskov Detachment. At the same time it was reinforced with the 53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment (Lt.-Col. D. Vetrenko). The regiment, which in January was part of the Western Detachment, was then disbanded. Vetrenko had now again formed it and most of the men were volunteers from Estonian POW camps. At the end of March the Pskov Detachment was named as the 2nd Rifle Brigade. By then it was also reinforced by two artillery platoons. Alltogether at the end of March the brigade had about 2 500 men, 7 artillery pieces (one of them, a 37-mm trench-gun was captured from the Reds). In the first half of the March Rodzyanko had named the Talabsk Detachment into Talabsk Rifle Regiment (from the end of March 3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment) and Bulak-Balakhovich’s Partisan Detachment into Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse Regiment. By 22. IV 1919 the 2nd Rifle Brigade was transferred to the Narva front for the planned assault on Petrograd.
In the Western Detachment the regiments were disbanded. Instead several partisan sotnias were formed. The 1st Partisan Sotnia (109 men, 2 MGs) under Lt. Aleksei Danilov reached the Narva front on 3. II 1919. There it was operationaly subordinated to the Estonian 1st Cavalry Regiment. On 8. II 1919 Col. Fedor Georg arrived to the Narva front as the commander of the Russian Composite Detachment. This detachment was the staff for all White Russian units on the Narva front. But until 9. III 1919 all the Russian units, which operated directly on the front, were operatively subordinated to the 1st Cavalry Regiment. At the middle of the February the 1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment (Lt.-Col. K. Badendick) arrived to the front. It consisted then 438 men (most of them not officers), 4 MGs, 2 57-mm cannons. Until 3. III it was held in reserve. On 24. II the 3rd Partisan Sotnia and the Staff of the Sotnias (alltogether 142 men, 1 MG) arrived to the front. The Staff of the Sotnias was commanded by Col. Tsibisov. They remained in reserve until 9. III 1919. On 5. III the 4th Partisan Sotnia arrived (93 men, 1 MG) and on 8. III the 2nd Partisan Sotnia (Col. Afanasev; 147 men, 1 MG). On 9. III the Estonian 1st Cavalry Regiment gave it’s front to the Russian Composite Detachment and now all the sotnias were sent to the front. On 10. III also Officer’s Sotnia (Col. Kazimir-Stanislav Ezhevskiy; 108 men) arrived to the front.
Russian Composite Detachment
1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment
Staff of the Sotnias (1st Partisan Sotnia, 2nd Partisan Sotnia, 3rd Partisan Sotnia, 4th Partisan Sotnia, Officer’s Sotnia)
On 11. III 1919 the Russian Composite Detachment consisted of alltogether 165 officers, 660 bayonets, 47 sabres, 23 MGs, 6 light cannons (4 of them were captured from the Reds, 2 arrived to the front on 10. III. The 57-mm cannons had broken down and were sent for repair).
At the end of the March the Russian Composite Detachment was renamed as the 1st Rifle Brigade. The 1st Revel Officer’s Partisan Detachment was renamed as the 1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment and was now commanded by Col. K. Ezhevskiy. On thhe base of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Partisan Sotnias was fromed the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment. Between 25. III and 28. III 1919 also the staff and the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment arrived to the Narva front. The 2nd Battalion was composed from the men of the Soviet 86th Rifle Regiment, which had deserted to the Estonian army in January 1919. The 2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment was commanded by Lt.Col. V. Ananin, at the beginning of May Col. Mikhail Yaroslavtsev took over. The Officer’s Sotnia remained as an independent unit. On 27. III the brigade was reinforced with an artillery platoon (2 light cannons). On 30. III the brigade consisted of 107 officers, 1 002 bayonets, 58 sabres, 8 artillery pieces. The staff of the Western Detachment was disbanded.
The Narva front was quite peaceful most of the time, the Reds showed low activity here. The Whites did a number of succesful raids into enemy positions.
The structure of the Independent Corps of the Northern Army on 11. IV 1919
The Staff of the Corps
Supply Department
Detachments by the Staff of the Corps (Signals, Convoy, Court etc.)
Depot Company by the Staff of the Corps
1st Rifle Brigade
2nd Rifle Brigade
Reserve Brigade
Pskov Artillery Brigade
1st Rifle Brigade
1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment
2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment
Horse-Jaegers Regiment
Officer’s Sotnia
2nd Rifle Brigade
Supply Department
Hospital
Depot Company by the 2nd Rifle Brigade
3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse-Regiment
Georgievskiy Rifle Detachment
Pskov Artillery Brigade
1st Battery
2nd Battery
3rd Battery
4th Battery
5th Battery
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For the planned assault on Petrograd the whole corps was collected on the Narva front. The offensive started on 13. V 1919.
The combat OOB of the Independent Corps of the Northern Army on 12. V 1919.
Staff of the 1st Rifle Brigade – Col. F. Georg; 86 men (25 bayonets)
1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment – Col. K. Ezhevskiy; 607 men (379 bayonets, 20 sabres, 24 MGs, 2 mortars (note: the numbers also include the Officer’s Sotnia). The regiment consisted of 5 sotnias (sometimes also called companies).
2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment – Col. M. Yaroslavtsev; 973 men (562 bayonets), 22 MGs, 2 mortars. The regiment consisted of 6 sotnias (companies).
Horse-Jaegers Regiment – Col. G. Bibikov; 213 men (48 bayonets, 69 sabres), 4 MGs. The regiment consisted of a Horse Squadron and a Rifle Squadron.
1st Artillery Division – 215 men, 8 artillery pieces.
Staff of the 2nd Rifle Brigade – Gen.-Maj.. A. Rodzyanko; 149 men (70 bayonets).
3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment – Cpt. B. Permikin; 674 men (411 bayonets), 8 MGs, 2 mortars, 1 37-mm trench gun. The regiment consisted of 6 sotnias (companies).
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment – Col. D. Vetrenko; 553 men (420 bayonets), 8 MGs, 2 mortars. The regiment consisted of 6 sotnias (companies):
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse Regiment – Cpt. Iosif Bulak-Balakhovich (Col. Bulak-Balakhovich was appointed to the post of the Inspector of the Cavalry of the Corps at the beginning of April); 329 men (150 bayonets, 101 sabres), 8 MGs.
Georgievskiy Battalion – Lt.Col. L. Mikosha; 140 men (100 bayonets), 4 MGs. It seems that the battalion was in the middle of forming.
2nd Artillery Division – 180 men, 6 artillery pieces.
Conoy of the Corps Staff – Cpt. Stavskiy; 110 men (90 bayonets), 4 MGs.
Alltogether: 4 229 men (2 255 bayonets, 190 sabres), 78 MGs, 15 artillery pieces (of them 3 were not combat-ready), 8 mortars.
With corps’ staff, rear and reserve units (the Reserve Brigade was commanded by Gen-Maj. Wilhelm Hennings) there was probably up to 6 000 men in the corps. In April the Estonian command gave a couple of small ships to the disposal of the Whites – the Narva River Flotilla under the command of Cpt. 2nd Rank Schilling.
For the offensive the Baltic Regiment was operatively subordinated to the corps. This unit was composed of Germans living in Estonia and consisted of 900 men (450 bayonets and sabres), 17 MGs, 2 light cannons. The commander was Col. Constantin von Weiss.
In May the corps was still commanded by Col. A. Dzerozhinskiy, the Chief of Staff was Col. O. von Krusenstiern. The military operations were to be leaded by Gen.-Maj. A. Rodzyanko.
For the offensive the corps’ units were divided between combat sectors:
Right Combat Sector – Col. S. Bulak-Balakhovich
Bulak-Balakhovich’s Horse Regiment
Baltic Regiment
Central Combat Sector – Col. D. Vetrenko
53rd Vholyn Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion of the 3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment
Left Combat Sector – Col. Aleksei-Friedrich-Leonid von der Pahlen
2nd Ostrov Rifle Regiment
The Horse Squadron of the Horse-Jaegers Regiment
Narva Detachment – Col. F. Georg
1st Revel Composite Rifle Regiment
Officer’s Sotnya
In the reserve remained:
Conoy of the Corps Staff
Georgievskiy Battalion
The Rifle Squadron of the Horse-Jaegers Regiment
The 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Talabsk Rifle Regiment was at the disposal of the commander of the Estonian 1st Division.
I knew polish chapter of Bulak Balchowicz forces quiet well, I gat also description of their uniforms and ranks but I can’t nowhere find any pic’s or photos even portrait of Baulak Balachowicz.
There are sites about Balachowicz but only in polish http://kamunikat.net.iig.pl/www/knizki/ ... cje_06.htm
http://kamunikat.net.iig.pl/www/knizki/ ... cje_10.htm
There are sites about Balachowicz but only in polish http://kamunikat.net.iig.pl/www/knizki/ ... cje_06.htm
http://kamunikat.net.iig.pl/www/knizki/ ... cje_10.htm