THE STATE OF MILITARY DISCIPLINE ON THE WESTERN FRONT AND IN THE REAR PARTS OF BELARUS IN THE SPRING AND AUTUMN OF 1917

UDC 94(470)“1917”

Semenchyk Nikolai Yefimovich – DSc (History), Professor, the Department of History of Belarus and Political Science. Belarusian State Technological University (13a, Sverdlova str., 220006, Minsk, Republic of Вelarus). Е-mail: polity@bk.ru

 

 

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Key words: world war, Russian army, military discipline, Western Front, Belarus, February Revolution, Provisional Government, councils and soldiers' committees, democratization, soldier's rights, war and peace, Bolshevism.

For citation: Semenchyk N. Ye. The state of military discipline on the Western Front and in the rear parts of Belarus in the spring and autumn of 1917. Proceedings of BSTU, issue 6, History, Philosophy, 2024, no. 1 (281), pp. 28–33 (In Russian). DOI: 10.52065/2520-6885-2024-281-5.

Abstract

The article points out the insufficient coverage in domestic historiography of the state of discipline in the Russian armed forces, including military personnel of the Western Front and rear units stationed in Belarus, in the period from the overthrow of the autocracy to the October Revolution. The preparatory work of military and civil authorities for the spring offensive of the active army is reflected. The state of discipline of soldiers of the Western Front and rear units during the period of revolutionary transformations in Belarus is shown. The main reasons, goals, factors and results of the transformation of army life after the February Revolution are indicated. The personal role in this of the ministers of the Provisional Government A. Guchkov and A. Kerensky is noted. The events related to the democratization of army life and the role of military organizations – soldiers' Soviets and committees – are described. A special place in the list of measures to strengthen discipline on the Western Front and in the rear is given to the fight against deserters and those evading conscription for military service. Among the real reasons for the failure of the summer offensive of Russian troops on the Southwestern, Western and other fronts, the low discipline of ordinary military personnel was noted. The article also reflects the criminal activity of soldiers of the rear units in the towns of Belarus, landowners' estates, and at railway stations, which characterizes the decline of military discipline. The negative impact of the democratization of army life on the level of combat effectiveness of troops is noted, which is reflected in the violation of subordination between commanders and subordinates, and the evasion of soldiers from daily military service. The negative consequences of the internal policy of the Provisional Government (the introduction of the institution of military commissars, the continuation of hostilities, the introduction of repression in the troops) on the state of military discipline at the front and in the rear are shown. Particular attention is paid to that part of the military personnel (General L. Kornilov and others) who, despite the difficulties, remained faithful to the oath and honestly performed their duty. Attention is drawn to the destructive consequences of Bolshevik propaganda and agitation for the discipline and combat effectiveness of the army as a whole. The article concludes with generalizing conclusions on the research topic.

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References

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15.03.2024