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Petro Wrangel

Petro Wrangel (1878–1928) was a russian military commander, lieutenant general, one of the leaders of the White movement, and "ruler of South russia" in 1920. In December 1919 he headed the Volunteer Army after the resignation of General Volodymyr Mai-Maievskyi. He held negotiations with the Directorate of the UNR regarding joint action against the Bolsheviks.

Overview

In December 1919, Anton Denikin removed General Volodymyr Mai-Maievskyi from command of the Volunteer Army due to its moral decline and military failures, and appointed Petro Wrangel to this position. From then until the White withdrawal to Crimea, Wrangel commanded the Volunteer Army, and in 1920 he headed the White Guard forces in Crimea, becoming the "ruler of South russia."

During this period he attempted to enlist Ukrainian forces in the struggle against the Bolsheviks, for which he agreed to negotiations with the Directorate of the UNR. In the autumn of 1920, Wrangel issued a decree equalizing the Ukrainian language with russian in educational institutions, permitted the creation of Ukrainian cultural societies, and signed an agreement with Cossack state formations.

Despite these forced Ukrainization statements, the Ukrainian side treated Wrangel's promises with skepticism. In November 1920, Wrangel was defeated by the Bolsheviks in Crimea and evacuated the remnants of his army. He died in emigration in Brussels in 1928.

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Command of the Volunteer Army (from December 1919): replaced General Volodymyr Mai-Maievskyi in this post.
  • Title "ruler of South russia": self-proclaimed after Denikin's defeat in 1920; based in Crimea.
  • Official negotiations with the UNR (1920): In May 1920 he received the mission of General Mykhailo Omelanovych-Pavlenko, and in the autumn in Sevastopol gave an audience to the Ukrainian delegation (Mykhailo Lytvynenko, Levko Chykalenko, Colonel Pavlo Krat), declaring his intention to seek an alliance without a predetermined future state structure.
  • Ukrainization measures and composition of the army: In the autumn of 1920, by decree he equalized the Ukrainian language with russian in schools and permitted the societies "Krymska Osvita" (Crimean Education) and "Ukrainska Khata" (Ukrainian Hut). According to historian Andrii Ivanets, in late summer–early autumn 1920, 70–80% of Wrangel's army was of Ukrainian origin, and a Ukrainian underground was active.
  • Agreement with Cossack formations (4 August 1920): Signed in Sevastopol an agreement with the governments of the Don, Kuban, Terek, and Astrakhan (signed for the Kuban by Vasyl Ivanis).
  • Internal political conflicts: Removed and exiled General Yakiv Slashchov, who had been the initiator of the link with the UNR.
  • Modern commemoration in Crimea: On 18 September 2016, in Kerch, the russian federation occupation authorities and UOC-MP clergy unveiled the first monument to Wrangel in russia near the St. Andrew's Church, which sparked sharp discussions in Crimean-Ukrainian and russian circles.