Grigory Semyonov - The Russian Civil War in Transbaikal

The Russian Civil War in Transbaikal

After the October Revolution, Semyonov stirred up an anti-Soviet rebellion, but sustained a defeat and fled to Manchuria. In August 1918, he managed to consolidate his positions in the Transbaikal region with the help of the Czechoslovak Legions, and imposed his ruthless regime. In his rule over this region, he has been described as a "plain bandit drew his income from holding up trains and forcing payments, no matter what the nature of the load nor for whose benefit it was being shipped." The so-called Siberian Provisional Government appointed Semyonov commander of a detached unit with the headquarters in Chita. Initially, Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak refused to recognize Semyonov's authority, but he had no choice but to accept Semyonov as de facto leader and confirm Semyonov as Commander-in-Chief of the Chita military district. In early 1919, Semyonov declared himself Ataman of the Transbaikal Cossack Host with support from the Imperial Japanese Army, elements of which had been deployed to Siberia. The region under his control extended from Verkhne-Udinsk near Lake Baikal to the Shilka River and town of Stretensk, to Manchuli, where the Chinese Eastern Railway met the Chita Railway, and northeast some distance along the Amur Railway.

Semyonov handed out copies of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to the Japanese troops he became associated with. In February 1919, it is said that he allowed a Jewish unit to form in his Cossack-dominated army. His most illustrious mistress and partner was a Jewish cabaret singer named Mashka Sharaban.

After the defeat of the White movement, Admiral Kolchak transferred power to Semyonov in the Far East. However Semyonov was unable to keep his forces in Siberia under control: they stole, burned, murdered, and raped civilians, and developed a reputation for being little better than thugs. In July 1920 the Japanese Expeditionary Corps started their withdrawal in accordance with the Gongota Agreement signed with the Far Eastern Republic, leaving Semyonov without support. Transbaikal partisans, internationalists and the 5th Soviet Army under Genrich Eiche launched an operation to re-taking Chita. In October 1920, units of the Red Army and guerrillas forced Semyonov's tiny army out of the Baikal region. After having retreated to Primorye, Semyonov tried to continue fighting the Soviets, but was finally forced to abandon all Russian territory by September 1921.