Nikolay Shchors - World War I

World War I

In 1910 he enrolled into a military medical college (uchilishche) in Kiev, which was established in 1833 and was considered one of the best. The school was usually attended by the children of retired soldiers. Among some of the graduates were Ivan Ohienko, Ostap Vyshnya, Mykhailo Donets, and others. The state scholarship allowed a free enrollment which had to be repaid by voluteer service in the army. Nikolai graduated from the school in 1914 and upon receiving the rank of a junior physician assistant was transferred to the Vilna Military District. In September 1914 when the Russian Empire was drawn into the World War I Nikolai went to the frontlines as part of the 3rd Light Artillery Division near Vilno where he served as a medical assistant. During one of the battles he was wounded and evacuated from the area to recover.

Upon recovery in 1916 the 21-year old Shchors enrolled into the accelerated four months program at Vilensky military college (uchilishche) that had been evacuated to Poltava in 1915. The school was preparing unter-officers and praporshchiks who specialized in tactics, navigation, and trench warfare. Upon the graduation in May 1916 Shchors at first was sent as a praporshchik to a reserve regiment in the city of Simbirsk and only in September of that same year he was transferred to the 335th Arapa Regiment of the 84th Infantry Division (South-Western Front). For his courage and tactical knowledge Shchors soon was promoted to a rank of junior lieutenant (podporuchik). However, the trench warfare left a mark on his health when he was diagnosed with a tuberculosis and once again was sent to the rear.