Pavel Dybenko - During The Civil War

During The Civil War

In the winter 1918, Dybenko troops conquered some towns near the Russian-Ukraine border in the Kharkov district. Dybenko tried then to cooperate with non-Bolshevik leftist political forces, especially with the Left SR, but also with Maximalists and Anarchists, all having some military forces, who tried to achieve independence in Ukraine. However, this attempt brought no results. The non-Bolshevik troops were disarmed.

In the beginning of 1919, Dybenko unexpectedly received a general-rank appointment as the commander of the Red Army forces which invaded Ukraine (particularly, the 1st Trans-Dniepr division. This division had 10000 soldiers, and included the anarchist brigades of Makhno and Grigoriev). Trotsky selected him for this role because of his Ukrainian name and origin. It could help the Bolsheviks to pretend it was just another military force acting in the Ukrainian chaos, rather than an "official invasion".

During the spring of 1919, Dybenko's forces destroyed all non-Bolshevik political forces in Ukraine. In Dnipropetrovsk, he arrested and executed all S.R. activists. In Zaporozhie he executed the members of the local Soviet (elected local authority).

The Dybenko troops supplied their own needs robbing both the local population, and the trains carrying coal and provision to Russia.

In April 1919 Dybenko disregarded the orders of his superiors, and conquered Krym instead of moving his forces into the eastern Ukraine (Donbass). The result of this insubordination was, that the White army conquered Donbass, and later (August to December 1919) conquered the entire Ukraine. Dybenko created what he called "The Krymean Soviet Army", with 9000 men, independent from the Ukrainian Front. He created the Krymean Soviet Socialist Republic, and invited Lenin's brother Dmitry Ulianov, to be the prime minister there. Kollontai also joined him. For himself he reserved the appointment of the Army-and-Navy minister.

The regime which Dybenko established in Krymea was called "Dybenkism" by the leading Bolsheviks. By "Dybenkism" they meant some combination of anarchy, tyranny, and banditry. Trotsky said then that the whole Krymean army was infected by Dybenkism and stopped supplies to it. During his short reign, Dybenko terrorised national minorities in Krymea.

The Krymean Soviet Socialist Republic was rather short-lived. Soon Krym was reoccupied by Denikin. Dybenko fled to Ukraine, losing his army. Some of his soldiers deserted to Makhno's forces, some became independent bands fighting against the Red army and the White army simultaneously.

In September 1919 Dybenko appeared in Moscow, and entered the Red Army Academy. After one month he was appointed the commander of the Division No. 37, and sent to fight against the advancing white army at Tsaritsyn and Tula. He was put on Court Martial for unjustified executions of soldiers of his, but was found not guilty.

In March 1920 Dybenko was appointed commander of the Caucasian cavalry division, and in May 1920 - the Horseback division #2 of the Southern front. Due to Dybenko's lack of experience in cavalry warfare, his division #2 was crushed by the White-Guard cavalry led by General Barbovich (Барбович). After this event, the Bolshevik command could not entrust any cavalry to him, and he was recalled to Moscow to complete his studies.