The Political Situation in the Urals after the Departure of Kolchak’s Army in 1919

About the authors:

Vladimir V. Moskovkin, Dr. Sci. (Hist.), Professor, National History Department, Institute of History and Political Science, Tyumen State University; mock1916@yandex.ru

Irina V. Skipina, Dr. Sci. (Hist.), Professor, Department of Documentation and Records Management, University of Tyumen; i.v.skipina@utmn.ru; ORCID: 0000-0001-7061-1403

Abstract:

The purpose of this article is to describe on the basis of the known and the newly introduced scientific evidence the political situation in Tyumen and in Tobolsk Province in general after Kolchak’s departure in August 1919.

The documents show that the majority of the population on both sides of the conflict both in the city and in the country, tired of the war hardships, accepted with a great enthusiasm the stabilization took place after the cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of the White. Enlistment events of the autumn 1919 demonstrated the exhaustion of not only economic resources, but manpower as well. In autumn 1919, in the Ural Military District the authorities planned to raise about 400 thousand people, but the job was not done. 232.4 thousand soldiers joined the Red Army, of which more than 3 thousand soon deserted. A similar situation was in the enemy’s ranks. Kolchak had no chance to gain a foothold in the region, and the White could not hope for continued success. In most cases, the province’s residents showed a neutral attitude to the political realities, reluctant to participate in fighting on anyone’s side and hoping for quick stabilization of the situation and peace. The homefront appeared unable to support the army both in economic, social and political terms. Mobilization attempts encountered not only the reluctance of men to serve in the army, but also the fact that by the autumn of 1919 young people of the age either had already been mobilized, or, for different reasons, were not subject for joining the army.

As a result, despite the heterogeneity of the political position, the desire of the population for peace outweighed, and the citizens had to accept the Red, who in the decisive battle showed that they were stronger than the White regime.

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