The Kornilov Affair
James Joll describes the Kornilov affair as "a failed attempt at a
military Putsch by a right-wing general" (p.230) in his book Europe
Since 1870. This view reflects the official government version at the
time. This essay intends to see how accurate a picture this version
gave of the Kornilov affair. The Kornilov affair officially began on
September 9, when Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General L.
C. Kornilov, brought a corps to Petrograd and disobeyed an order of
dismissal by Alexander Kerensky, head of the Provisional Government[1].
On September 10 a declaration that Kornilov was a traitor and
attempting to overthrow the government led to a majority of the
population united to support the Provisional Government and the
Soviets. Thus Kornilov's venture failed and on September 14 he
surrendered and it was over. Before going into the events, a little
background is needed.
The two main players in this affair are Kornilov and Kerensky whose
relationship was taut over issues regarding how to maintain discipline
in the army and the manner in which Kornilov made demands to Kerensky.
Naturally the tension caused distrust between the two, Kerensky
fearing a conspiracy against him[2], and Kornilov believing that
Kerensky was weak and under the influence of the Soviet[3]. Kornilov
disliked the Soviet immensely as their reforms of disciplinary
regulations giving soldiers' 'civic rights' had spelt disaster to the
army[4]. Most of the information available on this affair has bias
some portraying Kornilov as the villain and others Kerensky. The fact
is the specifics of t...
... middle of paper ...
...ral Staff and the
Kornilov Movement' in Edith Frankel et al (eds.), Revolution in
Russia: Reassessments of 1917 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press),
p.80.
[8] Asher, Harvey (1953). 'The Kornilov Affair', Russian Review, 12,
No.4 (October), p.241.
[9] Asher, Harvey (1970). 'The Kornilov Affair: A Reinterpretation',
Russian Review, 29, No.3 (July), p.297.
[10] Ukraintsev, N. (1973). 'The Kornilov Affair: Observations by a
Member of the Extraordinary Commission of Enquiry', ed. James D.
White, trans. James D. White and Nijole White, Soviet Studies, XXV,
No.2 (October), p.291.
[11] Asher, Harvey (1970). 'The Kornilov Affair: A Reinterpretation',
Russian Review, 29, No.3 (July), pp.295-297.
[12] Asher, Harvey (1970). 'The Kornilov Affair: A Reinterpretation',
Russian Review, 29, No.3 (July), p.297.
Moss, W., 2014. A History of Russia Volume 2: Since 1855. 1st ed. London, England: Anthem Press London, pp.112-113.
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Riasanovsky, Nicholas V., and Mark D. Steinberg. A History of Russia. 7th ed. Oxford: Oxford, 2005. Print.