Oriental Studies (May 2018)
The Russian Revolution of 1917 and Russian Civil War (1918-1921) in the Destinies of the Dagestani Military Intelligentsia
Abstract
The article considers the dramatic events of the 1917 Revolution and the subsequent Russian Civil War, the two events that became a civilization breakdown for both Central Russia and its national peripheries. The paper shows how the military intelligentsia of Dagestan - and namely officers and soldiers of the ‘Savage Division’ - manifested themselves in the diverse kaleidoscope of successive socio-political forces and various parties of the then Dagestan. They accused the Bolsheviks and started struggling against the latter in every possible way in the atmosphere of political instability and universal anarchy that pervaded the society after the 1917 Revolution. Being essentially passionate, the military intelligentsia took an active part in all vicissitudes - whether military or political ones - of the Russian Civil War. The highland intelligentsia dreamt of an independent Caucasus, establishing a confederation of highland peoples of the Caucasus. The fair investigation of activities of those who took sides with the opponents of the winning (Soviet) regime shall facilitate reconstruction of the actual history of civil confrontation in Dagestan. The Dagestani Cavalry Regiment experienced heavy casualties, with many officers of the regiment having been killed in action or injured. After the retreat, the surviving Dagestani officers retired towards their home highland villages. The Russian Civil War had its dramatic impact on military intellectuals of Dagestan forcing them to join the bloody and fratricidal strife. The military - people of duty and discipline - had their own ideas about the future of the Motherland which they definitely loved. And it is well possible that they failed to join efforts and implement their plans because of disagreements between the movement leaders, excessive ambitions of the latter, rivalries and constant controversies.
