OFFICERS OF SHOCK PARTS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY DURING THE PREPARATION AND CONDUCT OF SUMMER ATTACK 1917

Abstract

The article is devoted to the officers, non-commissioned officers of shock units, or «troops of death» - a special military formations, that was formed in the end of the Russian Empire army during the preparations and conducting of the «the July Offensive» (18 june (1 july) - 21 july (3 august) 1917. Mainly, the appearing of the shock troops is the merit of an active part of the Russian officers. In many respects, thanks to heroism of the shock units’ officers and their subordinates some success in the summer offensive was achieved. The article considers the creating, forming and motivation of entering into the death squads and, as well as, the examples of their military experience. The special attention is paid to the officers who played an important role in the creating and forming of the shock units. The author comes to the conclusion, that the very volunteer principle brought in the most commited combatants with high level of professionalism. It included both officers and soldiers. Thanks to superior fighting skills the volunteers were able to approve themselves in the battle. Although, the outflow of the best soldiers and officers weakened the other corps, they lost the most commited and professional combatants. Taking part of the death squads in the «summer offensive» in addition to the examples of bravery, self-sacrifice led to physical destroying of the best soldiers and officers of the Russian army without completing the main goals of the operation.

Keywords

• «наступление керенского»
• «части смерти»
• russia
• first world war
• february revolution
• russian army 1917
• summer offensive of 1917
• shock units
• death squads
• the north front
• the east front