Vladimir May-Mayevsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vladimir Zenonovich May-Mayevsky
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| Born | 27 September [O.S. 15 September] 1867 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire |
| Died | 30 November 1920 (aged 53) Sevastopol |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service/ |
Imperial Russian Army |
| Years of service | 1885–1920 |
| Rank | major general |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Japanese War First World War Russian Civil War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Cross of St. George Order of St. George |
Vladimir Zenonovich May-Mayevsky (born September 27, 1867 – died November 30, 1920) was a general in the Imperial Russian Army. He was also one of the main leaders of the White movement during the Russian Civil War. The White movement was a group that fought against the Bolsheviks (Communists) in Russia.
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Life Story of Vladimir May-Mayevsky
Vladimir May-Mayevsky was a very important military leader for the White movement. Even though he was described as looking more like a scholar than a soldier, he was known for being very skilled in battle. His soldiers even nicknamed him "Kutuzov" because of his appearance.
Early Life and Military Training
May-Mayevsky was born in 1867 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. His family was part of the minor gentry, which means they were from a noble but not very wealthy family.
He joined the military in 1885. He studied at the Nikolaev Engineering Institute and finished in 1888. After that, he became a lieutenant in the special Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment. He continued his education at the Nicholas General Staff Academy, graduating in 1896. He was then promoted to captain.
Military Career and Wars
May-Mayevsky fought in several major wars.
Russo-Japanese War and World War I
During the Russo-Japanese War, he was promoted to colonel. He then led the 1st Guards Corps. He continued to command this group during the First World War, where he was promoted again to major general. He received several awards for his bravery, including the Order of St. George and the Golden Sword of St. George in 1915. In 1917, he received the Cross of St. George.
Russian Civil War
When the Russian Revolution of 1917 happened, May-Mayevsky was still in charge of the 1st Guard Corps. He was known for being calm and making quick, smart decisions in battle.
In March 1918, he joined the White movement army as a regular soldier. This army was fighting against the Bolsheviks. He quickly became a division commander.
By December 1918, May-Mayevsky was a general fighting on the Don front. He was very successful because he used a smart strategy. He placed his troops near railroad lines. This allowed him to move his soldiers quickly to wherever they were needed most. He even used airplanes to scout ahead and gather information.
On May 23, 1919, he became the chief commander of the Volunteer Army. His forces were able to push the Red Army out of the city of Kharkiv. They then moved on to take control of Kiev, Orel, and Voronezh. However, his army spread out too much and started to lose battles. May-Mayevsky was blamed for the retreats from Tula and Orel. Because of these losses, General Anton Denikin replaced him with General Pyotr Wrangel on November 27, 1919.
In 1920, May-Mayevsky helped lead the final defense of Crimea. There are different stories about how he died. One story says he died of heart failure in a hospital in Sevastopol. Another says he died while traveling to a ship for evacuation.
Awards and Honors
Order of St. Stanislaus (2nd degree, 1906; 3rd degree, 1900)
Order of St. Anne (2nd degree, 1907; 3rd degree, 1904)
Order of St Vladimir (3rd degree, 1912; 4th degree, 1909)
Order of St. George, 4th class, 1915- Gold Sword for Bravery (1915)
Cross of St. George with a laurel branch, 1917
Honorary Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1921 (UK)
See also
- White movement
- Volunteer Army
- Russian Civil War
