Maslakov’s Hord in 1921
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2025-4-624-645
Abstract
Introduction. The article is devoted to a complex phenomenon of the period of the Civil War in Russia — the rebellion raised by the former red commander, brigade commander G. S. Maslakov. The purpose of the article is to reconstruct the events related to the gang of G. S. Maslakov, which arose in February 1921 and was finally defeated by the autumn of the same year. Materials and methods. The research involves unpublished materials from the National Archives of the Republic of Kalmykia and information published in collections, as well as data from specialized literature. The work uses such methods of historical analysis as historical-comparative, historical-genetic, as well as descriptive method. Results. It shows the stages of G. S. Maslakov’s service in the Tsarist and Red armies, the reasons that prompted him to accept Soviet power and then to rebel “against the communists, but for the Soviets”. The main events that happened to the Maslak gang in 1921 are described. It is concluded that Maslak’s rebellion, launched in early 1921, was an expression of the counterrevolutionary views of a part of the population devastated by the Civil War and the requisitioning of surplus land. Therefore, the number of Maslak’s gang and the combined detachments initially increased. But after the adoption of the NEP policy in the country, Maslak’s gang, despite its rich combat experience and solid firepower, was doomed. Such large formations in the conditions of the steppe can exist only if there is a solid base of ammunition, food, fodder, and a hospital, which the gang, of course, did not have. To some extent, this base could have been replaced by the support of the local population, but after the Tenth Congress of the RCP (b), the members of Maslakov’s gang lost it. After that, G. S. Maslakov’s and Brova’s gang had a natural ending: he began to turn into a criminal gang living on robberies, even under the guise of “green slogans”.
About the Author
Vyacheslav E. Bakaev
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (8, Ilishkin St., 358000 Elista, Russian Federation)
Россия
Россия
Postgraduate Student
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For citations:
Bakaev V. Maslakov’s Hord in 1921. Mongolian Studies. 2025;17(4):624-645. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2025-4-624-645
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