Alexander Kolchak

Born

1874-11-16

Died

1920-02-07

Birthplace

Irkutsk, Russian Empire [now Russia]

Biography

Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak was a Russian statesman, political and military figure, oceanographer, polar explorer (1900-1903), naval commander (1915-1917). During the Russian Civil War, he became known as the leader of the White Movement. In the territories of the former Russian Empire controlled by the movement, he headed the military dictatorship regime in the positions of Supreme Ruler of Russia and Supreme Commander of the Russian Army until his death. Participant of the Russian-Japanese and the First World Wars. St. George's cavalier. The Admiral (1918). In January 1920, during the retreat of the white troops and the evacuation of the Entente forces from Siberia, he was extradited to Irkutsk by the command of the Czechoslovak Corps to local authorities in exchange for the free movement of Czechoslovak echelons and allied military missions to Vladivostok. On February 7, 1920, he was shot by decree of the Irkutsk Military Revolutionary Committee of February 6, 1920, headed by the Bolsheviks and acting on the personal instructions of Vladimir Lenin, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR.