Alexei Ivanovich Avtonomov (russian: Алексе́й Ива́нович Автоно́мов) (1890–1919) was a Russian
Red Army military commander during the
Russian Civil War
, date = October Revolution, 7 November 1917 – Yakut revolt, 16 June 1923{{Efn, The main phase ended on 25 October 1922. Revolt against the Bolsheviks continued Basmachi movement, in Central Asia and Tungus Republic, the Far East th ...
.
Avtonomov was a
Kuban Cossack
Kuban Cossacks (russian: кубанские казаки, ''kubanskiye kаzaki''; uk, кубанські козаки, ''kubanski kozaky''), or Kubanians (russian: кубанцы, ; uk, кубанці, ), are Cossacks who live in the Kuban re ...
. He fought in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
with the rank of
Cornet
The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...
(sub-lieutenant) but rose quickly during the Civil War.
In January 1918, Avtonomov was made Commander of the South-Eastern Revolutionary Army, then based near the city of
Tikhoretsk
Tikhoretsk (russian: Тихоре́цк) is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is the administrative center of the Tikhoretsky urban settlement and the Tikhoretsky District of the Krasnodar Territory. Population: 57,098 (2020),
Administrative ...
in the
Krasnodar Krai
Krasnodar Krai (russian: Краснода́рский край, r=Krasnodarsky kray, p=krəsnɐˈdarskʲɪj kraj) is a federal subject of Russia (a krai), located in the North Caucasus region in Southern Russia and administratively a part of t ...
.
From April 9 to April 13, 1918 Avtonomov led the
successful defense of the city of
Ekaterinodar
Krasnodar (; rus, Краснода́р, p=krəsnɐˈdar; ady, Краснодар), formerly Yekaterinodar (until 1920), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The city stands on the Kuban River in southern ...
in the
Kuban
Kuban (Russian language, Russian and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Кубань; ady, Пшызэ) is a historical and geographical region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Pontic–Caspian steppe, ...
area of southern Russia against
Kornilov's anti-Soviet
Volunteer Army
The Volunteer Army (russian: Добровольческая армия, translit=Dobrovolcheskaya armiya, abbreviated to russian: Добрармия, translit=Dobrarmiya) was a White Army active in South Russia during the Russian Civil War from ...
and in which Kornilov was killed.
For a short period in April and May 1918, Avtonomov was commander of the
Army of the Northern Caucasus and Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Kuban Soviet Republic. He waged a bitter struggle with the civil authorities of the
Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic
The Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic (May 30 – July 6, 1918) was a short-lived republic of the Russian SFSR. Its capital was Yekaterinodar, now known as Krasnodar
Krasnodar (; rus, Краснода́р, p=krəsnɐˈdar; ady, Красн ...
, in which he supported the military commanders, including
Ivan Sorokin
Ivan Lukich Sorokin (4 December 1884 - 3 November 1918) was a Russian military leader and participant in the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, and the Russian Civil War. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army of the North Caucasus and Comman ...
. The dispute was decided in Moscow by the Bolshevik leaders, and Avtonomov was removed from command.
His place as head of the Army of the North Caucasus was taken by Major General
Andrei Snesarev
Andrei Evgenyevich Snesarev (13 December 1865, Staraya Kalitva, – 4 December 1937, Moscow) was a Russian linguist, orientalist and military leader.
Andrei was the son of a Russian Orthodox priest. After attending gymnasium school at Novocherk ...
, who had defected to the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution, and who was replaced in turn by Sorokin.
After this, Avtonomov commanded a detachment in the fighting on the
Terek River
The Terek (; , Tiyrk; , Tərč; , ; , ; , ''Terk''; , ; , ) is a major river in the Northern Caucasus. It originates in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia (country), Georgia and flows through North Caucasus region of Russia into the Casp ...
, and at Svyatoy Krest (Holy Cross, now named
Budyonnovsk
Budyonnovsk (russian: Будённовск) is a town in Stavropol Krai, Russia. Population:
History
The town was founded in 1799 by Armenian settlers from Derbent. During World War II, Budyonnovsk was occupied by German troops from August ...
) in January 1919. He died of
typhus
Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposure.
...
on February 2, 1919 during the Red's retreat from the North Caucasus.
References
Sources
*
**Republished: Hyperion Press. 1973.
**Republished: Moscow. Airis-Press, 2006.
**Complete tex
here
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avtonomov, Alexei Ivanovich
1890 births
1919 deaths
Soviet military personnel of the Russian Civil War
Kuban
Deaths from typhus