August Ivanovich Kork (, also Аугуст Яанович Корк; 11 June 1937) was an Estonian
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian language, Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist R ...
commander (
Komandarm 2nd rank
2nd rank (russian: Командарм 2-го ранга) is the abbreviation to Commanding officer of the Army 2nd class (russian: Командующий армией 2-го ранга, Komanduyushchiy armiyey 2-go ranga; ), and was a militar ...
) who was tried and executed during the
Great Purge
The Great Purge or the Great Terror (russian: Большой террор), also known as the Year of '37 (russian: 37-й год, translit=Tridtsat sedmoi god, label=none) and the Yezhovshchina ('period of Yezhov'), was Soviet General Secreta ...
in 1937.
Kork became an officer of the
Imperial Russian Army and graduated from the
General Staff Academy. He served as a staff officer during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
and in February 1917 was at the
Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to:
Military frontiers
* Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany
*Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany
*Western Front (Russian Empire), a maj ...
headquarters. Kork became a
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
and joined the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian language, Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist R ...
. He fought in the
Russian Civil War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Russian Civil War
, partof = the Russian Revolution and the aftermath of World War I
, image =
, caption = Clockwise from top left:
{{flatlist,
*Soldiers ...
, initially as chief of staff of the Bolshevik-sponsored
Estonian Red Army and then as assistant commander of the
7th Army. In July 1919 Kork became commander of the
15th Army, defeating
Nikolai Yudenich
Nikolai Nikolayevich Yudenich ( – 5 October 1933) was a commander of the Russian Imperial Army during World War I. He was a leader of the anti-communist White movement in Northwestern Russia during the Civil War.
Biography
Early life
Yude ...
's Northwestern Army and defending
Petrograd. He led the army in the
Polish–Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War (Polish–Bolshevik War, Polish–Soviet War, Polish–Russian War 1919–1921)
* russian: Советско-польская война (''Sovetsko-polskaya voyna'', Soviet-Polish War), Польский фронт (' ...
and in October 1920 became commander of the
6th Army, which defeated the last
White Army
The White Army (russian: Белая армия, Belaya armiya) or White Guard (russian: Бѣлая гвардія/Белая гвардия, Belaya gvardiya, label=none), also referred to as the Whites or White Guardsmen (russian: Бѣлогв� ...
in
Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a p ...
, led by
Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel
Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel (russian: Пётр Никола́евич барон Вра́нгель, translit=Pëtr Nikoláevič Vrángel', p=ˈvranɡʲɪlʲ, german: Freiherr Peter Nikolaus von Wrangel; April 25, 1928), also known by his ni ...
.
After the end of the campaign, Kork took command of the
Kharkov Military District and later became the assistant commander of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Crimea. In October 1922 he took command of the
Turkestan Front The Turkestan Front () was a front of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War, which was formed on the territory of Turkestan Military District by Order of the Republic of Turkestan on February 23, 1919. It was formed a second time by the directiv ...
, fighting against
Basmachi rebels. During the late 1920s, Kork commanded the
Caucasus Army, several military districts, and was the Soviet military attaché in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
between 1928 and 1929. Returning from Germany, Kork became commander of the
Moscow Military District. In 1935 he became head of the
Frunze Military Academy with the rank of Komandarm 2nd rank. At this time he was the highest-ranking Estonian Red Army officer. During the
Great Purge
The Great Purge or the Great Terror (russian: Большой террор), also known as the Year of '37 (russian: 37-й год, translit=Tridtsat sedmoi god, label=none) and the Yezhovshchina ('period of Yezhov'), was Soviet General Secreta ...
, Kork was arrested and shot as part of the
Case of Trotskyist Anti-Soviet Military Organization. He was acquitted twenty years later.
Early life and career
Kork was born on 2 August 1887 in the village of
Aardla in the
Governorate of Livonia to a peasant family. After graduating from four years of college in
Tartu in 1905, Kork entered the Vilna Cadet School on 31 August. In 1907, he transferred to the
Chuguyev
Chuhuiv ( uk, Чугуїв) or Chuguev (russian: Чугуев) is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. The city is the administrative center of Chuhuiv Raion (district). It hosts the administration of Chuhuiv urban hromada, one of the hromadas of U ...
Military School after the educational system was reorganized. Kork graduated on 15 June 1908 as a
Podporuchik and served in the 98th Yuryevsky Infantry Regiment in
Dvinsk. On 14 June 1911, he was promoted to
Poruchik. In 1911, he entered the
General Staff Academy, from which he graduated in 1914 in the first class. For his academic achievements, Kork received the
Order of Saint Stanislaus 3rd class on 8 May. He was seconded to the
Vilno Military District headquarters.
Kork fought in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
on the
Northwestern Front and the
Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to:
Military frontiers
* Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany
*Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany
*Western Front (Russian Empire), a maj ...
. In October 1914, he was awarded the
Order of Saint Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Hol ...
3rd class with Swords. On 1 April 1915, he was awarded the Order of Saint Stanislaus 2nd class with Swords. Kork became an adjutant on the staff of the
3rd Siberian Army Corps
The 3rd Siberian Army Corps was an Army corps in the Imperial Russian Army. Composition
1905:
* 4th Siberian Rifle Division
*7th Siberian Rifle Division
1914:
*7th Siberian Rifle Division
* 8th Siberian Rifle Division Part of
*1st Manchurian Army ...
and was promoted to
Staff captain on 14 June. On 16 November, Kork received the Order of Saint Anna 4th class. At the same time, he became an adjutant at the headquarters of the
8th Siberian Rifle Division. On 25 or 30 December he was transferred to the
10th Army headquarters. He also served with the
20th Army Corps and the Office of the Quartermaster General on the Staff of the Western Front. On 15 August 1916, he was promoted to
Captain. In 1917, he graduated from the Observer-Pilot Military School. On 25 February, Kork became an officer for Aircraft Orders on the Staff of the Western Front. He was promoted to
lieutenant colonel. On 31 March, Kork was awarded the Order of Saint Anna 2nd class with Swords. Between August 1917 and February 1918 he was chairman of the Soldiers' Committee of the Western Front.
Russian Civil War
In June 1918, Kork joined the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian language, Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist R ...
. He worked at the ''
Vseroglavshtab'' (All-Russian Main Staff) and from October headed the Operations section and the
9th Army's Operational-Surveillance Department. In December, Kork became an advisor to the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs of the Bolshevik-sponsored
Estonian Workers' Commune
The Commune of the Working People of Estonia ( et, Eesti Töörahva Kommuun, initially '; russian: Эстляндская трудовая коммуна , or ETK) was an unrecognised government claiming the Bolshevik-occupied parts of Republic ...
. Between February and May 1919, he was chief of staff of the Estonian Red Army. In June, he became the assistant commander of the
7th Army. Between 31 July and 15 October 1919 and 22 October, 1919 and 16 October 1920 Kork led the
15th Army. The army fought against the White
Northwest Army
The Guominjun (), a.k.a. Nationalist Army, KMC, also called the Northwest Army (西北軍) or People's Army, refers to the military faction founded by Feng Yuxiang, Hu Jingyi and Sun Yue during China's Warlord Era.
History
The Guominjun was ...
led by
Nikolai Yudenich
Nikolai Nikolayevich Yudenich ( – 5 October 1933) was a commander of the Russian Imperial Army during World War I. He was a leader of the anti-communist White movement in Northwestern Russia during the Civil War.
Biography
Early life
Yude ...
.
Mikhail Tukhachevsky
Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Тухачевский, Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevskiy, p=tʊxɐˈtɕefskʲɪj; – 12 June 1937) nicknamed the Red Napoleon by foreign newspapers, was a Sovie ...
repeatedly noted Kork's ability to manage troops in combat and
Sergey Kamenev considered him the best of the Western Front army commanders. On 26 October 1919 Kork began an attack on
Luga, capturing it on 31 October. The army advanced north towards
Volosovo, forcing the Northwest Army to retreat. On 6 November the army linked up with the
5th Latvian Regiment and captured Volosovo. For operations around
Gdov in October 1919 he was awarded the
Order of the Red Banner
The Order of the Red Banner (russian: Орден Красного Знамени, Orden Krasnogo Znameni) was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of th ...
.
Kork led the 15th Army in the
Polish–Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War (Polish–Bolshevik War, Polish–Soviet War, Polish–Russian War 1919–1921)
* russian: Советско-польская война (''Sovetsko-polskaya voyna'', Soviet-Polish War), Польский фронт (' ...
. On 17 May 1920, the army attacked
Minsk. By 23 May, the army had crossed the
Berezina River
The Berezina or Biarezina ( be, Бярэ́зіна; ) is a river in Belarus and a right tributary of the Dnieper. The river starts in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. The length of the Berezina is 613 km. The width of the river is 15-20 m, the ...
, advancing . Polish resistance stiffened the next day, stopping the army's advance. After Polish counterattacks had pushed back the 15th Army and other Red Army units, Mikhail Tukhachevsky launched a second Soviet offensive. By 22 July the army had crossed the
Neman
The Neman, Nioman, Nemunas or MemelTo bankside nations of the present: Lithuanian: be, Нёман, , ; russian: Неман, ''Neman''; past: ger, Memel (where touching Prussia only, otherwise Nieman); lv, Nemuna; et, Neemen; pl, Niemen; ; ...
. After the Polish counteroffensive, two of the army's divisions were interned in
East Prussia. For actions in the Polish-Soviet War in July 1920 Kork was awarded a second Order of the Red Banner.
He became commander of the
6th Army on 26 October 1920, fighting against the last White Army led by
Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel
Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel (russian: Пётр Никола́евич барон Вра́нгель, translit=Pëtr Nikoláevič Vrángel', p=ˈvranɡʲɪlʲ, german: Freiherr Peter Nikolaus von Wrangel; April 25, 1928), also known by his ni ...
in
Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a p ...
. The 6th Army's attack began two days later. On 29 October it had captured
Perekop in an attempt to encircle White forces north of the isthmus, but the Soviet cavalry units that were to complete the encirclement failed and many of Wrangel's troops escaped. On 8 November the 6th Army captured the
Turkish Wall and began its advance south. Wrangel issued evacuation orders and by 16 November most of the White troops had evacuated. Kork was awarded an
Honorary Revolutionary Weapon on 30 December 1920 for the capture of Perekop and
Yushunskaya positions and the occupation of Crimea.
Interwar
On 16 May 1921 Kork became commander of the
Kharkov Military District. Between 30 June and 4 October, 1922 Kork was the assistant commander of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Crimea. On 4 October 1922 he took command of the
Turkestan Front The Turkestan Front () was a front of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War, which was formed on the territory of Turkestan Military District by Order of the Republic of Turkestan on February 23, 1919. It was formed a second time by the directiv ...
, fighting against the
Basmachi. From July to December 1923 Kork was the First Assistant Chief of the
Air Fleet of the Soviet Union. He became assistant commander and then commander of the
Western Military District. Between February and November 1925, Kork led the
Red Banner Caucasus Army The Red Banner Caucasus Army (russian: Краснознамённая Кавказская армия) was a Soviet army existing from 1921 to 1935. The army was named the Independent Caucasus Army on its creation, and carried this name until August ...
. In November 1925, he became commander of the Western Military District again. In 1927, he joined the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Between May 1927 and May 1928, he led the
Leningrad Military District. In June 1928, Kork was sent to
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitu ...
as the Soviet military attaché there. After his return to the Soviet Union in May 1929, Kork became head of the Red Army's supply. In November of that year, he was appointed commander of the
Moscow Military District. Kork became a member of the
Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union
The All-Union Central Executive Committee (russian: Всесоюзный Центральный исполнительный комитет, Vsesoyuznyy Tsentral'nyy ispolnitel'nyy komitet) was the most authoritative governing body of the USSR d ...
. He commanded the
Frunze Military Academy and was a
Komandarm 2nd rank
2nd rank (russian: Командарм 2-го ранга) is the abbreviation to Commanding officer of the Army 2nd class (russian: Командующий армией 2-го ранга, Komanduyushchiy armiyey 2-go ranga; ), and was a militar ...
from November 1935. Kork lived in an apartment in the
House on the Embankment.
Kork was arrested on 12 May (16 May according to
Robert Conquest) 1937. Kork initially denied the charges but signed a confession on 18 May. The confession stated that
Avel Enukidze had involved him in a "rightist conspiracy" connected to
Vitovt Putna and
Vitaly Primakov's "Trotskyite group". Four days later,
Robert Eideman was arrested for signing Kork's party recommendation. After the arrest of
Ieronim Uborevich on 29 May, Kork had a confrontation session with him. At the secret trial on 11 June, known as the
Case of Trotskyist Anti-Soviet Military Organization, Kork did not answer when asked if he had conducted spying. He was convicted of "involvement in a military conspiracy in the Red Army and in preparing to overthrow Soviet power through an armed uprising and the defeat of the Soviet Union in a future war." He was shot in Moscow the next day and buried in the
Donskoye Cemetery. The Frunze Military Academy was purged. On 31 January 1957 Kork was "
rehabilitated" (acquitted)
for "lack of evidence."
Personal life
Kork married Yekaterina Mikhailovna (born 1894). In June 1937, after Kork's arrest, Yekaterina was exiled to
Astrakhan, where she was arrested on 5 September. She and other wives of executed military leaders were moved back to Moscow and subjected to torture and interrogation. On 13 July 1941 she was sentenced to death and was shot at the
Kommunarka shooting ground on 28 July.
Notes
References
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*
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*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kork, August
1887 births
1937 deaths
People from Kastre Parish
People from Kreis Dorpat
Communist Party of the Soviet Union members
Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union members
Estonian communists
Soviet komandarms of the second rank
Imperial Russian Army officers
Soviet military attachés
Soviet expatriates in Germany
Russian military personnel of World War I
Russian Provisional Government military personnel
Soviet military personnel of the Russian Civil War
People of the Polish–Soviet War
Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 3rd class
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 2nd class
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 3rd class
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 4th class
Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 2nd class
Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner
Case of the Trotskyist Anti-Soviet Military Organization
Great Purge victims from Estonia
Members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union executed by the Soviet Union
Soviet rehabilitations
Burials at Donskoye Cemetery
Commandants of the Frunze Military Academy