The White Russian Army in exile, 1920-1941
In November 1920, 100,000 troops of the White Russian Army of General Wrangel were evacuated from the Crimea. These men constituted the most cohesive group in the inter-war Russian emigration, and represented the grass roots of eÌmigreÌ society. In exile, after the troops dispersed, they maintained the army's organisation through their veterans' association, the Russkii Obshche-Voinskii Soiuz (ROVS), whose history is the main focus of this thesis. ROVS was the largest of all Russian eÌmigreÌ organisations. In some countries one third of all Russian exiles were ROVS rriembers. They continued to regard themselves as soldiers, and sought to renew the struggle against the Soviets despite immense pressures: foreign countries were unsympathetic to the needs of Russian refugees; most eÌmigreÌs lived in poverty; and eÌmigreÌ society was under continual attack from the Soviet secret services. This study shows how these pressures induced in Russian eÌmigreÌs' feelings of isolation and paranoia which helped to fragment the Russian emigration in the 1930s and which produced numerous public scandals and splits. Yet ROVS survived because it gave substantial support to its members. Its leaders found work for thousands
Robinson, Paul
History
The White Russian Army in exile, 1920-1941. In November 1920, 100,000 troops of the White Russian Army of General Wrangel were evacuated from the Crimea. These men constituted the most cohesive group in the inter-war Russian emigration, and represented the grass roots of eÌmigreÌ society. In exile, after the troops dispersed, they maintained the army's organisation through their veterans' association, the Russkii Obshche-Voinskii Soiuz (ROVS), whose history is the main focus of this thesis. ROVS was the largest of all Russian eÌmigreÌ organisations. In some countries one third of all Russian exiles were ROVS rriembers. They continued to regard themselves as soldiers, and sought to renew the struggle against the Soviets despite immense pressures: foreign countries were unsympathetic to the needs of Russian refugees; most eÌmigreÌs lived in poverty; and eÌmigreÌ society was under continual attack from the Soviet secret services. This study shows how these pressures induced in Russian eÌmigreÌs' feelings of isolation and paranoia which helped to fragment the Russian emigration in the 1930s and which produced numerous public scandals and splits. Yet ROVS survived because it gave substantial support to its members. Its leaders found work for thousands
white russian army exile troop white russian army general men constitute cohesive group inter_war russian emigration represent grass_root society exile troop disperse maintain army organisation veteran association whose history main_focus thesis large russian organisation country third russian exile continued regard soldier seek renew struggle soviets despite immense pressure foreign_country unsympathetic need russian refugee live poverty society continual attack soviet secret service study_show pressure induced russian feeling isolation help fragment russian emigration produce numerous public scandal split yet survive give substantial support member leader find work thousand