Mikhail Drozdovsky
Mikhail Gordeevich Drozdovsky(Russian: Михаил Гордеевич Дроздовский )(October 7, 1881- January 1, 1919), Russian army officer and one of the leaders of counterrevolutionary White movement during Russian Civil War. Drozdovsky was born in Kiev and started military career early in his life. During the First World War he was a colonel in charge of the infantry division on the Romanian front. Soon after general Mikhail Alekseev started anti-Bolshevik uprising in the Don region Drozdovsky contacted him and promised to form a unit of volunteers from the officers of the Romanian front and join the counterrevolution. In January of 1918 "White Guard" volunteer units were created in Kishinev, Jassy and Bolgrad, Odessa region. Colonel Drozdovsky decided to lead the anti-Bolshevik forces east and join the Volunteer Army in its fight against the Red Army for the southern Russian city of Rostov. In February 26, 1918, despite the actions of Romanian army which tried to disarm them, Drozdovsky's units numbering around 1100 men started their movement to the Don. On its way Drozdovsky was joined by other officers and soldiers hostile to the new Soviet regime. In April 21, 1918 Drozdovsky captured Rostov and joined his forces with Don Cossacks. Together with them Drozdovsky’s Volunteer Army formations captured Novocherkassk and his numbers increased to more than 3000 men. In June of 1918 ahead of Second Kuban Campaign Drozdovsky units were merged into 3rd infantry division and general Anton Denikin promoted him to the rank of Major General. Drozdovsky units became the elite of the Volunteer Army and later known as the Armed Forces of South Russia. General Drozdovsky was killed in a battle with Bolshevik forces near Rostov on January 1, 1919 and was later buried by his men in Sevastopol, Crimea. Several regiments of the White Army continued to bear his name until their defeat at the hands of the Red Army in November of 1920.