I have posted this article Giullio wrote pretty much in its original state. My only contribution to this was spell checking and some very minor editing to the content..... Mark Robbins HobbyHQ web master
The Cossacks are a population originating from northern Eurasia that had reached the Caucasus and settled there. It is a fierce population that has incessantly fought throughout history (to name a few Turks, Tartars, Polish, the Czars…). Napoleon considered them a punishment from God, since they did not stop to stalk his retreat form Russian from a single day. The Cossack cavalry is known to be the best light cavalry ever, able to penetrate infiltrate the enemy defenses and hamper the enemy movement, ambushing and constantly redeploying. The Czars were able, after harsh repression, to subdue the Cossacks, and used them as the backbone of the Russian Army the Imperial Guard. The Cossacks elected their Chief ("Ataman"), Ataman was also the name given to the commander of the typical Cossacks formation. Until the coming of the Bolshevism the Atamans had a great political and social power. During the Communist revolution the Cossacks were the last to stop fighting against the Bolsheviks; when, at the beginning of the revolution, the Czarist Generals were asked if the Czar had to abdicate the only ones to vote against where the Cossacks. While the Russian Empire was crumbling the Cossacks were still desperately fighting. Later Stalin, unable to discipline the Cossacks, ordered against them methodical repression, deportation and suppression.
On November 10 1942 the Germans had gained control or the Ukraine, the Cossack Don, Terek and Kuban region and the Calmucks' steppes. That day Hitler gave limited autonomy to the Cossacks. In Berlin, previous July, General P. Krastnoff had formed the first nucleus of the Cossack organization. Krastnoff had already dealt with the Germans during the Russian revolution, when he was supplied with weapons for the Cossacks counter-revolutionary forces. In 1943 the organization called for memberships for military duties and started to form a civil organization, many Atamans and officers answered. As a matter of fact the old imperial structure had been preserved in Yugoslavia by King Alexander, who had hosted the (Czarist) Russian Military Academy.
At the same time a very important fact had taken place, in June 1942, after the German occupation of Kuban, the Germans were constantly asked to form a voluntary Cossack force. Lieutenant Colonel Helmutz von Pannwitz, by his own initiative, formed some regiments, that will later form the kampfgruppe Pannwitz, and that would be efficiently fight on the Don. Later Pannwitz would be promoted General and will form a division modeled under the German doctrine but "with particular Cossack features". At the end of August 1943 Pannwitz had organized a Division on three regiment Don, Lieutenant Colonel Kononow, ex Red Army Terek, Colonel Count Dohna (from cavalry) Kuban, Colonel von Wolff (from cavalry) With one horse-drawn artillery regiment, services and some motorized units. The Cossack wore their typical uniforms (I won't add this, since they always wore their uniforms, I think the only exception would be for the SS Cossack units). Pannwitz had hoped that his force would have been sent to the east front, even if only for the psychological factor, but this was not to be, October 10th it would be sent to Yugoslavia. On this division it would later be formed the 15th Cossack Cavalry Corp.
With the fall of Stalingrad a large number of Cossacks followed the German retreat west, reaching Novogrudki and Baranovichi, in Byelorussia (or white Russia). Here 11 Cossack regiments were formed, circa 1200 men each. Several new Cossack units were formed. Leaving for a second the Cossacks and looking at the general "collaborationist" situation it can be said that the number of men comprising the voluntary "east" forces at the beginning of 1943 totaled to 800.000. Just to name some units 162nd Turkmenish Division (Italian Front) Kalmichish Cavalry Corp (5000 men, 4600 horses in September 1943)
On the political aspect on November 10th 1943 was signed a document that contained wide concessions for the Cossacks at the end of the war (i.e. an independent state for their own), what the Cossacks had to do was to stay loyal to their German Ally, and they did that to the very end.
When the Red Army menaced to free the Byelorussia (and "free" here has a very awkward feeling) the Cossacks started moving, their column was about 20 Km long, it would be a long journey, they'll be sent to Carnia, a little known Italian mountainous region, on the border with Yugoslavia, here they were to fight the partisans that threatened the Villach-Udine-Padova railway.
In Carnia the population was not much affected by the war and for many reasons it did not regarded the Germans as an hostile force, thus the bonds with the partisan were very weak, in many cases the population would help the Cossacks fight the partisans, and often blamed on the partisans most of the Cossacks' reprisals following some successful partisan action.
By August 10th 1944 50 trains had reached the Carnia's Railway station. From there they started to spread through the region, occupying villages, organizing garrisons, contrasting the partisans. The high number of civilian refugees accompanying the Cossack troops was quickly organized and divided accordingly to their origins (Don, Terek, Kuban) schools were instituted, ballet groups, libraries, Carnia was abruptly transformed into a Russian region. (the Cossacks totaled about 40.000, half troops, half civilians)
The Cossacks dreamed of returning to their mother land when the Red Army would have been definitely defeated, but in case the German forces were unable to free their land, plans had been laid (between the Cossacks and the Germans) to create a Cossack state in Carnia, the Italian population was of course not aware of that, even if some news had filtrated.
As stated earlier the Cossacks were able to stop the partisans who, with the coming of the winter, had to climb the mountains and seek shelter form the Axis formation and the winter itself, the partisan formation had vastly reduce in number and strength, many were temporary disbanded, moreover there was a war within the war among the partisans, especially among the communist hard liners ("Garibaldi", "red scarves"), supporting Tito's view, ad between them and the republican partisans ("Osoppo", "green scarves"). Not seldom these conflicts would end with assassinations.
Meanwhile the NKVD (the Russian secret police force) had formed the SMERSH, an agency for counter- espionage and propaganda. Many agents from SMERSH managed to infiltrate the collaborationist formations, Cossacks included, Stalin was determined to keep track of every move of his enemies.
Another Russian secret organization was operating in Europe, it was "Operation Lucky", created by Beria long before WWII, it was based in Switzerland and had contacts with many German officers and with some members of the British MI6. "Operation Lucky" would play s major role in the tragic end of the Cossacks. Twice the Cossacks will try to get Political Asylum by the Swiss Government, the first time during Fall 1944, a secret plan was devised to move the Cossacks in Switzerland in case of a German capitulation, the second time during Spring 1945, both time "Operation Lucky" managed to obtain the refusal of Political Asylum.
The Cossacks themselves had a counter-espionage agency (named "Ataman", officially a "Special Cossack School for Voluntary Avio transported Troops and Sharp Shooters"), it was composed by 120 men and was very active in detecting infiltrators among the Cossacks.
Even the R.E. (Regio Esercito, i.e. the Italian Army) had its own Cossack formation, it was the "Gruppo Autonomy Cosacchi Savoia". September 25th 1942 in Millerovo, DON, the Command of the 8th Italian Army formed the first Cossack voluntary Sotnia (a Cossack term referring to a cavalry formation of 120- 160 men), later, April 1st 1943, the Sotnia would be enlarged into a Group.
The Cossack plan had been clearly stated by Krassnoff "I cannot agree with Wlassow, He and his generals are all against Stalin, but they are either Bucharinist other Trotskist. While not only I don't like Bucharin and Trotsky, but not even Kerensky. I am monarchic, Russian and Orthodox. The Germans have to help Wlassow and me liberating Russia. Wlassow with his army will drive toward Moscow. I, together with my Cossacks, will leave Italy moving toward Novocerkassk, to create the bases for a free monarchic Orthodox Russia, ruled by the legitimate Romanov King. (i.e. Vladimir Kyrilovic) I am sure that then Wlassow and the Moscovia will join us, and there will be one great Russia." Hitler liked the first part of Krassnoff's plan. He did not like the idea of a great Russia and was happy about the Krastnoff-Wlassow antagonisms. The importance of Krastnoff for the Cossacks, and the reason for which he was considered by Stalin a major enemy, dates back to 1918 when he was able to lead the Cossacks upraising in the Don region forming a 30.000 men army with a 20.000 younger men reserve.
Here it should be necessary to go back to 1918 and relate some facts about the Russian revolution,I will only say that France and the U.K. in their German-phobic hysteria that will lead to the Versailles treaty had tried in every way (often succeeding) to hamper any German attempt to aid the counter- revolutionary forces. Often by exacerbating the rivalries between the various counter-revolutionary leaders. Russia, that could by then still be saved, was to be lost.
I will now jump to the very end, cutting many details concerning the Cossack organization, the "Imperial" and "nostalgic" meetings, the many Cossack and Russian princes, princess, generals, the politic, the anti partisan operations…
In the beginning of April 1945, when the German desperate situation left no hope for the Cossacks and for the other "collaborationist" formations, Krassnoff and Wlassow met in Campoformido. They knew that the destiny of their troops would have been different from the one of the Wehrmacht, they had to fight to survive. Here they decided to concentrate their troops in Austria, where the Germans where concentrating their last resources it was Kaltenbrunner's "Alpenfestung" The Cossacks were thus to disobey to the surrender of the German forces in Italy. By mid April general Shkuro' (another legendary and merciless Cossack general, commander of the "Dikaja" (savage) cavalry division during the Russian revolution) had already transferred to Austria together with all his staff and the entire Cossack reserve.
April 29th the German forces in Italy surrendered
Promptly the order for the retreat (of both civilians and troops) through the Alps to Austria was issued, it ended stating to resist at all cost against any partisan action.
As a matter of fact in the previous days various Cossack officers had established contacts with the partisans to discuss their surrender, this strategy served to mask their true intention, a typical move of Russian-Cossack flavor.
The partisans, after a tragic winter that saw the de facto annihilation of several units, were still divided, lacking a unity of intent and any kind of coordinated plan. This not only on the Cossacks, but even on the Germans, for instance, while some C.L.N. (National Liberation Committees) granted freedom of movement to the retreating German formation, others behaved in the opposite way, attacking a beaten and retreating enemy.
The largest majority of the Cossacks had obeyed the order, only two garrisons had refused to comply, the concentration of men, horses, camels, carriages had begun.
May 2nd, Ovaro, a village on the road to Austria. Here the partisans, after a very long meeting, decided to turn their guerrilla into a frontal attack, with the intent of blocking the Cossack column. At 830 a Cossack barrack in Chialina was destroyed by a charge, the Cossack suffered 42 dead and 26 wounded. The panic spread though the village and the Cossack garrison capitulated. The partisans, grown confident after this initial success, moved to Ovaro; here they were to face a determined resistance by the local garrison. When news of the attack reached the column (that was just then entering the valley) Gener Golubow (yet another legendary Cossack from the 1918 fights in the steppa) was ordered to intervene, he quickly formed an ad hoc group and galloped to Ovaro. The partisans, that had not even thought about securing their flanks, were quickly force to retreat and were later dispersed. The Cossack forces quickly actuated a reprisal against the population of Ovaro, 26 civilians were executed.
Finally, in the morning of May 3rd, the first Cossacks reached Austria, crossing the Alps had not been easy. A terrible snow storm had raged all the night, on the Alps and in the valleys, where most of the column still was. They later encamped between Lienz and Oberdrauburg, on the left bank of the Drava river.
There were many other collaborationist formation that were running for Austria (and above all for their lives)the Croats, with 250.000 men, plus civilians, politicians, ecclesiastics; Franc krener's Slovenians (12.000); Chetnics, Montenegrians (how is this spelled??), General Lohr's German Army…
But the "Alpenfestung" was not to be, even Krassnoff, who dreamed of a Cossack legendary last stand, knew that it was no longer possible.
After Hitler's suicide the second request of Political Asylum in Switzerland was made, in vain.
April 28th elements of the 1st National Russian Army reached Oberstaufen, the German General Holmston-Smyslovsky, fearing for the fate of his troops, had decided not to surrender to the Allies, but to take shelter in a small neutral state; in Feldkirch Vladimir Kyrilovic joined the column, May 3rd 500 men entered Lichtenstein, among them was Kaverda, the man that had killed in 1929 in Varsavia the Russian ambassador responsible for the massacre of the Imperial Family in Ekaterinenburg. Lichtenstein would later turn down every Soviet request concerning these men.
Monday, May 7th the first British soldiers reached Plockenpass, Austria, the local German garrison surrounded. The very same day the Cossack General Wassiljew was ordered to contact the British soldiers and start the peace talks. He asked that the refugees (i.e. the civilians) were to be put under the British "Crown" protection, while no special request was made concerning the military.
May 10th the British entered the Drava valley. The Cossack general could not understand the reason why the British command refused to answer their request. They did not know that the British were only trying to buy time, waiting for orders on how to deal with that independent army doomed by Stalin requests enclosed in the Yalta Pact.
That day the retreating 15th Cossack Cavalry Corp (commanded by Generl Pannwitz) encountered some British and Yugoslavian officers that request the immediate surrender, the request was turned down since the 15th had already been ordered to surrender in Volkermarkt, there they paraded the streets on the sound of Prince Eugen's march, then surrendered. Only on May 26th the command of these Cossacks would be given to the Atamans. Their death sentence had already been written, and it was only a matter of time before it was to take effect.
Brigadier Patrick Scott, 38th Irish Brigade, reassured the Cossacks that they would not have been handed over to the Soviet, but his noble and frantic attempts to save the Cossacks were to fail, "Operation Keelhaul" had already been decided for.
Meanwhile the bulk of the Croat army, that was marching under partisan escort, was to be slaughtered in the Slovene's forests (about 200.000 victims). Again, Stalin had obtained that the Balkans were to be considered part of the Soviet sphere of influence (Tehran conference). The Allies were thus in favor of Tito, and there was no need for a Croat state.
May 26th the British confiscated the Cossack Feldbank, an illegitimate act since it was composed mostly by private funds. The same date the official talks between the British and the Cossacks started.
May 28th General Alexander invited all the Cossack officer (about 2000) to Spittal, for a conference, a long column of trucks was formed, the Cossack generals followed it with their own cars. Krassnoff himself encouraged his officer to participate. Many wore their high uniform. Krassnoff told his wife "I'll be back between 600 and 800 p.m.", he was never to see her again. When the column arrived to Nikolsdorf it was met by armored escorts, at this sight some officers jumped out of the trucks and fled.When the column arrived in Spittal there was no General Alexander to be met, but a military lager. The British then confiscated all the personal documents. Krassnoff was annihilated, he was feeling responsible for having encouraged the attendance, moreover he saw in this act the fulfillment of a plan that aimed to deprive the mass of Cossacks of their leadership. Krassnoff was above all shocked by the behavior of General Alexander and by the betrayal of the British officers, that had swore on their honor that the Cossacks would have not been handed over to the Soviets. Then he said "They will give us to the Bolsheviks, but they could not come out with honor. Death is for us, and we must face it with pride."He then remembered Korlinow, supreme commander of the Russian Army, who died in combat during the counter-revolution, killed by a bomb, a death he now envied. The day after the officers, once again escorted by armored vehicles, were moved to Judemburg, to the Soviets, during the journey few escaped, many died trying. The following days the NKVD executed few hundreds of them, the fact took place in a mine, as to make it easier to hide the bodies for good. The bulk was transferred to Graz.
Meanwhile the civilians and the troops, being without any leadership whatsoever, elected a new Ataman (a Feldataman, i.e. an Ataman in charge only for a particular problem and for a limited time), Kuzma Polunin, a sergeant. His first act was to ask the British to save the Cossacks, in the name of freedom, in the name of God. He went unanswered. May 30th a first contingent of Cossack from the Lavant camp was handed to the Soviets, but the large operation was to take place June 1st. While the mass of Cossacks, troops and civilians, was attending Mass the British arrived, it was 730 in the morning, colonel Malcholm, commander of the Lienz garrison, informed Polunin of the order to repatriate all the Russian citizens, order to be immediately carried out. The Cossacks, alarmed by the fact of Lavant, had created a human barrier, women and children in the middle, men outside. To counter this Major Davies ordered its troops to charge the Cossacks, who were then beaten with the rifles, shot at and overrun by vehicles. About 700 died, many preferring to die in the water of the Drava river then going back to Russia, the British line was pierced and a tragic collective suicide took place. Many managed to flee. Starting from June 2nd the Cossack deportation started, by June 7th all those that had not managed to escaped were in Soviets' hands. Those that tried to resist were not seldom executed. Over 35000 Cossacks, but the same bitter fate was for the Caucasians (7000).
The majority of the Cossack officers would be later executed, guilty of having betrayed a Country that they felt no longer was "their country", the survivors and the mass of troops and civilians would be gently hosted in the Gulag, some were executed before reaching them.
January 16th 1947 Krassnoff, Shkuro', Klitsch, Domanov and von Pannwitz were hanged, the Pravda gave the news the day after. Their bodies were exposed to the Moscovian citizens together with the ones of other officers, circa 40. Their tomb is still unknown. Wlassow had already been killed August 12th 1946, together with all his family. In 1951 a monument was erected on the Drava, near the common grave in which the Cossacks were buried.
Before the end of WWII the CICR (Red Cross international Committee) had warned the Allies of the fate that awaited the Russian collaborationist. The ones that were imprisoned in Italy were moved to Russian by trains bearing the Red Cross, as to mask the true nature of the convoy. But also trucks and ships were used to this end. These operation's were always accompanied by a large number of suicides.
One of the few units to escape this tragic end was the 1st Ukrainian Division, its General, Schandruk, managed to have the Allies think they were Polish from Galizia, with the help of the Archbishop Ivan Bucko, of the Ukrainian Catholic Union, at that time in the Vatican state.
By 1953 there were still many Italian, France, Japanese, German, Chinese, Ingrain, Rumanian,
Polish… prisoner in North Siberia, in the Norislk lagers. A large number of Cossacks were
killed by the Russian by deliberately sinking the ship that was transporting them.