Civil War in Siberia: The Anti-Bolshevik Government of Admiral Kolchak, 1918-1920 [Hardcover]

Jonathan D. Smele (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0521573351 | ISBN-13: 978-0521573351 | Edition: 1St Edition

The Russian Civil War of 1917SH1921 was a pivotal event in modern history. It was the Bolshevik victory in this bloody struggle, not the fighting in the streets of Petrograd and Moscow in October 1917, that secured the victory of Soviet Communism. This book traces the clash between the "Reds" and the "Whites", the counter-revolutionary governments established around the periphery of Russia and aided by the Allies. In particular, it details the epic history of the White movement in Siberia, and the fortunes of its leader, Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak, using a wide range of contemporary sources.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This large study deserves a place in major academic libraries." F.J. Breit, Choice

"...this examination of the Kolchak episode in counterrevolutionary history easily surpasses in documentation and sensible analysis earlier studies of the White movement in Siberia." John M. Thompson, Slavic Review

"As the definitive treatment of one of the most important episodes in Russia's turbulent history, this book does much to clarify our understanding of the forces and events that brought the Soviet Union into being. Smele paints a canvas of great breadth and fascinating perspective. Exhaustive and far-ranging research makes this book all but certain to become a classic is its field, and all historians of the Russian Civil War and Siberia must stand greatly in its author's debt for that reason." W. Bruce Lincoln, American Historical Review

"This is the fullest account to date of the rise of the White movement in Siberia." Vladimir Brovkin, The Historian

Book Description

The Russian Civil War of 1917SH1921 was a pivotal event in modern history. It was the Bolshevik victory in this bloody struggle, not on the streets of Petrograd and Moscow in October 1917, which secured the victory of Soviet Communism. This book traces the clash between the 'Reds' and the 'Whites', the counter- revolutionary governments established around the periphery of Russia and aided by the Allies. In particular, it details the epic history of the White movement in Siberia, and the fortunes of its leader, Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak, using a wide range of contemporary sources.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 788 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1St Edition edition (February 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521573351
• ISBN-13: 978-0521573351
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,656,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable book, May 22, 1999

By 

Ivo J. Steijn (Greater Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Civil War in Siberia: The Anti-Bolshevik Government of Admiral Kolchak, 1918-1920 (Hardcover)

This book fills a huge gap in the literature about the Russian Civil War. The Siberian theatre hasn't been the subject of a monograph since the 1930s, and only Canfield Smith's wonderful book on the events in Vladivostok during 1920-1922 gave the reader an in-depth look at a part of the complicated sequence of events east of the Ural mountains. Dr.Smele's book is the first in-depth treatment in any language of Kolchak's government, how it came to be, why it performed so poorly in all its tasks as it did, and what became of it. The political intrigue, the rather inept leadership of Kolchak himself, the tragically inept military efforts - after reading this book the reader may wonder how Kolchak managed to do as well as he did (at first). I have found this book to be an indispensable reference work. In addition, it is beautifully written - perhaps not an important consideration for a scholarly work, but definitely a feature that makes reading this book a pleasure. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Siberia and/or the Russian Civil War.