Kalmyks in World War I

Abstract

The article examines the issues of World War I and the participation of the Don Cossacks military units as part of the Russian army. 60 Don Cossacks Regiments and a considerable number of stand-alone and special sotnias (companies), as well as gun battalions were distributed along all front army divisions. The forthcoming theatre of war would encompass 2,125 generals and military officers, and 72,830 men of lower ranks, including 3,102 Kalmyks, in the Don Regiments and sotnias. At the outbreak of the war the number of generals and officers increased to 2,292, and the lower ranks totaled 888, 249 men, including 3,760 Kalmyks. All Kalmyks, who were not singled out by their ethnic descent, did military service in almost every Don Cossack regiment and other military units. During the battles of 1914-1915 the Don Cossack military units, which consisted of Kalmyks among others, captured 251 officers, 26 doctors, and 21,199 lower-rank military men of the enemy, and gained numerous trophies. 44 officers (including 2 Kalmyks) of the Don Cossack regiments were awarded the Order of St. George, and 99 officers (including 5 Kalmyks) received honorable St. George Swords, 13,697 Cossacks (including 598 Kalmyks) were awarded the Cross of St. George and 11,076 Cossacks (including 195 Kalmyks) were granted St. George Medals. In 1915 Germany did not achieve its goal to defeat and deactivate the Russian army. The Don military units that succeeded in major and minor military operations and battles stood the proof of the first military campaign and retained operational capability with honor, and acquired the experience of contemporary warfighting.