Free Cossacks
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| Free Cossacks | |
|---|---|
 1st Congress of Free Cossacks (Chyhyryn,October 1917) | |
| Active | 1917–1918 |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Allegiance | Ukrainian People's Republic |
| Branch | Free Cossacks |
| Type | Corps,territorial army |
| Role | infantry, law enforcement |
| Size | ~3,000 (18 May 1917) 60,000 (at the 1st Congress of Free Cossacks) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Semen Hryzlo,Pavlo Skoropadsky[1] |
| Part ofa serieson |
| Cossacks |
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| Cossack hosts |
| Other Cossack groups |
| History |
| Notable Cossacks |
| Cossack terms |
Free Cossacks(Ukrainian:Вільне козацтво) wereUkrainian Cossacksthat were organized as volunteer militia units in the spring of 1917 in theUkrainian People's Republic.The Free Cossacks are seen as precursors of the modern Ukrainian national law enforcement organizations such as theNational Guard of Ukraineor theInternal Troops of Ukraine.
The primary purpose of those militia formations was to provide security and civil order for the local population. The consolidation process of various smaller units started sometime in April near the town ofZvenyhorodka,Kiev Governorateduring the local assembly of the Free Cossacks which created the Zvenyhorodka Kosh (battalion). The assembly electedSemen HryzlotheKosh Otaman,who became the otaman of Kalnyboloto Kurin (company). Under this title, he was delegated to the2nd All-Ukrainian Military Congressin Kiev in June 1917.
Hryzlo was also one of the organizers of the 1st All-Ukrainian Congress of the Free Cossacks that took place on October 3, 1917, in the former Cossack capital ofChyhyryn.The congress elected the Hetman of All Ukraine, who became GeneralPavlo Skoropadskyi.Hryzlo was elected as the GeneralYesaul.
The Free Cossacks units distinguished themselves during theUkrainian-Soviet War(particularly from December 1917 to April 1918) and were disbanded around May and June 1918. In January-April 1918 the Ukrainian government tried to create the Free Registered Cossack Troops for county security, but after the April coup-d'etat led byPavlo Skoropadskyall Free Cossacks formations were officially dissolved.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Воспоминания: Конец 1917 - декабрь 1918 / Павел Скоропадский; [вступ. ст. В.Г. Черкасова-Георгиевского]. - М.: ПРОЗАиК, 2019. - 315, [5] с., [24] с. ил. ISBN 978-5-91631-282-9
Further reading
[edit]- Kozub, I.An age and a destiny: memoirs.Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, TAKSON Publishing House. Kyiv-Toronto-Edmonton, 1996.ISBN1895571170
External links
[edit]- Free Cossacksat theEncyclopedia of Ukraine
- Free Cossacks (ВІЛЬНЕ КОЗАЦТВО).Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine.
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