Seriously read some of this from the deployment of the 339 and you begin to see what an Arctic Afghanistan would look like. They’re taking artillery fire spread way to thin to be of actual use to the Czechslovaks and losing more casualties to the weather in between. 
The forgotten (first) battle of Streltso (Arkhangelsk Oblast) of the Michigan 339th Infantry and the royal Scots. On the Dvina river pushing south they get potshots from gunboats on the river and woods but this selo they have to take. Nelson writes well from a soldier perspective
The American and Allied campaign in North Russia has a very familiar feel to the army of Vietnam and the army of today.
Every “charity” and “contractor” making money off of deployment to an imploded economy, low moral and trust in leadership. Soldiers caught smuggling.
Every “charity” and “contractor” making money off of deployment to an imploded economy, low moral and trust in leadership. Soldiers caught smuggling.
This is very much the scene of Apocalypse Now 50 years prior.
If we ever get good filmmaking back, there is a great film in this campaign.
If we ever get good filmmaking back, there is a great film in this campaign.
This lead to the second action of Seltso, called Armstice Day or Tulgas by the soldiers. It was a serious attempt by the recently formed Red Army to dislodge the Americans.
It seems nightmarish for both sides. The Americans are pushed out, but the Bolshevik loses dwarf theirs.
It seems nightmarish for both sides. The Americans are pushed out, but the Bolshevik loses dwarf theirs.
The actual battle of Tulgas was an even worse disaster for the Red Army and it’s forcefully drafted muzhiks, they charged Canadians and the injured Scots who had set up Lewis guns, who killed 400 men, B company 339th was also there and one gunner killed 70 men.
In the aftermath, hundreds of Red Army casualties occurred in the retreat, resulting in the return of irregular warfare in upper Tulgas. The Americans echo the Wehrmacht 30 years later, and burn down the village in mid November 1918 -30 degrees outside and no evacuatio.
There is some really cool information on the Tulgas battle and the Intervention more generally in Russian with some pretty amazing photos.
Really needs to be an online Russiapedia in the spirit of the Bolshaya Sovetskaya instead of Wikipedi.
emezk.ru/forum/topic.as…
Really needs to be an online Russiapedia in the spirit of the Bolshaya Sovetskaya instead of Wikipedi.
emezk.ru/forum/topic.as…
Yeah Corona Virus and Urban hygiene sucks.
But at least you wont be in Civil War Russia and get the flu from the doctor’s knife he used to shave the plugging stick before preparing food.
Spanish Flu and WW1 can teach everyone much about how to not do emergency hygiene.
But at least you wont be in Civil War Russia and get the flu from the doctor’s knife he used to shave the plugging stick before preparing food.
Spanish Flu and WW1 can teach everyone much about how to not do emergency hygiene.
Trotsky had sent thousands of conscripts to bolster the Bolshevik Sixth Army in the north, reinforcing the line more and more as the Americans spread our. At Kodish, 2 companies would go against 3400 men in one of the hottest fights of the intervention and take the village.
The Battle of Kodish deserves a full read. at times pitting 35 men against bayonet charges of 400, mortars firing at crowds of attackers. The Americans set fire to the village and retreat only to be ordered back and defend the now enflamed village against more red attacks.
While Kodish held that Winter, the front towards Shenkursk bore the full brunt of the Bolshevik build up in the winter, the Reds pressed 3100 men pressed 400 on tenuous ground.
If the men were fully routed Archangel was going to be in peril. They had to fight to stalemate.
If the men were fully routed Archangel was going to be in peril. They had to fight to stalemate.
To make matters worse, the retreat across the Dvina ended up getting the A Company and the wounded Royal Scots encircled and having to break out repeatedly.
The Scots are surrounded at Vystavka, expecting to die, only to be relieved by the Cossacks, to the surprise of both.
The Scots are surrounded at Vystavka, expecting to die, only to be relieved by the Cossacks, to the surprise of both.
The last test of the Americans before Wilson withdrew them to Churchill’s protest was Company M at Bolshie Ozerki, where the single company took the brunt of the Spring 1919 offensive before the front stalled completely. In truth a crucial moment lost.
“Why did we go to Russia?“
Nelson echoes Vietnam and the modern “War on Terror” soldier.
What had it been for? They had not saved even the Archangel Whites. Ambushed, being killed, burning villages, allies that switched sides, peasants that took pot shots.
Nelson echoes Vietnam and the modern “War on Terror” soldier.
What had it been for? They had not saved even the Archangel Whites. Ambushed, being killed, burning villages, allies that switched sides, peasants that took pot shots.
“They will lie quiet forever, but the bear will continue to tell their story, symbolizing the Arctic cold and icy snow in which they suffered”
