Siege of Perekop (1920): Difference between revisions

| caption = A map of the Soviet plan for the Perekop–ÇonğarPerekop–Chongar operation

| place = [[Isthmus of Perekop]] and the [[Syvash|Sıvaş]], [[Crimea]], [[South Russia (1919–1920)|South Russia]]

| result = Soviet Makhnovist victory

| strength1 = {{flagdecoflagicon|South Russia (1919-1920)}} [[Army of Wrangel|Russian Army]]{{Sfn|Okgarkov|1978|pp=286–287}}

{{flagicon image|Death_to_oppressors_of_workers.svg}} [[Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine|KaretnikKaretnyk Detachment]]{{Sfn|Skirda|2004|p=228}}

The '''siege of Perekop''', also known as the '''Perekop-ÇonğarChongar Operation''', was the finala battle of the [[Southern Front of the Russian Civil War|Southern Front]] in the [[Russian Civil War]] from 7 to 17 November 1920. The [[White movement]]'s stronghold on the [[Crimean Peninsula]] was protected by the ÇonğarChongar fortification system along the strategic [[Isthmus of Perekop]] and the [[Syvash|Sıvaş]], from which the Crimean Corps under General [[Yakov Slashchov]] repelled several [[Red Army]] invasion attempts in early 1920. The [[Southern Front (RSFSR)|Southern Front]] of the Red Army and the [[Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine]], under the joint command of [[Mikhail Frunze]], launched an offensive on Crimea with an invasion force four-times larger than the defenders, the [[Army of Wrangel|White Russian Army]] under the command of General [[Pyotr Wrangel]]. Despite suffering heavy losses, the Reds broke through the fortifications, and the Whites were forced into retreat southwards. Following their defeat at the siege of Perekop, the Whites [[Evacuation of the Crimea (1920)|evacuated from the Crimea]], dissolving the Army of Wrangel and ending the Southern Front in [[Bolshevik]] victory.

The construction of fortifications on the [[Isthmus of Perekop]] began in the autumn of 1919. The [[Army of Wrangel|Russian Army]] defense system consisted of two lines: [[Perekop|Or Qapı]] (its basis was the section of the Turkish Wall with a total length of 11  km, it included an old Tatar ditch up to 10 meters deep and wide, wire fences in 3-5 rows and three lines of trenches) and [[Krasnoperekopsk|Yañı QapıYushun]] (20–25  km south of the first line, from several lines of trenches covered with barbed wire).{{Sfn|Khromov|1987|pp=454–456}}

There were also fortifications to strengthen the [[Chonhar Peninsula|ÇonğarChongar Peninsular]] and the [[Arabat Spit]] - up to 5-6 lines of trenches and trenches with barbed wire.{{Sfn|Vvedensky|1955|pp=416–418}} The [[Lithuanian Peninsula|Çuvaş Peninsula]] was the only place that had relatively weakly defenses, with only one line of trenches and barbed wire.

Approximately 10,000 Russian Army soldiers defended Or QapıPerekop and Yañı QapıYushun, while 3,000 defended the [[Syvash|Sıvaş]], the [[Chongar Strait|Çonğar Strait]] and the [[Arabat Spit]]. Over 14,000 reserves were also located in the rear of Yañı QapıYushun.

Initially, [[Mikhail Frunze]] had planned to deliver the main blow toward ÇonğarChongar but due to the ice holding the [[Azov Flotilla]] back in [[Taganrog]], the main attack was transferred on toward Perekop. The assault on Perekop was executed by the [[6th Army (RSFSR)|6th Army]], [[1st Cavalry Army]] and [[2nd Cavalry Army]]. Just before the operation began, 8,000 members of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Communist Party]] and 2,500 members of the [[Komsomol|Young Communist League]] arrived as reinforcements to the Red Army.{{Sfn|Vvedensky|1955|pp=416–418}}

The attack by units of the 1st Cavalry Army from [[Henichesk]], through the Arabat Spit to [[Feodosia]], was suppressed by the fire of [[Wrangel's fleet]], part of which approached Henichesk, so it was decided to conduct an auxiliary strike on ÇonğarChongar and Arabat (by the forces of the [[4th Army (RSFSR)|4th Army]] and the [[3rd Cavalry Corps (Soviet Union)|3rd Cavalry Corps]]).

===Deployment and crossing the SıvaşSyvash===

[[File:Н._С С._Самокиш_ Самокиш «Переход_Красной_Армии_через_СивашПереход Красной Армии через Сиваш»_ (1935).jpg|thumb|left|[[Nikolay Samokish]] "The Red Army Crossing the SıvaşSyvash" (1935).]]

Therefore, it was decided to bypass Perekop along the SıvaşSyvash. On 5 November, the wind caught water in the SıvaşSyvash and it was decided to wait for it to get shallower. And on the night of 8 November 1920, the shock group of the 6th Army (the 15th, 51st and 52nd divisions, a cavalry group, in total about 20,000 bayonets and sabers with 36 artillery cannons{{Sfn|Savchenko|2016}}), crossed the 7-kilometer water obstacle in adverse weather conditions (strong winds and minus 11-12 degrees Celsius). And on the afternoon of 8 November, the Reds, with overwhelming numerical superiority, successfully broke the defense of General [[Mikhail Fostikov]]'s brigade, which was defending the Kuban peninsula, numbering only 1,500 bayonets with 12 artillery cannons. The Red Army soldiers captured the ÇuvaşLithuanian Peninsula and began to move to the rear of the White positions at Perekop.

The Turkish Wall was occupied only by two Kornilov shock regiments (1000 bayonets), and the third regiment stood with the front to the east, to SıvaşSyvash, to guard against a [[flanking maneuver]]. The Kornilov division had just entered this line of defense, having replaced 2AK units. Being under artillery fire behind the crest of the rampart, which saved the personnel from losses, at the beginning of the attack, the Kornilovites returned to the trenches and shot the attacking enemy from point-blank with machine guns. The Red Army soldiers were only able to reach the ditch braided with barbed wire in front of the rampart and lay down "under the destructive machine-gun and artillery fire", having suffered losses of more than 50%. As Soviet historians, such as [[Vladimir Triandafillov]], later admitted, the attack on the Turkish Wall that day ended in complete failure.{{Sfn|Golubev|1933|p=80}}

On the morning of 8 November, units of the red landing launched an offensive from the Chukhonsky Peninsula to the town of [[Armiansk|Ermeni BazarArmyansk]], in the rear of the defense of the Turkish Wall. But they could not advance further to Perekop due to a lack of cavalry. The Makhnovist detachment under Ataman [[SimonSemen KaretnikKaretnyk]] and units of the {{ill|7th Cavalry Division (Soviet Union){{!}}7th Cavalry Division|ru|7-я кавалерийская дивизия (РККА)}} were sent to rescue the landing party.

The Drozdov division from Ermeni BazarArmyansk and the Markov division from Yañı QapıYushun counterattacked, trying to isolate and defeat the red landing, but to no avail. The red units initially retreated, but, having overwhelming superiority, again continued their offensive in the rear of the Perekop positions.

On 9 November 1920, under the threat of encirclement, the Kornilov Shock Division left the Turkish Wall by one in the morning and retreated to their positions at Yañı QapıYushun. The night was dark and starless. In the rearguard of the division, the battalion of Colonel Troshin was left, which by one o'clock also left the Turkish Wall.

But, according to [[Soviet historiography]], at 03:30 on 9 November 1920, with a repeated attack, simultaneously with a flanking maneuver, the 51st Rifle Division captured the positions at Or QapıPerekop and continued the attack on the positions at Yañı QapıYushun. Other historians admit that the withdrawal of the White units was only discovered by the Red units on the morning of 9 November.{{Sfn|Golubev|1933|p=80}}

===Assault on the Yañı QapıYushun positions===

A change in the direction of the wind caused an increase in the water level in the SıvaşSyvash, which threatened cutting off the troops on the ÇuvaşLithuanian Peninsula from the main forces of the Red Army. However, on 9 November, the fords were restored by mobilized residents from the villages of {{ill|Volodymyrivka, Henichesk Raion, Kherson Oblast{{!}}Volodymyrivka|uk|Володимирівка (Генічеський район)}} and {{ill|Stroganivka|uk|Строганівка (Каховський район)}}.{{Sfn|Vvedensky|1955|pp=416–418}}

By 15:00 on 9 November, the red units reached the positions at Yañı QapıYushun. There are several lakes in this place, and therefore the fighting began in narrow [[Defile (geography)|defiles]] between them. All attacks by the Red Army that day were repulsed.

On 10 November, the 15th and 52nd divisions of the Red Army broke through the first line of defensive positions, but were counterattacked and thrown back almost to the ÇuvaşLithuanian Peninsula, and the numerous 51st division, reinforced by the Latvian division, held their positions. By evening, a paradoxical situation had developed, when the opponents on the left flanks mutually threatened each other with encirclement.

On 10-11 November 1920, in the area of Yañı QapıYushun and {{ill|Karpova Balka|uk|Карпова Балка}}, the cavalry corps of General {{ill|Ivan Barbovich|ru|Барбович, Иван Гаврилович}} (4,000 sabers, 150 machine guns, 30 cannons, 5 armored cars) counterattacked the Makhnovists under the command of SimonSemen KaretnikKaretnyk and the forces of the 2nd Cavalry Army. General Wrangel had already given the order to evacuate, but the cavalry was thrown into battle so that the infantry units could retreat.

The White Cavalry managed to push back the 15th and 52nd divisions of the Reds from Yañı QapıYushun to the ÇuvaşLithuanian Peninsula, defeat the 7th and 16th cavalry divisions, threatening the rear of the troops that had broken through Or QapıPerekop.

But Barbovich’s cavalry ran into the Makhnovist cavalry group, which, imitating a retreat, deployed a line of ''[[Tachanka|tachanki]]'' with 150 machine guns in front of the advancing White cavalry and mowed them down, forcing them to turn back. After that, the Makhnovist cavalrymen and the 2nd Cavalry Army began to cut down the retreating Whites.{{Sfn|Savchenko|2016}} At the same time, on the opposite sector of the front (near the [[Karkinit Bay]] of the [[Black Sea]]), the 51st division was able to capture two lines of trenches at Yañı QapıYushun.

On 11 November, the attacks of the red units continued and were finally able to break through the entire line of the Yañı QapıYushun fortifications. The entrance to Crimea was open. On the same day, the ÇonğarChongar fortifications were also broken through by the red units. The attackers of the 266th and 267th regiments of the Red Army were almost completely wiped out, but captured the area of the village of {{ill|Avuz Qırq-Kirk|ru|Медведевка (Крым)}}.{{Sfn|Golubev|1933|p=80}}

===Persecution and occupationOccupation of the cities of Crimea===

By 12 November 1920, the Red Army had captured Yañı QapıYushun, forcing the white troops into a retreat. Mikhail Frunze gave his troops a day’s notice (to put their units in order) and sent a telegram to Pyotr Wrangel suggesting that he capitulate, but no answer was received. White troops hastily retreated to the ports ([[Yevpatoria|KezlevYevpatoriya]], [[Sevastopol|Aqyár]], [[Yalta]], [[Feodosia|KefeFeodosiya]] and [[Kerch|Keriç]]), where they were loaded onto ships for evacuation. Unlike the disastrous evacuations of [[Odessa Operation (1920)|Odesa]] and [[Evacuation of Novorossiysk (1920)|ChəməzNovorossiysk]], it was planned and carried out in a relatively organized manner.

On 13 November the Red Army occupied [[Simferopol|Aqmescit]]. By 15 November, the Red Army had also occupied AqyárSevastopol and KefeFeodosiya. The White Guards were able to break away from the Red Army and boarding the evacuation ships took place without shelling. When the last ships had already moved away from the moorings, suddenly one destroyer rushed back to the port - they had forgotten the battalion of the Markov regiment guarding the port. They quickly landed it, and the ship returned to the squadron. On 16 November, the Red Army occupied KeriçKerch and, on 17 November, it occupied Yalta.

The result of the Perekop-ÇonğarChongar operation was the breakthrough of the Red Army into the territory of Crimea, the evacuation of the Russian Army and part of the civilian population abroad, and the establishment of [[Soviet-era Crimea|Soviet power in Crimea]]. The last major front of the Civil War was liquidated. [[Soviet historiography]] recognized that the victory in this operation was achieved due to the concentration of superior forces and means on the main directions of the offensive.

*''[[Two Comrades Were Serving]]'' - 1968 Soviet film, which takes place during the Perekop-ÇonğarChongar Operation.

*''[[The Flight (film)|The Flight]]'' - 1970 Soviet film based on the works of writer Mikhail Bulgakov. The first part of the film takes place in Crimea, defended by the White army.
*''Marshal of the Revolution'' - 1978 Soviet biopic about the Southern Front commander Mikhail Frunze, covering the events from 21 September to 16 November 1920 (the fighting in the south of the left-bank Ukraine, assault of Perekop and forcing the SıvaşSyvash, the defeat of Baron Wrangel's army in Crimea).

* {{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Гражданская война и военная интервенция в СССР|title=Перекопско-Чонгарская операция 1920|trans-title=Perekop-ÇonğarChongar operation 1920|editor-first=Simon|editor-last=Khromov|edition=2nd|language=ru|location=[[Moscow]]|publisher=Советская энциклопедия|year=1987|pages=454–456|oclc=16977277}}

* {{Cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=[[Soviet Military Encyclopedia]]|title=Перекопско-Чонгарская операция 1920|trans-title=Perekop-ÇonğarChongar operation 1920|editor-first=N.V.|editor-last=Okgarkov|volume=6|location=[[Moscow]]|publisher=Воениздат|year=1978|pages=286–287|language=ru|oclc=609213504}}

* {{cite encyclopedia|title=Перекопско-Чонгарская операция 1920|trans-title=Perekop-ÇonğarChongar operation 1920|encyclopedia=[[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]]|language=ru|editor-first=Boris|editor-last=Vvedensky|edition=2nd|volume=32|location=[[Moscow]]|publisher=[[Publishing houses in the Soviet Union|State Scientific Publishing House]]|year=1955|pages=416–418|oclc=403823927}}

[[Category:Battles of the Russian Civil War involving Ukraine]]

[[Category:SiegesBattles involving the Armed Forces of South Russia|Perekop (1920)]]