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Anniversary of the Battle of Volochayevka
The Battle of Volochayevka was one of the largest battles of the final part of the Russian Civil War, which took place on 10-12 February 1922 near the Amur railway station Volochayevka, on the outskirts of Khabarovsk. People's Revolutionary Army of the Far Eastern Republic under the command of V. K. Blyukher opposed units of the Far Eastern White Army led by General V. M. Molchanov.
In November 1921 the Far Eastern White Army commandement decided to launch the Khabarovsk campaign against the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA). The aim of the White campaign was an attempt to raise the population of the Far East against the rule of the Far Eastern Republic. The campaign was inspired by Japan, which tried to gain a foothold in the south of the Russian Far East. In December 1921 the White Army moved to the north of Primorye in two directions: by train and down the Ussuri River. Units of the White Army advanced vigorously into the Far Eastern Republic area, occupying cities, towns and villages.
After the capture of Khabarovsk, the Whites moved to the In railway station, located 110 km west of Khabarovsk, and December 28, 1921 suffered their first defeat from the PRA in this campaign. After fighting for the Olgohta passing track, the Whites retreated to Volochayevka and founded there a powerful fortified area. The basis of the defense was Ju-Quran hill, which dominated the area.
Throughout January 1922 in the vicinity of the station and the village of In, the PRA troops were concentrating for a decisive offensive against the White Guards, entrenched near Volochayevka. The fighting, which continued during this period, did not give any advantage to either side. Sometimes the Red Army managed to dislodge the Whites from Olgohta passing track, located between In and Volochayevka, and even break into the outskirts of Volochaevka. However, they could not advance from there and retreated to their line.
In order to get closer to Volochaevka, NRA troops had to overcome a huge space, covered deeply with snow and exposed to enemy’s fire.
At dawn on February 10, the Consolidated Infantry Brigade was ordered to launch the offensive. Three days, at - 35-degree cold, in a deep snow, badly equipped PRA soldiers continuously attacked the enemy. On February 12, when one of the regiments reached the rear of the Whites, their defense was finally broken. Due to the great fatigue, the Red Army soldiers did not pursuit the Whites. On the roads stretched the retreating columns of infantry, strings of sanitary carts. The way to Khabarovsk was opened, the White Guard units, defeated near Volochayevska, left the city without a fight.
Both parties failed to reach their strategic goals. On the one hand, Blucher did not succeed in encircling the White Army. On the other hand, the White Army had not held their positions, which subsequently led to the final defeat of the White forces in the Far East. Thanks to the decisive victory of the People's Revolutionary Army near Volochayevka, the Russian Far East was liberated from the remnants of the White army and the Japanese already by October 25, 1922.
Marking the first anniversary of the victory at Volochayevka, on the Ju-Quran hill, was raised a simple monument bearing the symbols of bayonet, sword and bombs following the old order of Blucher. November 11, 1928 on the June-Qur'an hill was inaugurated the Museum Monument to the Civil War heroes. The author of the sculpture of a Red Army soldier was a Hungarian internationalist A. A. Badony.
Lit.: Кольцов П. С. Волочаевские дни. М., 1962.; Шишкин С. Н. Гражданская война на Дальнем Востоке, 1918-1922 гг. М., 1957.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:
Анишев А. Очерки истории гражданской войны 1917-1920 гг. Л., 1925;