The new historical bulletin

Number 34, 2012

6-18
Self-mutilation and Sham Illnesses in the Russian Army during the World War I

Authors: A. Astashov

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 409

This article based on documents from the Russian State Military History archive and special medical literature looks into self-mutilation and sham illnesses in the Russian army in the World War I, focusing on their scale, forms and development as well as the methods used to combat these violations of military discipline. It is concluded that the command, military justice, and military medicine were unable to deal with these ways of mass avoidance of military service. It was caused by insufficient technical facilities, weak medical expertise, and a lack of legal and organizational means. World War I, Russian army, military personnel, military discipline, self-mutilation, sham illness, military justice, military medicine

10-17
V. Uspensky From the History of Russian-Chinese Relations in the XVII c. (An Analysis of Documents in the Mongolian Language)

Authors: V. Uspensky

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 432

The article is the first examination of two unique documents written in Mongolian which refer to Russian-Chinese relations in the seventeenth century. These are two “Imperial edicts” presented to the Russian Czar in 1655 and 1670, the facsimile edition of both documents seeing the light in China in 2007. The author pays particular attention to adequate interpretation and precise translation into Russian of the documents. The “edict”, dated 1670, had been hitherto known only through an old Russian “list”, thus the discovery of its Mongolian original contributes to a better understanding of the Qing Empire’s policy towards Russia. The author concludes that the Mongolian-language documents are valuable historical sources for the study of Russian-Chinese relations in XVII c. Russia, China, Muscovy, Qing Empire, Russian-Chinese relations, Siberia, Manchuria

18-25
On the Appearance of the First Christened Kalmyks in Moscow in the middle of XVII c.

Authors: V. Tepkeev

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 422

The article based on new archival materials deals with the first instances of the Kalmyks converting to Christianity in Moscow in the XVII c. The author focuses on the policy of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich’s government towards the Kalmyks, bringing them into alliance with Russia in the conditions of military operations against the Rzeczpospolita and the Crimean khanate. The strengthening of Russian-Kalmyk relations as well as the internal struggle for power in the Kalmyk community contributed to the baptizing of the Kalmyks, who for various reasons had to live in Moscow at that time. Muscovy, Moscow, Alexei Mikhailovich, Kalmyks, Russian-Kalmyk relations, Christened Kalmyks, Сhristianization

19-37
“All Must Be Fired Immediately”: Optants in Soviet Civil Service (from the history of municipal economy of Petrograd in the early 1920’s)

Authors: E. Kirillova

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 409

The article based on previously unknown archival documents investigates the measures of the Executive Committee of the Petrograd (Leningrad) Provincial Soviet against optants who lived in Petrograd and Petrograd province in the early 1920’s. Particular attention is paid to actions taken by the Administration Department of the Petrograd Executive Committee aimed at the dismissal of the optants working in the Department of municipal economy, as well as the anti-optants campaign in the Petrograd Soviet press. It is concluded that these activities were designed to purge public institutions from the optants who were to be deported from Soviet Russia (USSR). Petrograd (Leningrad), Petrograd (Leningrad) province, Executive Committee of Petrograd (Leningrad) Provincial Soviet, municipal economy, optant, personnel purge, campaign in the press

26-36
N. Tsyrempilov Buddhist Vanguard: Transformations of Buryat Buddhist Sangha in Russia (XVIII – the beginning of XX cc.)

Authors: N. Tsyrempilov

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 456

Based on the hitherto unknown Mongol and Tibetan manuscripts and documents from the Russian State Historical Archives, the article is the first attempt in the Russian historiography to reveal the transformation of the Buddhist institutes in the Russian Empire. Special attention is paid to the establishment and development of the administrative system of the Buddhist community and the transformation of Buddhist political conceptions in the Buddhist sangha. The author makes the conclusion that Buriat-Mongolian Buddhists were able to elaborate a model of interaction with a European state as well as to translate it to Mongolia and Tibet. Buddhism, Russian Empire, Siberia, Buriat-Mongols, sangha, ethnic identity, religious identity

48-57
Intelligence Operations of Irkutsk Military District’s Headquarters in Russia’s Far East Borderline Areas

Authors: D. Ispovednikov

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 443

Based on previously unknown documents of the Intelligence department of Irkutsk Military District’s headquarters from the Russian State Military Archive, the article is the first attempt in the Russian historiography to analyze the activities of the “White Guard” intelligence service in Russia’s Far East during the Civil War. Particular attention is paid to the Intelligence department’s structure and its agent networks in the borderline areas in Mongolia and Uraanhai Krai (Tannu Uriankhai). It is concluded that the intelligence service was quite viable, despite the shortage of human and financial resources. However, the work in what the Intelligence department considered its prioriry areas turned out to be ineffective in the conditions of the Civil War. It is mentioned that the obtained intelligence data about the Far Eastern borderlands were used by the Soviet state after the war. Civil war in Russia, Far East, Irkutsk Military District, military district headquarters, intelligence, agents, intelligence data, Mongolia, Uraanhai Krai (Tannu Uriankhai)

58-112
Secrets of the Livonian War: Duke Magnus of Holstein, the Muscovy Company and English smuggling operations across the Russian “little window” to Europe

Authors: L. Taimasova

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 407

The article based on sources of little renown examines the role of England in the repartition of spheres of influence in the Baltic region during the Livonian War. Attention is paid to the activities of the English Muscovy Company smuggling English arms across the Strait of Oresund and Narva to the countries in the Baltic region. The author focuses on the plan of Tsar Ivan the Terrible to establish the Kingdom of Livonia with Duke Magnus of Holstein at the head, in the context of the diplomatic war for Livonia. It is also revealed that there is a direct relation between the intention of the Muscovy Company to transfer its trade operations from Narva to Revel and Riga and Russia’s claim for these cities. It is concluded that the secret English arms deliveries to the countries participating in the Livonian War through Narva contributed to the positioning of England as a major sea power. Livonian War, Ivan the Terrible, Duke Magnus of Holstein, Muscovy, England, Denmark, Sweden, Rzeczpospolita, Muscovy Company, Narva, Revel, Riga, maritime commerce, smuggling, arms supplies

113
On the Study of State Management in Turkhestan Krai at the beginning of XX century

Authors: M. Shuhkova

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 414

The article analyzes the monograph by E.A. Gluschenko “Russia in Central Asia: conquests and transformations” (Moscow, 2010), covering in detail the accession of Central Asia to the Russian Empire and the formation of Turkestan Krai, based on a broad range of sources. The article offers an assessment of the author’s analysis of state management in Turkestan Krai and the colonization of this national periphery, as well as the life of the indigenous Muslim population, and its relationships with Russian authorities. It is concluded that E.A. Glushchenko’s monograph is an important step in the study of historical destinies of the peoples in Central Asia and of Russian experience in the state management of Turkestan Krai. E.A. Gluschenko, historiography, Central Asia, Islam, colonization, Turkestan Krai, state management

115
A new book about Russian military emigration during the World War II

Authors: K. Aleksandrov

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 407

The article is a review of the book “Fatal Separation: Russian Military Emigration during the World War II on the Occupied Territories of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia» (Moscow, 2012) by K.L. Kotyukov. The book is analyzed in the context of the recent practices of studying Russian anti-Bolshevik emigration during the World War II. The author of the article discusses the book’s pros and cons, the correctness of the description of the historical events, sources and literature used, conclusions and results of the research and issues which were not covered in the book. K.L. Kotyukov, historiography, World War II, Russian emigration, Yugoslavia, Russian Corps, collaboration