Petr Nikolaevich Krasnov, 1869-1947
Petr Nikolaevich Krasnov was born into a Cossack military family: his father was a lieutenant-general, his grandfather a general. Krasnov graduated from the Pavlovskoe voennoe uchilishche in 1888. He began his literary career early, authoring a log of travels in the Far East in 1903. In 1910, Krasnov served as colonel and commanding officer of the 1st Siberian Cossack regiment. By 1914, Krasnov had risen to the rank of major general of the 1st Don division. Fleeing to the Don region as a result of Russian revolution, Krasnov was elected Ataman of the Don Cossacks in 1918, ousting the Soviets from the Don region and heading the Don Cossack uprising. Suffering subsequent defeat, Krasnov emigrated to Germany, retired from military life, and devoted himself to his literary career.
During his retirement, General Krasnov published numerous books, many of which were translated into German, English and other languages. He left military retirement in 1943, organizing and leading Cossack units within the German Army. After Germany’s defeat, General Krasnov was turned over to the Soviet authorities by the British Army. He was executed in Moscow in 1947 by hanging.
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