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The collapse of the Tsarist regime, the Bolshevik Revolution and the German victory on the Eastern Front and subsequent defeat in the west left Ukraine in a very confused state. In the aftermath of the fall of the Tsars pressure began to grow for a more independent Ukraine. Later in the year the new Bolshevik government had indicated that it would respect the right of independence of the former Russian imperial possessions, but any move towards an independent Ukraine was abrupted ended by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk of March 1918, and most of the area was occupied by the Germans and Austro-Hungarians.
After the defeat of Germany this occupation officially came to an end, but the Germans were slow to move, and this helped convince the French and Greeks to send an expeditionary force to southern Ukraine. The German defeat meant that there was no established authority in Ukraine, and several bodies soon formed to fill the gap, including two nationalist governments and a Bolshevik backed Soviet.
We start with a brief overview of the complex situation in Ukraine and the brief campaign fought while the Allies were present in the south. We then move on to the individual armies, with sections on the French and Greek forces, Denikin’s Volunteer Army, Polish and Romanian forces for the anti-bolshevik forces, Pro-Bolshevik Ukrainian forces, the Red Army (or Armies) and the remaining German forces. In each case we get a traditional account of the forces involved – numbers, organisation and equipment, but perhaps more importantly a section on its character. This played a major role in the course of events, with enthusiastic if unorganised pro-Bolshevik forces able to force the better organised but unenthusiastic French into a rather rapid evacuation.
Chapters
Introduction
Chronology
Outline of Operations
The Armies
Conclusion
Author: Phoebus Athanassiou
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 48
Publisher: Osprey
Year: 2021