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Armed Forces of South Russia
Вооружённые силы Юга России
Most territory controlled by South Russian forces as of October 1919
Active8 January 1919 – April 1920
CountrySouth Russia
AllegianceRussia GCAFSR
Size85,000 (January 1919)
160,000 (July 1919)
270,000 (October 1919)
Engagements
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefAnton Denikin

The Armed Forces of South Russia or AFSR (Russian: Вооружённые силы Юга России, romanized: Vooruzhyonniye sily Yuga Rossii, VSYuR) were formed on 8 January 1919, it incorporated many of the smaller formations of the White Army in South of Russia (called "White South" in Soviet historiography), including the Volunteer Army (which was renamed the Caucasian Volunteer Army). Besides that, the AFSR included the Don Army, the Crimean-Azov Army, the Forces of Northern Caucasus and the Turkestan Army.

In January 1919, it numbered 51,000 Infantry, 34,000 Cavalry, 204 Field guns, 682 machine guns and 6 armoured trains. By July 1919 it had grown to 104,000 Infantry, 56,000 Cavalry, 600 Field guns, 1,500 machine guns, 19 aircraft, 34 armoured trains, 1 Cruiser, 5 Destroyers, 4 Submarines and 20 Gunboats.[citation needed] By October, after heavy losses and the transfer of units to other armies, the armies' strength fell drastically.[dubious – discuss]

The Volunteer Army from its inception until January 23, 1919 carried the same name. Then after becoming a part of the Armed Forces of South Russia, from January 23, 1919, until May 22, 1919, it was renamed to Caucasus Volunteer Army. On May 22, it split into two formations: the Caucasus Army, and the Volunteer Army. The Caucasus Army disbanded on January 29, 1920 and was replaced by the short-lived Kuban Army. Troops of the Kuban Army ended up surrendering by April 18–20, 1920 to the Red Army. The Volunteer Army continued to exist from May 22, 1919 until March 26/27, 1920, when the remaining troops were evacuated from Novorossiysk to Crimea. Most then merged there with Wrangel's forces.

In early April 1920, Anton Denikin, commander-in-chief of the AFSR, delegated all authority to Pyotr Wrangel, who took command of the so-called "Russian Army", which included all units remaining from the AFSR after its defeat in the Northern Caucasus.

Order of Battle of the AFSR, early 1919

Volunteer Army (known as Caucasian Volunteer Army from January 23 - May 22, 1919)
Commanders: Gen. Anton Denikin (April 1918 - April 1920)

Caucasus Army (split from Caucasian Volunteer Army on May 22, 1919)
Commanders: Lt. Gen. Pyotor Vrangel (May 21 - December 8, 1919), Lt. Gen. Viktor Pokrovsky (December 9, 1919 - February 8, 1920)

Don Army (joined AFSR on 23 February 1919)
Commanders: Gen. Vladimir Sidorin (February 1919 and April 1920)

Turkestan Army (formed on 22 January 1919)
Commanders: Ippolit Savitsky (April - July 1919), Aleksander Borovsky (July - October 1919), Boris Kazanovich (October 1919 - February 1920).

See also

Sources

White armies and fleets of the Russian Civil War
Southern Front
Armed Forces of South Russia
Eastern Front
Siberian Army
  • 1st Army (Siberian Army) [ru]
  • 2nd Army (Siberian Army) [ru]
  • 3rd Army (Siberian Army) [ru]
    • North-Western Front
    Northern Front
    Middle Asia
    Armed Forces of South Russia

    Categories