Transfer of Russian Officers Serving in the Armenian Army, and Armenian Officers in the Armed Forces of Southern Russia in 1918-1920

The authors consider the history of the transfer of Russian officers who served in the Armenian army, and Armenian officers who served in the armed forces of Southern Russia from 1918 to 1920. The article is based on archival sources, primarily the documents stored in the National Archive of Armenia and memoirs of military and political figures of that time. It is shown that during this period, at the very height of the Civil War in Russia, there were close military-political and military-technical ties between the First Republic of Armenia and the armed forces of Southern Russia. At the same time, the army of the Republic of Armenia acted in accordance with the traditions of the Tsarist army. In particular, it inherited its structure (general staff, administration), military ranks, and military regulations. Despite the fact that the Republic of Armenia was not legally recognized, both sides appointed their own military representatives to reach other, which contributed to the strengthening of their relationship. The authors come to the conclusion that from 1918 to 1920, an effort was carried out to recruit the Russian military personnel remaining in Armenia for the armed forces of Southern Russia. As a result of there was a policy of Armenization by the armed forces of the First Republic of Armenia, as hundreds of ethnic Russian officers left Armenia and joined the armed forces of Southern Russia. At the same time, there was an effort to return to their homeland the Armenian officers and soldiers serving in the armed forces of Southern Russia, so that they could continue their service in the army of the Republic of Armenia. As a result of the negotiations, several thousand Armenian servicemen were allowed to return to their homeland.