“Human life is short and fleeting, and many millions of individuals, who share in it, are swallowed by that monster of oblivion which is waiting for them with ever-open jaws. It is thus a very thank-worthy task to try to rescue something— – the memory of interesting and important events, or the leading features and personages of some epoch— – from the general shipwreck of the world.” Arthur Schopenhauer

Monday, May 13, 2013

Pavel (Paul) Kiselev's Assessment of Russian officers


Digging through early 19th century documents, I came across a fascinating document containing characteristics of Russian generals. The document is from 1824 when Emperor Alexander asked General Paul Kiselev, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Army, to submit brief characteristics of Russian generals. All of the men had served in the Napoleonic Wars but their positions are given as of 1824. It is a long list of names so I included only a handful of individuals here.  

"Lieutenant General Baron Lowernstern. Commander of Artillery of the 2nd Army. Driven by personal considerations. Demanding. In France, he would have commanded parks.

Major General Zheltukhin I. Commander of the 13th Infantry Division. A very diligent [and] amicable general. Acts like an ensign, but, as far as troops organization, especially technical issues, is concerned, he is very capable. Yet, he has the most dastardly character and, in my opinion, he causes more harm than benefit. It is said that he does not steal and, therefore, can be employed as an intendant.

Major General Udom II. Commander of the 9th Infantry Division. A kind but feeble man. He has lost all of his morality and, if he were a soldier, he could have been cashiered a long time ago.

Major General Baron Rozen II. Commander of the 3rd Dragoon Division. He is incapable of amounting to anything anywhere.

Major General Pantenius. Commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 16th Infantry Division. A colonel - and that is all that can be said about him.

Major General Turchaninov. Commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 9th Division. He is incapable of amounting to anything anywhere.

Major General Mossalov. Attached to the commander of the 3rd Dragoon Division. I am very surprised he managed to become a general.

Major General Shevandin. Commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 18th Infantry Division. In terms of ability, same as Turchaninov, Mossalov and others, but the odiousness of his persona places him in a separate category.

Major General Mordvinov III, Commander of the 1st Brigade of the 22nd Infantry Division. Of weak health, feeble mind and ineffective.

Major General Timroth. Commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 18th Infantry Division. A front-line brigade commander. If addressed in German, he will do whatever is ordered.

Major General Gotovskii. Chief of Staff of the 7th Infantry Corps. His intellectual abilities are same as Shevandin, Mossalov or Turchaninov. But he also studied at the Cadet Corps and is therefore utterly stupid."

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