Alexander Guchkov
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Alexander Ivanovich Guchkov (October 14, 1862,Moscow - February 14, 1936) was a Russian politician, Chairman of the Duma and Minister of War in the Russian Provisional Government.
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[edit] Early years
Unlike most of conservative politicians of that time, Alexander Guchkov did not belong to Russian nobility. He was a rich capitalist, head of a huge insurance company. In October 1906 he became the head of the Union of October 17. By that time he was known mostly for hazardous enterprises which included volunteering for Boer army in the Second Boer War, where he was wounded and taken prisoner, and (again voluntary) taking care of Russian prisoners after the Battle of Mukden. He also fought numerous duels.
[edit] 1907-1912
43 Octobrists, Guchkov included, were elected in the Second State Duma in February 1907. Guchkov supported Stolypin reform, including some controversial decisions of Stolypin's government, such as establishment of courts martial and dissolution of the Second Duma, which resulted in conflict with some notable Octobrists (eg Pavel Ryabushinsky). After Stolypin's electoral reform Octobrists won elections in the Third Duma, gaining 133 seats.
However, later Guchkov started criticizing certain officials, quarrelled with the Tzar and lost support of Stolypin. Both since that relied more on Black Hundreds and other ultra-right monarchists. In 1910 Guchkov was elected Chairman of the Duma, but a year after he resigned, another Octobrist, Mikhail Rodzyanko, took this office. In spite of misunderstanding with Stolypin Guchkov continued to hold him in high esteem. After the assassination of Stolypin, he held a speech, in which he said, that without Stolypin "Russia got into a swamp".
[edit] Party crisis and WWI
In 1912 the Octobrists were defeated in elections to the Fourth Duma, losing over 30 seats. Guchkov in particular was defeated in his constituency in Moscow. The remaining Octobrists in Duma split into two fractions. By 1915 many local party branches and the main party newspaper "Voice of Moscow" ceased to exist.
However, Guchkov by no means ceased political activity. With the outbreak of World War I he became the head of Military-Industrial Committee - an organization, created by industrial magnates in order to supply the army. In 1915 Guchkov was among the founders of Progressive Bloc, which demanded for establishing ministerial responsibility before the Duma. Nicholas II constantly refused to satisfy this demand, mostly due to adamant position of the Tzarina and Grigory Rasputin. Later Guchkov reported, that members of the Progressive Bloc would consider coup d'etat, but did not undertake any action. Actually, at that time everyone realized, that nothing was able to save the monarchy. It was Guchkov, along with Vasily Shulgin, who came to the army headquarters near Pskov and persuaded the Tsar to abdicate on March 2, 1917.
[edit] After revolution
After the February Revolution the Union of October 17 legally ceased to exist. Guchkov held the office of War Minister in the Russian Provisional Government until April 29. He was forced to resign after public unrest, caused by Milyukov's Note. Along with his fellow Mikhail Rodzyanko he continued to struggle for establishing of "strong government". He supported Lavr Kornilov and was arrested, when his coup d'etat attempt failed, but released the next day.
After the October Revolution Guchkov provided financial support for the White Guard. When eventual defeat of White Guard became inevitable, he emigrated first going to Germany. He died in 1936 in Paris.
[edit] See also
[edit] Memoirs
- Alexander Ivanovich Guchkov rasskazyvaet -- Vospominaniya predsedatelya Gosudarstvennoj dumy i voennogo ministra Vremennogo pravitel'stva, Moscow, TOO Red. zhurnala "Voprosy istorii", 1993, ISBN 5-86397-001-4, 143p.
[edit] References
- Alexander Sergeevich Senin. Alexander Ivanovich Guchkov, Moscow, Skriptoriy, 1996, 263p.
- William Ewing Gleason. Alexander Guchkov and the end of the Russian Empire, Philadelphia, American Philosophical Society, 1983, ISBN 0-87169-733-5, 90p.
