An expeditionary force is loaned to France by Tsarist Russia during World War I,
until the soldiers learn that revolution has broken out. ---- Rémi Adam knowsperfectly well the history of this Russian expeditionary force in France duringthe First World War. His book, published by Agone, is the third work devoted tothese events. This sum, with its numerous references, is to be recommended foranyone interested in this hidden side of the history of the First World War. Ifthe author does not hide his sympathy for the mutineers, these oppressed, he doesnot give in to the ease of a simple bias. He invites and quotes soldiers as wellas officers and diplomats, offering a complete overview of the facts.The book follows a chronological journey from the end of 1915, when theexpeditionary force was formed, to 1920, when these soldiers returned to Russia.This methodological bias allows us to better understand how these men were sentto France following an ignoble barter, summed up as guns for men. The Frencharmy, following the significant human losses, came to set up this odiousexchange, literally buying cannon fodder for weapons: 45,000 men for 450,000 rifles.Part of this Russian expeditionary force was to be engaged in the Nivelleoffensive where it suffered significant human losses. After a trying journey bysea, a rudimentary training, these Russian soldiers learned, several months late,that the Revolution had broken out. We were just before the biggest groundoffensive, with disproportionate human losses. The Russian soldiers decided toform a committee of soldiers but went to the battles anyway. The expeditionaryforce was crushed during the Chemin des Dames offensive in 1917, where 4,500Russians perished.A hundred rebels killedThis story follows the contours of this formidable era, of the decline of theTsarist army, the end of a centuries-old regime, this nascent Russian revolutionso full of hope. However far they were from their country, this certainly upsettheir ways of thinking and acting, but these phenomena cannot be detached fromthe mistreatment and bullying they experienced. Gradually, class consciousnessgained in importance and led to this rupture signified by the mutiny. This elitetroop turned into rebels who decided to no longer serve as cannon fodder or bemistreated by their Tsarist officers.Fearing a contagion effect in the ranks, the French general staff decided to movethe Russian soldiers to the Vosges and then in June 1917, to La Courtine in theCreuse. As the situation deteriorated, the Russian soldiers refused to obey theirleaders. An end to the ill-treatment and a return to Russia were their main demands.The rebels were asked to surrender their weapons but the latter, fearing for thefuture, refused. Faced with this refusal, from September 16 to 19, 1917, fightingtook place. Some rebels were tried and sentenced, others were able to eitherreturn to the front or stay behind to participate in the war effort. In 1919,they were able to reach Odessa. The official toll was nine dead... but thereality would be around a hundred killed.Dominique Sureau (UCL Angers)Rémi Adam, The rebels of La Courtine, History of the Russian expeditionary forcein France, Agone, 2020, 565 pages, 25 euros.https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Lire-Les-revoltes-de-la-Courtine-Histoire-du-corps-expeditionnaire-russe-en_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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