«Savage Division» in the battle for Tsu-Babino: military valor included in the military chronicle of the Russian Imperial Army (February 1915)

Abstract

The article examines the course of the battle between the regiments of the Caucasian Native Cavalry Division and the Austrian units for the Ukrainian villages of Tsu-Babino and Brin. Great importance is attached to the study of specific events that took place on the battlefield and the interaction of regiments of divisions of the Russian Imperial Army. It is important that the history of the formation of the traditions of the military commonwealth of peoples cannot be revealed without considering the process of increasing the combat skills of officers and riders of the regiments of the Caucasian Native Cavalry Division.The author used archival materials from the funds of the Russian State Military Historical Archive and the Central State Archive of the Archive Service of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, as well as studies by foreign authors and domestic scientists, which allow us to examine thoroughly the actual development of the stages of the battle near the villages of Tsu-Babino and Brin. The application of the principle of historicism allows the author to show the course of the battle in increasing dynamics from the issuance of the order of the commander of the 8th Army of the Southwestern Front to break through the Austrian positions and the execution of it by the commanders of divisions, regiments and hundreds to the specific skillful and selfless actions of the officers and horsemen of the «Savage Division».The author has concluded that the increase in combat skills of the officers and riders of the «Savage Division» regiments, their skillful interaction with units of the Russian Imperial Army, best contributed to the formation of the traditions of the military commonwealth of peoples. At the same time, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich always remained a special favorite at the front; and the «Savage Division» led by him, contrary to the skeptical opinion of many military experts, became a combat-ready part of the regular Russian Imperial Army.