The prominent military leader - “white” (as he was called because he always fought on a white horse and in a white uniform), General Skobelev Mikhail Dmitrievich showed himself as a model military administrator in the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), in the conquest of Russian lands Empire in Central Asia. He was also a good leader who took care of his subordinates.
Biography: General Skobelev M. D. in childhood and adolescence
The future commander in St. Petersburg was born on September 17, 1843 in the family of Lieutenant General Skobelev Dmitry Ivanovich by his wife Olga Nikolaevna.
He was brought up at home, and then was sent to France.
At the age of 18, he entered Petersburg University, having successfully passed exams, but the university was closed due to student unrest.
Then he went to military service in the regiment of cavalry guards. In 1866, he became a student of the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. In military photography (geodesy) and statistics, he was among the laggards, but in history and military art he was not equal in the whole course. After graduation, he was ranked among the military of the Turkestan military district.
Biography: General M. Skobelev D. From the staff captain to the general
In 1868, Mikhail Dmitrievich was appointed staff captain in the Turkestan district. In 1870, he, as the cavalry commander, was entrusted with an important task from the commander in chief of the Caucasian army, at whose disposal he was at that time. He needed to pave the way to the Khiva Khanate, with which he coped brilliantly. But without permission, he looked at the plan of operations that the commanders-in-chief developed against Khiva, for which he was expelled from the army for 11 months. After he recovers, takes part in various campaigns, regularly performs his duties.
In 1874, Skobelev was promoted to colonel and enlisted in the retinue of the emperor. Already in 1875 he was appointed head of the embassy of the Russian Empire, which was sent to Kashgar. Kokand expedition - as historians call this period of life, which includes his biography. General Skobelev proved himself to be a brave, prudent organizer and an excellent tactician.
When in the spring of 1877 he was sent to the commander-in-chief of the army, who was at war with Turkey, his colleagues did not accept him very friendly. For some time he did not receive any appointments, but after taking Lovchi by fights near Plevna, crossing the Imethli Pass, the battle near Shipka, where he acted as commander of detachments, they began to respect him.
In 1878 he returned to Russia with the rank of adjutant general with the rank of lieutenant general.
Biography: General Skobelev M. D. and his last feat
The main merit for which Skobelev received the Order of St. George of the second degree and the rank of general from infantry was the conquest of Geok-tepe (Akhal-tepe) in 1880. When he spoke to the officers at an event dedicated to the anniversary of the expedition, the annoyance of Austria and Germany fell upon him. His speech had a bright political connotation, indicated the oppression of the Slavs by fellow believers.
On June 24, 1882, General Skobelev (the biography described in some sources, contains the date on June 26), died suddenly at the Hotel England in Moscow. According to one version, he was killed by the Germans who hated him.