Unfortunately, today few people remember that during the First World War, the Cossack Kozma Kryuchkov lived on the Don. Meanwhile, he became a real hero of his time. But after the events of 1917, their fame was hushed up, and information about their exploits was deliberately destroyed. But not a single Cossack was honored with such a rapid rise to Olympus of national glory, except for him. And not a single "strangler of the revolution" was so slandered by Soviet officials as Kozma Kryuchkov. His heroic exploits began to be positioned by the Bolsheviks as a propaganda lie, and his name was made a laughingstock. But the "St. George's Cross" is not awarded to a person just like that, which means that Kozma Kryuchkov received it absolutely deservedly. What was remarkable in the biography of the above-mentioned hero of the First World War and for what merits did he become a holder of the St. George Cross? Let's take a closer look at this issue.
Years of childhood and youth
Kozma Firsovich Kryuchkov was born in 1890 in the village of Nizhne-Kalmykovsky (Ust-Medveditsky district of the Upper Don). The parents of the future hero adhered to strict rules of education and tried toobserve patriarchal principles in the family.
Already at the age of 17, Kozma Kryuchkov, whose biography is of particular interest to historians, received a horse and a saber. Four years later, the young man graduates from the village school and joins the ranks of the third Don Cossack regiment to serve the Fatherland. By that time, the young Cossack was already married, and in his family he had two children - a girl and a boy.
Beginning of World War I…
The young man very quickly established himself as a diligent warrior and already in 1914 he rose to the rank of orderly 6th hundred of the third Don regiment. Kozma Kryuchkov really turned into a savvy, smart and brave Cossack, who knows a lot about military affairs.
He took the news of the war coldly and calmly, because he was ready for it both physically and mentally. Soon the service for him became the main thing of his life. Contemporaries of the hero of the First World War recalled that Kozma Firsovich Kryuchkov, whose biography is known only to a few, was a modest and shy person, but at the same time he was open to communication and showed sincerity in conversations with friends and associates.
Good physical data, dexterity, courage, resourcefulness - all these qualities indicated that he was a real son of his Fatherland, who could defend him at any time.
Feat
Shortly after the start of the war, the Cossack Kozma Kryuchkov, along with the regiment, ends up in the city of Kalwaria (Poland). It is there that the most important event in his life will take place. At the end of July 1914he and three of his brother-soldiers (Ivan Shchegolkov, Vasily Astakhov, Mikhail Ivankin), patrolling the territory, came across the Germans. The forces were unequal. The enemy detachment consisted of almost three dozen people. One way or another, the Germans panicked from such an unexpected meeting, but when they realized that they were opposed by only 4 Cossacks, they rushed to the attack. But Kozma Firsovich and his comrades did not want to give up so easily: they intended to give a worthy rebuff to the Germans. The warring parties came close to each other, and a fierce battle began. The Cossacks boldly slashed the enemies with their swords, remembering well the experience of their fathers and grandfathers.
At one of the convenient and appropriate moments, Kozma contrived, and he had a rifle in his hands. He was about to open fire on the Germans, but he pulled the bolt too hard and the cartridge jammed. Then he armed himself with a saber and began to fight the enemy with a vengeance. The results of the fight were stunning. Most of the enemy detachment of German cavalry was destroyed: only a few managed to escape. Moreover, there were no “fatal” losses on the part of the Cossacks at all, but everyone was wounded. As fellow soldiers testified, the feat of Kozma Kryuchkov defied reason: he alone killed eleven Germans, and many stab wounds were recorded on his body, while he remained alive.
Subsequently, the hero will tell: “There were 24 killed Germans on the ground. My comrades were wounded, and I received 16 stab injuries, and my horse - 11. Soon General Rennenkampf visited White Olita and handed me the St. George ribbon. It was the mosthigh reward for the defense of their Fatherland. Kozma Kryuchkov - the legendary hero of the First World War - was proud of her like no other. But Vasily Astakhov, Ivan Shchegolkov and Mikhail Ivankin also received awards: they received St. George medals.
Vacation
Having treated his wounds in the hospital, the brave Cossack returned to his regiment, but after a short time he was sent on a visit to his native farm.
The fame of Kryuchkov's feat went far beyond Nizhne-Kalmykovsky. The emperor himself found out about him. And the famous battle with the Germans was eloquently described by the main Russian media. Kozma Firsovich became a national hero who personified Russian military courage. Kryuchkov was not allowed to pass by newspapermen and paparazzi. He even became a member of the newsreel. In 1914, almost all periodicals printed a photo of a brave Cossack hero. The face of Kozma Firsovich began to decorate postage stamps, patriotic posters and even cigarette boxes. And it could also be seen on candy wrappers "Heroic", which were made at the Kalesnikov factory. An entire ship was named after him. The famous painter Ilya Repin painted a portrait of the legendary hero of the First World War. There were even rumors that some young ladies specially went to the front to get acquainted with the brave Cossack.
The army appreciates him…
One way or another, but gloryhe was persecuted not only in civilian life, but also in military service. He was assigned a "privileged" position at the division headquarters - the head of the convoy.
Contemporaries of the hero said that hundreds of letters came to his service, and the headquarters was literally filled with food parcels.
In Moscow, Kryuchkov received a saber in a silver frame as an offering, and in the "city on the Neva" he was presented with the same gift, but already in a gold frame. In addition, Kozma Firsovich became the owner of the blade, which was covered with eulogies. But after some time, Kryuchkov began to hate the "sleek" service at the headquarters, and he again asked to go to the front to fight the Germans.
Romanian Front
The request of the Cossack-hero was finally considered, and Kozma Firsovich, as part of the Third Don Regiment, goes to the Romanian front. There were regular battles in this theater of operations. Kryuchkov shows his best qualities as a soldier here too. In particular, in 1915, he and ten fellow soldiers in one of the villages entered into battle with the enemy, who was twice their strength. Some of the German invaders were killed, and some were taken prisoner. The Cossacks managed to find valuable information about the whereabouts of enemy troops. And this feat of Kryuchkov was noted by the commanders. Kozma Firsovich was awarded the rank of sergeant major, and the general who arrived at the headquarters personally shook his hand and said that he was proud that such a brave and brave warrior served in his regiment. After some time, Kryuchkov is trusted to command a hundred. Subsequently, the brave Cossack repeatedly participated in strategicbattles, in which he was often injured.
Once, after the battle in Poland, his life was in danger, but thanks to timely medical assistance, Kozma Firsovich survived.
Unpleasant Incident
Another serious wound Kryuchkov received at the turn of 1916-1917. He was hospitalized in Rostov. And here an unfortunate incident happened. The swindlers stole the "Order of St. George" from the Cossack. This incident was immediately covered in the local press. After him, the name of Kozma Kryuchkov was practically not mentioned in the newspapers.
Merit Awards
During the years of the First World War, a Cossack from the Upper Don district received several high awards, including: two St. George's crosses, two St. George's medals "For Courage". He rose to the position of a cadet, significant among the Cossacks. In the midst of the February Revolution, Kryuchkov's life is undergoing significant changes. Still fragile after the hospital, Kozma Firsovich "takes upon himself" the duties of the head of the regimental committee. But after the revolution in Soviet Russia, the former army was disbanded. Serious disagreements arose among the Cossacks: one part of them stood for the new government, and the other part supported the old regime. Kryuchkov also had his own position on this matter. Adhering to the patriarchal foundations in society, he spoke out for the king and the White Guard movement. Surrounded by his associates, he returns to his native farm.
The difficult years of the civil war
But peaceful life in his native Nizhne-Kalmykovsky did not work out. The division into red andthe Cossacks also touched the whites.
Enemy suddenly became not only bosom friends, but also close relatives. I had to confront former comrades and Kozma Kryuchkov.
Death
The legendary hero of the First World War died a heroic death in the late summer of 1919. Death overtook Kryuchkov in the village of Lopukhovka (Saratov region). The Reds shelled the village and several bullets hit the Cossack. The comrades managed to pull Kozma Firsovich out of the shelling, but the wound he received turned out to be incompatible with life. He was buried in the cemetery of his native farm.
