Marina Petrova exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
See the first part http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/society/35368.html
Several months before his death Ali Aga Shikhlinsky dictated military memoirs which were published in 1944 under the headline “My Memories.” The book is first and the only military memoir in the history of Azerbaijan. None of Russian and Soviet historian could do without very valuable data, facts, stories collected in this unique work. Ali Aga participated in four wars in various parts of the world – Japan, China, the Caucasus, and Europe. General Shikhlinsky was called “God of artillery” for his incredible talent to the military art.
As the Russian-Japan war of 1904-1905 began Ali Aga Shikhlinsky was appointed the commander of a squadron with which he took part in the siege of Port Arthur. Captain Shikhlinsky showed special heroism in the battles. Despite heavy injure in leg, he didn’t abandon his squadron and continued give orders and encourage soldiers. The first attack of Port Arthur committed by Japanese failed due to accurate night shelling of Russian artillery. That was time when Ali Aga invented and implemented his well-known “triangle.” For heroism Shikhlinsky got many honor awards.
During the First World War Shikhlinsky took several top positions in artillery, headed the artillery defense of Petrograd, was the head of the artillery troops of the Western Front, and in early 1917 became general-lieutenant and was appointed a commander of the 10th army of the Western Front.
However, the greatest undertaking of his life was establishing of the National Azerbaijani Army. After the October Revolution Shikhlinsky resigned and went to Baku. Realizing the difficult situation in the country, Ali Aga understood that the Azerbaijani people needed their own regular army, if they wanted to protect themselves from foreign intruders and other troubles. On November 15th, 1917, Shikhlinsky formed the first Azerbaijani national corps in Tiflis. In the end of the year he moved to Ganja together with his headquarters. Speaking on February 20th, 1919, at the ceremony of the first graduation from the school of Azerbaijani warrant officers, Ali Aga Shikhlinsky said: “Azerbaijanis have to remember always that their native army is not an asylum and it exists not for any Azerbaijani could find a worm place. It is a pillar of Motherland where only the best sons of the country should serve.”
In May 1918 general found out that Azerbaijan would become independent. The next day Ali Aga developed a project of a military ministry for a new state. Shikhlinsky suggested replacement of the corps by divisions which would be under direct command of the military minister and his deputies. By December 1918 Ali Aga developed a detailed plan of establishing the regular army of Azerbaijan. But there was an obstacle on the way to a strong and defensible mechanism of regular troops – the first military minister of independent Azerbaijan Khosrov-Bek Sultanov who was a civilian. The internal situation in the country became worse day after day. The government had to launch defense emergency in western regions of the country. Shikhlinsky insisted that the military ministry should be headed by a military man. General sent his plan on the regular army to the government for several times. “I’m afraid the project hasn’t been discussed,” Ali Aga remembered. Finally on December 25th, 1918, Shikhlinsky became the military minister, but only four days later he was reduced to the deputy minister. However, he played the key role in establishing of the National Azerbaijani Army and became “father” of regular troops of Azerbaijan.
After the collapse of independent Azerbaijan and establishing of the Soviet power Shikhlinsky moved to Moscow by invitation of Nariman Narimanov. He took part in working of the Department of Artillery Inspector of the Red Army and taught students in the Higher Artillery School of the Red Army Command Squad. In 1921 Ali Aga and his wife returned to Baku where he became the deputy head of the Unified Military Command Squad School in 1924. From that time on, Shikhlinsky never left Azerbaijan where he worked until he died in 1943.
