The Caucasian Native Mounted Division has marked its 100th anniversary this year. 90% of the military formation of the Russian Imperial Army created in August 1914 were Muslim volunteers from the North Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus who were not conscripts, according to the law of the Russian Empire. Russian nobles served as officers in the division.
Mikhail Myagkov, deputy director for science at the Russian Military and History Society, told Vestnik Kavkaza about the role of the Savage Division in the history of Russia: “It was generally the first experience of forming an independent unit from peoples of the North Caucasus, mainly Muslims. They took an active part in the First World War, demonstrated courage, heroism, making night raids, the enemy did fear them. There were Ingushetians, Chechens, Dagestanis. Dagestan and Chechnya are considering building a memorial to the Caucasus cavalry division.”
Myagkov reminded that the division had been called savage because of the dread and horror its enemies felt, the division was feared. The division was under the command of a relative of the Russian emperor, so his status was high. “You know, it happens that you go to serve – you do not go, you were conscripted – you were not, and people here wanted it, it was honorable service. Unfortunately, the revolutionary years, 1917, the fall of the tsar brought everything to nought, many emigrated… But the first experience when the national formation was created can be studied today, at least, as different people cohabit for a common cause – achievement of victory in the war.”
The Savage Division had excellent snipers and respected traditions: “If there were only Muslims behind the table, they could wear hats, if the majority were Russians, they took the hats off. In other words, there was respect towards each other and traditions.”
Myagkov reminded that the division distinguished itself in East Prussia, Galicia, West Ukraine. Over a million St. George awards were handed out during WWI. Thousands of servicemen of the Caucasus division received soldier’s crosses. The only difference from the St. George cross is the St. George the Victor in the middle, Muslims received awards with a two-headed eagle emblem. Some received orders. They thought that the man with the spear was the one striking the enemy, like St. George depicted in the middle of the cross.
An example of efficient interethnic cooperation for a common causeThe Caucasian Native Mounted Division has marked its 100th anniversary this year. 90% of the military formation of the Russian Imperial Army created in August 1914 were Muslim volunteers from the North Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus who were not conscripts, according to the law of the Russian Empire. Russian nobles served as officers in the division.Mikhail Myagkov, deputy director for science at the Russian Military and History Society, told Vestnik Kavkaza about the role of the Savage Division in the history of Russia: “It was generally the first experience of forming an independent unit from peoples of the North Caucasus, mainly Muslims. They took an active part in the First World War, demonstrated courage, heroism, making night raids, the enemy did fear them. There were Ingushetians, Chechens, Dagestanis. Dagestan and Chechnya are considering building a memorial to the Caucasus cavalry division.”Myagkov reminded that the division had been called savage because of the dread and horror its enemies felt, the division was feared. The division was under the command of a relative of the Russian emperor, so his status was high. “You know, it happens that you go to serve – you do not go, you were conscripted – you were not, and people here wanted it, it was honorable service. Unfortunately, the revolutionary years, 1917, the fall of the tsar brought everything to nought, many emigrated… But the first experience when the national formation was created can be studied today, at least, as different people cohabit for a common cause – achievement of victory in the war.”The Savage Division had excellent snipers and respected traditions: “If there were only Muslims behind the table, they could wear hats, if the majority were Russians, they took the hats off. In other words, there was respect towards each other and traditions.”Myagkov reminded that the division distinguished itself in East Prussia, Galicia, West Ukraine. Over a million St. George awards were handed out during WWI. Thousands of servicemen of the Caucasus division received soldier’s crosses. The only difference from the St. George cross is the St. George the Victor in the middle, Muslims received awards with a two-headed eagle emblem. Some received orders. They thought that the man with the spear was the one striking the enemy, like St. George depicted in the middle of the cr
