THE FATE OF THE SHIPS OF WRANGEL’S FLEET:
MILITARY TRANSPORT “RION” IN 1920–1921 

Rudkovskaya Margarita Mikhaylovna, Applicant, Bryansk State Academician I. G. Petrovsky University (14 Bezhitskaya street, Bryansk, Russia); Trainee researcher, Department of Military History, the Ministry of Defense Vincennes (Château de Vincennes, avenue de Paris, Vincennes, France), E-mail: margarita.thimrud@gmail.com 

94(47) 

DOI

10.21685/2072-3024-2018-4-4 

Background. The study of the history of the white fleet reveals the specifics of the use of ships in the period immediately following the Crimean evacuation, in one of the most dramatic moments when the fate of Russian military formations in emigration was decided. The purpose of the article on the example of a detailed analysis of the history of one of the ships of the Wrangel’s fleet is to show the patterns and randomness in the use of Russian warships in emigration during this period.
Materials and methods. The research task was achieved through the use of numerous archival collections from the state archives of France and Russia, as well as press materials of the appropriate period. The author relies on the methods of source study and comparative historical analysis.
Results. The author believes it is necessary to pay attention to the complexity of the study of the history of the ships of the Wrangel fleet, attracting documents of domestic and foreign archives, press materials, sources of personal origin. The work establishes a range of important research problems such as the technical condition of ships and the possibility of their further use, the legal and financial situation of crews, the daily service of Russian sailors and relations with the occupation authorities.
Conclusions. Some prospects for further research can be proposed on the basis of a comprehensive study of sources in order to identify patterns in the use of Russian ships and their crews in Constantinople, as well as the specifics of their dispersion in an ambiguous socio-political context. 

Key words

Wrangel’s fleet, Crimean evacuation, Constantinople, France, Russia, allies, “Rion”, emigration 

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