Draft:Petropavlovsk operation

The Petropavlovsk operation was a military operation by the Red Army from August 20 to November 3rd (or October 31st) it began the Great Siberian Ice March

Petropavlovsk operation
Part of the Russian Civil War and Eastern Front of the Russian Civil War
A picture of general Odelrogge
Date August 20th-November 3rd 1919 Location Western Siberia Kazahstan Result Soviet victory Start of the Great Siberian Ice March
Belligerents
Russian State (1918–1920)	RSFSR
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Kolchak Mikhail Diterikhs	Mikhail Tukhachevsky Vladimir Olderogge
Units involved
White Army	Red Army 3rd Army 5th Army
Strength
57,500	60,800
Casualties and losses
Heavy up to 50% of their forces	Small in comperison to the whites

Course of the operation

During the pursuit of Kolchak's troops, Soviet commander Vladimir Olderogge reached the Tobol River. On August 20, under his command, the 5th and 3rd Red Armies crossed the Tobol River. Within 10 days, the Red Army covered around 150 km. On September 2, the White Army launched a counterattack, initiating major fighting between the White and Red armies, which led to the Bolsheviks retreating to positions beyond the Tobol River. On October 14, the Red Army attacked again and regained around 40 km by October 17. By the 21st, the Red Army had defeated a White counterattack. On the 31st, the Red Army captured Petropavlovsk, and by November 4, they captured Ishim. Due to the Whites losing up to 50% of their manpower, Kolchak retreated to Omsk, beginning the Great Siberian Ice March. These losses deprived Kolchak of hope for connecting his forces with those of Denikin.

See also

• Red army
  
• White Army
  
• Great Siberian Ice March
  
• Eastern Front of the Russian Civil War