Admiral Dubasov was known as an executioner for his allegiance to the oath
“Sometimes there are no names left from the heroes of bygone times…” The words from the song to the cult Soviet film “Officers” can be fully attributed to many who served Russia with faith and truth, but are forgotten today. Among them is Fedor Dubasov.
At the mere mention of him, people of the older generation come to mind the horror stories born during the years of the first Russian revolution, which was strangled thanks to the decisive actions of this extraordinary person.
From "Tsarevich" to "Peter the Great"
He was born on June 21, 1845 in the family of a hereditary naval officer. The founder of the dynasty, Avtonom Dubasov, took part in one of the first battles of the young Russian fleet with the Swedes. Following family traditions, Fedya Dubasov brilliantly graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps and soon made his first round the world voyage. Realizing that this was not enough for a successful career as a naval officer, he entered the Naval Academy, where he successfully completed his studies in 1870. Seven years later, the Balkan War began, in which Dubasov, already a lieutenant, not only took part, but became famous throughout Russia.
“Having occupied Port Arthur, we are embarking on a path from which there is no turning. I don’t want to be a prophet, but it will inevitably involve us in great difficulties”
In May 1877, commanding the Tsesarevich destroyer, together with three boat commanders, suddenly attacked the Ottoman flotilla on the Danube at the place where our troops were crossing and sent an enemy battleship to the bottom. Under hurricane fire, a Turk boldly disembarks with his comrades on board a sinking ship in order to remove its flag. None of our boats were injured, everyone returned safely to the base, which was perceived as a miracle. And the young lieutenant soon became known as a desperate brave man. A march was composed in his honor, photographs of the hero were successfully sold on the streets. By the end of the war, Lieutenant-Commander Dubasov was awarded the Orders of St. George and St. Vladimir, golden weapons. He is at the peak of his popularity and fortune favors him - he is appointed commander of the cruiser "Africa", promoted to captain of the 1st rank.
In 1889-1891, he was already the commander of the frigate "Vladimir Monomakh" involved in a three-year round-the-world voyage, accompanying Tsarevich Nicholas on his journey to the Far East. The hike is not only an invaluable experience. Travel notes from the pen of Dubasov find their readers. He also owns works in the field of naval affairs, destroyer warfare, which are translated into English and French. Soon after the Far Eastern mission, he received the command of the best battleship of the Imperial Navy "Peter the Great", and then became the head of the Pacific squadron, receiving the rank of vice admiral. And this is where his career growth ends …
The obstinate Admiral Doo
Fyodor Vasilyevich, as he once did in his youth on the Danube, still shows himself to be a principled officer, he flatly refuses to accept the rules of the giveaway game, which were spreading in the fleet. He does not go into his pocket for words, argues with his superiors, is not afraid of authorities, shows independence, which the command categorically does not like. There is a well-known dispute between Dubasov and the legendary Admiral Makarov about the superiority of large ships over small ones. As a result, Stepan Osipovich admitted that his opponent was right. However, the command tried to remove the rebellious vice admiral from the fleet, demote him, and write him off to the shore. Relations with colleagues were also not easy. Tough discipline always reigned on the ships entrusted to Dubasov, he did not tolerate slovens, sycophants and careerists. For this he was considered arrogant and arrogant.
In 1898, on instructions from the Admiralty, the Russian fleet under his command occupied the Kwantung Peninsula. Dubasov had his own opinion here, too, so at his own peril and risk he landed on the island of Kargodo and the port of Mozampo, which are of strategic importance, on which he previously held successful negotiations with the local authorities. In his opinion, these objects reliably covered the Russian naval bases in the Pacific, threatening, in turn, the Japanese. Admiral Du, as the locals called him, was resolute, and telegrams were rushed to Petersburg one after another about the arbitrariness of the squadron commander. As a result, with a heavy heart, he had to leave the island and the port (which the Japanese were not slow to occupy) and land on Kwantung. “Having occupied Port Arthur,” he wrote in a report, “we are already embarking on a path from which there is no turning. I do not want to be a prophet, but I think that this will inevitably lead us into great difficulties. He tries to draw St. Petersburg's attention to the military preparations of Japan, but remains largely unheard.
In 1901, the vice admiral was recalled to the capital, where he was placed at the head of the naval committee, away from the porridge brewing in the Far East, where Dubasov could be so useful. However, he nevertheless took an indirect part in the war with Japan, leading the Russian delegation in negotiations to resolve the "Hull incident" that occurred off the coast of Britain on the route of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's squadron. Here Dubasov's diplomatic abilities came in handy, and Russia got out of the situation, saving face, for which the vice admiral was granted the adjutant general. Remaining far from the terrible events unfolding in the Far East close to him, he continued to bombard the military department with reports and analytical notes. So, when discussing the issue of concluding peace with Japan, the admiral advocated the continuation of the war, rightly believing that the enemy was already exhausted. And again he was not heard.
Remaining far from the events unfolding in the Far East close to him, Dubasov bombarded the military department with reports and analytical notes. When discussing the issue of concluding peace with Japan, the admiral advocated the continuation of the war, rightly believing that the enemy was already exhausted. And again he was not heard.
The fire was extinguished by fire
They remembered him when the smell of fried was already within the empire: the landowners' estates were on fire, and outrages began. A servant of the Fatherland, faithful to the oath and to the tsar, is sent to suppress the revolt in the Chernigov, Kursk and Poltava provinces, where, acting decisively and sometimes harshly, he brings the troublemakers into obedience. By the end of the year, the most difficult situation had developed in Moscow. Revolutionary lawlessness was going on in the city: there was a real hunt for policemen, gendarmes, watchmen, soldiers, not a day passed without killed or wounded. Groups of armed drunken thugs roamed the streets, terrifying. Robberies became more frequent, shops and stores did not work, people were afraid to leave their homes. In September, a general strike began in the city. Many were forced to go on strike.
As soon as Dubasov was appointed governor-general of Moscow, an open armed uprising broke out. But the naval officer did not blunder. A state of emergency is introduced, a curfew is declared. Loyal military units have been summoned from the capital, voluntary people's militia is organized, patriotic citizens are becoming more active, ready to repulse the militants. Dubasov turns to Muscovites with a promise to restore order, mobilizing them to fight. Having come to the aid of the exhausted policemen, the townspeople, under the protection of the troops, begin to dismantle the barricades, detain robbers and marauders.
"I can't compromise"
However, time was lost, in some parts of the city street fighting was already in full swing. The revolutionaries acted despicably. Having stabbed in the back, they hid in the alleyways, dissolving among the peaceful townspeople. In the area of the notorious Krasnaya Presnya alone, 45 police officers were killed and wounded.
In the Soviet press, Admiral Dubasov, who suppressed the Moscow uprising, was called a bloody executioner, a strangler of the revolution. And how was it really? Sometimes behind clear orders and categorical demands lay the Christian feeling of a true peacemaker who did not want wasted blood. Thus, the governor-general ordered the troops arriving from St. Petersburg, contrary to the instructions they had received, not to open fire in vain, not to expose residential buildings to artillery fire. Dubasov insisted that the militants handing over their weapons should not be shot on the spot, but handed over to the hands of justice. Immediately after the suppression of the rebellion, a Donation Fund for the Victims was established. From his own pocket, Dubasov allocated seven thousand rubles to encourage the police officers who took an active part in pacifying the turmoil.
Yes, the admiral's actions were tough, but no matter how many more people died, he acted less decisively. For comparison, it is worth remembering the victims of the bloody rebellion of 1917 and its horrific consequences.
From love to hate
After the suppression of the rebellion, Dubasov was blacklisted as revolutionary terrorists. Several attempts were made on him, but God kept him safe. During one of them in the Tauride Garden, terrorists threw a bomb filled with nails at his feet. There were many walking people, children nearby, but this did not stop the "fighters for the people's happiness." To the admiral's credit, he not only did not lose his head, but drew out a revolver, opened fire on the attackers, turning them to flight.
The love of the people for Dubasov was no less sincere than the hatred of the bombers. After one of the assassination attempts, he received over 200 telegrams with words of support from all segments of the population: from the tsar to ordinary citizens. Among them was the following: “Two small children thank God for saving you from danger and pray for your speedy recovery. Yura and Katya.
The Savior of the Fatherland was promoted to full admiral and appointed a member of the State Council. He was awarded one of the highest orders of the empire - St. Alexander Nevsky, and Dubasov continued to work for the good of Russia, forgetting the offenses inflicted on him and enduring reproaches, restoring his beloved fleet. His last business was active participation in the construction of the Church of the Savior on the Waters in memory of the sailors who died in Port Arthur and under Tsushima.
Dubasov died two days before his 67th birthday. Buried at the cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The next day after the burial in the Life Guards Semenovsky regiment, a memorial service was served for the newly deceased soldier Theodore.
