Contractual and Actual Situation of the White Émigrés Who Participated in the Chinese Civil War in the 1920s

Abstract

 In modern conditions, scientific interest in the tragedy of the split of Russian society in the first quarter of the 20th century has been growing. The works being published cover various aspects of the life of white émigrés, including in the Far East. It should be noted that Soviet historiography was created on the basis of Marxist-Leninist methodology. In the second half of the 1980s through the 1990s, some researchers tried, often mechanically, to present historical events in a different light. It is only in contemporary Russia that a clear picture of the historical past has begun to emerge. Based on the archival documents from the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, this article substantiates the reasons and describes the conditions for the participation and military presence of white émigrés in the Chinese Civil War (1927-1936). The materials are diverse in origin and include reports, summaries and analytical reports of the Harbin and Beijing residencies of the Foreign Department of the Joint State Political Directorate, as well as intelligence reports of various kinds received by Soviet intelligence. Their comparative analysis demonstrated a clear objective picture of the presence of white émigrés in China. It is proved that the share of the white Guard diaspora located in China that took part in the civil war was extremely small. Attempts to formalize the participation of White Guard mercenaries in the Chinese Civil War and put it into legal framework are revealed. The documents found show contractual requirements of the white diaspora leaders for the Chinese authorities to ban the use of the Russian mercenary detachment in punitive operations against civilians outside the three provinces of China. Further, the effectiveness of the military operations of the Russian detachment in Marshal Zhang Zuolin’s army was analysed, as well as the reasons for its demoralization and disintegration. A conclusion is substantiated about the importance of helping Russian citizens who emigrated out of necessity or as a result of delusions and who did not stain themselves by an open conflict with their own people. They must not be cut off completely from their motherland.