Makhnovist commander who led the Crimean group across the Sivash against Wrangel in November 1920 and was then shot by the Reds
Born to a farmhand's family near Huliaipole, he rose to ensign in the First World War and from 1917 belonged to the Huliaipole anarchist group. In 1918 he fought the Austro-Hungarian occupiers and joined the insurgent staff; in 1919 he commanded the Berdiansk garrison and a regiment, and took part in the killing of Hryhoriv in July and the execution of Polonsky's group in December. In 1920, as Makhno's deputy, he argued against alliance with the Bolsheviks, yet in October signed the provisional agreement at Starobilsk. With Makhno wounded, he led the Crimean group across the Sivash in November, broke Barbovich's cavalry corps and pushed on to Simferopol, but in late November the Reds arrested him in Melitopol and shot him.
Also known as: Semen Karetnyk · Semyon Karetnikov
Activities and affiliations
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1914–1917
Russian Empire state institutions
Military command -
1918–1920
Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine (Makhnovists)Main
Military command
Career Timeline
- 1914–1917Drafted in the First World War; ensign
- 1917Huliaipole anarchist group and Black Guard
- 1918Insurgent staff; commander of the Huliaipole detachment
- 1919Head of the Berdiansk garrison; commander of the Huliaipole infantry regiment
- 1919Took part in the killing of Hryhoriv
- 1920Member of the insurgent council and Makhno’s deputy
- 1920Signed the provisional Starobilsk agreement
- 1920Commander of the Makhnovist Crimean group; crossed the Sivash