because the two names are also Nicholas, but their height is much different. At that time, people gave them the nicknames "High Nicholas (Grand Duke Nicholas)" and "Dwarf Nicholas (Tsar Nicholas II)". It is said that this made the czar very upset.
Grand Duke Nicholas was an engineer. Graduated from the Military Academy (Николаевскоеинженерноеучилище) and the Imperial Military Staff College (Николаевскаяакадемия Генеральногоштаба). He served as an officer in the Russian-Turkish War. He served as an officer in the Russian-Turkish War.
But because the Grand Duke was very popular in the army, he was jealous of Tsar Nicholas II. Before the outbreak of the First World War, he was excluded from the decision-making circle of the staff headquarters due to court struggles. Only served as the commander of the St. Petersburg Military District.
When the First World War broke out, the Russian Empire issued a general mobilization order. According to the Russian law at the time, the czar must be the commander-in-chief of the army, but the military chiefs unanimously asked the czar to transfer the command to Grand Duke Nicholas, lacking military experience. The Tsar Nicholas II was more or less aware of this seriousness, so on the second day of the declaration of war in Germany, the Tsar appointed Grand Duke Nicholas as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Once this order was issued, it was almost welcomed by the whole country and the army.
However, the Czar also limited some of the powers of Grand Duke Nicholas. For example, the personnel appointment and system of the Staff Headquarters could not be changed. This was to allow the Czar’s confidants to monitor Grand Duke Nicholas. This somewhat affected the flexibility of the Russian military in strategic scheduling Sex also led to several failures of the Russian army in the war.
Despite this, Archduke Nicholas succeeded in defeating the Austro-Hungarian army in Galicia in 1914. The French Marshal Foch (Ferdinand Foch) praised Archduke Nicholas’ command in Galicia as “the most modern military art. Outstanding performance". However, in 1915, the Germans drew back their forces from the Western Front to the Eastern Front and launched a series of counterattacks to drive the Russians out of Galicia.
Although the Russian army lacked ammunition and supplies, and the improper decision-making of Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian army was greatly defeated, but in the end, under the calm command of Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian army successfully withdrew from Galicia and avoided The crisis of annihilation. German general Erich von Falkenhayn said after the battle: "Our offensive on the Eastern Front... did not lead to the collapse of the Russian army. The Russian army got rid of our encirclement and retreated towards safety..."
but this time The battle gave Tsar Nicholas II an excuse to remove the command of the Grand Duke. On August 19, 1915, the Tsar ordered the cancellation of the command of Grand Duke Nicholas. This decision was opposed by the army and the Russian government. On the 21st, the military chiefs warned the czar, "Your Majesty, according to our understanding, your decision will have serious consequences for Russia and your dynasty."
However, the czar insisted on his decision and Grand Duke Nicholas was replace.
German Staff General Ludendorff (Erich Ludendorff), after learning of the news, wrote in his diary, "Grand Duke Nicholas has been dismissed and the Tsar is now the commander of the Russian army. Germany is already on the road to victory. Go on."
Grand Duke Nicholas was sent to the Caucasus theater to fight against Turkey, cooperating with the famous Russian general, General Yudenich, who later became one of the most famous generals of the White Army. In the Caucasus theater, Grand Duke Nicholas handed over the command of the army to General Yudenich, and he was mostly responsible for the supply and administration of the rear. The two caused a series of military victories against Turkey in 1915 and 1916, almost Drive out the power of Germany and Turkey in northern Persia.
Grand Duke Nicholas stayed in the Caucasus until the revolution broke out in Russia in 1917. In 1918, the Russian Civil War broke out, and Grand Duke Nicholas remained in the Caucasus. It was not until 1919 when the Red Army advanced that he and his family took the British battleship HMS Marlborough to exile to Genoa, where he was served by the Italian King Vittorio Emma. Protected by Nuela III (he is the brother-in-law of Grand Duke Nicholas).
In 1923, Grand Duke Nicholas moved to Paris, France. In 1924, he became the nominal leader of the "Russian Military Alliance" of the Russian White Army. The actual leader of the alliance was Freiherr Peter von, known as the Black Baron. Wrangel, this man is more famous because he is brave and good at fighting, and the Red Army even wrote a song "The Red Army is the Strongest" for him to be bold). Z4z
Grand Duke Nicholas passed away on January 5, 1929. His funeral was carried out in accordance with the specifications of the Russian royal family. Some exiled Tsarist Russian soldiers and the Grand Duke’s own Cossack Guards were also responsible for the ceremony. Grand Duke Nicholas was buried in Cannes. Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Orthodox Church in France).
In 2014, the descendants of Grand Duke Nicholas petitioned the Russian government to move the tomb of the Grand Duke back to Russia. The then Prime Minister Medvedev supported this proposal and negotiated with the French government. The Catholic French Armed Forces parish Lucaville (Luc Ravel also agreed with this decision. Out of respect for Grand Duke Nicholas, France requested that Grand Duke Nicholas be buried in the Invalides in Paris in name, to pay tribute to his contribution in the First World War.
In 2015, the Russian government cooperated with the French government and the French Les Invalides. After a series of solemn memorial ceremonies, Grand Duke Nicholas was moved to the Military Cemetery Church in Moscow, where he has been asleep.
