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Title: Vrangel' family papers
Date (inclusive): 1849-2003
Collection Number: 95012
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: Mainly in Russian
Physical Description:
10 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box
(6.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The Vrangel' family papers include correspondence, printed matter, and photographs, relating to Russian military activities
during World War I, White Russian military activities during the Russian Civil War, and especially to Russian émigré affairs
in the interwar period. Includes obituaries of Petr Vrangel' and letters of condolence following his death. Mainly in Russian.
Creator:
Vrangelʹ, Petr Nikolaevich, Baron, 1878-1928
Creator:
Vrangel' family
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Originals closed; microfilm use only except for Box 11. Materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system.
If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1995
[Identification of item], Vrangel' family papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives
A veteran of the Russian-Japanese War (1904-1905) and World War I General Baron Petr Nikolaevich Vrangel' joined the anti-Bolshevik
armies in Southern Russia in late 1917. He was known for many years in Russia as the "black baron" and "the last enemy of
the Soviet Republic", while on the other hand he was honored as "the last knight of the Russian Empire" by his comrades. Vrangel'
was the commander-in-chief of the White Army in the final stage of the Civil War and leader of the White émigré movement.
After the rout in early 1920 of the Denikin forces, Vrangel' succeeded Denikin in command and soon whipped the demoralized
remains of the White Army into shape. He also tried to win popular support with a program for land reform. Vrangel' was successful
for a while on the Crimean front, but after the Russian armistice with Poland in October 1920, the Communists were able to
concentrate larger forces against him. Vrangel' was forced back into the Crimea, and in November 1920, he had to evacuate
his forces to Constantinople. The Russian Civil War thus came to an end. Vrangel' died in exile at Brussels. His children
believed he had been poisoned by the Soviet secret police. He is buried in the Russian Cathedral in Belgrade.
This collection contains personal papers of the members of the Vrangel' family: General Baron Petr Nikolaevich Vrangel', his
wife Baroness Ol'ga Mikhailovna Vrangel' (including papers relating to her grandfather, conservative Russian journalist Mikhail
Katkov), their son Baron Alexis (Aleksei Petrovich) Vrangel', and grandson Baron Petr Petrovich Vrangel', as well as his mother
Baroness Maria Dmitrievna Vrangel', his brother Baron Nikolai Nikolaevich Vrangel', and granddaughter Natal'ia.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Vrangel' family papers include correspondence, photographs, and military papers relating to Russian military activities
during World War I, White Russian military activities during the Russian Civil War, and especially to Russian émigré affairs
in the interwar period and after. They include obituaries of Petr Vrangel' and letters of condolence following his death.
The materials are mainly in Russian.
This collection contains personal papers of the members of the Vrangel' family: Petr Nikolaevich Vrangel', his wife Ol'ga
Mikhailovna Vrangel', their son Alexis (Aleksei Petrovich) Vrangel', and grandson Petr Petrovich Vrangel', as well as his
mother Baroness Maria Dmitrievna Vrangel', his brother Nikolai Nikolaevich Vrangel', and granddaughter Natal'ia.
A significant part of the collection are the letters from Petr Nikolaevich Vrangel' to his wife Ol'ga during his time in the
Army. The original correspondence was sent over an extensive time period; starting in pre-revolutionary times, through the
Russian Revolution and Civil War period, and ending with the emigration. The letters give a unique picture of the dynamic
situation in the Russian Army in exile with information on various people, military units and schools in emigration.
Baroness Olga Mikhailovna Vrangel' worked as a volunteer nurse with the Russian Army during World War I, and after the revolution
headed a group of volunteers who organized a tuberculosis sanitarium in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. During the 1930s, while living
in Belgium, she raised funds for the support and education of young Russian refugees. She later came to the United States,
where she died in 1968. Olga Mikhailovna served as chairman of the Ladies Welfare Committee at Our Lady of Kazan Russian Orthodox
Church in Long Island. Her papers include personal documents and correspondence.
The papers of Baron Alexis (Aleksei Petrovich) Vrangel' contain materials on their family genealogy, correspondence, and a
memoirs relating to the Russian Civil War and his grandfather Petr Nikolaevich Vrangel'.
The increment received in 2009 contains material relating to conservative Russian journalist Mikhail Katkov, grandfather of
Olga Vrangel.
The collection is organized into four series: Family file, Photographs, Mlitary Archive, and Katkov Family file.
There are two additional Vrangel' collections in the Hoover Institution. One originates with General Baron Petr Nikolaevich
Vrangel' and another with Baroness Maria D. Vrangel'.
Vrangel' collection, 1916-1929, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Baronessa Mariia Dmitrievna Vrangel' collection, 1915-1944, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Russia -- Emigration and immigration
Soviet Union -- History -- Revolution, 1917-1921
World War, 1914-1918 -- Russia
Officers
Refugees
Russia. Armii͡a