Volodymyr Sinkler
Encyclopedia
Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Sinkler or Vladimir Sinclair (12 January 1879 — 16 March 1946) was a Ukrainian
military leader, general of the Russia
n army, and general of the Ukrainian People's Army
.
Volodymyr Sinclair was born in the city of Margilan
(present-day Uzbekistan
) the former city of Kokand Khanate. Margilan became the uyezd
center of the newly established Fergana Oblast in the Russian Turkestan
around 1875. Sinclair family were of the Swedish descent that left the Great Britain
after the England Revolution of 1688
and pledged allegiance to Alexis of Russia. Sinclair's father was a military engineer.
Volodymyr studied at the Nepliuyevsky cadet corps and later at Mikhailov Artillery Academy in Orenburg
, Russia. After short service at the head of an artillery detachment went to study at the prestigious Artillery Academy of the General Staff
along with Oleksander Hrekov
with whom he joined the General Staff (General Bulawa) of the Ukrainian People's Army
. After graduation with distinction went to serve at different positions in St.Petersburg — served as staff officer and aide-de-camp. Throughout his career Sinclair mostly served as a staff-officer.
During World War I first served as regimental Chief of Staff and later commanded a Russian infantry regiment. Awarded the title of major-general, and the Order of Saint Stanislaus, 2nd and 3rd class; the Order of St. Anne, 2nd and 3rd class; the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd and 4th class with swords.
After the October Revolution
went to serve in the General Staff of the Ukrainian People's Army
(UNR). In 1918 was promoted to Quartermaster General
. During Directorate
and Hetmanate
continued to serve in the General Staff, played important role in capture of Kiev
from Bolsheviks in 1919. At the end of 1919 became Chief of General Staff
. In 1920 headed Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Poland
, which resulted in the Treaty of Warsaw
.
After the military defeat of the Army of UNR retired and settled in Eastern Poland
, participated in the life of the local Ukrainian community. At the end of Second World War with the advance of the Red Army
was arrested by NKVD
and interned to Kiev. Died in Lukyanivska Prison
.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
military leader, general of the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n army, and general of the Ukrainian People's Army
Ukrainian People's Army
The Ukrainian People's Army , also known as the Ukrainian National Army were often quickly reorganized units of the former Russian Imperial Army or newly formed volunteer detachments that later joined the national armed forces. The army for a long period lacked a certain degree of uniformity,...
.
Volodymyr Sinclair was born in the city of Margilan
Margilan
Margilan is a city in Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan. It is located at latitude 40°28' 16 N: longitude 71°43' 29 E. at an altitude of 487 meters....
(present-day Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
) the former city of Kokand Khanate. Margilan became the uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
center of the newly established Fergana Oblast in the Russian Turkestan
Russian Turkestan
Russian Turkestan was the western part of Turkestan within the Russian Empire , comprising the oasis region to the south of the Kazakh steppes, but not the protectorates of the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Khiva.-History:-Establishment:Although Russia had been pushing south into the...
around 1875. Sinclair family were of the Swedish descent that left the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
after the England Revolution of 1688
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
and pledged allegiance to Alexis of Russia. Sinclair's father was a military engineer.
Volodymyr studied at the Nepliuyevsky cadet corps and later at Mikhailov Artillery Academy in Orenburg
Orenburg
Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
, Russia. After short service at the head of an artillery detachment went to study at the prestigious Artillery Academy of the General Staff
General Staff Academy (Imperial Russia)
The General Staff Academy was a Russian military academy, established in 1832 in St.Petersburg. It was first known as the Imperial Military Academy , then in 1855 it was renamed Nicholas General Staff Academy and in 1909 - Imperial Nicholas Military Academy The General Staff Academy was a...
along with Oleksander Hrekov
Oleksander Hrekov
Oleksander Petrovych Hrekov was a general of the Imperial Russian Army, Ukrainian People's Army, military professor and one of the most prominent personalities in the History of Ukraine...
with whom he joined the General Staff (General Bulawa) of the Ukrainian People's Army
Ukrainian People's Army
The Ukrainian People's Army , also known as the Ukrainian National Army were often quickly reorganized units of the former Russian Imperial Army or newly formed volunteer detachments that later joined the national armed forces. The army for a long period lacked a certain degree of uniformity,...
. After graduation with distinction went to serve at different positions in St.Petersburg — served as staff officer and aide-de-camp. Throughout his career Sinclair mostly served as a staff-officer.
During World War I first served as regimental Chief of Staff and later commanded a Russian infantry regiment. Awarded the title of major-general, and the Order of Saint Stanislaus, 2nd and 3rd class; the Order of St. Anne, 2nd and 3rd class; the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd and 4th class with swords.
After the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
went to serve in the General Staff of the Ukrainian People's Army
Ukrainian People's Army
The Ukrainian People's Army , also known as the Ukrainian National Army were often quickly reorganized units of the former Russian Imperial Army or newly formed volunteer detachments that later joined the national armed forces. The army for a long period lacked a certain degree of uniformity,...
(UNR). In 1918 was promoted to Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
. During Directorate
Directorate of Ukraine
The Directorate, or Directory was a provisional revolutionary state committee of the Ukrainian National Republic, formed in 1918 by the Ukrainian National Union in rebellion against Skoropadsky's regime....
and Hetmanate
Hetmanate
The Ukrainian State or The Hetmanate was a short-lived polity in Ukraine, installed by Ukrainian Cossacks and military organizations under the support of the Central Powers, after disbanding the Central Rada of the Ukrainian National Republic on 28 April 1918.-History:On April 29, 1918 the head...
continued to serve in the General Staff, played important role in capture of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
from Bolsheviks in 1919. At the end of 1919 became Chief of General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (Ukraine)
The Chief of the General Staff is the chief of staff of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He is appointed by the President of Ukraine. If the Minister of Ukraine is a civilian the Chief of the General Staff becomes the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces...
. In 1920 headed Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, which resulted in the Treaty of Warsaw
Treaty of Warsaw (1920)
The Treaty of Warsaw of April 1920 was an alliance between the Second Polish Republic, represented by Józef Piłsudski, and the Ukrainian People's Republic, represented by Symon Petlura, against Bolshevik Russia...
.
After the military defeat of the Army of UNR retired and settled in Eastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, participated in the life of the local Ukrainian community. At the end of Second World War with the advance of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
was arrested by NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
and interned to Kiev. Died in Lukyanivska Prison
Lukyanivska Prison
Lukyanivska Prison , officially SIZO#13, is a famous historical prison in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, located in the central Lukyanivka neighborhood of the city. Though the facility is now functioning as a pre-conviction detention center it is still colloquially called a "prison"...
.