Cossack

[lordtiberius]

I watched this movie:



the big bad wolf said he was a "cossack."  Does anyone identify themselves as a cossack anymore?

[Kunstkammer]

Yes

[Patagonie]

I saw it. Good movie but nothing really new. And worst when you study the conflict, Georgia is not totally white as white.

[lordtiberius]

I saw it. Good movie but nothing really new. And worst when you study the conflict, Georgia is not totally white as white.

I agree.

But who calls themselves Cossack nowadays?? 

[Kunstkammer]

I agree.

But who calls themselves Cossack nowadays??

Cossaks.

[Chicagoguy]

They have their own communities and identities. I have been to one of their gated communities in Omsk. Many flats and they were wearing similar clothes. And I was in touch with one in Chicago.
Not sure how prevalent this is in the whole country. I think the leader is called an Adaman ?

[SANDRO43]

I think the leader is called an Adaman ?

Ataman (variants: Otaman, Wataman, Vataman; Russian: Aтаман) was a title of Cossack and haidamak leaders of various kinds. In the Russian Empire, the term was the official title of the supreme military commanders of the Cossack armies. The Polish version of the same word is Hetman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataman

[Boethius]

"Hetman" was used also used in Ukraine by Zaporizhian Cossacks both before and after the Treaty of Pereiaslav.   

Some Cossack armies were wiped out during Tsarist times.  After the Pugachev uprising, Catherine II was advised to allow the Cossacks to work their own land and live freely, and they, in return, would serve the Tsars faithfully.  This proved true.

The Bolsheviks presented the Cossacks with limited options: Become peasants or die.  A Cossack needed to live in freedom.  To become a peasant was worse than death.  Millions of Cossacks were slaughtered during the Civil War.  Most of the survivors emigrated, primarily to France and Belgium.  Those that survived were sent to gulags during Stalin’s time.

One notable Cossack exception was Shapashnikov.  He was a legend during WWI, and walked home with his horse, unmolested even by the Bolsheviks.  He survived because he gave his word he would not fight against the Bolsheviks.  However, other than his daughter, no one in his family survived.  During WWII, he was kept in the Kremlin, close to Stalin.  After WWII, when he became ill, Stalin rewarded him by denying Shapashnikov much needed medical treatment. 

As in Ukraine, in Russia, it is now trendy to claim Cossack ancestry.  But virtually all these so called "Cossacks" are either the descendants of peasants, or of the commies who slaughtered the true Cossacks. 



 

[Gator]

My wife is 50% Cossack.  She barely mentions this part of her background. 
 
She did take me to an exhibit of French drawings made in 1814 of Cossacks encamped in Paris after pursuing Napoleon.   Evidently the Cossacks fascinated the French with their splendid uniforms, swords, horses and general savoir-faire.  Impressive people, but they have mostly blended into the Russian melting pot. 

[Eduard]

"Hetman" was used also used in Ukraine by Zaporizhian Cossacks both before and after the Treaty of Pereiaslav.   

Some Cossack armies were wiped out during Tsarist times.  After the Pugachev uprising, Catherine II was advised to allow the Cossacks to work their own land and live freely, and they, in return, would serve the Tsars faithfully.  This proved true.

The Bolsheviks presented the Cossacks with limited options: Become peasants or die.  A Cossack needed to live in freedom.  To become a peasant was worse than death.  Millions of Cossacks were slaughtered during the Civil War.  Most of the survivors emigrated, primarily to France and Belgium.  Those that survived were sent to gulags during Stalin’s time.

One notable Cossack exception was Shapashnikov.  He was a legend during WWI, and walked home with his horse, unmolested even by the Bolsheviks.  He survived because he gave his word he would not fight against the Bolsheviks.  However, other than his daughter, no one in his family survived.  During WWII, he was kept in the Kremlin, close to Stalin.  After WWII, when he became ill, Stalin rewarded him by denying Shapashnikov much needed medical treatment. 

As in Ukraine, in Russia, it is now trendy to claim Cossack ancestry.  But virtually all these so called "Cossacks" are either the descendants of peasants, or of the commies who slaughtered the true Cossacks.

Good to see you back and posting!

[jone]

One notable Cossack exception was Shapashnikov.  He was a legend during WWI, and walked home with his horse, unmolested even by the Bolsheviks.  He survived because he gave his word he would not fight against the Bolsheviks.  However, other than his daughter, no one in his family survived.  During WWII, he was kept in the Kremlin, close to Stalin.  After WWII, when he became ill, Stalin rewarded him by denying Shapashnikov much needed medical treatment. 

Was this the same guy who wrote "Мозг армии" or Brain of the Army?

[ghost of moon goddess]

Does anyone identify themselves as a cossack anymore?

A very impressive "answer" to this question is given by Viktor Likhonosov in his chronicle of the Kuban Cossacks. It is entitled "Our little Paris: unwritten memories". I strongly advise to enjoy it.

[Boethius]

Was this the same guy who wrote "Мозг армии" or Brain of the Army?

Yes.  His name as a WWII hero was unknown to Soviets until the 1970's.  That book is very rare, and not well known.