Episode 8: “Always with Honor” by Pyotr Wrangel

Hank and Bindu explore the memoirs of Pyotr Wrangel, the last commander of White forces in Southern Russia during the Russian Civil War. A veteran of both the Russo-Japanese War and First World War, Wrangel returned from retirement to join anti-Bolshevik “White” forces during the Russian Civil War. After the resignation of his commanding officer; Wrangel became in effect commander-and-chief of the White Army. He held off the Bolsheviks for as long as possible, and when it became clear the war was lost, he evacuated his entire army and their families from Crimea. He published his memoirs in 1928, and died soon after. This is the story of a wise and bold military leader who recognized he was fighting for a lost cause, and yet never gave into despair or let down his men.