Andreĭ Stepanovich Bakich

Andrei Stepanovich Bakich (; 31 December 1878 – 17 June 1922) was a general of the White movement during the Russian Civil War.

Bakich rose to regimental command during World War I, and during the Russian Civil War, he was one of the leaders of the military arm of the Russian White movement, better known as the White Guard. The liquidation of his troops signified the breakdown of organized armed resistance to the Bolsheviks in 1922.

Life in Serbia and Montenegro Bakich was born on the last day of 1878 in Andrijevica in the then Principality of Montenegro, and in documents, he never failed to declare himself a Serb by nationality. He finished elementary school in his native town and completed his secondary school education at the Third Belgrade Gymnasium. After the assassination of King Milan Obrenović, Bakich decided to emigrate to Imperial Russia when rumors began to spread that he was involved in the plot.

Russian officer In 1900, Bakich entered the 60th Zamosc Infantry Regiment. Later in 1902, he graduated from the Odessa Military Academy. He was transferred to the Far East, where he served in the newly formed 8th Siberian Rifle Division. He participated in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. From 1906 to 1910, he advanced from the rank of lieutenant to the rank of captain. In 1909 in Vladivostok, his son Mihailo Bakich, who later became an architect and engineer, was born. In 1913, owing to poor health, he resigned from the military and started working as a trader, with the Russian-Mongolian trade organization based in Mongolia.

World War I After the outbreak of the Great War, Bakich decided to rejoin the military and was mobilized into the national army, to be soon set up in the 56th Infantry Division in Siberia. At the beginning of the war, he showed great military capabilities, as reflected in his victories over the superior German army. On 30 May 1915, for heroism shown during Germany's use of chemical weapons attack he was awarded the Order of Saint George fourth degree. In 1915, Bakich was awarded also the Order of St. Anna 3rd degree, the Order of St. Stanislav, and followed by the Order of St. Vladimir 4th grade. For merit in the fight against the Germans at Gombin in Poland, he was awarded the coveted Golden Weapon "For Bravery".