Boris Borisovich Gervais ( August 1 [13], 1878 , Kamenetz-Podolsky - October 27, 1934 , Moscow ) is a Russian military theorist and historian. Professor Captain of the first rank (1917).
| Boris Borisovich Gervais | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life period | August 1 [13], 1878 - October 27, 1934 | |||||
| Date of Birth | ||||||
| Place of Birth | Kamyanets-Podilsky | |||||
| Date of death | ||||||
| Place of death | Moscow | |||||
| Affiliation |  Russian empire | |||||
| Type of army |  fleet | |||||
| Rank | 1st rank captain | |||||
| Commanded | destroyer "Captain-Lieutenant Baranov" destroyer "Hasty" | |||||
| Battles / wars | Russian-Japanese war * Battle in the Korea Strait World War I | |||||
| Awards and prizes |
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Biography
In 1898 he graduated from the Naval Corps , in 1901 - the Mine Officer Class, in 1913 - the Naval Academy .
During the Russo-Japanese War , as a mine officer for the cruiser "Stormbreaker" he participated in the military campaigns of the Vladivostok detachment of cruisers and in the battle in the Korea Strait . For distinction he was awarded the orders of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree with swords and a bow, St. Stanislav of the 3rd degree with swords and a bow, St. Anna of the 4th degree with the inscription "For courage".
After returning from the Far East, in 1906 he held the position of the flagship mine officer of the headquarters of the commander of the Practical Defense Unit of the Baltic Sea Coast and in 1907-1908, the flagship mine officer of the headquarters of the commander of the Baltic Sea Mines Division. In 1910 he corrected the position of senior officer of the cruiser "Russia" . December 6, 1912 promoted to captain of the 2nd rank.
During the First World War he took part in hostilities on the Black Sea, commanding destroyers "Captain-Lieutenant Baranov" and "Hasty". On April 6, 1916, he was appointed head of the combat unit of the Primorsky Front headquarters of the naval fortress of Emperor Peter the Great. December 6, 1916 promoted to captain of the 1st rank. On March 22, 1917, he was appointed correcting the post of chief of artillery and defense of the Primorsky Front of the Sea Fortress of Emperor Peter the Great (i.e., head of the coastal defense of the Gulf of Finland ).
During the October Revolution of 1917, he sided with the Soviet regime.
Since 1918 - a teacher, head of the department of strategy, and in 1928-1931 - head of the Naval Academy . In 1927, the academic title of professor was awarded.
In 1931-1934 - the head of the department at the Military-Political and Military-Engineering Academies.
Proceedings
Gervais's works on the theory and history of naval art had a significant influence on the development of Soviet military-theoretical thought.
The main works:
- “ Germany and its sea power” (St. Petersburg, 1914).
- “The value of sea power for the state” (Petrograd, 1921).
- “The Naval Strategy of Napoleon ” (Petrograd, 1922).
- "Landing operation" (Leningrad, 1931).
- "Fundamentals of naval strategy" in the book "Issues of strategy and operational art in Soviet military works (1917-1940)" (Moscow, 1965).