Russian Civil War: Krasnov and Denikin join forces

OS fan

Banned
From summer 1918 to summer 1919, the Bolsheviks were on the brink of collapse in Russia. In the east, the Whites under Krasnov had conquered Kazan with the treasure of the Bolsheviks; in the south, Denikin had taken Orel and was marching towards Tula. The Bolsheviks already considered giving up Petrograd to be able to defend Moscow.

However, the Whites made strategical mistakes. Krasnov especially had most of his forces at the northern front, hoping to join the army of general Miller, who operated from Archangel. His center and the south were too weak.

What if Krasnov had attacked in the south instead? This would have allowed the Whites in the East and South respectively to join forces.
 

MSZ

Banned
First of all, Krasnov and Denikin really didn't like each other. Personal animosity may not sound like much, but this is the post-Imperial Russian army we speak about - one that allowed personal rivalry between Rennenkampf and Samsonov to interfere with war plans. The white movement was even more disunited, so even if Krasnov did move south, he might not want to surrender command over his army to Denikin out of spite.

Secondly, The bolsheviks do know about the potential danger of the whites in th east and south joining forces and wouldn't sit idly allowing it to happen. They would go for reinforcements, such as OTL Machno to distrupt it. Plus, Krasnov's army wasn't that strong to take on a mobilized Red Army group without support (which he looked for in the north, as that where British supplies were). So his march south east is likely to be interupted by Greens/Machnos and the Red Army before reaching Denikin, ending in him losing the battle.
 
By Krasnov I presume you mean Kolchak? The problem with the two forces meeting up is that Kolchak's offensive peaked in the spring of 1919 while Denikin's reached Orel in October. You'd need a good deal more co-ordination and probably more manpower on both sides, given that Denikin managed to get so far because so much of the Red Army was chasing Kolchak into Siberia.
 

MSZ

Banned
By Krasnov I presume you mean Kolchak? The problem with the two forces meeting up is that Kolchak's offensive peaked in the spring of 1919 while Denikin's reached Orel in October. You'd need a good deal more co-ordination and probably more manpower on both sides, given that Denikin managed to get so far because so much of the Red Army was chasing Kolchak into Siberia.

Krasnov is not Kolchak. Kolchak operated in the Urals, Krasnov in the Don Region. He did try to venture north along the Don, but failed due to limited supplies and having to deal with Bolsheviks insurgents and the like. It was what tied his forces there and prevented him from making any significant progress in any direction. Moving south to the Caucassus meant realtively little gain, especially since the locals were already quite anti-bolshevik (and not Russian). Moving west to Denikin meant walking into the Machnos. The road north was blocked by bolsheviks. Krasnovs only option was to stay in place, fight the insurgents and wait for reinforcements, which of course never came.
 
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