The movement of monarchists-legitimists and the Russian all-military union

Based on previously unknown documents from Russia’s State Archive the article is the first attempt in Russian historiography to study conflictive relationships between the monarchist movement of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich’s followers (legitimists) and the military unions of P. Wrangel’s Russian army officers in emigration. The focus is laid on the monarchists-legitimists’ efforts to redistribute power from the émigré military unions toward Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich as the Russian emperor in exile. The article also describes the counteraction from the Russian All-Military Union founded by Vrangel to the monarchists-legitimists’ monarchist propaganda and provocative activities among Russian émigré officers. It is concluded that the legitimists’ monarchist propaganda was successful with a certain part of Russian officers switching to monarchists-legitimists’ unions.