ABSTRACT
In January 1920 the Whites were everywhere in retreat. The North-Western Army had ceased to exist. Admiral Alexander Kolchak was a prisoner in a second-class carriage bedecked with the flags of the countries which were now widely regarded as having betrayed his cause. Anton Denikin had endured his final defeat. There could no longer be any question that he was unfit to command. He continued to discuss his situation, endlessly arguing the rights and wrongs and obsessively returning to the theme of persecution, without perceiving its irrelevance. Leadership is something that either does or does not happen. In the case of Denikin it may have happened once, but it had long since ceased to be an operative principle. Denikin left the Crimea as quietly as possible; there were no formal farewells. The reason was simple: he was in fear of his life.
