(1860-1915)
Russian naval figure. Admiral since 1913. Born on December 11, 1860 in St. Petersburg in the family of fellow (deputy) Minister of Justice, Secretary of State Otto Vasilyevich Essen. As a descendant of the Baltic nobility, he had the title of baron and the prefix “von” to his surname.
He graduated from the Naval School with honors in 1881, and was enshrined on a marble plaque for academic success and exemplary behavior. With the rank of midshipman, he completed a two-year overseas voyage on the armored frigate Duke of Edinburgh. As a midshipman, he attended a course of lectures at the mechanical department of the Nikolaev Naval Academy in 1886. Having chosen the command specialty of the ship's weapons systems, he entered the Artillery Officer Class, which he graduated in 1891. Further service was associated with the Pacific Squadron, where Lieutenant N.O. Essen sailed from 1892 to 1897 as an artillery officer on the cruiser Admiral Kornilov. Until 1900, he served on the Mediterranean squadron as commander of the destroyer No. 120 ("Pakerort"), senior officer of the naval gunboat "Threatening", commander of the headquarters steamer "Slavyanka". In 1899, for distinguished service, he was awarded the rank of captain of the 2nd rank. During the wintering of the ship in St. Petersburg, from 1900 to 1902, he taught theoretical mechanics and deviation in the Naval Cadet Corps. Since 1902 - commander of the newest 2nd rank cruiser "Novik". Having accepted the ship at a shipyard in Germany, N.O. Essen transferred it to Port Arthur as part of the Pacific Ocean squadron.
From the very first days Russo-Japanese War"Novik" actively participated in the hostilities. On the morning of January 27, 1904, after a surprise attack by the Japanese fleet on Port Arthur, Essen took the Novik out to sea for reconnaissance. Having discovered superior enemy forces, the ship attacked the cruiser Yakumo. Only the hit of an 8-inch shell forced the Novik to return to base. The following days were filled with active combat activity, the commander and his crew showed high military skill and heroism, and set an example of fulfilling their duty. "Novik" took part in battles with the Japanese squadron, supported destroyers, and conducted reconnaissance. The squadron commander, Vice Admiral S.O., held his flag on it. Makarov on his way out to rescue the sinking destroyer Steregushchy. On March 16, captain 2nd rank N.O. Essen is appointed commander of the squadron battleship "Sevastopol", and after the ship became the flagship of the squadron, he also serves as flag captain under the commander. He was a staunch supporter of active naval operations and going to sea to fight the enemy. Disagreements on this issue with Rear Admiral V.K. Vitgeft led to the replacement of Essen as flag captain and the transfer of the admiral's flagship flag from Sevastopol.
The battleship engaged the enemy several times, participated in an attempt to break through the squadron to Vladivostok, and was blown up by mines twice. While in the harbor, he fought counter-battery battles with Japanese siege artillery. After moving to b. The White Wolf ship was subjected to numerous attacks by Japanese destroyers, who fired 180 torpedoes at it, two of which hit the target. Despite the damage, the commander was able to ensure the active use of naval artillery against land and sea targets. The hits from enemy shells completely put the Sevastopol out of action. BUT. Essen was appointed head of the Lyaoteshan defense department, subordinating the ground units and coastal artillery. When the destruction of the ships of the squadron began on December 19, 1904, Sevastopol, through the only efforts of the former commander, was towed to be scuttled to great depths, which did not allow the Japanese who occupied Port Arthur to use it for their own purposes. BUT. Essen was the last to leave the battleship.
For military merits Essen was awarded the order St. George of the 4th degree and a Golden weapon with the inscription “For bravery”, promoted to captain of the 1st rank. After returning to Russia in 1905, he held the position of head of the strategic part of the naval scientific department of the Main Naval Staff, commander of the 20th naval crew, from March 1906. - commander of the armored cruiser "Rurik" built in England.
Since August 1906, Rear Admiral N.O. Essen is the head of the Mine Cruiser Detachment of the Baltic Fleet (later the 1st Mine Division). In this post, he “found a noble field for putting into practice those conclusions that he had to come to through his own bitter experience in 1904.” Essen resolutely fought against simplifications in combat training, which he began to conduct for the first time all year round, supported thinking and proactive officers. Under his leadership, as a result of intensive training and exercises, the formation became the main combat core of the fleet. The ships sailed in any weather in all areas of the Gulf of Finland, the central and northern parts of the sea. From November 1908, Essen was appointed head of the united detachments of the Baltic Fleet, and in 1909 - head of naval forces Baltic Sea(since 1911 - commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet). He achieved a radical restructuring of the activities of all institutions, placing them at the service of the needs of the operating fleet. He showed himself to be a direct follower of the ideas of Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov, led the development and adoption in 1912 of the fleet action plan in case of war, the creation of mine and artillery positions for the defense of the St. Petersburg direction.
Under the command of Admiral N.O. Essen The Baltic Fleet met the beginning of the First World War in full readiness to repel an enemy attack. In 1914-1915. The ships carried out brilliantly organized active mine laying in the southern Baltic, on German communications, and successfully operated at sea. In 1914 Essen was awarded the Order of the White Eagle with Swords.
He died in Reval on May 7, 1915. The body was delivered to St. Petersburg on the destroyer "Pogranichnik" and on May 15 was buried in the cemetery of the Novodevichy Convent.
Essen Nikolai Ottovich (1860-1915), Russian admiral (1913). Commander of the battleship "Sevastopol" during the defense of Port Arthur. In 1909-1915, commander of the Baltic Fleet. At the beginning of World War I, according to the Essen plan, a deeply layered defense was created in the Gulf of Finland, based on mine and artillery positions.
Essen Nikolay Ottovich, Russian admiral (1913). Graduated from Mor. building (1880) and Mor. academy (1886). From 1902 in the 1st Pacific Squadron; commanded the cruiser Novik, and from March 1904 commanded the squadron battleship Sevastopol, participating in the defense of Port Arthur. In 1906-1908 beginning. 1st mine division Balt. fleet. Was a follower of adm. S. O. Makarova; turned the mine division into a kind of school, through which most of the commanders of ships and Baltic formations passed. fleet. Since 1908 beginning united Baltic detachments. fleet, from 1909 beginning. Mor. forces Balt. m., since 1911 commander of the Baltic. fleet. Under hand E. developed a plan for Balt operations. fleet in case of war (creation of a system of mine and artillery positions in the Gulf of Finland, interaction with ground forces), which was carried out at the beginning of the 1st World War 1914-1918, which means that it caused losses to the German fleet and shackled it strength.
Materials from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia were used.
Essen Nikolai Ottovich von (12/11/1860, St. Petersburg -5/7/1915, Revel), Russian. admiral (14.4.1913). Son of the Secretary of State, Actual Privy Councilor. He received his education at the Naval School (1880) and at mechanical department Nikolaev Maritime Academy (1886). In 1892 he took part in a long voyage on the cruiser Admiral Kornilov, then served in the Pacific Ocean on the cruiser Vladimir Monomakh. In 1897-98, the commander of the destroyer No. 120 in the Baltic, in 1901-02 - the steamship "Slavyanka". At the same time he taught at the Marine Corps and published a number of articles in the Marine Collection. In 1902-04, commander of the 2nd rank cruiser Novik. Participant in the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-05, flag captain of the 1st Pacific Squadron. He distinguished himself in battle on January 27, 1904 near Port Arthur and at the request of Admiral S.O. Makarova was appointed commander of the squadron battleship Sevastopol. For his distinction he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, and a golden weapon. In 1905, head of the construction department of the naval training department of the Main Naval Staff. In 1906, commander of the 1st rank cruiser "Rurik", a detachment of mine cruisers, and in 1906-08 - a division of destroyers. Since 1908, the head of the united detachment of the Baltic Sea with the rights of the head of naval forces. In 1909 he was appointed acting director. head of the active Baltic Sea fleet. Commander since 1911 naval forces Baltic Sea. Under E.'s leadership, the fleet was put on combat readiness, and he developed a plan for fleet operations at the beginning of the war - incl. which provided for the creation of mine art. positions in the Gulf of Finland, etc. The coastal artillery of one of the main fleet bases, Revel, has been strengthened. In the summer of 1913, a plan was approved to create bases for light forces and submarines in the Moonsund and Abo-Aland sea areas. The main base of the fleet was Helsingfors. A brigade of cruisers was stationed in Reval. Transfer bases - Libau and Vindava. Light force bases are the Baltic port, Rogokul, Ust-Dvinsk. Reserve ships were located in Kronstadt, which also served as the main repair base for the fleet. The Baltic Fleet included 4 battleships, 3 armored cruisers, 7 cruisers, 49 destroyers and 21 destroyers, 6 minelayers, 11 submarines and 6 gunboats. The fleet included: a brigade of battleships (Vice Admiral V.N. Ferzen) - “Glory”, “Tsesarevich”, “Emperor Pavel”, “Andrew the First-Called”, armored cruiser “Rurik” (E.’s flagship); brigade of cruisers (Rear Admiral N.N. Kolomeytsov) - armored cruiser "Gromoboy", cruisers "Admiral Makarov", "Bayan"; 1st (Rear Admiral I.A. Storre) and 2nd (Rear Admiral A.P. Kurosh) mine divisions; submarine brigade (Rear Admiral P.P. Levitsky); Detachment of minelayers (Rear Admiral V.A. Kanin), etc. With the beginning of the World War, on July 17, 1914, he was appointed commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet. With the announcement of mobilization, the minelayers, under the cover of battleships, began on July 18 (31) to install the main minefield at the central position. During the day, St. 2000 min. At the beginning of the war, the fleet was subordinate to the commander of the 6th Army, General. K.P. Fan der Fleet. The main forces of the fleet are deployed at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland. After the death of the light cruiser Magdeburg off the island of Odensholm on August 13 (26), the fleet temporarily ceased active operations in the Baltic. Rus. The fleet actively continued to install minefields, which forced the German command to abandon the planned operations. In 1914-15 Germany. The Navy lost the armored cruiser Friedrich-Karl, 4 minesweepers, 2 patrol ships and 14 steamships to minefields. In addition, as a result of the explosion, the cruisers Augsburg and Gazelle and others were damaged. In 1914, the Estonian fleet lost the light cruiser Pallada, 2 destroyers, and 3 minesweepers. At the beginning of 1915, the fleet was replenished with new battleships (Sevastopol, Gangut, Poltava, Petropavlovsk), 2 destroyers and 5 submarines. Operational formations were formed: squadron and mine defense. The squadron included 2 brigades of battleships and 2 brigades of cruisers; and in Mine Defense - the Baltic Sea Mine Division. As a result of the work carried out by E., the force of the germ. The fleet was shackled in 1914-1916.
Material used from the book: Zalessky K.A. Who was who in the First World War. Biographical encyclopedic dictionary. M., 2003
Essen Nikolai Ottovich. Admiral Essen, the hero of the defense of Port Arthur, did a lot to restore the Russian Baltic Fleet and successfully led it at the beginning of the First World War. Nikolai Essen was born on December 11, 1860 into a long-Russified family of Baltic Germans. The family's maritime traditions were started by the Estonian nobleman Gustav Essen, promoted to midshipman by Peter I back in 1723. The father of the future naval commander, State Secretary Otto Vasilyevich Essen, was a colleague of the Minister of Justice. Nikolai graduated with honors from the Naval Corps at the age of 20; his name, among the best students, was inscribed on a marble plaque. Midshipman Essen on the armored frigate “Duke of Edinburgh” made a 2-year overseas voyage, survived a strong storm in the Bay of Biscay, visited Naples, Piraeus, Algeria, Trieste and other ports of the Mediterranean Sea, traveled with the Grand Dukes Sergei and Constantine from Jaffa to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Having received the rank of midshipman, Essen attended a course of lectures in the mechanical department of the Nikolaev Naval Academy, and in 1891 he graduated from the Admiralty class. In 1892-1893 he served on the cruiser “Admiral Kornilov”, in 1893-1897 - on the cruiser “Vladimir Monomakh” of the Pacific squadron and returned as a lieutenant. In 1897-1902, the lieutenant commanded the destroyer 120 (“Pakerort”) and served as senior officer of the gunboat “Threatening” in the Mediterranean squadron. In 1899, he was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank for his services. While commanding the steamship “Slavyanka”, the flagship of the destroyer detachment, Essen simultaneously taught theoretical mechanics and deviation in the Naval Corps. In 1902, having accepted the 2nd rank fast cruiser Novik, built in Germany, the sailor moved to the Pacific Ocean. The captain of the 2nd rank demonstrated his courage and skill on the first day of the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The Novik commander, sent on reconnaissance, attacked the Japanese cruiser Yakumo at his own risk and fired a torpedo that passed close to the cruiser. The Novik was hit by an 8-inch shell, but was able to turn and go to base. This bold step turned out to be very noticeable against the background of failures. For the battle on January 27, 1904, the sailor was awarded a golden weapon. Vice Admiral S.O., who took command of the squadron. Makarov raised his flag on a high-speed cruiser and went to sea on it. He was impressed by the decisive and knowledgeable sailor. When, due to a collision between the squadron battleships Peresvet and Sevastopol, Makarov decided to change the commander of the latter, he appointed Essen to this position on March 16, 1904. Nikolai Ottovich was not enthusiastic about the transfer from a fast cruiser to a clumsy battleship. Nevertheless, the ship was ready for action within two weeks and became one of the most active combat units in the defense of Port Arthur. On April 2, in particular, its main caliber guns fired through the Liaoteshan mountain range at the Japanese squadron. The adjustment made it possible to aim, and when the Russian shells began to land too close, the Japanese retreated. When, after the death of Makarov, Rear Admiral V.K. took command of the squadron. Vitgeft, who raised the flag on the Sevastopol, was promoted to captain of the 1st rank Essen and began simultaneously performing the duties of flag captain (chief of staff) of the squadron. He participated in meetings and proposed decisive actions. Essen considered it necessary to break through with the entire squadron to Vladivostok. Due to the disagreement of the captain of the 1st rank with the opinion of the majority of commanders and the commander, Vitgeft relieved him of the post of flag captain on May 25 and transferred the flag to the repaired battleship “Tsesarevich”. Nevertheless, Vitgeft had to fulfill the requirement from above. Upon the return of the squadron after unsuccessful attempt On June 10, trying to get to Vladivostok, the Sevastopol hit a mine. It was repaired by July 25th. Essen moved the battleship to the southwestern basin, saving her from shelling. Coal, ammunition and everything else were loaded day and night. On July 27, the emperor's order to immediately leave for Vladivostok arrived. On the morning of July 28, the squadron set out to sea. Essen's ship was the second to last in the column of battleships. During the battle, he received damage, due to which the speed dropped to 8 knots. This did not allow Essen to ram the enemy, which he wanted, or to make a breakthrough. Since all the other ships were returning to Port Arthur, repelling the attacks of the destroyers, the Sevastopol, which had become slow-moving, followed them. After returning, repairs began. Essen believed that the task was to wait for reinforcements to arrive from the Baltic and advance to meet Rozhdestvensky. However, the squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral Ukhtomsky, increasingly became part of the defense of Port Arthur. Guns and ammunition were transported ashore, and detachments of sailors were sent. Armadillos were used as floating batteries. On August 10, returning after shelling Japanese positions, the battleship again hit a mine. This time the 2-month repair took place under fire. The Japanese rarely got there, because Essen changed its camp site. By October 24, the sailors had completed repairs to the Sevastopol and were able to return fire at Japanese siege batteries using target indications from an observation post. On November 23, the Japanese occupied Mount Vysokaya, from which they overlooked the harbor. Using spotters, Japanese siege artillery sank one after another the large ships of the Pacific squadron. “Sevastopol” was covered by the harbor wall for the time being. On November 25, Essen obtained permission from Rear Admiral R.N., who took command of the squadron. Viren take the battleship to an open roadstead. Having returned part of the crew from land, Essen parked the ship in White Wolf Bay and prepared it for attacks by Japanese destroyers. The captain intended to go to sea, replenish coal supplies in a Chinese port or from a chartered steamer, go around Formosa and head towards Rozhdestvensky’s squadron. However, Viren did not give permission. The Japanese repeatedly attacked Sevastopol, fired a lot of torpedoes, but they exploded in mine networks. Later, sailors built booms. However, in early December it was discovered that the battleship suffered numerous cracks in its plating from nearby explosions and took on 2,500 tons of water. The 80 people remaining on board (the rest were sent to reinforce the troops on Mount Liaoteshan) saved the ship thanks to the energy and skill of the commander. A few days later, “Sevastopol” opened fire on Japanese positions, which came as a complete surprise to them. On the night of December 20, Viren received an order to carry out a secret order to destroy ships in connection with the surrender of Port Arthur. Since the port commander prohibited the explosion, which violated the terms of surrender, it was necessary to limit ourselves to flooding. The commander was the last to leave the diving vessel. The crew was captured. Only on March 20, 1905, Nikolai Ottovich, awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, for bravery, returned to St. Petersburg. After a short rest, in May he was appointed commander of the 20th naval crew. During the hostilities, the sailor acquired considerable combat experience. In the summer of the same year, he gave a lecture in which he criticized the situation in the fleet and expressed his opinion that it was necessary to prepare the fleet for active action. The captain of the 1st rank was invited for a conversation by the Minister of Naval Affairs, Vice Admiral A.A. Birilev, and on July 10 he was appointed head of the Strategic Unit of the Naval Scientific Department of the Main Naval Staff, leaving him as crew commander. Young officers subordinate to Essen, who had combat experience, analyzed the actions during the war and the composition of the forces of the domestic and foreign fleets, trying to imagine what kind of fleet Russia needed for the future. On their initiative, the Naval General Staff was created as a body for operational-strategic planning and fleet management. In the spring of 1906, Essen was sent to England as commander of the cruiser Rurik, which was being built there. But just six months later, the captain of the 1st rank was recalled to Russia, entrusting him with the responsible position of head of the Mine Cruiser Detachment in August 1906. The sailor had to command the most modern ships, built with money collected by subscription. Intensive training and numerous exercises turned the Mine Cruiser Detachment into the main combat core of the resurgent Baltic Fleet. Destroyers sailed without pilots in different areas of the Baltic Sea and began making winter voyages. In 1907, the inspecting Rear Admiral Enquist visited the Detachment's ships and highly praised the condition of the ships and the training of the teams, congratulating Naval Minister Dikov on the appearance of a modern combat-ready formation in the Baltic. The sailor's efforts were appreciated. On April 5, Essen was promoted to rear admiral. On August 27, Nicholas I, delighted with the exercises, appointed a rear admiral to his retinue and remained in office. In the fall, the mine cruiser detachment was transformed into the 1st mine division. At the end of July 1908, general naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea demonstrated that, in addition to two mine divisions, the Baltic Fleet had outdated ships with a training and control system that clearly did not meet the requirements of the time. In particular, the Volga minelayer laid out a barrage of 400 mines for three days. Against such a background, the 1st Mine Division, which demonstrated landing and supporting the landing, looked brilliant. First, on the night of August 1, they placed mines on the enemy’s likely route of movement, in the morning they quickly threw troops ashore, and when the “enemy’s” gunboats tried to approach, they ended up in a mock minefield, and the destroyers managed to escape. In the fall, it was decided to unite the naval forces of the Baltic Sea under the control of one flagship. N.O. was appointed head of the United detachments. Essen. He formed a headquarters and selected ship commanders capable of acting independently. The main problem was the acute shortage of ships. The “Program for the Development of Naval Armed Forces for 1909-1910” did not receive the support of the Duma, in which the majority did not understand the importance of naval power. The matter was spoiled by disagreements between the leaders of the army and navy. In anticipation of war, Essen managed to return the Baltic training detachment, sent on a voyage to European countries, and obtain permission to lay down 4 dreadnoughts. Since May 1909, the rear admiral led the disparate forces of the fleet out in a single order, accustoming the teams to joint actions. During this campaign, the actions of detachments were mainly practiced. They created a minelayer detachment and a Baltic Sea trawling party. In November, the Regulations on Coastal Observation Posts and Stations were approved, which legitimized the surveillance and communication system already begun in the fleet by Nepenin. Over time, it began to play an important role. The delay in the construction of ships did not allow us to count on the rapid creation of brigades of battleships and cruisers, as well as on the implementation of plans for other types of weapons. However, gradually the acute shortage of sailors after Tsushima decreased. To improve personnel training, Essen set the task for 1910 to go to sea when the ice melts and return late in the fall, assigning the rank of 2nd class specialists to officers only after an exam. To create a reserve of non-commissioned officers, a school for young boys was established. On Easter 1910 N.O. Essen was promoted to vice admiral. In the spring, it was decided to show naval exercises to Duma members in order to gain support for fleet development plans. Due to the early melting of ice, the preparation of single ships was completed in May. On May 23, the sailors demonstrated “The battle to protect the capital from the invasion of aggressor naval forces.” The picture of artillery fire and mine attacks made an indelible impression on the deputies, especially on the Chairman State Duma A.I. Guchkov, who promised Essen support. In the summer of 1910, the Baltic detachment again went to the Mediterranean Sea. This time, in addition to training purposes, it was also a demonstration of the power of Austria, which in 1908 annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina and now threatened Serbia. Essen was afraid of a collision, but everything turned out well. In 1911, new ships finally entered service, which made it possible to form a brigade of battleships and the 1st brigade of cruisers. The construction of fortifications began on the island of Nargen and at Porkkalaud, with the transfer of the main operational base of the fleet to Revel. Essen was enthusiastic about the possibility of moving the fleet further from the capital. Soon the sailors successfully learned to sail in skerries at significant speeds. The gunners of the battleship brigade fired well at the shields. When the possibility of war with Germany was discussed in 1912, the commander of the naval forces of the Baltic Sea insisted on the urgent construction of battleships and batteries to cover the mine and artillery position. Since the German fleet had numerical superiority, the vice admiral believed it was necessary, not limiting itself to defense, to tie up the enemy with active operations off its coast, in particular mine laying. The Flagship Council, held on January 25-26, did not support Essen. In case of war, it was decided to initially give battle to the enemy at the Nargen-Porkkalaud mine and artillery position. Nevertheless, the flagship gave the order to prepare a plan of active action. His plan included blowing up the Kiel Canal locks and actions in the Danish Straits, preventing the enemy from breaking through to the Baltic. Essen was ready to take action even without government permission in order to disrupt the enemy’s plans with a decisive blow. He achieved approval by the Duma of a 5-year program of enhanced shipbuilding. On April 14, 1913, Essen was promoted to admiral. The naval commander in Revel was gathering forces in case of war. He raised the flag on the Rurik, but at any moment was ready to go on any ship, or even on an airplane, considering it necessary to spend every hour preparing for war. And the results have already shown. At the general naval shooting on July 4, battleships and cruisers demonstrated concentrated shooting at moving targets, and the Rurik smashed its shield in 8 minutes at night. In August 1913, after maneuvers, a squadron of Rurik, 4 battleships, a brigade of cruisers, a half-division of destroyers and transport set off on a foreign campaign under the flag of Essen. The Danish Straits passed without pilots, and a storm was experienced in the North Sea. On September 1st we arrived in Portsmouth. The future allies were greeted cordially by the queen, local authorities, and city residents. Then the admiral called at Brest and Norwegian ports, demonstrating the combat effectiveness of the Russian fleet. In 1914, the reconstruction of the Revel and Sveaborg ports was going well, batteries were being built on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. But there were not enough ships. New dreadnoughts, oil destroyers and cruisers could only enter service in 1915-1916. They relied on what the fleet had at its disposal. The communications service was put in a state of constant readiness. Already on April 9, fleet formations left their bases and began maneuvers. Ship commanders received yellow packets with orders to unseal them in the event of hostilities. During the spring, exercises were conducted on laying minefields and defending them. The general naval maneuvers scheduled for June 2 had to be canceled due to information about the deployment of the Austrian army. On July 15, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The admiral ordered all lighthouses in the Baltic to be turned off. The Emperor forbade the start of mine laying. The admiral, remembering the fate of the Pacific squadron, sent a telegram to the Minister of the Navy on July 17, 1914: “If I don’t receive an answer tonight, I’ll put up a barrage in the morning.” When permission to lay mines came, the ships were already in position. And on July 19, Germany declared war on Russia. On the same day, the admiral congratulated the sailors on the day for which they had been preparing with all their lives and service. Initially they acted defensively. German light forces shelled Libau, abandoned by the Russians, and a week later they laid a minefield in the passage left for merchant ships at Nargen. The voyage of 2 new cruisers to the Gulf of Finland on August 26 ended with the death of the Magdeburg, which flew onto the rocks near Odensholm. The most valuable find was the German codes thrown from the cruiser. Having received them, the radio interception service under the command of Nepenin knew the contents of the conversations of German radio stations for many months, and after changing the codes, the new codes were quickly solved. At the beginning of September, Essen sailed to Gotland with cruisers and destroyers. The Germans avoided battle: after an unsuccessful battle at Heligoland with the English fleet, the main forces in the Baltic were ordered to leave for Kiel. However, after the Russians appeared near Gotland, ships were sent from the North Sea. Essen prepared for a general battle. But he did not have permission to move out of position. On the other hand, the German forces, bound by the order not to risk ships, limited themselves to cruising and sinking the Finnish steamer Uleaborg at Raumo. Two weeks later, the reinforced German fleet, numbering 14 battleships, went to Vindava (Ventspils) in the hope that it would be possible to lure out the Russian fleet or break into the Gulf of Finland, from which Essen was forbidden to leave even in the event of an amphibious landing. But on September 25, the German armada withdrew after news of the appearance of English ships in front of the Belts. Essen, subordinate to the commander of the 4th Army, was not going to sit idly by. In October, submarines sent by the British arrived, which soon went on patrol to the Danzig Bay and alarmed the enemy, forcing the German ships to take refuge at the bases. The admiral himself instructed the headquarters to prepare plans for mine laying off the enemy’s coast. On October 31 and November 5, destroyers laid mines at Memel and Pillau. The armored cruiser Friedrich-Karl was hit by one of the mines and sank. On the night of November 19, the minelayer Amur, disguised as a cruiser, with the support of the squadron, laid mines east of Gotland. Then the destroyers again laid mines at Memel and Pillau. Soon Russian barriers blocked the exit from Danzig Bay to the north, and destroyers were already laying mines to the west. For a long time, the German command did not know about Russian mine laying. The death of the Friedrich-Karl and other ships was attributed to a submarine attack. Having discovered the truth, the German command began to build up minesweepers in the theater. In response, Russian miners came up with means to protect mines from minesweeping and prepared cruisers for mine laying. On December 14, the cruisers and minelayer Yenisei laid hundreds of mines west of Danzig. The admiral himself on the Rurik took part in this campaign. German forces soon abandoned Danzig as a naval base and moved to Swinemünde. At the beginning of 1915, headquarters ordered maximum damage to the transport of goods from Sweden to German ports, despite the winter weather. Essen, who had just recovered, went to headquarters and signed an order to lay minefields between Bornholm and the barrier at Stolpe Bank, as well as at Cape Arkona - on the enemy’s main communications. On January 14, the cruisers set up these barriers unnoticed by the enemy. Despite the harsh winter, which bound the Russian ports with ice, submarines continued to operate at sea. The German fleet lost ships that were blown up by mines and sank transport ships. Now even the death of ships from submarine attacks was attributed to mines. Losing minesweepers, the German fleet was forced to clear the sea off its own shores of mines, but mine explosions continued until the summer. The cruiser's February voyage was interrupted due to the fact that the Rurik was damaged in a collision with rocks near Gotland; however, A.V. Kolchak’s destroyers laid a minefield even without their support. Essen already met the returning ships in Reval. On March 17, Russian troops easily occupied Memel, but were soon forced to abandon it. The ground command did not take into account Essen's proposal to postpone the offensive until April, because before the ice were not allowed to provide support to the army from the sea. Now the commander of the fleet in the Baltic, Prince Henry, was given part of the forces of the High Seas Fleet with the task of destroying the port of Libau and interrupting maritime trade on northern routes. However, the shelling of Russian troops retreating from Memel did not produce much results, and a storm interrupted operations in the Abo-Aland region, and the Germans returned to Swinemünde. For the successful winter campaign, Essen was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree. However, the spring campaign became more difficult. The German command changed the codes. Now it was impossible to follow the enemy’s actions as easily as before. The entry of German troops to the coast of the Baltic Sea inevitably led to an increase in fleet activity. On April 23, U-26 sank the Finnish steamer Frak, which forced Essen to order the installation of all available anti-submarine nets. The admiral ordered the cruisers and destroyers to update the minefields in front of Libau. The naval commander himself went to Revel on the icebreaker Sampo and visited the gunboats. He felt sick. The news from Nepenin that the new German code had been solved, and from the commander of the special-purpose destroyer semi-division that mines had been laid in front of Libau, gave encouragement. Essen never received permission to withdraw battleships beyond the mine and artillery position. Understanding the importance of the Irbensky passes for the defense of the capital, he strengthened their defense. Overcoming his illness, the admiral still tried to act energetically. On May 1, he left on a destroyer for Revel and finally fell ill. On the third day, doctors declared the situation dangerous, and on May 7, Essen died. He was solemnly buried on May 9 at the cemetery of the Novodevichy Convent in Petrograd. The monument to the naval commander has survived to this day. A stone was placed on the grave with the inscription “Nikolai Ottovich Essen”, with St. George's Cross and the commander’s flag - a guis, superimposed on the St. Andrew’s flag.
NIKOLAY OTTOVICH ESSEN
Admiral Essen, the hero of the defense of Port Arthur, did a lot to restore the Russian Baltic Fleet and successfully led it at the beginning of the First World War.
Nikolai Essen was born on December 11, 1860 into a long-Russified family of Baltic Germans. The family's maritime traditions were started by the Estonian nobleman Gustav Essen, promoted to midshipman by Peter I back in 1723. The father of the future naval commander, State Secretary Otto Vasilyevich Essen, was a comrade of the Minister of Justice.
Nikolai graduated with honors from the Naval Corps at the age of 20; his name, among the best students, was inscribed on a marble plaque. Midshipman Essen on the armored frigate "Duke of Edinburgh" made a 2-year overseas voyage, survived a strong storm in the Bay of Biscay, visited Naples, Piraeus, Algeria, Trieste and other ports of the Mediterranean Sea, traveled with the Grand Dukes Sergei and Constantine from Jaffa to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Having received the rank of midshipman, Essen attended a course of lectures in the mechanical department of the Nikolaev Naval Academy, and in 1891 he graduated from the Admiralty class. In 1892–1893 he served on the cruiser Admiral Kornilov, in 1893–1897 on the cruiser Vladimir Monomakh of the Pacific Squadron and returned as a lieutenant. In 1897–1902, the lieutenant commanded the destroyer 120 (“Pakerort”) and served as senior officer of the gunboat “Threatening” in the Mediterranean squadron. In 1899, he was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank for his services. While commanding the steamer Slavyanka, the flagship of the destroyer detachment, Essen simultaneously taught theoretical mechanics and deviation in the Naval Corps.
In 1902, having accepted the 2nd rank fast cruiser Novik, built in Germany, the sailor moved to the Pacific Ocean. The captain of the 2nd rank demonstrated his courage and skill on the first day of the Russian-Japanese War of 1904–1905. The commander of the Novik, sent on reconnaissance, attacked the Japanese cruiser Yakumo at his own risk and fired a torpedo, which passed near the cruiser. The Novik was hit by an 8-inch shell, but was able to turn and go to base. This bold step turned out to be very noticeable against the background of failures. For the battle on January 27, 1904, the sailor was awarded a golden weapon.
Vice Admiral S.O., who took command of the squadron. Makarov raised his flag on a high-speed cruiser and went to sea on it. He was impressed by the decisive and knowledgeable sailor. When, due to a collision between the squadron battleships Peresvet and Sevastopol, Makarov decided to change the commander of the latter, he appointed Essen to this position on March 16, 1904. Nikolai Ottovich was not enthusiastic about the transfer from a fast cruiser to a clumsy battleship. Nevertheless, the ship was ready for action within two weeks and became one of the most active combat units in the defense of Port Arthur. On April 2, in particular, its main caliber guns fired through the Liaoteshan mountain range at the Japanese squadron. The adjustment made it possible to aim, and when the Russian shells began to land too close, the Japanese retreated.
When, after the death of Makarov, Rear Admiral V.K. took command of the squadron. Vitgeft, who raised the flag on the Sevastopol, was promoted to captain of the 1st rank Essen began to simultaneously serve as flag captain (chief of staff) of the squadron. He participated in meetings and proposed decisive actions. Essen considered it necessary to break through with the entire squadron to Vladivostok. Due to the disagreement of the captain of the 1st rank with the opinion of the majority of commanders and the commander, Vitgeft relieved him of the post of flag captain on May 25 and transferred the flag to the repaired battleship "Tsesarevich".
Nevertheless, Vitgeft had to fulfill the requirement from above. When the squadron returned after an unsuccessful attempt on June 10 to break through to Vladivostok, the Sevastopol was blown up by a mine. It was repaired by July 25th. Essen moved the battleship to the southwestern basin, saving her from shelling. Coal, ammunition and everything else were loaded day and night. On July 27, the emperor's order to immediately leave for Vladivostok arrived. On the morning of July 28, the squadron set out to sea. Essen's ship was the second to last in the column of battleships. During the battle, he received damage, due to which the speed dropped to 8 knots. This did not allow Essen to ram the enemy, which he wanted, or to make a breakthrough. Since all the other ships were returning to Port Arthur, repelling the attacks of the destroyers, the Sevastopol, which had become slow-moving, followed them.
After returning, repairs began. Essen believed that the task was to wait for reinforcements to arrive from the Baltic and advance to meet Rozhdestvensky. However, the squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral Ukhtomsky, increasingly became part of the defense of Port Arthur. Guns and ammunition were transported ashore, and detachments of sailors were sent. Armadillos were used as floating batteries. On August 10, returning after shelling Japanese positions, the battleship again hit a mine. This time the 2-month repair took place under fire. The Japanese rarely got there, because Essen changed its camp site. By October 24, the sailors had completed repairs to the Sevastopol and were able to return fire at the Japanese siege batteries using target indications from the observation post.
On November 23, the Japanese occupied Mount Vysokaya, from which they overlooked the harbor. Using spotters, Japanese siege artillery sank one after another the large ships of the Pacific squadron. "Sevastopol" was covered by the harbor wall for the time being. On November 25, Essen obtained permission from Rear Admiral R.N., who took command of the squadron. Viren take the battleship to an open roadstead. Having returned part of the crew from land, Essen parked the ship in White Wolf Bay and prepared it for attacks by Japanese destroyers. The captain intended to go to sea, replenish coal supplies in a Chinese port or from a chartered steamer, go around Formosa and head towards Rozhdestvensky’s squadron. However, Viren did not give permission.
The Japanese repeatedly attacked Sevastopol and fired a torpedo, but they exploded in mine networks. Later, sailors built booms. However, in early December it was discovered that the battleship suffered numerous cracks in its plating from nearby explosions and took on 2,500 tons of water. The 80 people remaining on board (the rest were sent to reinforce the troops on Mount Liaoteshan) saved the ship thanks to the energy and skill of the commander. A few days later, Sevastopol opened fire on Japanese positions, which came as a complete surprise to them.
On the night of December 20, Viren received an order to carry out a secret order to destroy ships in connection with the surrender of Port Arthur. Since the port commander prohibited the explosion, which violated the terms of surrender, it was necessary to limit ourselves to flooding. The commander was the last to leave the diving vessel. The crew was captured. Only on March 20, 1905, Nikolai Ottovich, awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, for bravery, returned to St. Petersburg. After a short rest, in May he was appointed commander of the 20th naval crew.
During the hostilities, the sailor acquired considerable combat experience. In the summer of the same year, he gave a lecture in which he criticized the situation in the fleet and expressed his opinion that it was necessary to prepare the fleet for active action. The captain of the 1st rank was invited for a conversation by the Minister of Naval Affairs, Vice Admiral A.A. Birilev, and on July 10 he was appointed head of the Strategic Unit of the Naval Scientific Department of the Main Naval Staff, leaving him as crew commander. Young officers subordinate to Essen, who had combat experience, analyzed the actions during the war and the composition of the forces of the domestic and foreign fleets, trying to imagine what kind of fleet Russia needed for the future. On their initiative, the Naval General Staff was created as a body for operational and strategic planning and fleet management.
In the spring of 1906, Essen was sent to England as commander of the cruiser Rurik, which was being built there. But just six months later, the captain of the 1st rank was recalled to Russia, entrusting him with the responsible position of head of the Mine Cruiser Detachment in August 1906. The sailor had to command the most modern ships, built with money collected by subscription. Intensive training and numerous exercises turned the Mine Cruiser Detachment into the main combat core of the resurgent Baltic Fleet. Destroyers sailed without pilots in different areas of the Baltic Sea and began making winter voyages. In 1907, the inspecting Rear Admiral Enquist visited the Detachment's ships and highly appreciated the condition of the ships and the training of the teams, congratulating the Minister of the Navy Dikov on the appearance of a modern combat-ready formation in the Baltic. The sailor's efforts were appreciated. On April 5, Essen was promoted to rear admiral. On August 27, Nicholas I, delighted with the exercises, appointed a rear admiral to his retinue and remained in office.
In the fall, the detachment of mine cruisers was transformed into the 1st mine division. At the end of July 1908, general naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea demonstrated that, in addition to two mine divisions, the Baltic Fleet had outdated ships with a training and control system that clearly did not meet the requirements of the time. In particular, the Volga minelayer laid out a barrage of 400 mines for three days. Against such a background, the 1st Mine Division, which demonstrated the landing and support of the landing force, looked brilliant. First, on the night of August 1, they placed mines on the enemy’s likely route of movement, in the morning they quickly threw troops ashore, and when the “enemy’s” gunboats tried to approach, they ended up in a mock minefield, and the destroyers managed to escape.
In the fall, it was decided to unite the naval forces of the Baltic Sea under the control of one flagship. N.O. was appointed head of the United detachments. Essen. He formed a headquarters and selected ship commanders capable of acting independently.
The main problem was the acute shortage of ships. The “Program for the Development of Naval Armed Forces for 1909–1910” did not receive the support of the Duma, in which the majority did not understand the importance of naval power. The matter was spoiled by disagreements between the leaders of the army and navy. In anticipation of war, Essen managed to return the Baltic training detachment, sent on a voyage to European countries, and obtain permission to lay down 4 dreadnoughts. Since May 1909, the rear admiral led the disparate forces of the fleet in a single order, accustoming the teams to joint actions. During this campaign, the actions of detachments were mainly practiced. They created a minelayer detachment and a Baltic Sea trawling party. In November, the Regulations on Coastal Observation Posts and Stations were approved, which legitimized the surveillance and communication system already begun in the fleet by Nepenin. Over time she began to play important. The delay in the construction of ships did not allow us to count on the rapid creation of brigades of battleships and cruisers, as well as on the implementation of plans for other types of weapons. However, gradually the acute shortage of sailors after Tsushima decreased. In order to improve personnel training, in 1910 Essen set the task of going to sea when the ice melts and returning late in the fall, assigning the rank of 2nd class specialists to officers only after an exam. To create a reserve of non-commissioned officers, a school for young boys was established.
On Easter 1910 N.O. Essen was promoted to vice admiral. In the spring, it was decided to show naval exercises to Duma members in order to gain support for fleet development plans. Due to the early melting of ice, the preparation of single ships was completed in May. On May 23, the sailors demonstrated “The battle to protect the capital from the invasion of aggressor naval forces.” The picture of the artillery fire and mine attacks made an indelible impression on the deputies, especially on the Chairman of the State Duma A.I. Guchkov, who promised Essen support.
In the summer of 1910, the Baltic detachment again went to the Mediterranean Sea. This time, in addition to training purposes, it was also a demonstration of the power of Austria, which in 1908 annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina and now threatened Serbia. Essen was afraid of a collision, but everything turned out well.
In 1911, new ships finally entered service, which made it possible to form a brigade of battleships and the 1st brigade of cruisers. The construction of fortifications began on the island of Nargen and at Porkkala?Udda, with the transfer of the main operating base of the fleet to Revel. Essen was enthusiastic about the possibility of moving the fleet further from the capital. Soon the sailors successfully learned to sail in skerries at significant speeds. The gunners of the battleship brigade fired well at the shields.
When the possibility of war with Germany was discussed in 1912, the commander of the naval forces of the Baltic Sea insisted on the urgent construction of battleships and batteries to cover the mine and artillery position. Since the German fleet had numerical superiority, the vice admiral believed it was necessary, not limiting itself to defense, to tie up the enemy with active operations off its coast, in particular mine laying. The Flagship Council, held on January 25–26, did not support Essen. In case of war, it was decided to initially give battle to the enemy at the Nargen-Porkkalaudd mine-artillery position. Nevertheless, the flagship gave the order to prepare a plan of active action. His plan included blowing up the Kiel Canal locks and actions in the Danish Straits, preventing the enemy from breaking through to the Baltic. Essen was ready to take action even without government permission in order to disrupt the enemy’s plans with a decisive blow. He achieved approval by the Duma of a 5-year program of enhanced shipbuilding.
On April 14, 1913, Essen was promoted to admiral. The naval commander in Revel was gathering forces in case of war. He raised the flag on the Rurik, but at any moment was ready to go on any ship, or even on an airplane, considering it necessary to spend every hour preparing for war. And the results have already shown. At the general naval shooting on July 4, battleships and cruisers demonstrated concentrated shooting at moving targets, and the Rurik smashed its shield in 8 minutes at night.
In August 1913, after maneuvers, a squadron of Rurik, 4 battleships, a brigade of cruisers, a half-division of destroyers and transport set off on a foreign campaign under the flag of Essen. The Danish Straits passed without pilots, and a storm was experienced in the North Sea. On September 1st we arrived in Portsmouth. The future allies were greeted cordially by the queen, local authorities, and city residents. Then the admiral called at Brest and Norwegian ports, demonstrating the combat effectiveness of the Russian fleet.
In 1914, the reconstruction of the Revel and Sveaborg ports was going well, batteries were being built on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. But there were not enough ships. New dreadnoughts, oil destroyers and cruisers could only enter service in 1915–1916. They relied on what the fleet had at its disposal. The communications service was put in a state of constant readiness. Already on April 9, fleet formations left their bases and began maneuvers. Ship commanders received yellow packets with orders to unseal them in the event of hostilities. During the spring, exercises were conducted on laying minefields and defending them. The general naval maneuvers scheduled for June 2 had to be canceled due to information about the deployment of the Austrian army.
On July 15, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The admiral ordered all lighthouses in the Baltic to be turned off. The Emperor forbade the start of mine laying. The admiral, remembering the fate of the Pacific squadron, sent a telegram to the Minister of the Navy on July 17, 1914: “If I don’t receive an answer tonight, I’ll put up a barrage in the morning.” When permission to lay mines came, the ships were already in position. And on July 19, Germany declared war on Russia. On the same day, the admiral congratulated the sailors on the day for which they had been preparing with all their lives and service.
Initially they acted defensively. German light forces shelled Libau, abandoned by the Russians, and a week later they laid a minefield in the passage left for merchant ships at Nargen. The voyage of 2 new cruisers to the Gulf of Finland on August 26 ended with the death of the Magdeburg, which flew onto the rocks near Odensholm. The most valuable find was the German codes thrown from the cruiser. Having received them, the radio interception service under the command of Nepenin knew the contents of the conversations of German radio stations for many months, and after changing the codes, the new codes were quickly solved.
At the beginning of September, Essen sailed to Gotland with cruisers and destroyers. The Germans avoided battle: after an unsuccessful battle at Heligoland with the English fleet, the main forces in the Baltic were ordered to leave for Kiel. However, after the Russians appeared near Gotland, ships were sent from the North Sea. Essen prepared for a general battle. But he did not have permission to move out of position. On the other hand, the German forces, bound by the order not to risk ships, limited themselves to cruising and sinking the Finnish steamer Uleaborg off Raumo. Two weeks later, the reinforced German fleet, numbering 14 battleships, went to Vindava (Ventspils) in the hope that it would be possible to lure out the Russian fleet or break into the Gulf of Finland, from which Essen was forbidden to leave even in the event of an amphibious landing. But on September 25, the German armada withdrew after news of the appearance of English ships in front of the Belts.
Essen, subordinate to the commander of the 4th Army, was not going to sit idly by. In October, submarines sent by the British arrived, which soon went on patrol to the Danzig Bay and alarmed the enemy, forcing the German ships to take refuge at the bases. The admiral himself instructed the headquarters to prepare plans for mine laying off the enemy’s coast. On October 31 and November 5, destroyers laid mines at Memel and Pillau. The armored cruiser Friedrich-Karl was blown up by one of the mines and sank. On the night of November 19, the minelayer Amur, disguised as a cruiser, with the support of the squadron, laid mines east of Gotland. Then the destroyers again laid mines at Memel and Pillau. Soon Russian barriers blocked the exit from Danzig Bay to the north, and destroyers were already laying mines to the west.
For a long time, the German command did not know about Russian mine laying. The death of the Friedrich-Karl and other ships was attributed to a submarine attack. Having discovered the truth, the German command began to build up minesweepers in the theater. In response, Russian miners came up with means to protect mines from minesweeping and prepared cruisers for mine laying. On December 14, the cruisers and minelayer Yenisei laid hundreds of mines west of Danzig. The admiral himself on the Rurik took part in this campaign. Soon German forces abandoned Danzig as a naval base and moved to Swinemünde.
At the beginning of 1915, headquarters ordered maximum damage to the transport of goods from Sweden to German ports, despite the winter weather. Essen, who had just recovered, went to headquarters and signed an order to lay minefields between Bornholm and the barrier at Stolpe Bank, as well as at Cape Arkona - on the enemy’s main communications. On January 14, the cruisers set up these barriers unnoticed by the enemy.
Despite the harsh winter, which bound the Russian ports with ice, submarines continued to operate at sea. The German fleet lost ships that were blown up by mines, and transport ships sank to the bottom. Now even the death of ships from submarine attacks was attributed to mines. Losing minesweepers, the German fleet was forced to clear the sea off its own shores of mines, but mine explosions continued until the summer.
The cruiser's February voyage was interrupted due to the fact that the Rurik was damaged in a collision with rocks near Gotland; however, destroyers A.V. Kolchak even without their support set up a minefield. Essen already met the returning ships in Reval.
On March 17, Russian troops easily occupied Memel, but were soon forced to abandon it. The ground command did not take into account Essen's proposal to postpone the offensive until April, because previously the ice did not allow supporting the army from the sea. Now, the commander of the Baltic fleet, Prince Henry, was given part of the forces of the High Seas Fleet with the task of destroying the port of Libau and interrupting maritime trade on the northern routes. However, the shelling of Russian troops retreating from Memel did not produce much results, and a storm interrupted operations in the Abo?Aland region, and the Germans returned to Swinemünde.
For the successful winter campaign, Essen was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree. However, the spring campaign became more difficult. The German command changed the codes. Now it was impossible to follow the enemy’s actions as easily as before. The entry of German troops to the coast of the Baltic Sea inevitably led to an increase in fleet activity. On April 23, U?26 sank the Finnish steamer Frak, which forced Essen to order the installation of all available anti-submarine nets. The admiral ordered the cruisers and destroyers to update the minefields in front of Libau. The naval commander himself went to Revel on the icebreaker Sampo and visited the gunboats. He felt sick. The news from Nepenin that the new German code had been solved, and from the commander of the special-purpose destroyer semi-division that mines had been laid in front of Libau, gave encouragement.
Essen never received permission to withdraw battleships beyond the mine and artillery position. Understanding the importance of the Irbensky passes for the defense of the capital, he strengthened their defense. Overcoming his illness, the admiral still tried to act energetically. On May 1, he left on a destroyer for Revel and finally fell ill. On the third day, doctors declared the situation dangerous, and on May 7, Essen died. He was solemnly buried on May 9 at the cemetery of the Novodevichy Convent in Petrograd. The monument to the naval commander has survived to this day. A stone was placed on the grave with the inscription “Nikolai Ottovich Essen”, with the St. George’s Cross and the commander’s flag - a guy superimposed on the St. Andrew’s flag.
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Federal channels reported in June that a new ship, the frigate Admiral Essen, was solemnly handed over to the Russian Navy in Kaliningrad. A representative of an ancient family of Baltic Germans, Nikolai Ottovich von Essen is the hero of Port Arthur, commander of the Baltic Fleet in the First World War. The closest descendants of the admiral were invited to raise the St. Andrew's flag: his great-nephews Maya and Nikolai von Essen, who live and work in Kazan.
RETURN OF THE ADMIRAL
“This was our third trip to Kaliningrad,” he tells the BUSINESS Online correspondent. Nikolai von Essen, head of the press center of Kazan State Energy University. - The first time we went there was in 2011, when the ship was laid down. Then, during the laying, according to naval tradition, we placed a memorial laying board in one of its parts, attaching it to the bottom from the inside with four screws. One was screwed by the commander of the fleet, the second by the governor of the Kaliningrad region, the third by the director of the plant, and finally, the fourth went to my sister Maya and me. In the fall of 2014, we participated in the frigate’s launching ceremony.”
Launching is an important and solemn event, but this is not yet the beginning of the ship’s service. He must undergo tests that can last for months. It is then that the notorious bottle of champagne is broken against the side of the ship. By the way, this is always done by a woman who, according to a long-standing maritime tradition, becomes his godmother. So Maya von Essen, senior nurse of the former Kazan City Emergency Hospital No. 2 ( now it is called the KFU medical unit- approx. ed.), - godmother a formidable warship named after her great-great-grandfather. “Maya is a medical worker,” Nikolai von Essen does not hide his pride in his sister. “And they don’t just see life without embellishment, they see suffering and death, so they look at everything differently. In her hospital she good standing, patients are drawn to her. Her area of expertise is hemosorption, hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, the work is very complex and responsible, and Maya is one of those who knows the equipment best and carries out all these procedures.”
FAMILY VALUES
The personality and character of the glorious admiral can be judged not only from the novels of Alexander Stepanov “Port Arthur” and Valentin Pikul “Moonsund”; in the von Essen family there is a family legend of how one mention of the name of the commander of the Baltic Fleet saved the life of his brother.
Nikolai von Essen with his family at the flag raising ceremony, Kaliningrad, June 2016
Admiral's younger brother Alexey Ottovich von Essen(Maya and Nikolai are his great-grandsons) from the beginning of the twentieth century, he was appointed to the Transcaucasian governorship, survived the revolution there, and was deputy minister of justice of the Musavatist government in Azerbaijan. After the arrival of the Red Army, arrests began, and Alexei Ottovich was also taken. The investigation into his case was assigned to a Baltic sailor. And here is the first interrogation: “Last name...” - “Essen...” - “Are you not a relative of Gololobogo?” That’s what they called Nikolai Ottovich in the navy because he was bald, and so was Alexey Ottovich, they both looked quite similar. He answers: “Yes, a relative. Brother". And the sailor lets him go. And so it would be - to the wall and to waste...
Already in Tiflis, modern Tbilisi, where the family eventually ended up, Alexei Ottovich was arrested three more times, but each time he miraculously managed to escape. And in 1937 he was arrested and declared an enemy of the people. At that time, it was better for relatives to abandon him, but no one from the family did this. They acted more cunningly - as they were advised: they quit their previous jobs so that no one would think of demanding any kind of report from them at the new ones, although it was difficult to hide their last name, and even such a one...
“My grandmother, who knew many languages and was a tutor, was afraid to teach her children foreign languages, - says Nikolai Alekseevich. - God forbid someone in the yard hears “enemy” speech from them! Only my grandfather’s sister took it and wrote in her passport: German. And then the war began! We had to come up with all sorts of excuses, that in fact we were not Germans, but Swedes, so as not to be exiled. Because Tbilisi was a front-line city, and the Nazis had already stormed Elbrus.”
DIFFICULTIES OF MOVING, DIFFICULTIES OF “TRANSLATION”
Until 1993, this branch of the von Essen family (descendants of Alexei Ottovich) lived in Tbilisi, but known events (or, to be more precise, Civil War) forced them to actually evacuate to Kazan.
“Our mother is from here,” Nikolai Alekseevich explains the reason for choosing a new place of residence. - I was 13, I was in the 8th grade when my dad, mom and older sister Maya and I moved here. Although I visited my grandmother here back in Soviet times, when I came back from Georgia for good, I can’t say that I was so naive, but maybe I pictured and imagined Russia from movies, from programs on central Soviet television. It turned out that the Russian language I speak is different from the one my peers speak here. I for a long time I tried to delve into and generally understand Russian, which was new to me. And I even had some kind of rejection when I heard words like “you’re kidding”... For a long time I could not understand what they meant. To be honest, even when I was already studying at a university, if someone said the expression “Wet the crusts” in front of me, I didn’t know whether he was saying something nasty about me or vice versa. But I was coming here - to R-o-s-s-i-yu! Even though I was only 13, I had a bit of a culture shock. I learned so much, there were so many new words! I didn’t know these beautiful, even twisted expressions when someone is somewhere very far away...
Any emigration, even returning to your ancestral homeland, to Russia, you understand, has a number of problems... After all, I had a whole epic with my passport. I came here to Kazan without citizenship. Until 2000 he was a citizen Soviet Union. And it was such a hassle to go to the passport office! So that they look at you both in the corridor queues and in the green uniform of the internal service: “Let’s come in large numbers here!” You know, my ancestors, Baltic Germans, did not move to Russia. It was Russia that came to where we were, you know? Baltic German nobility, unlike some others Russian Germans, entered, in a good sense of the word, into an agreement with Peter I, thanks to which the Baltic states became part of the Russian Empire. Peter was able to convince the German nobility of the Baltic states, giving them certain rights and benefits, which were taken away by the Swedish king. Against this backdrop, generous Peter said: “I will return everything to you.” Therefore, I consider myself a legal resident, an absolutely natural Russian, because my ancestors reacted favorably to this idea and became part of this country. You know, I read that in the middle of the 18th century in the Russian army, as in our football now, foreigners were paid more. But the Baltic Germans, who had already become native Russians and most of them served in the Russian army, were indignant: “What is this? Why such difference?" And from then on, everyone was paid the same salary. By the way, ours served faithfully. In the middle of the 18th century, another special regiment was created - the third guards after Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky - on which the empress relied. It just consisted of Baltic Germans.
In 1914, when the First War began World War, or, as we also called it, German, many descendants of the Baltic Germans, even being generals, changed their surnames to Russified ones. Nikolai Ottovich did not do this, that is, he did not abandon his father, because the surname is passed down through the paternal line. Moreover, even when the apogee of the war between Russia and Germany came, his surname was printed in all newspapers of the Russian Empire, as it should be, with the prefix “von”, despite the fact that it was probably difficult to come up with a more German surname. One of the most important sections of the theater of military operations on Petrogradsky sea direction It was led by a man with that last name. And no one in the navy could accuse von Essen of not being a patriot. The highest military officials of the empire did not hesitate to write his name correctly in documents, orders and instructions. This is exactly how it was published in condolences on his death from illness. But now, unfortunately, the ship cannot be called that. After all, I repeatedly wrote to the commander of the Navy after the laying, so that the frigate was called “Admiral von Essen”. Now it is impossible for a Russian frigate to be named with the prefix “von”, but then it was possible to die. This is Bolshevism, some kind of voluntarism, which has nothing to do with Russia...”
BIG BUREAUCRACY WITH THREE SMALL LETTERS
“By collecting and restoring the family archive, we managed to unearth my grandmother’s registration certificate, where “von Essen” was written in black and white,” continues Nikolai Alekseevich. - The prefix “von” among the Germans means belonging to the nobility. By the way, on the tombstone of the Russian composer Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka himself, when his ashes rested in Berlin, these same letters were carved in front of his surname. This was done to emphasize respect for his origins. And in general, nobility can only be deprived by the one who gave it. Namely, the emperor. But not the Bolshevik or Soviet - as you like - power. Another thing is that in the Soviet Union some privileges of this class were abolished. And even more... Now there is no Union, and I, already having my grandmother’s and my metrics in hand, first came to the district registry office: “My last name is written this way: “von” with a small letter, then a space, then with a capital letter.” They looked at me in a peculiar way: “Why do you need this?” I tried to explain as best I could: restoration of the original surname, devotion to the ancestors, their traditions... The registry office did not let up: “Why change anything at all - you live normally.” I gain patience and explain about normality and abnormality in my understanding. They looked at me even more carefully: “Maybe you should talk to a psychologist?” I continue to insist. They too: “Let’s write a double surname: Von-Essen. It would be completely legal to change the surname, they do this often.” I explain that I have not a change, but a restoration of my surname, that is, on the contrary - a change in the change. In general, I had to go to the district court and write a statement of claim. The judge, an older woman, nevertheless accepted the application. I just started explaining to her: “Let’s take your last name...” - “No! You don’t need to take mine.” And mine, then, is it possible? Why should someone decide for me what my original surname will sound like? Sorry, but these are fundamental human rights. In Germany, even though there is a republic there, no one has canceled anything in the surnames! Even during the GDR times.
Not immediately, but the court took the plaintiff’s side, that is, mine. The judge then told me: “You know, I’m in Supreme Court I went and showed my decision: “How is this legal?” It turned out - yes. After the trial, which I won, the registry office refused to comply with its decision. After some time, they gave up and gave up: let us write these same letters “von” right in front of your last name on your old Soviet birth certificate. Entered. And they already put the Russian stamp: “Introduced on the basis of a court order.”
When they had already reissued the passport, the passport officer said: “But my computer program doesn’t write it like that - with a small letter. All surnames begin with capital letters only. We are strict with this - this is a federal program. It’s as sacred as a cow.” Etc. I went to the boss and explained the situation - the boss ordered me to defeat the federal program. Overpowered."
ADMIRAL VON ESSEN CUP
“How do we continue the traditions of our admiral? - Nikolai von Essen thought for a minute. - My father and I (he, of course, to a greater extent) held the Admiral von Essen Cup several times as part of the republican competition in ship modeling. There are prizes, certain awards, certificates that are awarded to the winners. The cup is a challenge, although it was not possible to hold the competition this year, but I am sure that it will take place next year. It simply must take place, if only because the ship Admiral Essen appeared on such an important section of our borders. In this regard, maybe we will be able to attract sponsors, maybe we’ll organize everything for a better high level. And the name of Admiral von Essen will give him a certain status. In Kazan there is the Admiralteyskaya Sloboda, in Zelenodolsk - the largest shipbuilding complex. In a word, Kazan and Tatarstan were and remain the region where the Russian fleet was founded and continues to be built.
Young people are involved in both robots and computers, but why is ship modeling lagging behind? Isn't shipbuilding one of the engines of our economy? It is through ship modeling that the children learn its basics, and most importantly, they learn the history of their country, its glorious pages. After all, not only some skills are being developed - cutting, gluing, painting: accurate copying leads to contact with the great history of the country. By the way, only models of ships from the time of Admiral von Essen, the late 19th - early 20th centuries, participate in the Cup. This is one of the most difficult periods in our historiography, because almost all the events of that time were constantly labeled. And to this day these labels continue to remain in people's minds. But what is our task? Unite the nation, not divide into whites and reds, although you must remember your ancestors. And when the St. Andrew’s flag was raised in Kaliningrad on the Admiral Essen, and my family and I were next to this frigate, there was a lump in my throat. And when the Russian anthem began to sound, it was absolutely something! I could barely contain myself. Let's not talk about the rest..."
Ancient Baltic-German knightly family von Essenow appeared in the Baltic states with crusades German knights. Over 250 years in the service of Russia, he gave several dozen generals, one admiral, and five governors. 12 representatives of the von Essen family served under the St. Andrew's flag, many became Knights of St. George. There were also military men in the family who served on land: Reinhold Wilhelm von Essen was lieutenant general under Catherine, Magnus Gustav(Ivan Nikolaevich) von Essen, military governor of Riga, saved the Baltic states from being captured by Napoleonic troops.
"Admiral Essen"- the second of six frigates of Project 11356 of the so-called “admiral series”. The lead ship of the Admiral Grigorovich series was accepted into service in the Black Sea Fleet on March 11, 2016, and the third ship, Admiral Makarov, is planned to be delivered in the third quarter of this year. This will be followed by “Admiral Butakov”, “Admiral Istomin”, “Admiral Kornilov”. After Crimea became part of Russia, a decision was made to build and further serve all six patrol ships in the Black Sea Fleet.
Project 11356 patrol ships are designed for combat operations against surface ships and submarines, repelling attacks by air attack weapons, both independently and as part of formations. The ships of this series have a displacement of about 4 thousand tons, a length of 125 m, a speed of 30 knots and a crew of 180 people.
The ships have universal missile and artillery weapons and modern radio equipment for anti-submarine and air defense. They are equipped with the Kalibr-NK missile system, the Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missile system and the Broadsword missile and artillery system, radio-electronic and hydroacoustic weapons.
Nikolai Ottovich von Essen
(1860-1915)
Russian naval figure. Admiral since 1913. Born on December 11, 1860 in St. Petersburg in the family of fellow (deputy) Minister of Justice, Secretary of State Otto Vasilyevich Essen. As a descendant of the Baltic nobility, he had the title of baron and the prefix “von” to his surname.
He graduated from the Naval School with honors in 1881, and was enshrined on a marble plaque for academic success and exemplary behavior. With the rank of midshipman, he completed a two-year overseas voyage on the armored frigate Duke of Edinburgh. As a midshipman, he attended a course of lectures at the mechanical department of the Nikolaev Naval Academy in 1886. Having chosen the command specialty of the ship's weapons systems, he entered the Artillery Officer Class, which he graduated in 1891. Further service was associated with the Pacific Squadron, where Lieutenant N.O. Essen sailed from 1892 to 1897 as an artillery officer on the cruiser Admiral Kornilov. Until 1900, he served on the Mediterranean squadron as commander of the destroyer No. 120 ("Pakerort"), senior officer of the naval gunboat "Threatening", commander of the headquarters steamer "Slavyanka". In 1899, for distinguished service, he was awarded the rank of captain of the 2nd rank. During the wintering of the ship in St. Petersburg, from 1900 to 1902, he taught theoretical mechanics and deviation in the Naval Cadet Corps. Since 1902 - commander of the newest 2nd rank cruiser "Novik". Having accepted the ship at a shipyard in Germany, N.O. Essen transferred it to Port Arthur as part of the Pacific Ocean squadron.
From the very first days of the Russo-Japanese War, Novik actively participated in hostilities. On the morning of January 27, 1904, after a surprise attack by the Japanese fleet on Port Arthur, Essen took the Novik out to sea for reconnaissance. Having discovered superior enemy forces, the ship attacked the cruiser Yakumo. Only the hit of an 8-inch shell forced the Novik to return to base. The following days were filled with active combat activity, the commander and his crew showed high military skill and heroism, and set an example of fulfilling their duty. "Novik" took part in battles with the Japanese squadron, supported destroyers, and conducted reconnaissance. The squadron commander, Vice Admiral S.O., held his flag on it. Makarov on his way out to rescue the sinking destroyer Steregushchy. On March 16, captain 2nd rank N.O. Essen is appointed commander of the squadron battleship "Sevastopol", and after the ship became the flagship of the squadron, he also serves as flag captain under the commander. He was a staunch supporter of active naval operations and going to sea to fight the enemy. Disagreements on this issue with Rear Admiral V.K. Vitgeft led to the replacement of Essen as flag captain and the transfer of the admiral's flagship flag from Sevastopol.
The battleship engaged the enemy several times, participated in an attempt to break through the squadron to Vladivostok, and was blown up by mines twice. While in the harbor, he fought counter-battery battles with Japanese siege artillery. After moving to b. The White Wolf ship was subjected to numerous attacks by Japanese destroyers, who fired 180 torpedoes at it, two of which hit the target. Despite the damage, the commander was able to ensure the active use of naval artillery against land and sea targets. The hits from enemy shells completely put the Sevastopol out of action. BUT. Essen was appointed head of the Lyaoteshan defense department, subordinating the ground units and coastal artillery. When the destruction of the ships of the squadron began on December 19, 1904, Sevastopol, through the only efforts of the former commander, was towed to be scuttled to great depths, which did not allow the Japanese who occupied Port Arthur to use it for their own purposes. BUT. Essen was the last to leave the battleship.
For military services, Essen was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, and a Golden Weapon with the inscription “For Bravery,” and promoted to captain of the 1st rank. After returning to Russia in 1905, he held the position of head of the strategic part of the naval scientific department of the Main Naval Staff, commander of the 20th naval crew, from March 1906. - commander of the armored cruiser "Rurik" built in England.
Since August 1906, Rear Admiral N.O. Essen is the head of the Mine Cruiser Detachment of the Baltic Fleet (later the 1st Mine Division). In this post, he “found a noble field for putting into practice those conclusions that he had to come to through his own bitter experience in 1904.” Essen resolutely fought against simplifications in combat training, which for the first time began to be carried out all year round, and supported thinking and proactive officers. Under his leadership, as a result of intensive training and exercises, the formation became the main combat core of the fleet. The ships sailed in any weather in all areas of the Gulf of Finland, the central and northern parts of the sea. From November 1908, Essen was appointed head of the united detachments of the Baltic Fleet, and in 1909 - head of the naval forces of the Baltic Sea (since 1911 - commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet). He achieved a radical restructuring of the activities of all institutions, placing them at the service of the needs of the operating fleet. He showed himself to be a direct follower of the ideas of Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov, led the development and adoption in 1912 of the fleet action plan in case of war, the creation of mine and artillery positions for the defense of the St. Petersburg direction.
Under the command of Admiral N.O. Essen The Baltic Fleet met the beginning of the First World War in full readiness to repel an enemy attack. In 1914-1915. The ships carried out brilliantly organized active mine laying in the southern Baltic, on German communications, and successfully operated at sea. In 1914 Essen was awarded the Order of the White Eagle with Swords.
He died in Reval on May 7, 1915. The body was delivered to St. Petersburg on the destroyer "Pogranichnik" and on May 15 was buried in the cemetery of the Novodevichy Convent.
Bibliography
To prepare this work, materials from the site http://www.navy.ru/ were used
