Baron. Pyotr Wrangel was born in Novoaleksandrovsk, Kovno [Kaunas] governorate. His father was a gold miner and financier. Wrangel graduated from the Petersburg Institute of Mining with a gold medal (1901). He volunteered for the Life Guards cavalry, in 1902, he was promoted to cornet and commissioned a reserve officer. Upon the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, he re-enlisted. Wrangel graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy (1910). A participant of World War I. In 1914, he was awarded the St. George Cross (4th degree) and in 1915, St. George's arms. Major General (1917). In 1917, Wrangel was the Commander of the 2nd brigade of the Ussuri cavalry division, the Commander of the 7th cavalry division, and the Consolidated cavalry corps.

As the Bolsheviks came to power, he was arrested, and soon released. In May 1918, he arrived in Kyiv, where he hoped to obtain the support of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky and the Ukrainian State in the fight against Soviet Russia. Then he moved to Yekaterinodar, where he entered the Volunteer Army (August 1918). During the 2nd Kuban campaign, he was promoted to the Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, and later the 1st Cavalry Corps. Lieutenant General (1918).

Since January 1919, he was the commander of the Caucasian Volunteer Army of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia (AFSR). His contribution to the liberation of the Kuban from the Reds was appreciated by the Kuban Cossacks, who accepted him in their ranks. Wrangel was nicknamed “Black Baron” because he wore a black Kuban Circassian coat. He suggested directing the main forces to Tsaritsyn in order to unite with the troops of Aleksander Kolchak.

The capture of Tsaritsyn on June 30, 1919, appeared a significant military victory for Wrangel. He criticized the Commander-in-Chief of AFSR Anton Denikin, who launched an offensive against Moscow in July 1919. After a number of defeats and Denikin’s resignation in April 1920, Wrangel became the Ruler of the South of Russia and the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army.

He managed to organize defense at Perekop in April 1920, which enabled the Whites to gain a foothold in Crimea. In the summer of 1920, the Russian Army conducted an offensive in Northern Tavria (June) and carried out a landing operation on the Kuban (in August, in September the troops were evacuated back to Crimea). Wrangel’s government carried out an agrarian reform in Crimea, effectively legalizing the seizure of landowners’ lands during the revolution (a 25-year long term for the purchase of these lands was introduced). Moreover, the requisition of bread was abolished, the Zemstvo [local] self-government was restored, and trade unions were allowed. Regarding the national question, Wrangel advocated a federation.

Wrangel prepared the evacuation of the army and navy in advance, which he carried out with the support of France (November 1920). In 1924, he established the Russian All-Military Union (ROVS), which united most of the participants in the White movement in exile. He died of tuberculosis in Brussels. Later, he was reburied in Belgrade.