Pleve, Pavel

Pleve, Pavel Adamovich 

Born May 30 (June 11), 1850; died Mar. 28 (Apr. 10), 1916, in Moscow. Russian general of the cavalry (1907). Descendant of dvoriane (nobility or gentry).

Pleve graduated from the Nicholas Cavalry School in 1870 and from the Academy of the General Staff in 1877. He fought in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. He served in the Bulgarian Army from 1878 to 1880 and was director of the war ministry. Upon returning to Russia, he held various command and staff positions. He was appointed commander of the forces of the Moscow Milirary District in 1909. In World War I (191418), Pleve successfully commanded the troops of the Fifth Army in the battle of Galicia of 1914 and the Łodź Operation of 1914 and the troops of the Twelfth Army in the Przasnysz Operation in February 1915. He was commander in chief of the troops of the Northern Front from December 1915 to February 1916. He was relieved of his position for reasons of health and appointed a member of the State Council.