From World War I Document Archive A professional revolutionary
and soldier, Frunze, after some ten years of internal exile
under the Tsar, managed to escape captivity in 1914. He
continued his activities in Irkutsk and Chita and in 1916,
managed to gain a position as a statistician in the 'All-russian
Zemstvo Union on the Western Front, and head the Bolshevik
underground in Minsk. Chosen as chairman of the Soviet of
Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' Deputies in Shuya, Frunze
commanded and led the Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Shuya Red Guards in
the Moscow Uprising, 30 October 1917. Ultimately, he rose to
command the fourth Army of the Eastern Front during the Civil
War, assumed command of the Southern Group on 5 March 1919, and
led successful operations against Admiral Kolchak. He liberated
the Northern and Central Ural mountains and was then re-assigned
to command the Turkestan Front from 15 August 1919-10 September
1920. He defeated General Wrangel's White Army in the great
battles of 7-17 November 1920, and sub