Nikolai Ianushkevich

Born May 1 (13), 1868; died Oct. 18, 1918, in Tbilisi. Russian general of infantry (1914).

Ianushkevich graduated from the Mikhail Artillery School in 1888 and the Academy of the General Staff in 1896. He held various administrative posts. Beginning in 1910 he lectured on military administration at the Academy of the General Staff. Nicholas II was impressed by the extremely reactionary views of Ianushkevich, who was a member of the Council of the United Nobility, and Ianushkevich’s career advanced rapidly. In 1913 he was promoted from deputy chief of an office at the Ministry of War to director of the Academy of the General Staff. In 1914, Ianushkevich was made chief of the General Staff, although he was unqualified for the position.

At the beginning of World War I, Ianushkevich was named chief of staff under the supreme commander in chief. Entrusting all questions of operational leadership to Quartermaster-general Iu. N. Danilov, Ianushkevich occupied himself chiefly with administrative and political matters. In August 1915 he was removed from his post and appointed the assistant to the namestnik (vicegerent) of the Caucasus in charge of military affairs. Ianushkevich retired after the February Revolution of 1917.