Alexander Zabelin Russian general, head of the Main Directorate of Military Educational Institutions. Date of Birth: 18.05.1856 Country: France

Alexander Zabelin - Russian General and Chief of the Main Directorate of Military Educational Institutions

Alexander Zabelin was born on May 18, 1856. He attended the Baku Real School and the 1st Pavel Military School. In August 20, 1875, he graduated as a sublieutenant and joined the Leib Guard Moscow Regiment. In 1877, Zabelin participated in the Russo-Turkish War and was severely wounded in the chest at Gorny Dubnyak on October 12. He was promoted to lieutenant on April 16, 1878. For his service in the campaign, Zabelin was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 4th class (1877) and the Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd class with swords and bow (1878).

After graduating from the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff in 1881, Zabelin joined the General Staff and was promoted to captain on April 22, 1881. He was assigned to the Kiev Military District, where he compiled the "Military-Statistical Review of Volyn Province," published by the district headquarters in 1887. While in Kiev, Zabelin served as the head of troop movements for the Kozlovo-Voronezh-Rostov and Rostov-Vladikavkaz railways from 1884 to 1886, and then as the head of troop movements for the Kiev District in 1888. In 1888, he was transferred to St. Petersburg and served as a staff officer of the General Staff for military railway affairs. He also commanded a battalion in the Leib Guard Moscow Regiment and was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 2nd class, in 1889. Zabelin was promoted to colonel on August 13, 1890.

In 1891, Zabelin was appointed as the chief of the department of the General Staff for troop and military cargo movements. He was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th and 3rd classes. On September 19, 1898, Zabelin became the acting assistant to the chief of the Military Ministry's chancellery, and on April 9, 1900, he was promoted to major general. During the Russo-Japanese War, he served as the chief of military communications for the 1st Manchurian Army and later as the chief of military communications for the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East. Zabelin was promoted to lieutenant general on March 5, 1905, and received the Order of St. Anna, 1st class with swords, and the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class with swords for his service in the war.

After the war, Zabelin served as the chief of the Military Ministry's chancellery and was awarded the Order of the White Eagle in 1907. On March 3, 1910, he was appointed as the chief of the Main Directorate of Military Educational Institutions and was promoted to full general on April 10, 1911. Zabelin implemented various reforms in military education, including transforming all cadet schools into military schools, developing new programs, introducing English language instruction in some cadet corps, and improving physical training. He also emphasized marksmanship training and introduced the Belgian "Skoler" carbines in cadet schools. Zabelin focused on developing qualities and skills necessary for future officers and paid attention to extracurricular reading and improving the welfare of teachers.

At the beginning of World War I, Zabelin was appointed as the chief of supply for the Southwest Front. However, he returned to his duties as the chief of the Main Directorate of Military Educational Institutions on December 27, 1914. During the February Revolution, he was arrested. Due to illness, Zabelin was discharged from service with the rank of general without uniform and pension on April 2, 1917. During the Russian Civil War, he supervised the Military Educational Institutions of the Armed Forces of South Russia. After the civil war, Zabelin emigrated to France. He passed away on November 22, 1933, in Paris and was buried at the Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois cemetery.