Aleksei Brusilov
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Aleksei Alekseevich Brusilov (Russian: Алексей Алексеевич Брусилов) (August 19, 1853 - March 17, 1926) was a Russian cavalry general most noted for the development of a military offensive tactic used in the Brusilov offensive of 1916. The Brusilov offensive was probably the most successful campaign during World War I.
Brusilov was born in Tiflis (now Tbilisi, Georgia). He was educated at the Imperial Corps of Pages, and after entering the Russian Army served in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. He was promoted to general in 1906. During World War I Brusilov served as a commander of the 8th Army, then later as a commander of the South-West Front, earning a reputation as Russia's most successful general. With the onset of revolution in Russia, Brusilov argued for the Tsar's abdication. When Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in February 1917, the Provisional Government appointed Brusilov as Commander-in-Chief. In August that year he was dismissed. Following the 1917 October Revolution and for the duration of the Russian Civil War Brusilov remained inactive. In 1920 he entered the Red Army service. He participated in the campaign against Poland, but did not occupy positions of significance, primarily serving as a military consultant and inspector of cavalry for the next four years. He died in Moscow from heart paralysis.