33 Facts About Zinovy Peshkov

Zinovy Alekseyevich Peshkov was a Russian-born French general and diplomat.

Zinovy Peshkov's father, Mikail Izraylevich, was a relatively prosperous itinerant coppersmith and copper engraver from the region of Bialystok in the Kingdom of Poland, in an area of Belarusian and Lithuanian influence.

Zinovy Peshkov, the oldest of the sons, born in 1884, was followed by Yakov, the future political colleague of Lenin.

Reluctant to pursue his studies and prepared from adolescence for any adventure, the young Zinovy Peshkov trolled the streets of Nizhny Novgorod on the fringes of legality, spending his time with the many thugs on the banks of the Volga.

Zinovy Peshkov shared his arrests and imprisonments ordered by a hostile regime, at a moment when Gorky was at the threshold of huge success both in and out of Russia, a success which relied on a radical criticism of the aristocracy.

Zinovy Peshkov collected romantic conquests and opened himself to the world.

Zinovy Peshkov officially changed his name, adopting the real last name of Gorky, Peshkov, since the latter was his official godfather.

Unfortunately American opinion, at first charmed by the oratorical capacities of Gorky, to which Zinovy Peshkov's intermediation provided picturesque relief, changed quickly when it learned that the writer was travelling not with his wife, but with his mistress, Maria Andreieva.

Zinovy Peshkov, acting as Gorky's secretary, organized this collective life, supervised the details, profiting as well from these unusual encounters to which he was a witness.

Zinovy Peshkov rubbed shoulders with Lenin, whom he bore little respect, whose relations with Gorky he later indicated were complicated by often divergent opinions.

Zinovy Peshkov emigrated with her to the United States, where he struggled to find a situation.

Zinovy Peshkov is sometimes referred to under the name of Vicomtesse de Combette.

Zinovy Peshkov was attached to the 20th section of the military staff.

In Paris, he met Philippe Berthelot, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who realized what this young mutilated soldier, bedecked with decorations, could bring in terms of propaganda aimed at neutral countries, first of all the United States, a place with which Zinovy Peshkov was well acquainted.

Zinovy Peshkov was then asked to participate, the objective being for France to convince the new Russian power to continue the war against the German Empire.

Zinovy Peshkov probably saw his brother Veniamin as well as his sisters who had remained in Russia, all supporters of the revolution.

Zinovy Peshkov was promoted temporary head of a battalion for the duration of his mission from December 9,1918.

Zinovy Peshkov met the ataman of the Cossacks, Semenov, in Vladivostok, then Admiral Kolchak in the Urals to help him in reorganizing his army.

Zinovy Peshkov was received in the greatest homes in the company of Princess Salomea Andronikova, who he had met in the Caucasus, brought to Europe and with whom he was sharing his life.

Zinovy Peshkov was made permanent Captain by a decree of January 14,1920.

Zinovy Peshkov was later attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be sent to the United States on January 21,1921.

Zinovy Peshkov, who received French nationality only the following year, was again in the Foreign Legion with the rank of chief of battalion, although he had no training in command and no experience in the position.

Zinovy Peshkov, who continued to maintain his ties to foreign affairs, alternated periods of command with diplomatic missions.

Zinovy Peshkov's stay at the French embassy in the United States from 1926 to 1929 did not prevent him from paying a visit to Gorky at Sorrento during vacations, prior to the writer's permanent departure for the USSR.

Zinovy Peshkov met him in Paris in March 1928, with a possible project of adapting his work on the Foreign Legion.

Zinovy Peshkov's project succeeded, but his first contacts with the head of Free France were difficult.

Uninterested in a critical and controversial involvement with the English, whom he liked, Zinovy Peshkov then arranged to be sent to French West Africa, where he brilliantly organized the rallying of the colonies.

Zinovy Peshkov was close to General MacArthur, whom he admired, since upon the return of the hero of the Philippines, he was not able to hide the interest he showed toward this officer, who impressed him with his uniqueness.

In 1950, General Zinovy Peshkov was retired and replaced by Maurice Dejean.

Zinovy Peshkov left Japan for a final return to Paris.

The return to action of General de Gaulle in 1958 pleased General Zinovy Peshkov, who had always respected the chief of Free France.

Zinovy Peshkov charged him with a number of diplomatic missions before sending him in 1964 to Chiang Kai-shek.

The choice of Zinovy Peshkov was a great homage given to these two soldiers of exceptional destiny.