On the one hand, getting the capital status means a lot for any city, on the other hand, very sad consequences can come. There were episodes in the history of Omsk when the settlement became the main city of White Russia in 1918–1920, and also the capital of the Siberian Cossack army.
Today, Omsk, a beautiful Siberian city, has the honorary title of the city of labor glory, it is home to more than a million inhabitants, many of them are proud of the city and its glorious history.
Military settlement
Omsk is not so many years old, the date of foundation is considered to be 1716, when a detachment of Cossacks, led by Ivan Bukhgolts, set out to strengthen the borders of the empire by order of Peter I. The foundation of the city began with the foundation of the Omsk fortress, which honestly performed its defensive functions. The second mission assigned to this fortress was not so pleasant. Until 1782, she also served as a prison.
An interesting fact is that some time after the construction of the first fortress, the question arose about the construction of a second similar structure, but in a different place. Construction work began in 1768.
After the administrative reform in Russia, Omsk became a district town, but most of the population belonged to the military class. And after the uprising of the Decembrists in 1825, many participants in the legendary events came to the Omsk convict prison to serve hard labor. Among the convicts were Petrashevists, and the most famous of them was Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Governorate Center
In the 19th century, the tasks of Omsk radically changed: from a military settlement organized by brave Cossacks, it turns into a large city with great powers and becomes the center of the following administrative-territorial entities: West Siberian Territory; Steppe Governor-General, the so-called Steppe Territory. One of the honorable privileges is the right to raise the state flag of the Russian Empire. In Siberia and Asia, Omsk is the only city that has received such a right.
If we describe the history of Omsk briefly, then in the 19th century it will not differ in any way from the general history of the country, the same rapid development of industry, urban planning, development of culture, especially in the second half of the century.
Capital of White Russia
Everything changed at the beginning of the twentieth century. Omsk was far from the hotbeds of the revolution; the events that took place in Moscow and St. Petersburg in February – October 1917 did not greatly affect his life. But the situation was radically reversed in the Civil War, when the residence of the Provisional Siberian Government, and then Admiral A. Kolchak, was located in the city. Omsk received the unofficial title of the "third capital".
After the final victory of the Red Army and the establishment of Soviet power, the life of the city followed a common path with the Land of the Soviets. They tried to forget about the "white pages" of history. Today, there is a return of interest in those distant events.
