Its come to my attention that a shocking number of Kossacks are ignorant to the existence of Cossacks.
The Cossacks are a traditional people who reside in Eastern Europe, specifically Ukraine and southern Russia. They are known for self-reliance, horsemanship, and military skill.
Cossacks were originally runaway Ruthenians who escaped Poland and Russia to settle in the southern steppes region of Eastern Europe.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cossacks had repeated conflicts with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth:
After being asked in 1539 by the Grand Duke Vasili III of Russia to restrain the Cossacks, the Ottoman Sultan replied: "The Cossacks do not swear allegiance to me, and they live as they themselves please." In 1549, Czar Ivan the Terrible replied to a request of the Turkish Sultan to stop the attacks of the Don Cossacks, stating, "The Cossacks of the Don are not my subjects, and they go to war or live in peace without my knowledge." Similar exchanges passed between Russia, the Ottoman Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, each of which tried to exploit Cossack warmongering for its own purposes. Cossacks for their part were mostly happy to plunder everybody more or less equally, although in the 16th century, with the dominance of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth extending south, the Zaporozhian Cossacks were mostly, if tentatively, regarded by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as their subjects. Registered Cossacks were a part of the Commonwealth army until 1699.
In the Russian Empire, Cossacks relations with Muscouvy ranged fro combined military operations to famous Cossack uprisings against the Russians. During the dissolution of the Zaporozhian Host at the end of the 18th century, Cossacks split between those who were loyal to the Russian monarch, and those who chose to continue their roles as mercenaries and relocated to the Danube delta.
By the 19th century, Russia had fully annexed all control over the hosts and rewarded Cossacks with privileges for their service. During this era, Cossacks were assisting in many Russian wars. Specifically of note were their abilities in scouting and reconnaissance.
In the Russian Civil War, Cossacks fought on both sides. Most officers fought for the White Army, however some of the poorer Cossacks joined the red airy. Following the defeat of the White Army, Communist Russia instituted a policy of Decossackization, as they were viewed as a threat to Lenin’s Government. This usually consisted of dividing their territories amongst other divisions and encouraging outsiders to settle within.
In 1936, Cossacks were reintroduced into the Red Army. Red Army Cossacks fought in the Southern theatre. A Cossack detachment even marched on Red Square in the victory parade of 1945.
Cossacks also fought for the Germans during the Second World War. Most of the Nazi collaborators came from White Army refugees. Also, German General Helmuth von Pannwitz commanded the XVth SS Cossack Cavalry Corp in Yugoslavia. In 1945, this unit surrendered to British troops in Austria and was turned over to the Soviet Union.
Throughout the last decade of the 20th century, many regional governments handed over municipal administration and policing duties to Cossacks. In April of 2005, President Putin introduced a bill "On the State Service of Russian Cossacks". The State Duma passed the bill on May 18th of that year. Cossacks were thereby recognized as a distinct ethnocultural entity and a potent military service.
Note: this diary is composed entirely of research compiled here.