Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak (Russian; 16 November [O.S. 4 November] 1874 - 7 February 1920) was a polar explorer and commander in the Imperial Russian Navy; who fought in the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War. During the Russian Civil War; he established a counter-revolutionary government in Siberia鈥攍ater the Provisional All-Russian Government鈥攁nd was recognised as the 'Supreme Ruler and Commander-in-Chief of All Russian Land and Sea Forces' by the other leaders of the White movement (1918-1920).His government was based in Omsk; in southwestern Siberia. He tried to defeat Bolshevism by ruling as a dictator but his government proved weak and confused. For example; he lost track of the imperial gold reserves and much of it disappeared. He failed to unite all the disparate elements. He refused to consider autonomy for ethnic minorities; refused to collaborate with non-Bolshevik leftists; and relied too heavily on outside aid. As his White forces fell apart; he was captured by independents and handed over to the Bolsheviks; who executed him.