The courage and makings of a clothing designer made the peasant son a legend of the Civil War. He would not quarrel with Nestor Makhno, would try his luck in Paris.
Coups and troubled times give rise to their heroes. The love of the people can be won not only by revolutionary ideas. People are greedy for the visual effect. The brave grunt, the gorlopan and the mod are able to lead the army. Such a character will not be able to rule for a long time, but he will definitely succeed in shining on the Olympus of the era.
Childhood
The birth of the son of Theodosius in 1893, the peasant Justin Schus was not very happy. The family lived in the village of Bolshaya Mikhaylovka of the Ekaterinner province and was constantly in need. Another hungry mouth did not improve the situation.
Peasant children (1890). Artist Vladimir Makovsky
Little Fedos attended a local school where they could only teach the basics of reading and writing. It was possible to sit down at a school desk only when there was free time from work in the field. Peers remembered him as a visionary, writing stories where he gained fame and countless wealth. The guys laughed at a strange friend.
Navy service
In 1915, our hero was called to serve in the navy. The fact that the guy was an illiterate peasant embarrassed the command. However, the enormous growth and strong constitution of the conscript was ideally suited for this kind of troops. It was the second year of the war, to reject recruits with such data would be madness.
Shchus began his service on the battleship "John Chrysostom", which was based in Sevastopol. Active hostilities were not conducted. The young man liked this life: he was always full, received a salary, wore a beautiful uniform. Theodosius met with the popular entertainment at that time - boxing. The guy became interested in this sport, became a local champion. Only strict discipline and the lack of prospects for a career did not bring joy to our hero.
Battleship "John Chrysostom"
Revolutionary mood
The troops talked a lot about politics. Natives of the rural poor did not participate in disputes, but were keenly interested in what different parties and groups had promised them. The sweetest promises were given by the anarchists. They had long dreamed of driving away the statesmen and dividing all the dominant lands among themselves. True, how to live on, represented units.
The sailors accepted the news of the abdication of the king with enthusiasm, and the October Revolution was the start to action. The sheer confusion contributed to the fact that military personnel left their posts. Now this was not considered desertion, in any case, there was no one to deal with such a phenomenon. In 1917, Theodosius Schus went home. First of all, he visited Gulyai Pole and enrolled in the Black Guard - the fighting squad of the anarchists.
Fedos Schus and the Anarchists
To help fellow countrymen
The lack of education did not allow the novice revolutionary fighter to fulfill himself in the camp where Nestor Makhno ruled. The rookie was given small assignments, and he wanted to make his contribution to the liberation of the workers. Theodosius went to his native land. There he found devastation. The Germans often looked into Bolshaya Mikhailovka, robbing peasant households. The arrival of Shchus, who had served and understood politics, inspired his fellow countrymen.
Propaganda Poster 1917
In the summer of 1918, a combat-ready partisan detachment appeared in the vicinity of the farm. Rumors about the exploits of this unit quickly reached Nestor Ivanovich. The famous leader of the anarchists wanted to meet with successful colleagues and conclude an alliance with them. Fedos could not even dream of such a year ago.
Ataman
Meet two dashing people were supposed to be in neutral territory. When the tachanka with Makhn arrived there, a trembling passed from the back of the father - he was surrounded by well done men in German and Austrian uniforms. Only the South Russian dialect betrayed rebels in them. A dandy came forward in a hussar’s mentality, dressed over a vest, and hung with arms like a Christmas tree. It was Theodosius Schus himself. Estimating the amount of trophy uniforms, Nestor realized that with such guys he was on his way.
Theodosius Schus with comrades
Makhna was graciously invited to the location of the unit. Passing by his native village, from which only ashes remained, Fedos burst into tears like a child. In the camp of the anarchists, he cheered up. He lived beautifully now. In addition to a gorgeous dress, he had a harem of young girls and dissolute wives who were looking for adventure, following the troops. The ataman devoted his free hours to creativity - he, like Nestor Ivanovich, wrote poetry. These two managed to agree on joint actions quickly.
