Pyotr Nikolayevich Krasnov (born September 10 [22], 1869, in St. Petersburg, died January 16, 1947, in Moscow) was a major general of the Russian Imperial Army and ataman of the All-Great Don Army.

Born in 1869 to a wealthy Cossack general, Krasnov received an excellent education, graduating from the Alexandrov Cadet Corps and the Pavel Military School. After his studies, he was appointed as a cornet and enrolled in the Life Guards Ataman Regiment.

From a young age, Pyotr Nikolayevich distinguished himself as a talented journalist, publishing in well-known publications such as "Razvedchik," "Vestnik Russkoy Konitsy," and "Russkiy Invalid." In 1897 and 1889, he worked in Africa, where he led a convoy for the Russian diplomatic mission in Ethiopia.

During the Russo-Japanese War, Krasnov worked as a frontline journalist and participated in battles, for which he was awarded several combat orders, including the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class. In 1907, he was promoted to the rank of esaul.

In 1909, Krasnov graduated from the Officer Cavalry School, and in 1910, he became a colonel. In October 1913, he was appointed commander of the 10th Don Cossack Regiment, and in this position, he went to World War I.

During the war, he commanded the "Wild Division," was promoted to major general, and was awarded the Order of St. George for preventing the Austrians from crossing the Dniester.

With the onset of the February Revolution, Krasnov pledged allegiance to the Provisional Government but was dissatisfied with its policies, especially the order for the "democratization of the army." During the Kornilov Affair, he was arrested but soon released. Later, he was appointed commander of the cavalry corps.

After the October Revolution, Kerensky tasked Krasnov with leading 700 Cossacks to Petrograd, but the operation failed. Krasnov was arrested and placed under house arrest but soon escaped to the Don.

On May 3, 1918, Krasnov was elected ataman of the Don. By July, his army had liberated significant territories from the Bolsheviks. In August, he became a general of cavalry. He viewed Germany as an ally in the fight against the Bolsheviks and refused to obey Denikin, who remained loyal to the Entente.

After Germany's defeat, Krasnov agreed to submit to Denikin on the condition of autonomy for the Don Army. However, he soon resigned along with Generals Denisov and Polyakov.

In 1919, Krasnov arrived in Estonia to head the propaganda department in Yudenich's army but was too late as the army began to retreat. In exile, he continued political activities and became one of the founders of the "Brotherhood of Russian Truth."

In 1936, Krasnov moved to Germany. With the onset of World War II, he and some White émigrés supported Germany in the hope of liberating Russia from Soviet rule.

In 1942, a Cossack assembly took place in Novocherkassk, which elected the headquarters of the Don Army. Krasnov supported the creation of Cossack divisions within the Wehrmacht, believing it would help revive Russia.

On January 16, 1947, Krasnov was executed by the verdict of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. Along with him, other Cossack military leaders were executed. His personality left an ambiguous mark in Russian history. For some, he is a hero; for others, a traitor. However, his patriotism and desire to free Russia from the Soviet regime are beyond doubt, although his alliance with the Third Reich remains controversial.