Rebellions Flashcards
The Tambov Revolt
The famine + requsitioning in the countryside prompted a series of peasant revolts… worst in Tambov province
August 1920, a peasant army of 70,000 men rose up against government forces. Revolt spread over large areas of SE Russia & lasted until June 1921
100,000 RA soldiers were used to crush the revolt- brutal, destroyed whole villages
The Kronstadt rising, why and who?
After further reds in food rationing in 1921- lead to strikes and riots in the cities.
March, 30,000 sailors at the Kronstadt naval base rebelled
Kronstadt sailors had been the Bolsh most loyal sups in 1917 but by 1921 they opposed the Bolsh one-party dict and use of terror
The Kronstadt rising, course and effects
Trotsky sent the RA to put down the uprising. 15,000 Rebs were imprisoned + ring leaders were shot
Uprising caused div w/in the Bolsh party.
Workers opposition group set up by Alexandra Shlyapnikov and Alexander Kollontai to protect workers’ rights and oppose the continuation of war communism. Membs of this group believed that the Bolsh leadership was becoming increasingly authoritarian and was straying too far from original message of ‘all power to the Soviets’
What caused the red terror?
Worsening conditions in the cities and countryside along with/ concern over the Bolsh pol, party lacked pop support
Had to rely on coercion + force to impose their policies
The trigger for the launch of the Red Terror was an assassination attempt on Lenin in Aug 1918
Course of the red terror
Cheka rounded up Mensheviks, SRs and anarchists and anyone else perceived to be a threat… 500,000 executed (est)
Red terror also targeted poss counter-revs
Former bourgeoisie were top of the list, the regime used the campaign as a general measure to terrify ppl into compliance
What caused the rebellions (countryside)
Effects of war communism in the countryside… in the countryside the kulaks were the worst hit. Sometimes in the countryside their entire stocks were seized peasants w/ little or no land of their own were treated slightly better as they were viewed as allies of the proletariat
Harsh requsitioning red grain levels to dangerously low levs. Peasants were forced to eat the animals they used for ploughing and farm work. Peasants sowed less grain in protest
Harvest of 1921 prod 48% of 1913s harvest… lead to widespread famine
Pop in 1913= 170.9 mil in 1921 130.9 mil
What caused the rebellions? (In cities)
Effects of war communism
By 1921, Ind output was just 20% of pre-war levels. Rations had to be cut
Some workers welcomed state control- factories more likely to stay open- others fled the country in the hope of finding food.
End of 1920 pop in Petrograd fallen by 57.5% & Mosc by 44.5% from 1917 levels
