The Kronstadt Rebellion!

[Cd.]

Rebellion of the Kronstadt Sailors(1921)
In Feb. 1921, in the wake of over two years of civil war in Russia, a wave of demonstrations erupted in Moscow among the working classes over the repressive measures being taken by the Bolshevik government against both themselves (via factory discipline) and the peasants who were forced to hand over their food stocks to government agents. This was a severe setback to a government which had been set up in October 1917 to represent the interests of both these classes, all the moreso when the revolt spread to Petrograd where, during the Bolshevik takeover in 1917, the sailors at the Kronstadt naval base near the former capital had helped Lenin and his revolutionaries in their takeover of Kerensy's Provisional government. The manifesto outlined below shows in full measure the disillusion of these former supporters of the Bolsheviks.
Orders were given for the ruthless suppression of the revolt. At first the sailors had the advantage as their heavy guns mowed down the attacking forces as they moved across the ice (The naval base was an island off the city), resulting in the deaths of some 2000 Bolshevik soldiers. However, as the government sent in 50,000 troops aided by artillery shelling and air bombing, the defenders were overwhelmed and surrendered after nearly three weeks defiance of the Bolsheviks. About 500 rebels were shot immediately on the orders of Zinoviev while 2000 more suffered the same fate shortly after, mostly without trial. Thousands more were sent to labor camps in the frozen north...and almost certain death. Some 8000 sailors escaped to Finland. In all, Bolshevik losses totalled 10,000 soldiers killed.


Demands of the Kronstadt Insurgents, Expressed in the Resolution of the General Meeting of the Crews of the Ships of the Line
Kronstadt, 28 February I92I
Having heard the report of the representatives of the crews despatched by the General Meeting of the crews from the ships to Petrograd in order to learn the state of affairs in Petrograd, we decided:


In view of the fact that the present soviets do not represent the will of the workers and peasants, to re-elect the soviets immediately by secret voting, with free canvassing among all workers and peasants before the elections.
Freedom of speech and press for workers, peasants, Anarchists and Left Socialist Parties.
Freedom of meetings, trade unions and peasant associations.
To convene, not later than 1 March I92I, a non-party conference of workers, soldiers and sailors of Petrograd City, Kronstadt and Petrograd Province.
To liberate all political prisoners of Socialist Parties, and also all workers, peasants, soldiers and sailors who have been imprisoned in connection with working-class and peasant movements.
To elect a commission to review the cases of those who are imprisoned in jails and concentration camps.
To abolish all Political Departments, because no single party may enjoy privileges in the propagation of its ideas and receive funds from the state for this purpose. Instead of these Departments, locally elected cultural-educational commissions must be established and supported by the state.
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To abolish all Communist fighting detachments in all military units, and also the various Communist guards at factories. If such detachments and guards are needed they may be chosen from the companies in military units and in the factories according to the judgment of the workers.
To grant the peasant full right to do what he sees fit with his land and also to possess cattle, which he must maintain and manage with his own strength, but without employing hired labour.
To ask all military units and also our comrades, the military cadets, to associate themselves with our resolutions.
We demand that all resolutions be widely published in the press.
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To permit free artisan production with individual labour.
The resolutions were adopted by the meeting unanimously, with two abstentions.


President of the Meeting, PETRICHENKO.
Secretary, PEREPELKIN.