Communism -- Soviet Union; Soviet Union -- History -- Revolution, 1917-1921
Soldiers from the front, from Gatchina, told their stories. One from
the Death Battalion, Four Hundred Eighty-first Artillery: “When the
trenches hear of this, they will cry, ‘This is _our_ Government!’” A
_yunker_ from Peterhof said that he and two others had refused to march
against the Soviets; and when his comrades had returned from the
defence of the Winter Palace they appointed him their Commissar, to go
to Smolny and offer their services to the _real_ Revolution….
Then Trotzky again, fiery, indefatigable, giving orders, answering
questions.
“The petty bourgeoisie, in order to defeat the workers, soldiers and
peasants, would combine with the devil himself!” he said once. Many
cases of drunkenness had been remarked the last two days. “No drinking,
comrades! No one must be on the streets after eight in the evening,
except the regular guards. All places suspected of having stores of
liquor should be searched, and the liquor destroyed. (See App. VIII,
Sect. 4) No mercy to the sellers of liquor….”
The Military Revolutionary Committee sent for the delegation from the
Viborg section; then for the members from Putilov. They clumped out
hurriedly.
“For each revolutionist killed,” said Trotzky, “we shall kill five
counter-revolutionists!”
Down-town again. The Duma brilliantly illuminated and great crowds
pouring in. In the lower hall wailing and cries of grief; the throng
surged back and forth before the bulletin board, where was posted a
list of _yunkers_ killed in the day’s fighting—or supposed to be
killed, for most of the dead afterward turned up safe and sound…. Up in
the Alexander Hall the Committee for Salvation held forth. The gold and
red epaulettes of officers were conspicuous, the familiar faces of the
Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary intellectuals, the hard eyes and
bulky magnificence of bankers and diplomats, officials of the old
régime, and well-dressed women….
The telephone girls were testifying. Girl after girl came to the
tribune—over-dressed, fashion-aping little girls, with pinched faces
and leaky shoes. Girl after girl, flushing with pleasure at the
applause of the “nice” people of Petrograd, of the officers, the rich,
the great names of politics—girl after girl, to narrate her sufferings
at the hands of the proletariat, and proclaim her loyalty to all that
was old, established and powerful….
The Duma was again in session in the Nicolai Hall. The Mayor said
hopefully that the Petrograd regiments were ashamed of their actions;
propaganda was making headway.
[Graphic, page 205: Proclamation for “wine pogroms”]
Revolutionary law and order. A proclamation of the Finland Regiment, in
December, 1917, announcing desperate remedies for “wine pogroms.” For
translation see Appendix 5.
… Emissaries came and went, reporting horrible deeds by the Bolsheviki,
interceding to save the _yunkers,_ busily investigating….
“The Bolsheviki,” said Trupp, “will be conquered by moral force, and
not by bayonets…..”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account