12.04.2015 Views

isaac-deutscher-the-prophet-armed-trotsky-1879-1921

isaac-deutscher-the-prophet-armed-trotsky-1879-1921

isaac-deutscher-the-prophet-armed-trotsky-1879-1921

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

DEFEAT IN VICTORY 511<br />

ants, and free elections to <strong>the</strong> Soviets. The call for <strong>the</strong> Third<br />

Revolution began to dominate <strong>the</strong> meetings, <strong>the</strong> revolution<br />

which was to overthrow <strong>the</strong> Bolsheviks and establish Soviet<br />

democracy. Kalinin, President of <strong>the</strong> Soviet Republic, made a<br />

flat-footed appearance at <strong>the</strong> naval base; he denounced <strong>the</strong><br />

sailors as 'disloyal and irresponsible' and demanded obedience.<br />

A delegation of <strong>the</strong> sailors sent to Petrograd was arrested <strong>the</strong>re.<br />

Soon <strong>the</strong> cry 'Down with Bolshevik tyranny!' resounded<br />

throughout Kronstadt. The Bolshevik commissars on <strong>the</strong> spot<br />

were demoted and imprisoned. An anarchist committee assumed<br />

command; and amid <strong>the</strong> sailors' enthusiasm <strong>the</strong> flag of revolt<br />

was hoisted. 'The heroic and generous Kronstadt', writes <strong>the</strong><br />

anarchist historian of <strong>the</strong> insurrection, 'dreamt of <strong>the</strong> liberation<br />

of Russia .... Ko clear-cut programme was formulated. Freedom<br />

and <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rhood of <strong>the</strong> peoples of <strong>the</strong> world were <strong>the</strong><br />

watchwords. The Third Revolution was seen as a gradual<br />

transition towards final emancipation; and free elections to<br />

independent Soviets as <strong>the</strong> first step in this direction. The Soviets<br />

were, of course, to be independent of any political party-a free<br />

expression of <strong>the</strong> will and <strong>the</strong> interests of <strong>the</strong> people.''<br />

The Bolsheviks denounced <strong>the</strong> men of Kronstadt as counterrevolutionary<br />

mutineers led by a White general. The denunciation<br />

appears to have been groundless. Having for so long<br />

fought against mutiny after mutiny, each sponsored or encouraged<br />

by <strong>the</strong> White Guards, <strong>the</strong> Bolsheviks could not bring<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves to believe that <strong>the</strong> White Guards had no hand in this<br />

revolt. Some time before <strong>the</strong> event, <strong>the</strong> White emigre press had<br />

indeed darkly hinted at trouble brewing in Kronstadt; and<br />

this lent colour to <strong>the</strong> suspicion. The Politbureau, at first inclined<br />

to open negotiations, finally resolved to quell <strong>the</strong> revolt.<br />

It could not tolerate <strong>the</strong> challenge from <strong>the</strong> Navy; and it was<br />

afraid that <strong>the</strong> revolt, although it had no chance of growing into<br />

a revolution, would aggravate <strong>the</strong> prevailing chaos. Even after<br />

<strong>the</strong> defeat of <strong>the</strong> White Guards, numerous bands of rebels and<br />

marauders roamed <strong>the</strong> land from <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn coasts down to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Caspian Sea, raiding and pillaging towns and slaughtering<br />

<strong>the</strong> agents of <strong>the</strong> government. With <strong>the</strong> call for a new revolution<br />

bands of famished Volga peasants had overrun <strong>the</strong> gubernia<br />

of Saratov, and later in <strong>the</strong> year Tukhachevsky had to<br />

1 Alexander Berkman, Der Aufstand von Kr=tadt, pp. I-11.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!