The Kronstadt Rebellion of 1921

¶ … Russian history it will discuss the Kronstadt Rebellion in March 1921. The Kronstadt Rebellion took place at the Kronstadt Shipyard in February 1921. Russian had been under civil war for two years, with many people unhappy with the Bolshevik government and its' increasing repressive measures, especially against the peasants and the working class. While the civil war had ended, many of the Bolshevik's wartime policies did not, and people began to protest these polices.

There had been several other strikes and rebellions throughout Russia in protest of the Bolshevik's. The shipyard sailors had at first supported the Bolshevik's, and helped Lenin in his takeover of the government. However, the Bolshevik's were becoming increasingly harsh in their demands, the Russian economy was in shambles, and workers were uniting against the government. The sailors traveled to another city to view a strike in progress, and when they returned, they held a meeting on one of the ships in the shipyard. They wrote a list of demands. A history expert notes, "Those present at this meeting on the Petropavlovsk then approved a resolution which raised fifteen demands. The demands included free elections to the freedom of speech, press, assembly and organisation to workers, peasants, anarchists and left-socialists" (EconomicExpert.com). Today, the demands seem meek, but the Bolshevik's reacted violently.

The rebellion actually occurred on March 1, when the workers read their demands to the government during a mass meeting. Immediately, the Bolshevik's issued a statement that accused the sailors of being spies and counter-revolutionists, and threatened to kill them all. Another writer notes, "The same day Lenin and Trotsky issued an ultimatum to Kronstadt to 'surrender,' and Trotsky had a proclamation spread over Kronstadt by a military flying machine, threatening to 'shoot you all like partridges'" ("Paris Commune"). The sailors responded by saying they were loyal Soviets, they just wanted to regain their rights in the system. Author Berkman notes they were optimistic about their chances at negotiation. He writes, "A new spirit of solidarity and brotherhood brought the sailors, the soldiers of the garrison, the factory workers, and the nonpartisan elements together in united effort for their common cause" (Berkman). They were wrong about the Bolshevik's giving in to their demands, however.

The Bolshevik's attacked the city (located on an island), under cover of darkness. They wore white uniforms to blend in with the snow and ice surrounding the city. The workers tried to defend themselves and their families, but the Bolshevik's sent in 50,000 troops. They began their attack on March 7, and the sailors and workers defended the Kronstadt fortress for ten days before they fell. A diary entry from the time says, "17th March, 1921: Kronstadt has fallen today. Thousands of sailors and workers lie dead in its streets. Summary execution of prisoners and hostages continues" (Schoolnet). Thousands of people, both sailors and civilians were killed in the streets of the city. When the Bolshevik's took Kronstadt sailors as prisoners, they later took them into the forests and executed them.