The Russian Revolution: Nestor Ivanovich Makhno and the Makhnovschyna

Extraits de la fiche

[...] One of the main differences between the Makhnovist soldiers and the others, was the convinction. The Makhnovists really believed in what they fought for, whereas in the Red Army, and in the Whites', the desertions were very numerous and they were not very tough in the fights. The attitude towards the prisoners differed as well; Makhno asked them if they wanted to join them, if they refused they could go back unarmed in their villages. Only the main officers were killed, whereas the sumary executions were frequent when the Reds and the Whites won the battle. [...]

[...] The propaganda was entirely applicable, and generally worked against the Makhnovschyna. The Bolsheviks, especially Trotsky spread many gossips and wrong news about the movement. Makhno was accused to practice pogroms against the Jews; we know now it was false because of the presence of many Jews in the Makhnovist command. We know as well that Makhno punished very severely all the attacks against them. Jews were often chosen as target, anti-semitism was present in all the armies, but it was not forbidden in the White Army, it was even encouraged sometimes in order to favour nationalism. [...]

[...] Michael MALET, Makhno in the Russian Civil War. Peter ARSHINOV, History of the Makhnovist movement. Alexander SKIRDA, Nestor Makhno, le cosaque libertaire. [...]

[...] In May, they tried to kill Makhno, but the two Cheka agents were caught and executed. Then Trotsky decided to outlaw the movement. The Makhnovists were attacked by the Denikin's Whites and also by the Bolshevik troops. Hostilities between Makhnovists and Bolsheviks stopped after the revival of the Whites when Baron Wrangel, Denikin's successor started a major assault in October 1920. Once again the Reds asked Makhno for a pact against the common enemy, in return, all Anarchists in jail would be released and the freedom of libertarian press would be guaranteed. [...]

[...] The Russian Revolution: Nestor Ivanovich Makhno and the Makhnovschyna Analysis Nestor Makhno, who led the libertarian rising in south-eastern Ukraine, was one of the most fascinating and heroic figures of the Russian Civil War. His movement was the only peasant uprising of the 20th century which succeeded to create a libertarian society when the tsarist one was dying. But, in the stormy years of 1917-20, the political oppositions and the clashes of power got the better of the Anarcho-peasant fight for land and freedom. [...]