The document discusses two major revolts against the Bolsheviks in 1921 - the Tambov Rebellion and the Kronstadt Revolt. The Tambov Rebellion was a widespread peasant uprising in response to millions of deaths from starvation under War Communism. The Kronstadt Revolt involved sailors and soldiers rebelling against compulsory labor and the replacement of soviet influence with the Vesenkha ministry. The Politburo anticipated the rebels would be unhappy about political oppression, economic misery, and witnessing the dire situation in cities like Petrograd. After defeating an initial attack, Trotsky mobilized over 60,000 troops equipped with artillery to put down the Kronstadt Revolt over almost three weeks of fighting, executing around

1. War Communism - Revolts
Key Terms, Events,
Names: Kronstadt,
Tambov Revolt,
Michal
Tukhachevsky,
Krassnaya Gorka

2. Tambov Revolt
Revolt in the Countryside:
Peasants
•In the countryside, around 7 million
peasants have died of starvation.
•In 1918 alone, over 8,000 members of
requisition squads were murdered.
•Mothers are tying their children to
opposite corners of their huts for fear
they will eat each other.
•The Tambov Rebellion has broken out
as a widespread peasant uprising with
articulated demands. This is merely the
largest rebellion amongst many which
have occurred in the Ukraine, the Urals,
and western Siberia.
Revolt in the Countryside:
Peasants
•In the countryside, around 7 million
peasants have died of starvation.
•In 1918 alone, over 8,000 members of
requisition squads were murdered.
•Mothers are tying their children to
opposite corners of their huts for fear
they will eat each other.
•The Tambov Rebellion has broken out
as a widespread peasant uprising with
articulated demands. This is merely the
largest rebellion amongst many which
have occurred in the Ukraine, the Urals,
and western Siberia.

3. Kronstadt Revolt
Revolt in the Towns: Workers &
Soldiers
•In the towns, riots have broken out in
Petrograd and Moscow, which have seen
their populations fall by 70% and 50%
respectively
•Unpopular Bolshevik response:
• Compulsory labour
• Vesenkha (Ministry of the Economy) to
replace the influence of the Soviets.
•Even the sailors at the Kronstadt naval base –
once described by Lenin as “The vanguard of
the revolution” – have rebelled
•Tukhachevsky warns us that this could easily
bring down our regime if handled badly!
Revolt in the Towns: Workers &
Soldiers
•In the towns, riots have broken out in
Petrograd and Moscow, which have seen
their populations fall by 70% and 50%
respectively
•Unpopular Bolshevik response:
• Compulsory labour
• Vesenkha (Ministry of the Economy) to
replace the influence of the Soviets.
•Even the sailors at the Kronstadt naval base –
once described by Lenin as “The vanguard of
the revolution” – have rebelled
•Tukhachevsky warns us that this could easily
bring down our regime if handled badly!

4. How should the Politburo
deal with these revolts?
In a moment you will be provided with the demands of both the
Tambov Rebels and the Kronstadt Rebels. Before that, however,
briefly discuss what you ANTICIPATE will be their main complaints,
based on what you know about the state of Russia in 1921.
You will now have to act as the Politburo and make a decision of
what to do about these revolts. You will be asked to analyse the
“Tambov Programme” and the “Kronstadt Manifesto” to summarise:
1.What the rebels are particularly unhappy about;
2.What you all propose as solutions.
Report back to the meeting with your findings. Decide how we should
react. Use this information to develop your table (e.g. outlining the
various political, social, economic, military problems faced by Lenin
at this stage).
In a moment you will be provided with the demands of both the
Tambov Rebels and the Kronstadt Rebels. Before that, however,
briefly discuss what you ANTICIPATE will be their main complaints,
based on what you know about the state of Russia in 1921.
You will now have to act as the Politburo and make a decision of
what to do about these revolts. You will be asked to analyse the
“Tambov Programme” and the “Kronstadt Manifesto” to summarise:
1.What the rebels are particularly unhappy about;
2.What you all propose as solutions.
Report back to the meeting with your findings. Decide how we should
react. Use this information to develop your table (e.g. outlining the
various political, social, economic, military problems faced by Lenin
at this stage).

5. Kronstadt Sailors
• Kronstadt is a military base located just
outside Petrograd. It is a fortress which
overlooks the city.
• The soldiers and sailors stationed at
Kronsdadt had previously been loyal
supporters of the Bolsheviks.
• They were in charge of the ship Aurora
during the 1917 October Revolution.
• Trotsky called them “the reddest of
red” and most Russians considered
them to be closely aligned with the
Bolshevik cause.
• Kronstadt is a military base located just
outside Petrograd. It is a fortress which
overlooks the city.
• The soldiers and sailors stationed at
Kronsdadt had previously been loyal
supporters of the Bolsheviks.
• They were in charge of the ship Aurora
during the 1917 October Revolution.
• Trotsky called them “the reddest of
red” and most Russians considered
them to be closely aligned with the
Bolshevik cause.

6. Kronstadt Forts

7. Tension Building
• In reality, they had a reputation for
acting spontaneously and reacted
to conditions (rather being swayed
by a particular ideology).
• By February 1921 tensions were
brewing.
• Many Kronsdadters were of peasant
origin and received letters from
home highlighting the political
oppression and economic misery of
War Communism.
• Many were also witnessing the
situation first hand during periods of
leave in Petrograd.
• In reality, they had a reputation for
acting spontaneously and reacted
to conditions (rather being swayed
by a particular ideology).
• By February 1921 tensions were
brewing.
• Many Kronsdadters were of peasant
origin and received letters from
home highlighting the political
oppression and economic misery of
War Communism.
• Many were also witnessing the
situation first hand during periods of
leave in Petrograd.

8. Tension Building
• They formed a Provisional
Revolutionary Committee and issued a
serious of political, economic and
social demands.
• The document (which was similar to
the petition of Father Gapon in 1905)
enraged the Bolshevik leaders.
• Trotsky organised an immediate
military response.
• It was a serious threat to the Bolsheviks
as the sailors were highly trained
military men.
• Along with their political petition, they
hoisted a flag of revolt, declaring they
would fight until Soviet rule was
overthrown.
• They formed a Provisional
Revolutionary Committee and issued a
serious of political, economic and
social demands.
• The document (which was similar to
the petition of Father Gapon in 1905)
enraged the Bolshevik leaders.
• Trotsky organised an immediate
military response.
• It was a serious threat to the Bolsheviks
as the sailors were highly trained
military men.
• Along with their political petition, they
hoisted a flag of revolt, declaring they
would fight until Soviet rule was
overthrown.

9. Reds Responce
• As it was Winter, the sea around the Kronsdadt fortress was frozen.
• Trotsky wanted to complete the attack before it thawed as this
would allow the Kronsdadt rebels to use battleships against the
Bolsheviks.
• The Red Army first defeated revolting garrisons at Krassnaya
Gorka which enabled them to have a base from which they
could launch attacks
• The first wave of Red Army troops was low in number and poorly
equipped and was driven back from the base.
• Trotsky increased the number to 60,000 and equipped them with
white camouflage.
• They also had heavy artillery and so could attack the fortress for
almost three weeks.
• As it was Winter, the sea around the Kronsdadt fortress was frozen.
• Trotsky wanted to complete the attack before it thawed as this
would allow the Kronsdadt rebels to use battleships against the
Bolsheviks.
• The Red Army first defeated revolting garrisons at Krassnaya
Gorka which enabled them to have a base from which they
could launch attacks
• The first wave of Red Army troops was low in number and poorly
equipped and was driven back from the base.
• Trotsky increased the number to 60,000 and equipped them with
white camouflage.
• They also had heavy artillery and so could attack the fortress for
almost three weeks.

10. Reds Responce
• On March 17 the Red Army and
CHECKA units defeated the
Kronsdadters as their defences
collapsed.
• Thousands of Krondadt rebels feld
across the ice towards the Finland
border.
• Around 2000 were caught by the
Bolsheviks and executed.
• It was clear from this event that the
Bolsheviks needed to relax conditions
in Russia immediately or risk another
Revolution.
• The result was the NEP (New Economic
Policy).
• On March 17 the Red Army and
CHECKA units defeated the
Kronsdadters as their defences
collapsed.
• Thousands of Krondadt rebels feld
across the ice towards the Finland
border.
• Around 2000 were caught by the
Bolsheviks and executed.
• It was clear from this event that the
Bolsheviks needed to relax conditions
in Russia immediately or risk another
Revolution.
• The result was the NEP (New Economic
Policy).