Organized Terror in Historical Section

Tengiz Simashvili

This article was printed and published in the magazine – “Caucasian Messenger“, Tbilisi, #10, in 2004(on Georgian)

Organized Terror in Historical Section

“Terrorist acts should be organized in cities independently by small two-three men content detachments. Members of detachment should live on the same territory, street as it is easy to gather them together faster. They should have work out system of communication to each other with whistle, signs on windows, houses. Attacks should be realized at night. They should attack only on unit soldiers, for compensating small group content they should use new military equipment. They should lead group in all advantageous case even without arms”

                                                                                                                                  V. I. Lenin

Terrorism was counted as a local problem of separate country, region till 1990ies. In the last years, large-scale terrorist acts realized by Islamic extremist organizations, it became the global problem of the world.

Russian Socialist – Revolutions Party(ESER), acting at the beginning of XX century, gave completed form to structural construction of terrorist organization, warriors’ win and psychological preparation, tactic for terror generation, general principles of methods and ways and they conditioned origin and development of organized terror in Russia; it was spread in other countries then.

One of the supporting factors for becoming Organized Terrorism as International Terrorism was help of movements, parties having all kinds of communist, religious, national and other ideas in the countries of the Third World by USSR in the period of Cold War. By supporting Soviet Special-Services left-wing terrorists of Latin America, West Europe, Irish “Ira”, Spanish “Eta”, Palestinian, Iranian and other Terrorist Organizations acting in near east in 1950-1980 years were using tactic, methods and ways of terrorist fight against their own governments, countries of America and West Europe actively.

Modern International Muslim Terrorism represents the heir of Terrorist Organizations of that period in affairs of organized terror.

Because of above mentioned, during research of modern terrorist war theory and practice, we can search important materials about strategy and tactic of terrorism, also effective fight methods and ways used against it in Russian Political history partially. 

Origin of Organized Terror in Russia

For ESER’s terror represented an Instrument of Politics, or one of the forms of political violent; it was reflected in the conception of terror “Trinity” treated by their ideologists. According to this conception terror had three functions: I – disorganizing of authority; II – people’s “exciter” – activator; III – agitate-propagandist.[1] This formula has importance till nowadays for left-wing, separatist or Muslim Terrorist Organizations having organized terror.

In purpose of realizing terrorist attacks “Central Terror” on high-ranking officials, or on representatives of high, central authority, ESER party Central Committee created, Terrorist Organization “Battle Organization” (in short, “BATLLEORG”) in 1901. As a reason of its creating the party named necessity of creating specialized, conspired, secret organization for processing organized terror, and its purpose was disorganization of authority.[2]

Analysis of “BATLLEORG” activity made by us shows, that during its existence in 1901-1907 years, it passed three stages of development. Conditionally it was stages of “Origin” of Terrorist Organization (1901-1903 years), “Development” (1904-1905 years) and “Dissolution” (1906-1907 years).

I stage “BATLLEORG” directly was formed by an active member of ESERs party, old revolutionist G. Gershuni. He received members of the organization with recommendations of local committees of the party. He counted more acceptable to use province inhabitants in terror process than inhabitants of big cities. He thought that it was easy to make province inhabitants   under influence of their “Kind Willing” revolutionists because of lack of development and education.

According to him it was easier to “Treat” province inhabitants psychologically and their formation as fanatics, as without any other stimulus of vindictiveness or motivation, only for abstract social idea, it’s quite hard to kill a man. Provincial future terrorists lived with Gershuni about two – three months. He treated them “ideologically”, kindled “Terrorist’s Soul”. He paid attention on two moments: first – a warrior should kill a man rashly and second – in case of necessity he should sacrifice himself consciously.[3] Uneducated, undeveloped Palestinian young, who lives in refugees’ camp, in fact in ghetto separated from outer world, where self-sacrificed Shachids for faith are the most estimated, has daily connection with death, and he is easily treated by spiritual “confessors” for committing terrorist act.[4]

At the same time, 1901-1903 years in Russia were distinguished with emotional, excited background, which was accompanied with pre period of public agitation, changes matured in society, or revolution itself. Despite of daily many hours’ conversations about people’s hard condition and necessity “rising” revolution with a help of terror, and it was necessary for psychological and moral treatment of youth who were purposed as warriors, several members of I stage “BATLLEORG” refused to commit terrorist act. Some of them recognized after arrest that they were influenced morally for enrolling in terrorist activity.[5] 

Leadership of I stage “BATLLEORG” felt their weakness. That’s why they took the course not in central cities of Russia, but in province territories. In fact this stage for terrorist organization was the period of force examination and learning. At that time content of “BATLLEORG” was determined with 15-17 men.

Despite of a small amount of members, “labor” among terrorists was distributed in the organization. An organizer or Gershuni drew a plan of attack; arms were brought by a group of peculiar persons, and the second group collected information on a sacrifice and very often members of this group realized terrorist acts themselves. One or two warriors participated in an attack. Basically they used pistols.  

Leadership of I stage “BATLLEORG” understood quite well, that a terrorist act represented the mean of bringing peculiar information to society. Such kind of meaning had terrorist acts realized by I stage “BATLLEORG” warriors with an original way. Warriors went to reception-room of high-ranking officials as common citizens or put on officer’s form. Sometimes they met them in social places; gave converts and while a Minister or Gubernator was keeping the given “statement”, they were shooting and killed them. There was written the verdict of “BATLLEORG” in the converts and there was explained motive of attack there. In that way were killed Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia Sipiagin, Gubernator of Ufa Bogdanovich and others in 1902-1903 years by the warriors of “BATLLEORG”.

In purpose of increasing agitate importance of terrorist acts, before terrorist acts warriors wrote their autobiographies. The reasons of their participation in terror were explained there. Thoughts of the terrorists, who were arrested or executed, as last will of revolutionists were spread in illegal press by Gershuni and ideologists of the party. In that way, even warriors’ death served to the interests of the Terrorist Organization.

For I stage “BATLLEORG” was characterized by the following: its members had aspiration to realize terrorist acts without directions of the party, independently; this aspiration was on the following stage of “BATLLEORG” as well. Try of the organization members to avoid party control was reflected in the statute of the organization.[6]

After organizing several terrorist acts Gershuni was arrested by newly created operative service of political policy, department of Petersburg Secret Police (“Okhranka”) in Russian Empire. Till his arrest he handed all his illegal connections to E. Azef.   

Development of Organized Terror

Just Azef, this most adios figure in the history of revolution movement of Russia, agent of police department from 1892, became a leader of II stage “BATLLEORG”. It is quite interesting to analyze motives of terror realizing and being in leadership on II stage “BATLLEORG” of Azef, but we are not going to deal with him in the article. We will only mention that with his leadership II stage “BATLLEORG” realized terrorist acts, which made ESERs Party quite famous in the world as the founder of classic terrorist organization. Warriors of this organization killed several high-ranking officials, including Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia Pleve, uncle of Imperator N. A. Romanov and others.

Basic characterized for organized terror was terrorist act realized by the Terrorist Organization as a strong psychological mean of influence on conscious of society, mass. It fulfills the role of allies’ encouragement, activation from one side and from the other side, the role of intimidating opponents. Because of this, except directly violent act, a great importance had its propagandist effect. Accordingly, the higher post had a person in state hierarchy, the “result” got from the terrorist act was more, at the same time, Russia – Japan War begin in 1904 created the best emotional background the terrorist acts realized by the warriors of II stage “BATLLEORG”. Attacks realized in central cities of Empire “excited”, activated and made society which was troubled with war against the state.

II stage “BATLLEORG” became famous not only with “Central” terrorist acts. In advertising activity of the organization press played an important role. Leaders of “BATLLEORG” understood that true or exaggerated information about terrorist acts were on the first pages of newspapers and it increased the amount of people under the “influence” of terrorist acts. And terrorist acts realized in provinces had no high resonance.

For all serious terrorist organizations created after “BATLLEORG” usage of press abilities was one of the main principles. Necessity of usage of mass informational means was the best argument in 1960s for ideologists of left-wing terrorism in Latin America, when partisan terrorist war – “Civil Guerilla” was moved to the city from their village. To their mind, “one terrorist act in a capital is better than in ten villages, as this unit attack appears on the first pages of newspapers”.[7] One of the main principles of terrorist battle of Muslim Terrorist Organization “Hezbollah” was the usage of modern mass informational means widely.[8]

Free press, television, achievements of democracy is used for influencing on society quite actually by terrorist organizations acting in Iraq nowadays. Horrific scenes of execution people, who were hostages, appear in press or television immediately. Recently like Wahhabis’ Terrorist Organizations, fight divisions of “Hamas” began usage of television and press for “advertising” their terrorist activity. Unfortunately, consciously or unconsciously, correspondents support to terrorists during their searching process of sensation as parade of such acts is in the plans of terrorists. Probably it is necessary to find optimal limit between press freedom and violence parade in result of formation of right informational policy.

Mistakes of Old and Modern Special Services in the Fight

Against Terrorist Organization

“Successive” terrorist activity of II stage “BATLLEORG” was conditioned by other reasons. First of all, political policy of Russian Empire worked weakly in 1901-1904 years. Its operative co-workers, former officers of the army, persons who were got used to fulfill orders, did not know “revolutionist environment”. Members of terrorist organization were counted as usual criminal, simple killers. They could not analyze received information, take correspondent prevention control measures.[9] 

Analogically, in 1960s while getting a fighter against “Ira” – Army of the Republic of North Ireland in Intelligence (MI-6) State of England, preferred people who served to Army. Because of above mentioned reasons, such practice was counted as a mistake by the leaders of MI-6. Intelligence specialists of England counted inattentiveness of operative co-workers towards activity of terror expert-analytics as one of the defects of American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1980ies.[10]   

Bodies of Secret Policy of Russian were not able to do something against terror begin in 1903-1905 years. They produced research about already realized terrorist acts, but they could not discover preparation process of terrorist acts because of strict conspiracy of II stage “BATLLEORG”.

Even today, modern Russian antiterrorist bodies have this defect. According to Russian experts their “Special Secret Services are in the role of over takers, they do not suppress terror, but they fight to the result”. They remark with irony that “for prophylactics of terrorist acts antiterrorist bodies are going to carry out command – staff trainings on real objects”, and factors which caused the terror, terrorists’ psychology, analyze, long-termed perspective and what’s the most important, result calculated in time are less interesting for them.[11]

However, it is even clear for an ordinary man, that support in religious propaganda for different religious courses, especially for International Islamic Wahhabis Organizations in Russia at the beginning of 1990s by Russian Special Secret Services was a strategic mistake. Creating greenhouse conditions for them in Moscow 1992-994 years by at that time Security Council of Russia, conditioned spread of propaganda-agitation of these organizations with unprecedented scales in Russian regions, especially in the North Caucasus.

Analytic departments of Russian Special Secret Services, which were quite weakened because of that time event, we imply the collapse of the Soviet Union, introduction of many hot points on the territory of  Russia and Post-Soviet countries, could not analyze expected results of propaganda – agitation by International Islamic Religious courses. Its co-workers thought, that members of Islamic religious organizations basically established religious educational establishments with teaching Arabic and free spreading of Koran.

Also they counted, that with supporting Wahhabis’ activity in Caucasus they would be able to weaken local Muslim, traditional courses, and moving populations’ separatist course in religious confrontation to each other. Variegated, Muslim population of different nations of Caucasus began learning Wahhabis’ ideas actively, it caused opposition of the representatives of traditional Islam course to Wahhabis course of Islam, but the reason was deplorable for Russians. With such unconscious policy in Chechnya and Dagestan they got aggressive Wahhabis, which is financed by the international Wahhabis organizations as political fight form against Russia, as the whole west world, uses terrorist methods and ways actively. 

Mistake made by Secret Services of England, when they opened the door widely for protestants in local divisions of policy and army in purpose of prophylactic terror of “Ira” completed with Catholics in 1974-1975 years,  was not preach for Russians. Policy of Olster and located army part (regiment) there were 90% completed with Protestants. Because of the fact, that they were not able to use well analyzed, right antiterrorist complex measures, in result of usage such unconscious actions they got double terror.[12]

Steps of Classic Terrorist Organizations Formation

Strengthen of II stage “BATLLEORG” was conditioned by the fact that Azef and B. Savinkov realized experience of I stage “BATLLEORG” and could formation of quite disciplined, professional terrorist organization. According to Savinkov their: Terrorist Organization subordinated under its laws and was united monolith organism, to which are seeking all Terrorist Organization.[13]

In August 1904 in a new statute received by II stage “BATLLEORG”, where was declared organization’s right to choose objects of attack and continue terror independently if party would refuse it.[14]

Seeking towards independence was reflected in an organizational structure of II stage “BATLLEORG”. According to the statute the highest management body of the organization became elective committee, members of the committee elected head of the organization with the rights of member – manager. Elective was a post of deputy as well. Content was increased, which was about 30 men during the period of organization’s active.

“BATLLEORG” had quite big money afford. Namely, party gave him hundred thousand franc from one million transferred from Japan Military Attaché Akashi.[15] Except Special Services of foreign countries cashbox of “BATLLEORG” was filled with voluntary or violently donations, or parts of “tax” sums, which were paid by different social class people. “Donations” were especially increased after killing Pleve by “BATLLEORG”. For example, during this period a number of parties have distributed wealthy people and were agreed to each other “not to disturb” people who paid for other parties. In brief, they were doing usual extortion – “racketeering”.

It should be noted, that nowadays such principle of taxation is used by Palestinian Islamic organizations. Not only in near east, but in whole Europe Palestinian businessmen are taxed by different Palestinian terrorist organizations, which do not deal with each other’s “milk cows”.

Other ways of earn money – humans’ abduction, attacks on banks, treasury offices, which were used by left-wing terrorists or modern Palestinian terrorist organizations actively; it was mainly used by social-revolutionist party of maximalists separated from ESER’s party. This party recognized and produced mass terror against any government branches and any representative of wealthy class dislike ESER’s party.

After killing Pleve structure of the organizations changed realized its partial decentralization. It was divided in territorial 4-5 men groups. One group acted in Petersburg, the second in Kiev, and the third in Moscow. They produced preparation of terrorist acts on officials independently from each other.

On the top of the groups were manager-organizers, which prepared terrorist acts on place. They were coordinated by Azef and his deputy Savinkov systematically, who were participated directly in preparation process of terrorist act if some group prepared special terrorist act.

Members of II stage organization were chosen by different methods from Gershuni. According to Savinkov, a candidate of member of the organization first of all should be full of fanatic devotion towards revolution and he should be ready to sacrifice his own life. People who sacrificed themselves for the necessity of revolution, especially psychological portals of women, which are given by Savinkov in his memories, and it gives us opportunity to make interesting parallels with Modern Muslim Suicide Terrorists’(Shades’).[16]

For any religious or social idea similarity of suicide people is not expired only with parallels. Outwardly unemotional, acting with cold mind Savinkov and having the same leader characters Ben Laden’s  fighters’ ways of psychological influence for treating terrorists look like each other very much.[17]

An interesting detail – as warriors were selected inert people without initiative. Though, they were not invited in the organization immediately. On the contrary, in personal conversations difficulty of working as terrorists were underlined. They were explained what would they expected during realizing terrorist acts and after it.[18]

For illustration of this form of win over is a fragment of Savinkov’s conversation with one of the active member of social – federalist party of Georgia: terrorist act is 90% death on a place, or on gallows. You should subordinate to the party discipline without a word. According to the order you should go to any town. Work there during two-three months or even a year as a footman, a servant, and a cabman. You should observe on high-ranking official, learn his habits, time of going and coming. On appointed time you will get grenade and you should kill directed person rashly. [19]

Leaders of famous terrorist organization “Hamas”, even today almost after hundred years, demand the same from their warriors as it is written above: a fighter of Allah should defend strictly the discipline, subordinate to the decisions of the leaders till the end, he should be ready at any time to sacrifice himself for organization’s affairs.[20]

With this method of painting activity of terrorist in dark colors, Azef and Savinkov chose the most devoted, brave, fanatic people. From the warriors of II stage no one was traitor of organization’s affairs, if we do not count Azef himself. Warriors sacrificed themselves not only with conscious, but without any hesitation, as Savinkov was proud: they were not afraid of death penalty and they defended party interests even in court.[21]

It is true, that no one except fanatics would risk realizing attacks with new arm hand-made grenades, which explored arbitrary very often and got in “ammunition” by II stage “BATLLEORG”. Such explosions sacrificed members of II stage “BATLLEORG”: Schweitzer, Pokotilov and others.[22]

Grenade usage increased probability of death of innocent people, but this weapon with a great destroying power was distinguished with horrible noise and according to terror classical, Savinkov and Azef, it represented perfect “agitation mean” for making population “revolutionists”.

Terrorist acts had other importance as well. With physical destroy of high representatives of state close to king ESER destroyed existed state system symbolically. For strengthen symbol importance of terrorist acts warriors chose with peculiar specifics.[23]

Even today, for all forces producing terror symbolism is an important component in the structure of terrorist acts. Terrorist Act of September 11, 2001 meant attack on west world symbolically by Islamic world for Islamic fundamentalists. The same importance had attacks realized on state establishments, embassies of foreign countries, especially on the embassy of America by left-wing terrorists in Latin America, Germany and Italy in 1960-1980ies. It is natural as language of symbolism acts on conscious, penetrates in mass psychic deeper and accordingly represents stronger mean of influence than explanatory work. Even more, means of mass information represents the property of dominant class.

Different peculiarity of the members of II stage “BATLLEORG” from I stage “BATLLEORG” was the following as well: part of the warriors were educated people, former students of the universities of Moscow, Petersburg. This regulatory is noticed to the connection with education and age of modern terrorists. In 1960-1980ies majority of left-wing terrorists acting in a number of European countries was students, and majority of leadership of Red Brigades of Italy was students graduated faculty of sociology of Bologna University.[24] Age of warriors and present terrorists of the all three stages of “BATLLEORG” is the same; basically they are between 21-25 years old.

It is important, that in the last years, observed increasing of educational level of modern Wahhabis terrorists. Namely, members of terrorist groups discovered in Pakistan and eliminated were graduated different high educational establishments, including high educational establishments in England.

Members of II stage were interested in new achievements of science and technique. They were pioneers in usage of these achievements with terrorist purposes.

For example, in 1907 they wanted to explore King’s palace with plane type aircraft. For its construction Azef made the party to allocate 20000 Rubles.[25]

In 1906 bomb attempt of sultan of turkey in Istanbul by Armenian “Dashnaktsutun” with a new technique innovation of that time, automobile, which was mined with dynamite, is supposed to be planned by Azef. Collaboration of II stage “BATLLEORG” with this Armenian terrorist organization is confirmed from other sources as well. According to Savinkov’s information, “Dashnaktsutun” party let them part of grenades entered Russia.[26] In general, revolutionist terrorist organizations collaborated to each other quite actively, shared experience, methods and way of producing terror.

Analogically, as it is cleared out from the activities of Ira, Palestinian Terrorist Organizations and left-wing terrorists, they were collaborating in 1970-1980ies quite actively. Nowadays modern Islam Terrorist Organizations’ active collaboration to each other in current processes of Afghanistan, Chechnya, near East, Iraq should be noted. At the same time, according to France special services preparation of Al-Qaida warriors by Chechen terrorists in Chechnya realizes for making terrorist acts with the purpose of using artificial satellites management and new technologies.

II stage “BATLLEORG” dislike of I stage “BATLLEORG” paid a lot of time to preparation period for terrorist act. In fact, it represented basis of terrorist activity of the organization. [27] Part of warriors lived like “canned”, temporarily inactive agents. They worked as cabmen and small merchants. At the same time they realized surveillance on an attack object.[28]

The organization had people who made “black work”. They brought weapons, explosive materials from foreign countries; they supplied terrorists with false passports. Grenade makers completed a special role. They were called “techniques”. They did quite dangerous thing, including women. It should be noted, that in II and III stage “BATLLEORG” were women a lot. In general during 1905-1907 years revolution because of increasing emotional background of society number of wisher enrolling in terrorist activities was exceeded to demands.

Information got by observers was analyzed by group head. After collecting enough references, the group was spread on the route of an attack object. With purpose of messed up traces warriors departed in different towns. They returned back on an agreed day, got grenades from “techniques” and stood on a chosen place in a street. They came with three-four steps near to the cab of the object after saw him. It was no chance to survive someone after shooting from such distance. Very often even warriors wounded themselves with grenade debris and died.

Tactic of Antiterrorist Special Services against

Terrorist Organizations

In 1905 after explosion on his own grenade of head of Petersburg group of II stage “BATLLEORG” in hotel, police arrested several members of the organization, began destruction of II stage “BATLLEORG”. The greatest role completed simple origin, promoted with own talent, head of Petersburg Secret Police (“Okhranka”) department, General Gerasimov. His working style against terrorists was supported Stolipin, head of State Council of Russian Empire at that time and Minister of Internal Affairs at the same time. With Stolipin support he could treatment of right tactic against terrorist organizations’ activity and its realization in practice. 

Gerasimov detected the defect which is characterized to special services struggling against terrorism even today. Conferring exceeded importance to violent methods, even more after already done terrorist acts, had no desired result. Agent network was less developed. There was not existed optimal tactic of using agents. However, avoiding terrorist acts planned by secretly active terrorist organizations was and is possible on the bases of analyzing materials given by a good informational source or an agent.[29]

After becoming Muslim terrorism as international terrorism it was clear, that making accent on scientific-technical achievements in west countries, ignoring main advantage of agent intelligence – getting information quickly, analyzing, taking control measures timely, lost their antiterrorist special services. It should be noted that only in England at present time began creating special services and their initial duty will be to deliver agents in terrorist organizations and win warriors of terrorist organizations.

With the influence of Gerasimov government fired old co-workers of police authorities. Their places were taken by persons who were specialized in political search, or getting and analyzing pre information about Terrorist Organizations. It is interesting that as we see from their biographers’ analyze many of them had revolutionist past. Gerasimov himself was a member of revolutionist organization in youth, but then he denunciated his mates and moved in political police to work. So, new members of political police knew “revolutionist environment” “inside”.

Till Gerasimov’s coming to power of political police in 1905-1906 years Russia, as in near east, Iraq and Chechnya nowadays, instead of eradicating factors that cause terrorism, the whole attention was directed towards terrorists’ physical liquidation.

Because of existing imperfect legislation base at that time and even today, also because of interests’ conflict between authorities of Justice and Prosecution, courts were not able to punish only the persons who were suspected in terrorist activities. Even if they had their accusatory secret information, without finding facts – weapons, grenades, witnesses confirming direct participation in an attack, none state which has a pretension on protecting legality, could not and cannot even today terrorists’ arresting-justifying. At that time liberal and nowadays democratic society, free press was and is near “unfairly oppressed” terrorists immediately.

That’s why co-workers of political police answered their weakness with terror in the struggle of terrorists – they opposed counter revolutionist “White Terror” to revolutionists’ “Red Terror”. The terrorists, who were not punished by the court, were destroyed physically. For it they used members of “Black Battle Detachments” existed with citizens’ unifications supported to the government – “Black Detachments” organizations created by the government in all large cities of Empire.

For present special services in the struggle with antiterrorist organizations is norm to compensate their weakness with “White Terror”. Instead of factors that cause terrorism, they try to eradicate terror with terrorist methods. And violence generates violence.

For example, like political police of Russia, in Latin American countries right-wing terrorist organizations created by the support of the government, began physical liquidation of left-wing terrorists in 60-70ies of the last century; the main kernel of these organizations were co-workers of force structures. Beginning right-wing terror was followed by strengthen of left-wing terror. Permanent terror realized by left-wing and right-wing terrorists brought populations’ wide masses’ enrollment in it. On the place of dead terrorists came others. The same process is characterized to “spot kicks” realized by Israeli special services. Leaders of Palestinian terrorist organizations are killed, but terror is not stopped, it becomes strong and strong.

The same happened in Russia. That’s why Gerasimov took direction on pre prophylactics of terrorist acts ad carrying out complex arrangements, where agents had leader role, and force methods were used as auxiliary methods. Namely, Gerasimov ordered to kill terrorists at necessary time and at necessary moment. He discharged some of terrorists with correspondent treatment of revolutionist “environment” and then their death had less call in society, sometimes with agents’ encouragement he ordered terrorists to kill representatives of other parties. It caused exacerbation of opposition between revolutionist organizations of different nation and ideology. [30]

The main for Gerasimov was: first – bringing his own Agent in a Terrorist Organization and his promotion in the hierarchy of his organization with any method – if it was necessary Agent should take participation in a terrorist act realized by the organization. Second – getting full information about preparation process of terrorist acts by a Terrorist Organization, not hasty arrests of terrorists, but analyzing their actions and full disorganization of the activity of Terrorist Organization.[31]

Gerasimov used this tactic actively against local terrorist organizations of thousands of shapes of revolutionist parties acing on the whole territory of Empire. On the basis of agents’ network, including again won “agented” with the term of at that time police, and on the basis of usage of information of Azef and other “agents” sources, he could full disorganization of the activity of II stage “BATLLEORG”. This mechanism of disorganization is quite difficult and interesting. Now I mention only in general, that as it is clear from Gerasimov’s activities, he studied terrorists’ psychological types directly well and played on warriors’ emotions. He created impression to the terrorists tired psychologically and physically during preparation processes of terrorist acts that there was observation established on them. Nervous stress made its job and warriors escaped after detected observation, they left their jobs. The same happened during preparation process of a new terrorist act.[32]

I want to mention her, that in 1980ies Soviet Special Services acting in Afghanistan because of increasing the frequency of terrorist acts by Mujahedeen in Kabul, with purpose of decreasing increased sacrifice in the content of Soviet contingent, were used such psychological research, analyze and tactic treated on its base. In a book of the author of this tactic, adviser of Afghanistan’s government at that time, director of Center of Strategic Analyze and Prognosis of Russia D. Olshanski, on modern terrorists’ psychology just psychological analysis of II stage “BATLLEORG” members have solid place.[33]   

Such kind of tactic of Gerasimov had its result. Even Savinkov, who was counted as “a man without emotions” by Churchill, got sure that first of all “routine of terrorist affair and constant psychological stress caused his and Azef’s psychological tire” and second, police cleared up methods and ways of producing terror of the organization. It was necessary to treat new methods, and till that it was not able to produce “Central Terror”.[36]

According to his words: the organization was constructed on an outer observation having diminished flexibility. We chose hardy, patient, passive people; because of this we could not realize open attacks where flexibility is necessary, we could not make an initiative. With the demand of Azef and Savinkov in 1906 II stage “BATLLEORG” stopped its existence.

Creating Optimal – Decentralized Model of

Terrorist Organization

Central Committee of ESERs party took direction on fully decentralized model from each other of terrorist organizations as in 1905-1907 years one even partially decentralized terrorist organization was not successive.

In 1906 three terrorist organizations were formed with the Central Committee with some time interval; these organizations were independent from each other. We think, that these three independent terrorist organizations which realized “Central Terror” in 1906-1907 years, in fact represented III stage “BATLLEORG”.

III stage “BATLLEORG” was characterized with a peculiarity that dislikes the previous “BATLLEORG” these groups had own money sources. Leaders of these groups were 22-25 years old initiative revolutionists. Young terrorists underlined mobility, plan change during terror production; they preferred warriors’ initiatives.

Their base was Finland, which was in the content of Russian Empire at that time, but it used wide autonomy, that’s why it was not controlled by political police.

Away from the bounds of Russia in country-cottages, these groups had laboratories for making explosive materials. They trained in shooting, throwing grenades. They had photo laboratories, where the warriors went to the mission were photographed. It is quite important parallel with present terrorist organizations which use nondemocratic regimes and less controlled territories as shelters, camps and preparing terrorist groups as well.

Tactic for realizing terror was fully changed. Warriors departed to Petersburg from Finland for realizing terrorist acts. They got weapons on a place and after realizing an attack, if they survived from arrest, they returned back. In fact they acted with partisan tactic of terror production; with two-three men groups, short strokes, unexpected attacks and fast movement.

It should be noted, that such varieties of partisan tactic, still at the beginning of 1905 members of maximalists separated from ESER’s and Georgian Social-Democrat Party, namely were used by Mensheviks.[35] And nowadays this tactic is opposed to the forces of allies by Shiite and Sunni terrorists acting in Iraq.

Information about attack object was gathered with new methods. According to one of the members of the organization: we produced gathering information on a sacrifice with two directions. “Inner search” was raised front. We searched and made contacts with the persons who could give us any information about a sacrifice. With “outer search” or street observation we checked getting information.[36]

These groups had no enough forces to act on other territories except of Petersburg, but numerous lack was compensated with quite brave, outrageous terrorist acts. They did not hesitate attacks on government representatives in administrative buildings, courts, on the territory of force Ministries.[37]

Dislike the leadership of I and II stages “BATLLEORG” leaders of III stage groups directly participated in terrorist acts, and leader of one of the groups, Lebedintsev was going to explore State Council even with his live.  [38]

After killing several high-ranking officials for 1907 these terrorist groups were destroyed by political police gradually. As we see from document and archive materials, Gerasimov had his Agents in them. [39]

So for III stage “BATLLEORG” decentralization was not panacea to protect from the complex arrangements of political police. Even more, in 1907 political police treated a new, more flexible tactic against agents.[40]

In 1907 ESERs Central Committee wanted to restore “BATLLEORG” which would work with old methods. Savinkov was against it. He made a conclusion from the experience of fight organizations of all three stages that for producing organized terror first of all was necessary to study new technique inventions, including mining, explosion in far distance and adapt to terrorist acts.

And second, it was necessary to change structure of the organization. He treated and represented to the Central Committee of ESER’s party such structure of terrorist organization which was the most optimal during the history of organized terror.

To his mind, it was necessary to create double terrorist organization; in it was implied organization existed independently from party and specialized in terror producing, which coordinated partially to fight detachments – small Terrorist Organizations existed independently from it.

Instead of centralized organization, fight detachments acting autonomously with three-five men groups would realize terrorist attacks faster, unexpectedly “on the basis of given information by spy detachments from other territories”.[41]

So to Savinkov’s mind, it was necessary creating fully decentralized terrorist organization, which would be more flexible and accordingly protected from police counter measures.

Terror Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

It is significant, that for terror producing both wings of Social – Democratic Party acting in Caucasus used own variants of decentralized model of Terrorist Organization. Mensheviks and Bolsheviks officially condemned methods of terrorist fight; they struggled with usage of terrorist tactic of partisan war against the government.[42]

Social – Democrats had so called “red detachments” with local committees of the party in villages. They were autonomously acting terrorist organization contented with three-five men groups, which unified in case of necessity as large detachments – “red company”. They could not show resistance to the regular parts of army, that’s why they realized attacks on the representatives of the government on whom it was easy to do. Namely, attacks on low-ranking officials of army, police, officials of government establishments, landowners and others. As it is clear from analysis of terrorist acts realized by Social – Democrat terrorists, they realized terrorist attacks with the principle – hit and run. Hit to a weak, unprotected people and not a strong one. Their attacks were far from sacrifice characterized to the warriors of ESERs’ “BATLLEORG”. It was conditioned with personal staff of the groups. There were many marginal elements hidden behind political idea, to whom wallet of a killed person was more interesting, than death for idea.[43]

According to local political police, this tactic was treated and combined it to social and cultural peculiarities of Caucasus by the leader of Georgian Social-Democrat Mensheviks, N. Jordania. In Central Historical Archive of Georgia with other interesting materials is kept interesting analysis made about this tactic by political police existed in Caucasus.[44] It is clear from the analysis that it has quite many analog with partisan terrorist tactic produced by Latin – American left-wing terrorists, “Hezbollah”, “Hamas” and other Terrorist Organizations.

We see that during Soviet period it was not accidental prohibited to work on documents existed in political police archive for researchers. It was researched only for the necessity of Soviet Special Services (I know for sure that only with KGB’s (Soviet Special Secret Services) special permission was able to enter there. T. S.).

Dislike villages, in towns terrorist battle was produced by military organizations created with party committees. They were divided in decentralized, autonomous district organizations. District organizations produced so called “Scattered Terror” with orders of committee or military organization, and often on the basis of their own decision – without any pre preparation period, realized terrorist acts spontaneously on the representatives of the government, soldiers.[45] 

These terrorist organization acting villages and towns independently got finances with expropriations, human’s napping, blackmail of private persons, robbery. They delivered part of got sum to the committees of Social – Democrat Party. It is significant, that method of getting money with expropriations was actively used by left-wing terrorists, warriors of Basque “Eta”, Irish “Ira”.[46]

It is significant, that at present time members of Wahhabis Terrorist Organization “Deishulah” (Allah army) acting in modern Azerbaijan with money extortion from businessmen to finance their terrorist actions, realized armed attacks on banks. Namely, in 1998 they realized attack on Reconstruction and Development Bank Baku Branch with the purpose to steal money.

Military organization of both factions of Social – Democrats had special groups contented with especially experienced warriors, for robbing “Central” importance “expropriations” – banks, treasury establishments. Bolsheviks compensated a small number in Caucasus with well organized “expropriations”. It is significant, that himself V.I. Lenin was especially interested in such activity of local Bolsheviks’ organizations. In that years with the Central Committee of Bolshevik party existed special, extremely conspired “Fight – Technical” bureau. About its activity was not written even in Soviet period.[47]

The point is that this body was directly subordinated under Lenin and treated methods and ways of terrorist battle, “expropriations” realization. Leaders of Bolsheviks’ local organizations existed in Caucasus, including Stalin were supplied with this idea. It was not accidental that in Caucasus, namely after Azerbaijan and then Georgia one of the leader of The “CHECA” (Extraordinary Commission – Soviet Special Secret  Police) Beria became the leader of the strongest Soviet Special Secret Services in the world The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs. At that time members of military organizations of Caucasus Bolsheviks in Soviet period continued to work in force structures, where they brought their experience of course.

Model of decentralized Terrorist Organizations in towns and “Red Detachments”, “Red Company” in villages, different non proletarian parties existed in Caucasus – were actively used by Georgian Socialist – Federalists, Armenian “Dashnaktutsun”, Azerbaijan “Musavat”, local ESERs, Socialist-Revolutionist Maximalists and Anarchists.

With Social-Democrats they developed tactic of Partisan Terrorist War. Conception of treated terror “Trinity” was added by the fourth function – causing repressions from the government side. By the way Latin American left-wing terrorists considered causing repressions from the government side as one of the purposes of “Civil Guerrilla”. West German left-wing terrorists considered beginning repressions on population from the government side, one of the problems of “conflict aggravation”.[48]

 Caucasus revolutionists guessed that terrorist acts were not only best mean of causing repressions from the government. The point is that frequent terrorist acts were followed by installing troops in inhabited points. Local terrorists attacked on soldiers. Attacks were followed by response reaction of troops. [49] Soldiers from Central Russia did not know local traditions; they did not respect population’s belief and they had conflicts with them. In case of attacks they killed innocent people ruthlessly in response. It was followed by enrollment of wide masses of population of Caucasus connected with ethnic, related and religious signs. Permanent terrorist war was on a face, in which new forces were enrolling gradually.

Russian authorities guessed hardly, that delivering psychologically and morally unprepared troops in Caucasus for quieting local population was senselessness.

Local Secret Police of Russia only after a great effort could deprivation of terrorist acts on soldiers with the selected complex arrangements and tactic. Methods and ways used for realizing this tactic are quite interesting. As I’ve mentioned above it has many parallels with the tactic used by Soviet Special Services in Afghanistan. We can make analogical parallels with the tactic used by MI-6 against Ira in 1980ies.

In general this tactic, in which mechanism of psychological pressure on terrorists is complex joined, ways of splitting down between terrorists and main mass of population and other factors consist of many interesting moments, which may be used against Islamic terrorism after its treatment even today.

Central Committee of ESERs party refused the idea about creating double terrorist organization offered by Savinkov. In the period after “BATLLEORG” history of organized terror shows us that this idea was not lost idle. From 1950ies double model of structure of organization with some varieties was widely spread in the left-wing terrorists of Latin America. They realized partisan terrorist was “Civil Guerrilla” with mini-terrorist autonomous groups.

In a book of ideologist of left-wing terrorism of Latin America, Khuan Carlos Marigela, terrorist organization recruited with separated autonomous groups for terrorists, producing organized terror is considered as the most optimal variant. Groups should be connected to the Central Committee not organizationally, but more ideally. Separated small terrorist groups could easily self – satisfying with money (basically with expropriations), weapon and explosive materials. Accordingly they planned independently and realized flexibly terrorist acts. According to Marigela, exceeded centralization and hierarchic organization was followed by suppressing “battle initiative”, at the same time, such organization are easily destroyed by special services.[50]

“Temporary Wing” of “Ira” acting in the North Ireland came to usage of fully decentralized model of the structure of terrorist organization. Its leaders guessed that centralized structure of the organization made business easy for England Intelligence. In 1979 they realized structural reorganization. Instead of brigades, battalions, companies they established system of separated, small “autonomous battle groups”. They realized terrorist acts independently and pre preparation work of acts – getting information, money, weapon and other.[51] 

Analysts of Modern Terrorism think that Muslim terrorist organization created by Ben Laden under the name of “Al-Qaida” is unification of international, decentralized, scattered in the whole world, autonomously acting terrorist organizations. And in concrete “Al-Qaida” only had coordination role. One of the representatives of French antiterrorist service recognizes that: “Al-Qaida” has changed greatly, now a new, practically strange organization stands in front of us, which has flexible system and secret connections. Because of this it is difficult to clear its inner mechanism”.

Similarity of the structures of above mentioned terrorist organizations with Savinkov’s idea is not accidental. Terrorist acts realized by the “CHEKA” and the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs in 1920-1930ies in a number of countries of Europe with the methods characterized organized terror on the opponents of Soviet Regime, indicates excellent preparation of special services in terrorist activities.[52]

As I’ve mentioned at the beginning of the article in 1950-1980 years behind left-wing, separatist or Muslim terrorist organizations of Latin America, West Europe, and Near East countries were Emissaries of KGB(Soviet Special Secret Services). These people grew on the examples of first co-workers of the CHECA, Bolsheviks and terrorist past of left-wing ESERs, and they realized quite successively to analyze and install in practice of terrorist organizations acting in different courtiers of the world during the Cold War.[53]

With recognition of co-workers of former Soviet Special Secret Services, many Palestinian, Kurd or Latin American terrorist as Carlos (I. Sanchez) and others, on scientific courses of Marxism – Leninism in the USSR or in parallels of studying at the University named after Patris Lulumba, improved his master and increased qualification in terror production business. 

So if we take into consideration practice of sharing methods and ways of terror production for terrorist organizations acting by Soviet special services in different parts of the world for realizing effective battle against international terrorism, analysis of activity of preceded terrorist organizations acting in Russia at the beginning of XX century, even on the example of “BATLLEORG” was necessary for making correspondent parallels with present situation.

Caucasus and Georgia are inhabited with a great amount of people having Islamic religion, who because of their illiteracy, low cultural class and poverty they represented potential allies, reserves of Wahhabists. In result of repressive measures got by Russian government in the north Caucasus Wahhabist movement went to underground and no one knows what surprises they are preparing for the world.

It was clearly shown by as Beslan tragedy as terrorist act currently realized in Moscow Domodedovo International Airport; according to some data it was realized by a small terrorist group acting independently and autonomously.       

Literature and Resource

1.      V.V. Vitiuk; S.A. Ethirov,  ”The Left Terrorism in the West: History and The Present",      

Moskva , 1987,  p.86 (on Russian)

2.      “Revolutionary Russia”(the newspaper of Socialists-Revolutionaries), 1901, №7(on Russian)

3.      A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors" (1886-1916), Petersburg, 1918, p. 115(on Russian)

4.      D.V. Olshansky, “Terrorism Psychology ”, Petersburg,  2002, p. 136(on Russian)

5.      A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors" (1886-1916), Petersburg, 1918, p.124(on Russian)

6.      “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, №2, p. 72(on Russian)

7.      V.V. Vitiuk; S.A. Ethirov,  ”The Left Terrorism in the West: History and The Present",      

Moskva , 1987,  p.108 (on Russian)

8.      Z. Chxeidze, “The International Terrorism ”, The Center of Strategic Researches and Development of Georgia Bulletin #56, 2001, p. 2(On Georgian)

9.      “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine, reminder managing special department of department of police of L. Rataev), Petersburg,  1917, №2, p. 191-192(on Russian)

10.  J. Bloch,  R. Fitzgerald , “Secret Operations of English Investigation ”(the Near and Average east, Africa and Europe after 1945) Moskva, 1987, p. 8-22(on Russian)

11.  D.V. Olshansky, “Terrorism Psychology”, Petersburg,  2002, p.  4-5(on Russian)

12.   J. Bloch,  R. Fitzgerald, “Secret Operations of English Investigation ”(the Near and Average east, Africa and Europe after 1945) Moskva, 1987, p. 211(on Russian)

13.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 3, p. 69(on Russian)

14.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 2, p. 74(on Russian)

15.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 3, p. 75(on Russian)

16.  D.V. Olshansky, “Terrorism Psychology ”, Petersburg,  2002, p. 69(on Russian)

17.  R. Zhakkar, “Osama bin Laden's Name” Moskva, 2002, p. 28(on Russian)

18.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 3, p. 94(on Russian)

19.  R.Gabashvili ; V.Goguadze,” Memoirs “ Tbilisi, 1992, p. 35 (on Georgian)

20.  D.V. Olshansky, “Terrorism Psychology ”, Petersburg,  2002, p. 124(on Russian)

21.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 2, p. 109(on Russian)

22.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 2, p. 97(on Russian)

23.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 3, p. 85(on Russian)

24.  V.V. Vitiuk; S.A. Ethirov,  ”The Left Terrorism in the West: History and The Present"    Moskva , 1987,  p. 178(on Russian)

25.  A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors"  (1886-1916), Petersburg,  1918, p. 391(on Russian)

26.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 3, p. 74(on Russian)

27.  B.N. Nikolaev,” History of one Traitor “ (Terrorists and Political Police), 1991, 196(on Russian)

28.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1917, № 2, p. 82(on Russian)

29.  ”Sunday Telegraph.” ,,Britain forms new special forces unit to fight al-Qaeda“  27.07. 2004

30.  V. Zhuxrai, “Secrets of Imperial Oxranka: adventurers and provokers“, Moskva, 1991, p. 71(on Russian)

31.  Central Historical Archive of Georgia(CHAG), F.153, DES.1,  D.37,  P.477

32.  B.N. Nikolaev,” History of one Traitor “ (Terrorists and Political Police), 1991, p. 178(on Russian)

33.  D.V. Olshansky, “Terrorism Psychology ”, Petersburg,  2002, p. 124(on Russian)

34.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1918, № 2, 29(on Russian)

35.  (CHAG)  F. 95 , DES.1,  D. 9,  P.81

36.  A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors"  (1886-1916), Petersburg, 1918, p.  296(on Russian)

37.  A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors" (1886-1916), Petersburg, 1918, p. 385(on Russian)

38.  A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors"  (1886-1916), Petersburg, 1918, p. 387(on Russian)

39.  “The Past ” (Liberation movement magazine), Petersburg,  1918, № 2, p. 247(on Russian)

40.  T. Simashvili, “Secret (Political) Police Against Pevolutionary Parties in Georgia 1894-1908 ”(Strategy, Tactics, Methods uses of an agency against Terrorists) Тelavi,  2003, p. 145 (on Georgian)

41.  A.I. Spiridovich, “Party of Socialists-Revolutionaries and Predecessors" (1886-1916), Petersburg, 1918, p. 391(on Russian)

42.  T. Simashvili, “Social-Democrats and Terror of 1905-1907 ”, (“Questions of a modern history of Georgia” Magazine Institute of History and Ethnography of a Name of Ivan Dzhavaxishvili in Georgia) Tbilisi, 2003, p. 237, (on Georgian)

43.  R.Gabashvili ; V.Goguadze,” Memoirs “ Tbilisi, 1992, p. 277 (on Georgian)

44.  (CHAG) F. 95,  DES.1,  D 9, P. 81

45.  (CHAG) F. 95, DES. 1, D.18,  P. 10

46.  “Revolution Annals ” (Memoirs of Revolutionaries, magazine) Tbilisi, 1923, № 4, p. 61 (On Georgian)

47.  N.N. Jakovlev,  “STALIN: a Way on Top”,  Moskva, 2000, p. 65(on Russian)

48.  V.V. Vitiuk; S.A. Ethirov,  ”The Left Terrorism in the West: History and The Present"      

Moskva ,1987,  p. 178(on Russian)

49.  P. Kurlov, “The End of Russian Tsiaris”,  (Memoirs of Secret police General), Moskva, 1923, p.  22(on Russian)

50.  V.V. Vitiuk; S.A. Ethirov,  ”The Left Terrorism in the West: History and The Present"      

Moskva , 1987,  p. 113-114(on Russian)

51.  J. Bloch,  R. Fitzgerald, “Secret Operations of English Investigation ”(the Near and Average east, Africa and Europe after 1945) Moskva, 1987, p. 214(on Russian)

52.  Alain Brose, “Agents of Moscow”, “The Foreign Literature” magazine, Moskva, 1989, № 12 l, p. 226(on Russian)

53.  “Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, Who I ”, “The foreign Literature” magazine,(Memories of Terrorist ”Carlos-Hyena”)  Moskva,  2004, № 9 l, p. 202(on Russian)