Tengiz
Simashvili
Social-Democrats(Mensheviks and Bolsheviks) and Terror
in 1905-1907
Terror – is encroachment of human’s life and
different kinds of its detection in the form of violent acts, makes the most
disorganization to a state system. Just this purpose had parties existed in
Russia (and of course in Georgia which was part of Russia Imperia) including
Social- Democrats, when they directed to it actively during 1905-1907
revolution.
Terrorist Acts basically were realized by separated
terrorists and small groups of terrorists connected with local committees of
Social-Democratic party 1903-1904 in Russia.
After January 9, 1905 all revolutionist party began
forming “Red Detachments” for producing armed battles against the government
with local organizations in villages. Social-Democrats were able to maintain
the first place in this business. The greatest amount of the “Red Detachments”
existed with Social-Democrat organizations existed in west Georgia. A great
part of them were under the control of Mensheviks.
Bolsheviks’ amount was small in Georgia Georgia
Despite of refusing usage of terror as method officially
by both wings of Social-Democrats, their local organizations used it not simply
one of the means for battling against the government, but just as method of
battle. Except of strikes and demonstrations, they had only this mean for
active battle against the government. Besides, the “Red Detachments” were not
able coping regular parts of the army and used terrorist ways, killed
representatives of the government, to whom it was easy to attack.
From 1905 party committees of Social-Democrats were
directly leaders of Terrorist attacks. In memorials of famous Bolshevik, maker
and organizer of Terrorist Acts in 1905-1907 years in Georgia, K. Tsintsadze is
directed, that he as realizing Terrorist Acts on “famous people of the
government” with Tbilisi Committee’s assignment of Social-Democrats
(Bolsheviks).[2]
This situation is confirmed by the leader of Georgian
Social-Democrats (Mensheviks) N. Jordania. According to him: during the
revolution clear difference from Russian Social-Democrats has appeared. They
refused any form of terror, and we counted terror as the weapon which would help
us to defend ourselves and seed panic in the government. That’s why Social-Democrats
Committee in Tbilisi made organization to Terrorist Attacks on the
representatives of the government.[3]
In the years of revolution in purpose of realizing
terror in cities “Military Organizations” were created at Social-Democrats
party committees. Their members had armed battle with the government with the
usage of terrorist methods and ways like the “Red Detachments”.
While analyzing activities of the “Red Detachments”
and “Military Organizations” of Social – Democrats we cleared out that party
committees of “Social-Democrats” were winner over, issuing the command on the
realization of Terrorist Act, sponsor and arms supplier. We have no materials
with which concrete criteria were chosen terrorists.
From the biographies of terrorists we see that
basically people of two categories were used:
In the first category were people who were arrested
not very long ago or former criminals who became the members of Social-Democrats
party in the years of revolution. For example, famous Menshevik terrorist E.
Dolidze participated in simple robberies and thefts until revolution, and then
he became a terrorist after beginning revolutionary movement.[4] Also famous
Menshevik terrorist V. Goguadze recognizes in his memorials that criminals were
received in the “Red Detachments” with the recommendations of party leaders as
“people who gave them recommendation said that we should use everyone in the
revolution”.[5]
Their usage in practice was conditioned with one
special reason as well. According to N. Jordania, at that time whole working
weapon was money and which party would earn money it would be leader, gather
workers around.[6] And for earning money almost all revolutionist party existed
in Russia and of course in Georgia
The following was implied in it: they robbed state and
private establishments, private persons with armed attacks; they blackmailed,
abduct people and extorted money from their relatives. From different form of
terrorist violence expropriations make terrorists closer to criminals the most.
First of all, both of them violates law consciously,
the second is that they use the same means for crimes and the third, terrorists
made Expropriations with criminals not very rarely and appropriated money.[7]
It is interesting to mention that in 1907 Socialist-Revolutionists
Central Committee and then Social-Democrats and Socialist-Federalists(anti-government
politic parties in that time) decided not to arrange Expropriations any more.
But according to one of the Bolsheviks, they continued “EXES” again “as
Bolsheviks counted, that “State EXES” and Terrorist Acts are the parts of
Partisan(Guerilla) War which brought disorganization in the government
mechanism. It is necessary for party to take this business, lead, make it
irreproachable, and conclude ideal basis to “EXES”.[8]
N. Jordania writes that as Bolsheviks continue “EXES”,
Plekhanov(famous Russian Menshevik
leader) established hope on them as supporters of Expropriators’ exclusion from
the party. Though according to him as well: “I could not promise, if we get rid
of both categories, who will stay in the party”.[9] His thoughts are
strengthened by Bolshevik K. Tsintsadze’s memorials where we read: “after
ending connecting congress(1906) on which Expropriations were condemned by
Mensheviks, I’ve asked a mate Banusyan(Famous Bolshevik): can we make “EXES” in
future, what is said about this by Jordania. He answered to me with following
words: though congress officially refused, but domestically betrayed to the
local organizations where will be able to make “EXES”. Noe Jordania has the
same opinion and agrees to continue our “Work”.[10]
They continued such “Work” – after prohibiting
Expropriations Mensheviks realized such act and stole six thousand rubles, but
Mensheviks organization got quite small sum as a great part of money was
distributed by thieves.
Such incident happened after attacking on post
train(there was many for post stations, for banks) when the members of
Menshevik party dead. Rescued aggressor did not give sum to Menshevik party
organization from money stolen from post train and escaped on abroad.[11]
In the second category, which was used by Social-Democrats
for terror producing were deserters escaped from the army and former soldiers
who knew use of weapon well. Local government thought that just these escaped
soldiers contented the power in Guria(part of west Georgia) on whom Guria
Committee of Social-Democrats were based and used in terrorist activities. In
1905-1907 amount of such soldiers there was about 500 and represented quite
serious power.[12]
Not only Mensheviks, but Bolsheviks tried as well to
use soldiers in terrorist activity. V. Lenin demanded from the members of
military detachments to win over, use military people.[13] In general demand on
robbers and killers experienced in revolution years was great. Georgian
Bolsheviks did not disdain winning over even Anarchists. In 1906 for killing
one of the representatives of the government they used experienced Anarchist-Terrorist
K. Bregadze who belonged to a small Anarchist group. One of the Bolsheviks
mentions that “through mediator Bregadze was offered that if he took and
recognized Bolshevik idea and also killed prison head Abshilava he would be
accepted in the party”. K. Bregadze completed the task and as a reward he was
accepted in the Bolsheviks party.[14]
It is natural that terrorist battle ways of
detachments contented of such people had its influence on personal staff.
Former robbers, hired killers, deserters made terrorist attacks from
cover-shelters, attacked on a sacrifice from back. As we mentioned above,
attacks basically were realized on the representatives of the government, to
whom it was easy to attack – low-ranking officials of army, police, officials
of government establishments, foremen, and others.
It is clear that criminals did not wanted to parade
themselves and they realized terror with the following principle: hit and run.
From the analysis of Terrorist Acts realized by Georgian Social- Democrat
terrorists, they were far from self-sacrifice characterized to the members of
“Battle Organization” of Socialist – revolutionists.[15]
Supporter of such tactic of attacks was V. Lenin, too.
In the article of instructions dated with October 1905 year “Tasks of
Detachments of Revolutionary Army” are directed that terrorist type attacks on
policemen and Kazaks should be realized only in case of numeral advantage and
it would be better to get attack object lonely. Members of detachments were
directed to produce armed attacks as “disorderly, unprepared, small
terror”.[16] He counted that mass terror started in Russia would show a right
tactic to people in the moment of revolt and declared: Social-Democrats should
recognize and take mass terror in their practice.[17]
After carrying out connecting congress both wings of
Social-Democrats united their activities in terror production affair as well.
In 1906-1907 years terrorist activity of Social-Democrats was given more
organized type. It should be noted that Mensheviks leaded in this issue again.
In “Political Review” of local administration dated
with 1906 about revolutionist movement in Tbilisi and Kutaisi(cities in
Georgia) it is said – the main revolutionist power is local proletariat, first
of all Georgian which is under the influence of Social-Democrats. Mensheviks
are named as a leader power of Social-Democrats. Ways of Partisan War realized
by Menshevik “Red Detachments” are discussed in details. N. Jordania – “main
Dictator in local Social-Democratic movement” is considered as the author of
these ways and methods.[18]
Beginning Partisan War by Social-Democrats from 1906
did not implied its realization only in villages through the “Red Detachments”.
Ways of battle are the same, but Terrorist Acts became more frequent and
numeral content of the detachments increased. In cities dispersed armed groups
of Mensheviks and Bolsheviks with party committees became united.
A large military organization was formed at Social-Democrats’
committee in Tbilisi. Decentralization of terrorist activity was realized. If
earlier in 1905 party committees handed resolutions about realizing Terrorist
Acts directly to terrorists, from 1906 resolution of committee was handed to a “Military
Organization” which had autonomy, or it realized independently to get finances,
buying weapons, realized attacks. The military organization had its Terrorist-Executors
and what’s the main, it had independent separated structure from the committee.
In 1906, the “Military Organization” of Social – Democrats’ Tbilisi Committee
was divided into 4 district departments. Each of them was leaded by so called
“Organizer”. Each “Military District Department” had “Executive Committee” –
terrorists directly were in them, who gathered every day. Leaders of “Military
District Department” gathered once a week.[19] This people had right to get a
resolution for any representative of the government in behalf of the “Military
Organization”.
In operative materials of Tbilisi “Okhranka”(Secret(Political)
police local branch) it is mentioned, that Tbilisi Committee of Social –
Democrats in January 1907 formed the list of persons who were in a battle
detachment of so called “Black Detachment Organization”, a supporter of Russian
government and it charged the “Military Organization” to realize terrorist
attacks on them. In the memorials of one of the revolutionists murder of these
persons are discussed.[20]
In the memorials of other active revolutionists it is
directed about Bolshevik terrorist C. Tsetskhladze, that he often gave him
tasks from Tbilisi Committee.[21] So terrorist activity of the “Military
Organization” was determined by Tbilisi Committee of Social-Democrats. It is
also interesting to mention here, that in 1921-1925 years in the memorials
printed in magazine “Revolution Chronicle” former Social-Democrat “Red
Combatants” and the members of “Military Organization” mentioned and estimated
their activity as Terrorist Acts.
In 1905-1907 years Social-Democrat terrorists realized
terrorist attacks in groups. Like “Battle Organization” they carried out pre
“Preparation Work” for Terrorist Act. It was necessary for them to establish
route of a sacrifice. They tried to select attack time so that a sacrifice
should be alone, in unprotected condition. Such way o gathering information on
a sacrifice was directed during one of the kinds of terrorist violation –
Expropriations and People abducting.
At the end of 1905 Lenin was directing, that it was
necessary to divide armed activity into two periods by the members of military
detachments – preparing and military operations. In preparing period they
should buy weapons and produce Intelligence Services, in it were implied
gaining informational sources, links in prison administration, police
departments, banks, posts and other bodies of the government.[22]
Just with usage of such ways in September 1908
Mensheviks abducted and then killed a famous doctor in purpose of getting
money. Police cleared out, that doctor’s abduction was organized by a member of
Social-Democrat party working at the same hospital, who began working at the
hospital in special.[23]
Even local Secret(Political) Police Department did not
survived from such activity of Bolsheviks. In 1908 a leader of Tbilisi
“Okhranka” Department established, that his co-worker, official V. Tyroev
collaborated with Bolsheviks and in 1906 he was even arrested by general police
for the Expropriation affair of 250000 rubles by Bolsheviks.[24] (It should be
noted, that if both fractions of Social-Democrats collaborated after
unification in realizing of Terrorist Acts, Expropriations were done mostly
separately. T. S.).
Social-Democrats realized one of the and maybe the
most eminent Terrorist Act in Caucasus with the manner of “Battle Organization”
of Social-Democrats during killing General Griaznov. This act was organized by
the main inspirer of Terrorist Acts of Mensheviks S. Jibladze.[25]
The “Red Detachments” established in villages by
Social-Democrats also passed peculiar stage of its development. In Guria at
Nasakirali village the “Red Detachments” of Guria defeated regular army
divisions and took soldiers prisoner as well. But here they used effects of
ambushing and unexpected attack.
We should note that in 1905-1906 years in fact the “Red
Detachments” completed the role of “Flying Detachments”. Or they often changed
their place under the directions of the party and realized unexpected attacks
on landowners, representatives of village official administration, low-ranking
officials of police. At that time the following varieties of terrorist violence
were used: robbery, wound, murders, fires, or in fact the “Red Detachments”
realized “Agrarian Terror”.
For 1906 year Social-Democrats created so called “Red
Companies” which were united hundreds of fighters. They could intimidate
village government and they influenced a number of villages.
The “Red Combatants” directed to terror purposely
towards the representatives of local administration, who served to the
government faithfully. For example, according to that time government’s data,
in Ozurgeti(town in West Georgia) they killed several foremen, police officer
and judge. With such tactic local police was so intimidated that they could not
resist to revolutionists, even more, low-ranking officials of police very often
agreed with local committees of Social-Democrats and gave them mean to disarm
soldiers and policemen. For example, at the
beginning of October in 1905 in Lanchkhuti(town in West Georgia) local police officer in result of
negotiations made Guria “Red Combatants” to disarm policemen.[26]
“Red Combatants” of Social-Democrats and members of “Military
Organization” got weapon from several sources. The first source, as we
mentioned above, was disarmament of policemen, soldiers with negotiations or
violence. In December 1905 ed combatants besieged and disarmed two hundreds of
regular army at train station Kvirila (in West Georgia).[27]
The second source was illegal ways of getting weapon
from abroad. For example, “Legendary” Bolshevik Kamo (Ter – Petrosyan) in 1906
bought a great amount of weapon on abroad and tried to get it through ship.[28]
The third source was arranging stores for making
weapon. Social-Democrats used even illegal printing-houses for making weapon.
In January 1906 Tbilisi United Committee of Social – Democrats made a decision
to create a special group, which would treat and learn methods of Partisan
Battle, make explosive materials and others. As Mensheviks as Bolsheviks were
in this group – S. Jibladze, M. Bochoridze and others. They trained in making
grenade in Avlabari(place in Georgian capital city Tbilisi) illegal
printing-house building.[29]
After discovering the printing-house police found out
a great amount of weapon and explosive materials there. In 1908 police
discovered one of the stores of Social-Democrats in Tbilisi, where 104
grenades, 4 packages dynamite, 55 guns, 14 revolvers, more than 1200 cartridge
were discovered by the police.
By the way, favorite weapon of French Anarchists and
Russian Socialist-Revolutionists, grenades for realizing Terrorist Acts was
liked by V. Lenin too. In 1905 in one of his articles he called weapon as “Public”
and recommended its wide usage.[30]
According to the data of local bodies of Secret Police
689 murders and attack facts in purpose of murder were realized in Caucasus on
“Terrorist Background” in 1907 year.[31] It is obvious, that Social-Democrats had
a great role in it.
Young Soviet State estimated terrorist experience of
Georgian Social-Democrats got in 1905-1907 years. Famous Bolshevik terrorists
Al. Oboladze, K. Tsintsadze and others were employed in Secret and usual Police
structures of the Soviet State.
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4.
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