Red Guards and Workers' Militias in the Russian Revolution

by Professor Rex A Wade

Wade, Rex A.

Genres: Russia

391 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1984

Reviews

[Barry Smirnoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scholarly treatment of the Red Guards in 1917 in Petrograd, Saratov and Kharkov, with references to Moscow and the Central Industrial Region. Based on a variety of primary sources, memoirs and published accounts, the narrative investigates the social composition and the regional conditions that led to to growth of the movement. Beginning during the mass upheavals of the February Revolution in Petrograd, the chaos of the strike movement and the removal of the Police and officer class led to workers arming themselves in their factories and developed as part of the Soviet movement. There was a diversity in the social composition of the working class by age and experience. Most members were young and not necesarily political. The workers were fighting for the employers to civilize the work place demanding the removal of abusive supervisors and company goons. To protect their jobs and livelihood, they needed security. The revolution had emptied the prisons and led to looting and all kinds of crimes against property. Some Red Guards fought against speculators and right wing thugs. It was the Kornilov revolt of late August that created the dire need for a revolutionary armed force controlled by the Soviet and these groups were greatly expanded with the participation of socialist parties, factory committes, trade unions. Railroad junctions and repair yards created branch units all over the country, that spread instructions from the center. The Red Guards played an important role in the storming of the Winter Palace, as testified to by John Reed! Eventually they were absorbed into the Red Army, the organs, and the bureaucracy. The narrative fills in important questions about the social history of the revolution.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very dense and scholarly book about the role of Red Guards and Workers’ Militia In The Russian Revolution.
It goes a long way to explaining how the revolution developed from February to October in ways that were not always in the control of the political parties. The Red Guard were often spontaneously set up by groups of workers to patrol their areas and protect their factories. As the Provisional Govt floundered they increasingly saw their role evolving to protect the gains of the revolution and combat counter revolutionary elements, indeed they were ahead of party leadership (even Bolshevik) in pursuing their goals.
As time went on their aims and those of the Bolsheviks came together. Bolsheviks were active in the Red Guard movement and the party’s commitment to arming the people resonated with the Guard units.
Ultimately the Red Guard were vital in bringing the Bolsheviks to power and keeping them there in the early months.

The book looks in detail at the Red Guard experience in Petrograd, Saratov and Kharkov. It also gives a broad description of what happened in other parts of Russia.
Members of The Red Guard were to become founder members of both the Red Army and the Cheka.

This book gives a fascinating glimpse into how The Soviet Union came into being from a point of view not often explored.