Table of contents:
- How the sailors of the port of Nargen dared to oppose the tsarist government and proclaim the creation of the Soviet republic
- How the supreme bodies of the Soviet Republic of sailors and builders were formed in Nargen
- Why the Soviet Republic of sailors and builders was called a "pirate state"
- Why the Nargen Republic was liquidated
Video: How Soviet sailors and builders created the Soviet republic in Nargen, and what came of it
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
After the 1917 revolution in Russia, in the wake of general confusion, many "Soviet" republics emerged. However, the names of most of them have sunk into oblivion due to the short duration of their existence, and only a few "independent states" have preserved historical facts. One of such revolutionary formations is known to historians as the Nargen Republic. Created in the winter of 1917, it existed for less than three months, leaving behind zero fulfilled promises and disgusting fame among the inhabitants of the island.
How the sailors of the port of Nargen dared to oppose the tsarist government and proclaim the creation of the Soviet republic
Nargen Island, located near Tallinn, Estonia, was used in tsarist times as a military object: it was supposed to protect the city and the adjacent water area from possible attacks from the sea side. Fortified by fortifications and a well-armed garrison, the island was called a "land dreadnought", emphasizing its strong combat power. From the day of the deployment of military sailors in 1913, Nargen did not stand out in anything special - life flowed steadily, the service took place according to the charter until the time when the government changed in the country.
Under the influence of rumors (this time about the Socialist Revolution), the sailors of the garrison and the personnel involved in the construction of the island fortifications made their "coup". The leader of the rioters was Stepan Petrichenko, a clerk on the battleship "Petropavlovsk", before being drafted in 1913 as a metal worker at a metallurgical plant.
The son of a poor peasant from the Kaluga province, like most of the sailors who supported him, adhered to anarchist views - that is, by his ideology, he did not recognize any power. That is why the “Soviet Republic of Sailors and Builders” formed on December 17, 1917 had no desire either to notify the Russian capital about its statehood, or to establish real order in an independent “state”. At the same time, there were government bodies in the republic, and they were created by analogy with big Russia.
How the supreme bodies of the Soviet Republic of sailors and builders were formed in Nargen
Taking the example of Soviet Russia, the island's government, which called itself the "Council of People's Commissars", consisted of a chairman and people's commissars: labor, health, finance, internal affairs, education, military and naval affairs. It is known that Stepan Petrichenko chaired the councils, on what principle and who got other positions, information has not been preserved.
The plans of the insular Council of People's Commissars included the development of documents defining the foundations of state administration in the Nargen Republic and the release of its own currency. According to the chairman, the new constitution was being prepared to give citizens in a "bright future" freedom from forced labor and to present a distribution system according to the principle "to each according to his needs."
The republic also had its own flag, whose color - black and red - reflected the anarcho-communist ideas of Nargen builders and sailors. In addition, an anarchist black flag with a skull and bones was also in use, which, apparently, emphasized the meaning of the inscription on the panel - "Death to the bourgeoisie". However, pirate symbols involuntarily reflected the essence of the actions of the representatives of the new authorities, who showed themselves on the island no better than the Jolly Roger brotherhood.
Why the Soviet Republic of sailors and builders was called a "pirate state"
The revolutionary promises to bring the new authorities to life were in no hurry, preferring to live for their own pleasure until the arrival of the "bright future", believing that in this way the bourgeoisie was outlived. First of all, the "struggle" against the bourgeois element began with the rape of the entire adult female population of the island. No exceptions were made for anyone - local peasants were raped on a par with officers' wives and wealthy citizens of the "free republic". The second step was the obligation of residents to pay a "revolutionary tax", which meant the expropriation of everything that the half-drunk sailors would like. Later, a service was found for the rough work: prisoners from Reval were attracted to her - the inmates of the city prison had to remove snow for free, put things in order in their dwellings and carry out other "master's" orders.
The sailors received free workers, as well as alcohol, food and women for comfort by blackmailing the Revel authorities: the Council of People's Commissars Nargena threatened to shell the city if their "request" was not fulfilled. Considering that the required payment was not so high compared to the destruction of Reval, the city authorities agreed to comply with the terms of the ultimatum. At the same time, delivering groceries and other things to the "Republicans", they hoped to scout out the situation on the island in order to prepare for future "surprises".
Why the Nargen Republic was liquidated
However, if Revel managed to get some valuable intelligence, they were not needed: at the end of February 1918, the republic ceased to exist. And this happened due to the approach of the ships of the German flotilla to the island - the First World War continued, and Russia's opponents were going to attack the island that was part of it. However, having a military advantage over the Germans, the sailors of the Nargen Republic were not going to join the battle to save their small state.
As soon as they saw the enemy ships, the anarchists loaded the remaining alcohol and food into the hold, and left the island, leaving several comrades drunk to the mercy of fate. At the same time, no one bothered to at least destroy the ammunition and destroy the fortifications - everything went to the enemy, who, without a single loss and a shot, got himself material trophies. The government of the republic, along with members of the garrison, fled to Finland, and three years later, the chairman of the government of the failed republic, already led the Kronstadt uprising against the Soviets.
A little later White emigres will already be at war with yesterday's homeland in the ranks of other armies.
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