The Bolshevik Myth · Chapter
Early Days of 1921 explained
The chapter describes the end of the civil war, the economic reconstruction debates in Soviet Russia, and the ongoing repression of anarchists.
What happens
The chapter describes the end of the civil war, the economic reconstruction debates in Soviet Russia, and the ongoing repression of anarchists. It covers the death and funeral of Peter Kropotkin, the efforts to secure the release of imprisoned anarchists for the funeral, and the narrator's decision to leave the Museum of the Revolution to work for the Kropotkin Memorial Commission.
Themes in this chapter
Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals
The Bolsheviks' broken promises to release anarchist prisoners for Kropotkin's funeral and the continued repression of anarchists highlight the betrayal of revolutionary ideals.
Human Suffering and Dehumanization
Imprisoned anarchists are described with 'pale, martyred faces' and are held incommunicado, reflecting the dehumanization of political prisoners.
Dictatorship and State Absolutism
The Cheka's arbitrary power and the Soviet government's control over the funeral arrangements illustrate the absolutist nature of the state.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator intercedes for imprisoned anarchists, appeals to Lenin, and later helps organize Kropotkin's funeral and memorial.
- Lenin
Lenin contends that unions should serve as 'schools of Communism'; the narrator appeals to him for the release of anarchists but receives no reply.
- Zinoviev
Zinoviev sides with Lenin on the role of unions in economic reconstruction.
- Trotsky
Trotsky dissents from Lenin, demanding a 'labor front' under military discipline.
- Peter Kropotkin
Kropotkin dies on February 8, 1921; his funeral becomes a major event, with the narrator involved in the arrangements.
- Angelica Balabanova
Balabanova helps the narrator intercede for imprisoned anarchists and secures an appointment with Latsis.
- Kamenev
Kamenev, as president of the Moscow Soviet, is involved in negotiations with the Cheka over the release of anarchist prisoners for Kropotkin's funeral.
- Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman is requested to help organize the Kropotkin Museum along with the narrator.
Key passages
“The military fronts have been liquidated; civil war is at an end. The country breathes a sigh of relief.”
The fighting has stopped and the civil war is over, bringing a sense of relief to the nation.
Opening lines describing the end of the civil war.
“Lenin contends that the unions are not prepared to manage the industries: their main mission is to serve as 'schools of Communism,' with gradually increasing participation in the economic field.”
Lenin argues that unions are not ready to run industries; their primary role is to educate workers in communism, slowly taking on more economic responsibilities.
Lenin's position in the labor debate.
“The Cheka refused to release the Anarchist prisoners without a guarantee of the Funeral Commission for their return. That guarantee secured, the Extraordinary Commission informed me that 'upon examination it was found that there are no Anarchists that could be freed.'”
The Cheka demanded a guarantee that prisoners would return after the funeral, but after the guarantee was given, they claimed no anarchists were eligible for release.
The Cheka's obstruction of the release of anarchist prisoners for Kropotkin's funeral.
