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Leon Trotsky

Hue and Cry OverKronstadt(January 1938)

Written:January 15, 1938.First Published:The New International, Vol.4 No.4, April 1938, pp.103-106.Translated:y The New International.

Transcription/HTML Markup:!a"i# $alter%.Copyleft:&eon Trot%'y Internet Ar(hi"e )www.*ar+i%t%.or 003. /er*i%%ion i% rante# to (opyan#or #i%triute thi% #o(u*ent un#er the ter*% o2 the N ree !o(u*entation &i(en%e.

A Peoples Front! of "enouncers

The (a*pain aroun# ron%ta#t i% ein (arrie# on with un#i*ini%he#"ior in (ertain (ir(le%. 7ne woul# thin' that the ron%ta#t re"olto((urre# not %e"enteen year% ao, ut only ye%ter#ay. /arti(ipatin in

the (a*pain with eual eal an# un#er one an# the %a*e %loan areAnar(hi%t%, :u%%ian ;en%he"i'%, le2t /eople=% ront? o2 it% own 'in#@

7nly ye%ter#ay I happene# a(ro%% the 2ollowin line% in a ;e+i(anwee'ly whi(h i% oth rea(tionary atholi( an# >#e*o(rati(?B >Trot%'yor#ere# the %hootin o2 1,500 )C ron%ta#t %ailor%, the%e pure%t o2 thepure. Di% poli(y when in power #i22ere# in no way 2ro* the pre%entpoli(y o2

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(o**uni%*F the ;en%he"i'%, at the ti*e o2 the ron%ta#t upri%in,%too# openly 2or the re%toration o2 (apitali%*F an# ;iliu'o" %tan#% 2or(apitali%* e"en now.

Dow (an the ron%ta#t upri%in (au%e %u(h hearturn to Anar(hi%t%,;en%he"i'%, an# >lieral? (ounter-re"olutioni%t%, all at the %a*e ti*eC

The an%wer i% %i*pleB all the%e roupin% are intere%te# in(o*pro*i%in the only enuinely re"olutionary (urrent, whi(h ha%ne"er repu#iate# it% anner, ha% not (o*pro*i%e# with it% ene*ie%,an# alone repre%ent% the 2uture. It i% e(au%e o2 thi% that a*on theelate# #enoun(er% o2 *y ron%ta#t >(ri*e? there are %o*any 2or*er re"olutioni%t% or %e*i-re"olutioni%t%, people who ha"elo%t their prora* an# their prin(iple% an# who 2in# it ne(e%%ary to#i"ert attention 2ro* the #era#ation o2 the

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prole* here in"ol"e# a *ariti*e 2ortre%% un#er /etrora# it%el2.!urin the upri%in pro(la*ation% were i%%ue# an# ra#io roa#(a%t%were *a#e. The

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*a(hini%t%, the unner%, an# the ele(tri(ian%, i.e., pre#o*inantly the(ity wor'er%.

The (our%e o2 the upri%in on the attle%hip /ote*'in in 1905 wa%a%e# entirely on the relation% a*on the%e three layer%, i.e., on the%trule etween proletarian an# petty-oureoi% rea(tionary

e+tre*e% 2or in2luen(e upon the *ore nu*erou% *i##le pea%ant layer.$hoe"er ha% not un#er%too# thi% prole*, whi(h run% throuh thewhole re"olutionary *o"e*ent in the 2leet, ha# e%t e %ilent aoutthe prole*% o2 the :u%%ian re"olution in eneral. or it wa% entirely,an# to a reat #eree %till i%, a %trule etween the proletariat an#the oureoi%ie 2or in2luen(e upon the pea%antry. !urin the Anar(hi%t%? repre%ente# the (ity petty oureoi%ie an# %too# upon alower re"olutionary le"el than the

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Anar(hi%t hue o2 the petty oureoi% were #ue to the %harpne%% o2 there"olutionary %trule in the 2leet an# the #o*inatin in2luen(e o2 theproletarian %e(tion% o2 the %ailor%.

Chan%es "urin% the 'ears of Ci(il WarThi% %o(ial an# politi(al (hara(teriation o2 ron%ta#t whi(h, i2 #e%ire#,(oul# e %u%tantiate# an# illu%trate# y *any 2a(t% an# #o(u*ent%,i% alrea#y %u22i(ient to illu*inate the uphea"al% whi(h o((urre# inron%ta#t #urin the year% o2 the (i"il war an# a% a re%ult o2 whi(h it%phy%iono*y (hane# eyon# re(onition. /re(i%ely aout thi%i*portant a%pe(t o2 the ue%tion, the elate# a((u%er% %ay not onewor#, partly out o2 inoran(e, partly out o2 *ale"olen(e.

Ee%, ron%ta#t wrote a heroi( pae in the hi%tory o2 the re"olution. ut

the (i"il war ean a %y%te*ati( #epopulation o2 ron%ta#t an# o2 thewhole alti( 2leet. A% early a% the #ay% o2 the 7(toer upri%in,#eta(h*ent% o2 ron%ta#t %ailor% were ein %ent to help ;o%(ow.7ther #eta(h*ent% were then %ent to the !on, to the 'raine, toreui%ition rea# an# oranie the lo(al power. It %ee*e# at 2ir%t a% i2ron%ta#t were ine+hau%tile. ro* #i22erent 2ront% I %ent #oen% o2telera*% aout the *oiliation o2 new >reliale? #eta(h*ent% 2ro*a*on the /eter%ur wor'er% an# the alti( %ailor%. ut einnin a%early a% 1918, an# in any (a%e not later than 1919, the 2ront% ean to

(o*plain that the new (ontinent% o2 >ron%ta#ter%? wereun%ati%2a(tory, e+a(tin, un#i%(ipline#, unreliale in attle, an# #oin*ore har* than oo#. A2ter the liui#ation o2 Eu#eni(h )in the wintero2 1919, the alti( 2leet an# the ron%ta#t arri%on were #enu#e# o2all re"olutionary 2or(e%. All the ele*ent% a*on the* that were o2 anyu%e at all were thrown aain%t !eni'in in the %outh. I2 in 191K-18 theron%ta#t %ailor %too# (on%i#eraly hiher than the a"erae le"el o2the :e# Ar*y an# 2or*e# the 2ra*ewor' o2 it% 2ir%t #eta(h*ent% a%well a% the 2ra*ewor' o2 the %a('-

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(arrier%? )petty %pe(ulator% ha# e(o*e a %o(ial liht, threatenin to%ti2le the re"olution. /re(i%ely in ron%ta#t where the arri%on #i#nothin an# ha# e"erythin it nee#e#, the #e*oraliation a%%u*e#parti(ularly reat #i*en%ion%. $hen (on#ition% e(a*e "ery (riti(al inhunry /etrora# the /oliti(al ureau *ore than on(e #i%(u%%e# the

po%%iility o2 %e(urin an >internal loan? 2ro* ron%ta#t, where auantity o2 ol# pro"i%ion% %till re*aine#. ut #eleate% o2 the /etrora#wor'er% an%were#B >Eou will et nothin 2ro* the* y 'in#ne%%. They%pe(ulate in (loth, (oal, an# rea#. At pre%ent in ron%ta#t e"ery 'in#o2 ri22ra22 ha% rai%e# it% hea#.? That wa% the real %ituation. It wa% notli'e the %uar-%weet i#ealiation% a2ter the e"ent.

It *u%t 2urther e a##e# that 2or*er %ailor% 2ro* &at"ia an# H%toniawho 2eare# they woul# e %ent to the 2ront an# were preparin to (ro%%into their new oureoi% 2atherlan#%, &at"ia an# H%tonia, ha# Goine#

the alti( 2leet a% >"olunteer%.? The%e ele*ent% were in e%%en(eho%tile to the ron%ta#ter%? with the%a*e ru%h. $e *u%t re(onie %o(ial an# politi(al #i22eren(e%.

The #ocial )oots of the *prisin%The prole* o2 a %eriou% %tu#ent (on%i%t% in #e2inin, on the a%i% o2the oGe(ti"e (ir(u*%tan(e%, the %o(ial an# politi(al (hara(ter o2 theron%ta#t *utiny an# it% pla(e in the #e"elop*ent o2 the re"olution.$ithout thi%, >(riti(i%*? i% re#u(e# to %enti*ental la*entation o2 thepa(i2i%t 'in# in the %pirit o2 Ale+an#er er'*an, H**a ol#*an, an#their late%t i*itator%. The%e entle2ol' #o not ha"e the %lihte%tun#er%tan#in o2 the (riteria an# *etho#% o2 %(ienti2i( re%ear(h. Theyuote the pro(la*ation% o2 the in%urent% li'e piou% prea(her% uotinDoly

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*o*ent o2 (i"il war. I2, 2or e+a*ple, we ean to ta'e a% pure ol# theinnu*erale pro(la*ation% o2 Nerin, o*pany%, ar(ia 7li"er, an#o*pany, we woul# ha"e to re(onie the%e entle*en a% 2er"ent2rien#% o2 %o(iali%*. ut in reality they are it% per2i#iou% ene*ie%.

In 191K-18 the re"olutionary wor'er% le# the pea%ant *a%%e%, not only

o2 the 2leet ut o2 the entire (ountry. The pea%ant% %eie# an# #i"i#e#the lan# *o%t o2ten un#er the lea#er%hip o2 the %ol#ier% an# %ailor%arri"in in their ho*e #i%tri(t%. :eui%ition% o2 rea# ha# only eunan# were *ainly 2ro* the lan#lor#% an# 'ula'% at that. The pea%ant%re(on(ile# the*%el"e% to reui%ition% a% a te*porary e"il. ut the (i"ilwar #rae# on 2or three year%. The (ity a"e pra(ti(ally nothin tothe "illae an# too' al*o%t e"erythin 2ro* it, (hie2ly 2or the nee#% o2war. The pea%ant% appro"e# o2 the >ol%he"i'%? ut e(a*ein(rea%inly ho%tile to the >o**uni%t%.? I2 in the pre(e#in perio# the

wor'er% ha# le# the pea%ant% 2orwar#, the pea%ant% now #rae# thewor'er% a('. 7nly e(au%e o2 thi% (hane in *oo# (oul# the $hite%partially attra(t the pea%ant%, an# e"en the hal2-pea%ant%-hal2-wor'er%,o2 the ral% to their %i#e. Thi% *oo#, i.e., ho%tility to the (ity, nouri%he#the *o"e*ent o2 ;a'hno, who %eie# an# loote# train% *ar'e# 2or the2a(torie%, the plant%, an# the :e# Ar*y, tore up railroa# tra('%, %hoto**uni%t%, et(. 72 (our%e, ;a'hno (alle# thi% the Anar(hi%t %trulewith the >%tate.? In reality, thi% wa% a %trule o2 the in2uriate# pettyproperty owner aain%t the proletarian #i(tator%hip. A %i*ilar*o"e*ent aro%e in a nu*er o2 other #i%tri(t%, e%pe(ially in

Ta*o"%'y, un#er the anner o2 >reen%? %o*eti*e% *et the$hite% an# re(ei"e# %e"ere low% 2ro* the*, ut they #i# not, o2(our%e, et any *er(y 2ro* the :e#%. Ju%t a% the petty oureoi%ie i%roun# e(ono*i(ally etween the *ill%tone% o2 i (apital an# theproletariat, %o the pea%ant parti%an #eta(h*ent% were pul"erie#etween the :e# Ar*y an# the $hite.

7nly an entirely %uper2i(ial per%on (an %ee in ;a'hno=% an#% or in theron%ta#t re"olt a %trule etween the a%tra(t prin(iple% o2Anar(hi%* an# >%tate %o(iali%*.? A(tually the%e *o"e*ent% were(on"ul%ion% o2 the pea%ant petty oureoi%ie whi(h #e%ire#, o2 (our%e,to lierate it%el2 2ro* (apital ut whi(h at the %a*e ti*e #i# not(on%ent to %uor#inate it%el2 to the #i(tator%hip o2 the proletariat. Thepetty oureoi%ie #oe% not 'now (on(retely what it want%, an# y

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"irtue o2 it% po%ition (annot 'now. That i% why it %o rea#ily (o"ere# the(on2u%ion o2 it% #e*an#% an# hope%, now with the Anar(hi%t anner,now with the populi%t, now %i*ply with the >reen.? ounterpo%init%el2 to the proletariat, it trie#, 2lyin all the%e anner%, to turn thewheel o2 the re"olution a('war#%.

The Counter+re(olutionary Character of the &ronstadt Mutiny

There were, o2 (our%e, no i*pa%%ale ul'hea#% #i"i#in the #i22erent%o(ial an# politi(al layer% o2 ron%ta#t. There were %till at ron%ta#t a(ertain nu*er o2 uali2ie# wor'er% an# te(hni(ian% to ta'e (are o2 the*a(hinery. ut e"en they were i#enti2ie# y a *etho# o2 neati"e%ele(tion a% politi(ally unreliale an# o2 little u%e 2or the (i"il war.lea#er%? o2 the upri%in (a*e 2ro* a*on the%e ele*ent%.

Dowe"er, thi% (o*pletely natural an# ine"itale (ir(u*%tan(e, towhi(h %o*e a((u%er% triu*phantly point, #oe% not (hane y one iotathe anti-proletarian (hara(ter o2 the re"olt. nle%% we are to #e(ei"eour%el"e% with pretentiou% %loan%, 2al%e lael%, et(., we %hall %ee thatthe ron%ta#t upri%in wa% nothin ut an ar*e# rea(tion o2 the pettyoureoi%ie aain%t the har#%hip% o2 %o(ial re"olution an# the %e"erityo2 the proletarian #i(tator%hip.

That wa% e+a(tly the %ini2i(an(e o2 the ron%ta#t %loan, >

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;o%(ow. A heroi( an# trai( perio#@ All were hunry an# irritale. Allwere #i%%ati%2ie#. In the 2a(torie% there wa% #ull #i%(ontent.n#erroun# oranier% %ent y the

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only? %eie# the 2ortre%% an#the attle%hip%. It woul# %ee* that the ol%he"i'% *ar(he# with are#(he%t% a(ro%% the i(e aain%t the 2ortre%% only e(au%e o2 their e"il(hara(ter%, their in(lination to pro"o'e (on2li(t% arti2i(ially, their hatre#o2 the ron%ta#t %ailor%, or their hatre# o2 the Anar(hi%t #o(trine )aoutwhi(h a%olutely no one, we *ay %ay in pa%%in, othere# in tho%e#ay%. I% thi% not (hil#i%h prattleC oun# neither to ti*e nor pla(e, the

#ilettante (riti(% try )%e"enteen year% later@ to %ue%t thate"erythin woul# ha"e en#e# in eneral %ati%2a(tion i2 only there"olution ha# le2t the in%urent %ailor% alone. n2ortunately, the worl#(ounterre"olution woul# in no (a%e ha"e le2t the* alone. The loi( o2the %trule woul# ha"e i"en pre#o*inan(e in the 2ortre%% to thee+tre*i%t%, that i%, to the *o%t (ounterre"olutionary ele*ent%. Thenee# 2or %upplie% woul# ha"e *a#e the 2ortre%% #ire(tly #epen#entupon the 2orein oureoi%ie an# their aent%, the $hite e*ire%. Allthe ne(e%%ary preparation% towar# thi% en# were alrea#y ein *a#e.n#er %i*ilar (ir(u*%tan(e% only people li'e the

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The &ronstadters! .ithout a Fortress

In e%%en(e, the "enerale (riti(% are opponent% o2 the #i(tator%hip o2the proletariat an# y that to'en are opponent% o2 the re"olution. Inthi% lie% the whole %e(ret. It i% true that %o*e o2 the* re(onie there"olution an# the #i(tator%hip M in wor#%. ut thi% #oe% not help

*atter%. They wi%h 2or a re"olution whi(h will not lea# to #i(tator%hipor 2or a #i(tator%hip whi(h will et alon without the u%e o2 2or(e. 72(our%e, thi% woul# e a "ery >plea%ant? #i(tator%hip. It reuire%,howe"er, a 2ew tri2le%B an eual an#, *oreo"er, an e+tre*ely hih,#e"elop*ent o2 the toilin *a%%e%. ut in %u(h (on#ition% the#i(tator%hip woul# in eneral e unne(e%%ary. le%%on%o2 7(toer? whi(h ha"e not only a :u%%ian ut an international%ini2i(an(e. No one el%e ha% e"en trie# to %ue%t any other>le%%on%.? The le%%on% o2 7(toer.? An# the %e"ere (riti(% are %ilent or eui"o(al. The

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re"olution an# %hoot% re"olutioni%t%. The Anar(hi%t% parti(ipate in thi%o"ern*ent, or, when they are #ri"en out, (ontinue to %upport thee+e(utioner%. An# their 2orein allie% an# lawyer% o((upy the*%el"e%*eanwhile with a #e2en%e ... o2 the ron%ta#t *utiny aain%t the har%hol%he"i'%. A %ha*e2ul tra"e%ty@

The pre%ent #i%pute% aroun# ron%ta#t re"ol"e aroun# the %a*e (la%%a+i% a% the ron%ta#t upri%in it%el2, in whi(h the rea(tionary %e(tion%o2 the %ailor% trie# to o"erthrow the proletarian #i(tator%hip. on%(iou%o2 their i*poten(e on the arena o2 pre%ent-#ay re"olutionary politi(%,the petty-oureoi% lun#erer% an# e(le(ti(% try to u%e the ol#ron%ta#t epi%o#e 2or the %trule aain%t the ourth International,that i%, aain%t the party o2 the proletarian re"olution. The%e latter-#ay>ron%ta#ter%? will al%o e (ru%he# M true, without the u%e o2 ar*%%in(e, 2ortunately, they #o not ha"e a 2ortre%%.

January 15, 1938