Key Challenge-Kronstadt Rebellion 1921 ‘The Lightning flash that illustrated the true reality of things’ The most serious challenge to Bolshevik control since the October Revolution

Key Challenge-Kronstadt Rebellion 1921 February 26th 1921 Sailors who supported the October Revolution now revolted against the Bolsheviks “the pride and glory of the Revolution... the reddest of the red”. Demanded an end to the harsh measures of War Communism. Demanded an end to one party rule- An end to Bolshevik dictatorship. Brutally suppressed- The Revolution devours its own children. Significance- If life was so good in Bolshevik Russia why did this happen?

Here is a from Tukhachevskywho was the leader of the attack on the Kronstat, writing a report to Trotsky: "The sailors fought like wild beasts. I cannot understand where they found the might for such rage... An entire company fought for an hour to capture one house and when the house was captured it was found to contain two or three soldiers at a machine gun. They seemed half dead, but they snatched their revolvers and gasped, 'We didn't shoot enough of you bastards'" Red Army Soldiers attacking the sailors at Kronstadt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA60O7-HY2M&safe=active 8 min clip

Key Challenge-Kronstadt Rebellion 1921 Origins War Communism and Chekka Terror. Key demands of the sailors New Elections Freedom of Speech End to Bolshevik monopoly on power Communist response: Orders crushing of the rising Trotsky directs its brutal suppression Aftermath Leads Lenin Towards NEP