Academic International Press

Documents of Soviet History

Edited by Rex A. Wade

SovDocs Contents

  • Volume 1 The Triumph of Bolshevism, 1917-1919
  • Volume 2 Triumph and Retreat, 1920-1922
  • Volume 3 Lenin's Heirs, 1923-1925

 

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Contents of Volume 1

Preface xii
Introduction xvi

Chapter 1 The Year 1917

  1. The Overthrow of the Provisional Government and Establishment of Soviet Power. October 25 (November 7) l9l7 1
  2. The Bolsheviks' Socialist Opponents Denounce the Bolshevik Revolution and Leave the Congress of Soviets. October 25-26 (November 7-8) 1917 1
  3. The Menshevik-Internationalists Appeal to the Congress of Soviets for a Broad Socialist Government and Warn of Civil War. October 25-26 (November 7-8) l9l7 3
  4. Resolution of the Second Congress of Soviets on the Withdrawal of the Mensheviks and SRs. October 25-26 (November 7-8) l9l7 3
  5. Proclamation of Assumption of Power by the Congress of Soviets. October 25-26 (November 7-8) 1917 4
  6. Decree on Peace. October 26 (November 8) l9l7 6
  7. Decree on Land. October 26 (November 8) l917 8
  8. Formation and Composition of the New Government. October 26 (November 28) 1917 11
  9. Censorship of the Press. October 27 (November 9) l9l7 12
  10. The Spread of the Revolution: Saratov. October 27 (November 9) 1917 13
  11. On Popular Education. October 29 (November 11) l9l7 16
  12. Decree on the Eight-Hour Workday and the Duration and Division of Working Time. October 29 (November 11) 1917 19
  13. The Vikzhel Appeal for a Broad Socialist Government. October 29 (November 11) 1917 22
  14. The Bolshevik Central Committee Rejects a Broad-based Socialist Government. November 2 (15) l9l7 23
  15. Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia. November 2 (15) l9l7 24
  16. The Spread of the Revolution Delayed: Kharkov. November 2 (15) 1917 26
  17. Central Executive Committee Debate on Censorship, on its Relationship to the Council of People's Commissars, and the Resignation of Several Bolshevik Leaders. November 4 (17) 1917 27 Proclamation of the Ukrainian People's Republic. November 7 (20) 1917 38
  18. Notification to Allied Governments of the Formation of the New Government and of the Soviet Proposal for an Armistice. November 7 (20) 1917 40
  19. Order to Commander-in-Chief Dukhonin Regarding an Armistice, Conversation Between the Government Leaders and General Dukhonin, and the Latter's Dismissal. November 7-9 (20-22) 1917 41
  20. Trotsky's Report on the First Steps of Soviet Foreign Policy. November 8 (21) 1917 44
  21. Abolition of Social Estates, Civil Ranks, Titles, and Their Replacement by "Citizens of the Russian Republic." November l0 (23) l9l7 47
  22. Establishment of Workers' Control in Industry. November l4 (27) l9l7 47
  23. Appeal to Belligerents on Peace. November 14 (27) 1917 49
  24. Appeal to the Moslems of Russia and the East. November 20 (December 3) 1917 50
  25. Abolition of the Old Judicial System and Establishment of a New One. November 22 (December 5) 1917 52
  26. Debate of the Outlawing of the Constitutional Democrats and on the Constituent Assembly at the Central Executive Committee. December 1 (14) 1917 53
  27. Establishment of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. December 1 (14) 1917 58
  28. Armistice Between Russia and the Central Powers. December 2 (15) 1917 59
  29. Establishment of the Cheka. December 7 (20) 1917 62
  30. Lenin's Theses on the Constituent Assembly. December 11 or 12 (24 or 25) 1917 64
  31. Nationalization of Banks. December 14 (27) 1917 67
  32. Election of Officers and Abolition of Ranks in the Army. December 16 (29) 1917 68
  33. Decree on Divorce. December 16 (29), 1917 69
  34. Marriage, Children, and Civil Registration. December 18 (31) 1917 71
  35. Revolutionary Tribunal of the Press. December 18 (31) 1917 72
  36. On Revolutionary Tribunals. December 19, 1917 (January 1, 1918) 73
  37. Report by Stalin on Finnish Independence and Self-Determination. December 22, 1917 (January 4, 1918) 75
  38. On the Rights and Duties of Local Soviets. December 24, 1917 (January 6, 1918) and January 9 (22) 1918 77
  39. Krylenko's Appeal for Volunteers to Form a Socialist People's Guard. December 25, 1917 (January 7, 1918) 78
  40. Life in a Provincial City. December 28-31, 1917 (January 10-13, 1918) 80

Chapter 2 The Year 1918

  1. Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly. January 6 (19) 1918 82
  2. Lenin on the Need for an Immediate Peace. January 7 (20) 1918 83
  3. Ukrainian Declaration of Independence. January 9 (22) 1918 87
  4. The Trade Unions and the Soviet Government. January 10 (23) 1918 90
  5. Declaration of the Rights of the Working and Exploited People. January 12 (25) 1918 92
  6. Establishment of the Red Army. January 15 (28) 1918 92
  7. Stalin on the Nationality Question and Self-Determination. January 15 (28) 1918 93
  8. Patriarch Tikhon Anathemizes the Bolsheviks and Calls for Defense of the Church. January 19 (February 1) 1918 94
  9. Separation of Church and State, Church and Schools, and Religious Rights and Freedoms. January 20 (February 2) 1918 96
  10. Annulment of State Loans. January 21 (February 3) 1918 97
  11. Introduction of a New Calendar. January 24 (February 6) 1918 98
  12. Socialization of the Land. January 27 (February 9) 1918 98
  13. No War No Peace! Trotsky at Brest-Litovsk Declares Russia's Participation in the War Ended. January 28 (February 10) 1918 100
  14. Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. March 3, 1918 102
  15. Trotsky Inquires about American Assistance Against Germany and Japan. March 5, 1918 105
  16. Change of the Party Name to "Communist" and Decision to Revise the Party Program. March 8, 1918 106
  17. The Futurists and Public Art: "Let the Streets be a Feast of Art for All." March 15, 1918 107
  18. The "Left-Wing" Communists. April 4, 1918 108
  19. Soviet Response to the Japanese Landing at Vladivostok. April 5, 1918 118
  20. The Role of Military Commissars. April 6, 1918 119
  21. Malevich, "Architecture as a Slap in the Face to Ferro-Concrete." April 6, 1918 121
  22. Soviet Federalism-An Interview with Stalin. April 9, 1918 123
  23. The Removal of Old Monuments and Erection of New Monuments to the Revolution. April 12, 1918 126
  24. Soviet Protest over Rumanian Annexation of Bessarabia. April 18, 1918 127
  25. Introduction of Compulsory Military Training. April 22, 1918 128
  26. Lenin, "The Immediate Tasks of the Soviet Government." April 28, 1918. 129
  27. German Intervention in the Ukraine and Skoropadsky's Assumption of Power. April 29, 1918 149
  28. May First Manifesto. May 1, 1918 152
  29. Decree on Food Procurement. May 13, 1918 153
  30. Lenin on International Relations. May 14, 1918 155
  31. Revolt of the Czechoslovak Troops. May 20-25, 1918 164
  32. Declaration of an Independent Georgian Democratic Republic. May 26,
  33. 1918 166
  34. To Arms Against Counter-Revolutionaries. May 30, 1918 167
  35. A Bolshevik Call for Cossack Support. May 31, 1918 168
  36. Committees of the Village Poor. June 11, 1918 169
  37. Expulsion of the SRs and Mensheviks from the Central Executive Committee. June 14, 1918 171
  38. Travel in the Countryside. June 27-28, 1918 172
  39. Nationalization of Industry. June 28, 1918 174
  40. Allied Decision to Intervene. July 2, 1918 177
  41. The Left SR Assassination of the German Ambassador and Attack on the Bolsheviks. July 6-7, 1918 181
  42. Report on the Food Situation to the Fifth Congress of Soviets and Resolution of the Congress. July 9, 1918 185
  43. Trotsky's Report on the Army and the Fifth Congress of Soviets' Resolution on Military Matters. July 10, 1918 188
  44. Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet
  45. Republic. July 10, 1918 192
  46. The United States Government on Allied Intervention. July 17, 1918 200
  47. The Democratic Counterrevolution. The Committee of the Members of the Constituent Assembly. July 25, 1918 203
  48. A Socialist Revolutionary and Menshevik Manifesto Against the Bolsheviks. July 29, 1918 204
  49. Open Admission to Universities and Higher Education. August 2, 1918 206
  50. Food Requisition Detachments. August 4, 1918 207
  51. Trotsky's Assessment of the Red Army. August 15, 1918 208
  52. Organization and Activity of Grain Requisition Detachments. August 20,
  53. 1918 209
  54. Trotsky on the Command of the Red Army. August 23, 1918 212
  55. The Attempted Assassination of Lenin. August 30, 1918 213
  56. Intensification of the Red Terror. September 4-5, 1918 214
  57. Terror and its Defense. A Protest by the Neutral Powers and Chicherin's
  58. Response. September 5 and 12, 1918 215
  59. Arrests and Executions Following the Attempted Assassination of Lenin.
  60. September 12, 1918 219
  61. Requisition and Distribution of Housing in Moscow. September 17, 1918 220
  62. Holding Families of Officers Hostage. September 30, 1918 221
  63. Resolution of the Central Executive Committee about Imminent Revolution in Europe. October 3, 1918 222
  64. Trotsky vs. Stalin. The Conflict at Tsaritsyn Over Military Policy and Organization. October 3 and 4, 1918 223
  65. The Unified Labor School. October 16, 1918 225
  66. Lunacharsky on the Unified Labor School. October 16, 1918 226
  67. Trotsky on the Military Situation and an Appeal to Petrograd Workers. October 21, 1918 227
  68. Chicherin to President Wilson on World Peace and Intervention in Russia. October 24, 1918 232
  69. The Labor Laws and Compulsory Labor Duty. October 31, 1918 238
  70. Manifesto from the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars to the Workers of Austria-Hungary. November 3, 1918 250
  71. Dictatorship of the Proletariat and Proletarian Democracy. Lenin's The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky. November 10,
  72. 1918 251
  73. Women and the Family in the Communist State. November 16-21, 1918 270
  74. Admiral Kolchak Assumes Power. November 18, 1918 278
  75. Trotsky on Discipline. Order to the Troops on the Southern Front. November 24, 1918 282
  76. Altman, "Futurism" and Proletarian Art. December 15, 1918 283
  77. Russian Appeal for a Peace Treaty with the Allies. Litvinov to Wilson. December 24, 1918 284
  78. Lunacharsky on the State and the Controversy in the Arts. December 29, 1918 286

Chapter 3 The Year 1919

  1. Stepanova on Non-Objective Artistic Creativity. January, 1919 288
  2. Instructions of the Central Committee to Party Cells of Red Army Units of the Front and Rear. January 5, 1919 289
  3. Forced Labor by the Bourgeoisie and Daily Life in Moscow. January 5-9, 1919 292
  4. Trotsky on the Use of Specialists. January 10, 1919 293
  5. Restriction of Workers' Control. January 23, 1919 297
  6. Invitation to the First Congress of the Communist International (Comintern). January 24, 1919 300
  7. Manifesto of the Communist-Futurists (Komfut). January 26, 1919 303
  8. The Liquidation of Illiteracy. January 29, 1919 304
  9. Soviet Willingness to Meet at a Proposed Conference at Prinkipo. February 4, 1919 305
  10. Opening of a Workers' Higher Education Faculty. February 12, 1919 307
  11. A Socialist System of Agriculture. February 14, 1919 309
  12. Housing in Moscow. February 24-27, 1919 310
  13. Resolutions Constituting the Communist International. March 4, 1919 311
  14. First Platform of the Communist International. March 6, 1919 312
  15. Manifesto of the Communist International. March 6, 1919 317
  16. Resolution of the Communist International on the Role of Working Women. March 6, 1919 324
  17. Program of the Russian Communist Party. March 22, 1919 324
  18. Party Organization and Structure. March 22, 1919 338
  19. Establishment of an Autonomous Bashkir Soviet Republic. March 23, 1919 343
  20. Political and Educational Work in the Villages. March 23, 1919 344
  21. Agrarian and Labor Policies of the White Governments. March 23, 1919 346
  22. Kolchak on the Future of Russia. April 19, 1919 348
  23. Searching for Foodstuffs in the Countryside. May 5, 1919 349
  24. Mobilization of Workers into the Red Army. May 9, 1919 350
  25. Allied "Recognition" of Admiral Kolchak's Government. May 26, 1919 351
  26. Attempted Unification of the Russian, Ukrainian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Belorussian Soviet Republics. June 1, 1919 353
  27. Labor Books. June 25, 1919 354
  28. Introduction of the "Subbotnik." June 28, 1919 356
  29. Exhortation to the Party Organizations in the Fight Against Denikin. July 9, 1919 370
  30. A Menshevik Program for Russia. July 12, 1919 380
  31. An Appeal Against Pogroms. Summer, 1919 384
  32. The Activity of the Commissariat for Social Welfare. August 16, 1919 385
  33. Lord Curzon on the Allied Intervention in Russia. August 21, 1919 388
  34. The Rabfaky, Workers' Faculties, and Higher Education. September 11, 1919 393
  35. Note to Latvia Regarding Peace Negotiations. September 22, 1919 395
  36. Official Soviet Wireless Messages. October 1, 1919 396
  37. A Party Membership Recruitment Drive. October 1, 1919 399
  38. Results and Prospects of Soviet Economic Policy. A Report after Two Years. November 7, 1919 400
  39. Civil War Conditions in the Ukraine. December 1, 1919 403
  40. Rules of the Communist Party. December 4, 1919 407
  41. Labor Armies. December 16, 1919 413
  42. Lunacharsky. The Tasks of the State Cinema in Russia. 1919 416
  43. Propaganda Trains. 1919 417
  44. Russia's Currency and Economic Situation. 1919 419
  • Documents by Main Topics 423
  • Glossary 430
  • Sources Cited 433
  • Acknowledgements 436
  • Permissions 437

Indexes 438

  • Index of Names 438
  • Index of Subjects 441
  • Index of Geographic and Place Names 445

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