Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom

The Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom () was an underground anti-Bolshevik organization active during the early stages of the Russian Civil War. It was formally established in March 1918 under the leadership of Boris Savinkov, although the idea for the organization had emerged in late 1917.The Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom and the Yaroslavl Rebellion of 1918 // Proletarian Revolution, 1923, no. 10.Savinkov, B. V. The Fight Against the Bolsheviks // Russian Foreign Literature. Anthology in Six Volumes. Moscow: Kniga, 1990. Vol. 1, Book 2.

Its creation was supported by elements of the Volunteer Army, including Generals Lavr Kornilov and Mikhail Alekseev.Savinkov, B. V. The Fight Against the Bolsheviks // Russian Foreign Literature. Anthology in Six Volumes. Moscow: Kniga, 1990. Vol. 1, Book 2.Klementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119.

The organization sought to coordinate anti-Bolshevik resistance and prepare armed uprisings in central Russia. It is best known for its role in organizing the Yaroslavl Uprising, the Rybinsk Uprising, the , and the in 1918.The Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom and the Yaroslavl Rebellion of 1918 // Proletarian Revolution, 1923, no. 10.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 99–108. Although it established branches in several Russian cities, it was largely destroyed following the suppression of these revolts.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 99–108.

A successor organization, the People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom, was reconstituted in exile in 1921 and continued anti-Bolshevik underground activity until it was dismantled by the Soviet secret police in 1924.Golinkov, D. L. Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978.Korovin, V. V.; Rusanov, E. P. Boris Savinkov's Case // History of the Soviet Union, 1967, no. 6, pp. 143–155. Savinkov himself was arrested in 1924 and died in OGPU custody in 1925.

History

Formation The concept of the Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom emerged in late 1917 amid growing anti-Bolshevik resistance following the October Revolution. It was formally organized by Boris Savinkov in March 1918 as a clandestine network intended to coordinate anti-Bolshevik activity and prepare armed uprisings across central Russia.Savinkov, B. V. The Fight Against the Bolsheviks // Russian Foreign Literature. Anthology in Six Volumes. Moscow: Kniga, 1990. Vol. 1, Book 2.The Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom and the Yaroslavl Rebellion of 1918 // Proletarian Revolution, 1923, no. 10.

The organization maintained contacts with anti-Bolshevik military circles, including representatives of the Volunteer Army, and reportedly received support from its command.Klementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119.Savinkov, B. V. The Fight Against the Bolsheviks // Russian Foreign Literature. Anthology in Six Volumes. Moscow: Kniga, 1990. Vol. 1, Book 2. Its political and military objective was the overthrow of Bolshevik power and the organization of resistance in the interior of Soviet-controlled territory.Golinkov, D. L. Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978.

Branches of the Union were established in Moscow, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Murom, Kazan, Elatma, and other cities.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 99–108.The Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom and the Yaroslavl Rebellion of 1918 // Proletarian Revolution, 1923, no. 10.

1918 uprisings In mid-1918, the Union moved from underground organization to open insurrection. It played a central role in organizing a series of anti-Bolshevik uprisings, most notably in Yaroslavl, but also in Rybinsk, Murom, and Elatma.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 99–108.The Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom and the Yaroslavl Rebellion of 1918 // Proletarian Revolution, 1923, no. 10.

These uprisings formed part of a broader effort to ignite coordinated resistance against the Bolshevik government. Additional revolts were reportedly planned in Moscow and Kazan, but arrests of members of the organization in May 1918 disrupted these plans before they could be carried out.Golinkov, D. L. Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 99–108.

The uprisings were suppressed by Soviet forces, and the Union's operational structure inside Russia was effectively broken apart in the aftermath.Korovin, V. V.; Rusanov, E. P. Boris Savinkov's Case // History of the Soviet Union, 1967, no. 6, pp. 143–155.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 99–108.

Reconstitution in exile In January 1921, Russian émigrés meeting in Warsaw re-established the organization under the name People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom.Golinkov, D. L. Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978. The reconstituted organization sought to continue anti-Bolshevik activity from abroad and to rebuild an underground network inside Soviet territory.Korovin, V. V.; Rusanov, E. P. Boris Savinkov's Case // History of the Soviet Union, 1967, no. 6, pp. 143–155.

Between 1921 and 1923, the People's Union engaged in underground and subversive activities directed against the Bolshevik regime. Volunteers and operatives were sent into the Soviet Union in an effort to organize armed detachments, establish clandestine cells, recruit supporters, and attempt to provoke a broader anti-Bolshevik uprising.Golinkov, D. L. Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom // Great Soviet Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978.

Suppression The Information Bureau of the People's Union published a regular bulletin, the Bulletin of the Information Bureau of the People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom, which appeared approximately every ten days and usually ran to 6–8 pages. At least 22 issues are known to have been published, with No. 22, dated 17 November 1922, being the last known issue.Bulletins of the Information Bureau of the People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom.

In early 1924, the main underground contingent of the People's Union operating within the Soviet Union was destroyed by the OGPU during Operation Syndicate–2.Korovin, V. V.; Rusanov, E. P. Boris Savinkov's Case // History of the Soviet Union, 1967, no. 6, pp. 143–155.Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971, pp. 266–274, 357–364. Savinkov, the leading figure associated with the organization, was arrested in August 1924 and later died in OGPU custody on 7 May 1925.

Organization The Union's leadership centered on Boris Savinkov, who directed its political and military activities and maintained contact with anti-Bolshevik allies and foreign representatives.Klementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119.

Among the organization's known personnel were: Boris Savinkov, leader of the organization Phlegont Klepikov, secretary and treasurerKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. Colonel , chief of staffKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. Colonel Karl Gopper, head of military personnelKarl Gopper. Four Collapses: Memoirs of General Gopper. Riga: Latvian Army Information Department Publication, 1920, p. 22. Colonel Stradetsky, liaison with the Volunteer ArmyKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. Colonel Friedrich Briedis, responsible for intelligence, counterintelligence, and anti-Bolshevik propaganda among the Latvian RiflemenE. Jekabsons; V. Ščerbinskis. Participation of Latvians in White Military Forces During the Russian Civil War 1917–1920. Riga: Journal of the Latvian Institute of History, 1997, pp. 92–93. Doctor Aksanin (Nikolai Sergeyevich Grigoryev), head of the provincial and propaganda sectionKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. Captain , head of the cavalry centerKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. Captain Schroeder, head of the artillery centerKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. , who helped maintain contact with foreign missionsKlementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998, p. 119. , secretary to Savinkov

Publications The exile organization maintained a publication apparatus through the Bulletin of the Information Bureau of the People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom, which circulated reports, political materials, and organizational information among émigré and underground anti-Bolshevik circles.Bulletins of the Information Bureau of the People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom.

See also Yaroslavl Uprising Rybinsk Uprising

Boris Savinkov White movement Russian Civil War Operation Syndicate–2

References

Sources Bulletins of the Information Bureau of the People's Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom Savinkov, Boris. The Fight Against the Bolsheviks // Russian Foreign Literature. Anthology in Six Volumes. Moscow: Kniga, 1990. Vol. 1, Book 2. The Union for the Defense of the Homeland and Freedom and the Yaroslavl Rebellion of 1918 // Proletarian Revolution, 1923, no. 10. Klementyev, V. F. In Bolshevik Moscow (1918–1920). Moscow: Russkiy Put, 1998. Korovin, V. V.; Rusanov, E. P. Boris Savinkov's Case // History of the Soviet Union, 1967, no. 6, pp. 143–155. Golinkov, D. L. The Collapse of the Enemy Underground. Moscow, 1971. Gopper, Karl. Four Collapses: Memoirs of General Gopper. Riga, 1920. Jekabsons, E.; Ščerbinskis, V. Participation of Latvians in White Military Forces During the Russian Civil War 1917–1920. Riga: Journal of the Latvian Institute of History, 1997. Shentalinsky, Vitaly. "His Among His Own. Savinkov in the Lubyanka." New World, no. 7 (1996).