Elected Power in the Petrograd Garrison in 1917–1918

Abstract

The article is devoted to the question of power in the Petrograd garrison throughout the Russian revolution 1917. The strict military hierarchy, discipline, and complete submission of the rank-and-file to the officer was destroyed after the February insurrection. To smooth out the contradictions within the military units, elective self-government bodies—regimental committees—were created. In all military units of Petrograd, those officers who were cruelly brutalized by soldiers were replaced by more loyal ones. The new authorities, however, very quickly ceased to meet the interests of the soldiers. Lower ranks tried to achieve direct democracy and so held all-regiment meetings, on which important issues were solved together. In a number of cases it was the all-regiment meetings that enjoyed the greater confidence of the soldiers than the ones from the more educated regimental committees. In fact, the committees began to depend on the opinion of the meetings. An attempt to regain control over the Petrograd garrison resulted in the introduction of the Institution of the Commissar of the Military Revolutionary Committee. The Commissars were initially appointed by the Soviet and were to carry out its policies. However, very soon they also became dependent on the opinions of the soldiers. The Commissar position became elected. The article concludes that any attempts to control direct democracy ended without success until the army was demobilized.