The Unknown Revolution, 1917-1921

by Voline (1882-1945)


The present work is a complete translation of La Revolution Inconnue, 1917-1921, first published in French in 1947, and re-published in Paris in 1969 by Editions Pierre Belfond. An abridged, two-volume English translate of the work was published in 1954 and 1955 by the Libertarian Book Club (New York City) and Freedom Press (London). The present edition contains all the materials included in the earlier edition (translated by Holley Cantine), as well as the sections which were omitted (Book I, Part I and II, and some brief omissions later in the work, translated by Fredy Perlman). In the newly translated sections, Russian words are transliterated into English. However, in the sections which are reprinted from the earlier edition, French transliteration of Russian words was frequently retained in the English translation. As a result the present edition, a Russian word is frequently spelled in two different ways.


CONTENTS

Voline by Rudolf Rocker

Introduction: Some Essential Preliminary Notes

Preface

BOOK I
BIRTH, GROWTH AND TRIUMPH OF THE REVOLUTION
(1825-1917)

PART I: THE FIRST FRUITS (1825-1905)

    ,
  1. Russia at the Beginning of the 19th Century; Birth of the Revolution
  2. Repression, Violence and Failure; Development Continues (1825-1855)
  3. Reforms; Resumption of the Revolution; "The Failure of Tsarism" and the Failure of Revolution; Reaction (1855-1881)
  4. The End of the Century; Marxism; Rapid Evolution; Reaction (1881-1900)
  5. The 20th Century; Hasty Development; Revolutionary Advance; Results (1900-1905)

PART II: THE JOLT (1905-1906)

  1. The Gaponist Epic; First General Strike
  2. The Birth of the "Soviets"
  3. The Disastrous War; Victory of a Revolutionary Strike
  4. Defeat of the Revolution; Evaluation of the Jolt
  5. The "Pause" (1905-1917)

PART III: THE EXPLOSION (1917)

  1. War and Revolution
  2. Triumph of the Revolution
  3. Toward the Social Revolution
  4. Toward a Socialist Government; The Poverty of Socialism
  5. The Bolshevik Revolution

BOOK II
BOLSHEVISM AND ANARCHISM

PART I: TWO CONCEPTIONS OF THE REVOLUTION

  1. Two Opposing Conceptions of Social Revolution
  2. Causes and Consequences of the Bolshevik Conception

PART II: ABOUT THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION

  1. Bolsheviks and Anarchists Before October
  2. Anarchist Position on the October Revolution
  3. Other Disagreements
  4. Some Reflections

PART III: AFTER OCTOBER

  1. The Bolsheviks in Power; Differences Between the Bolsheviks and the Anarchists
  2. The Fatal Descent
  3. The Anarchist Organizations
  4. The Unknown Anarchist Press in the Russian Revolution
  5. Some Personal Experiences

PART IV: REPRESSION

  1. The Preparations
  2. The Discharge
  3. Unrestrained Fury
  4. The Case of Leon Tchorny and Fanny Baron
  5. The Case of Lefevre, Vergeat and Lepetit
  6. A Personal Experience
  7. The Final Settlement
  8. The Extinguisher
  9. The Deception of Visiting Delegations
  10. Bolshevik "Justice"

PART V: THE BOLSHEVIK STATE

  1. Nature of the Bolshevik State
  2. Situation of the Workers
  3. Situation of the Peasants
  4. Situation of the Functionaries
  5. Political Structure
  6. General View
  7. Achievements
  8. Counter-Revolution

BOOK III
STRUGGLES FOR THE REAL SOCIAL REVOLUTION

Foreword

PART I: KRONSTADT (1921)

  1. Geographical Notes
  2. Kronstadt Before the Revolution
  3. Kronstadt as the Vanguard of the Revolution
  4. Kronstadt Turns Against the Bolshevik Imposture
  5. Last Act: The End of Independence

PART II: UKRAINE (1918-1921)

  1. Mass Movement in the Ukraine
  2. Formation of the Makhnovist Insurrectionary Army
  3. Denikin's Offensives and Final Defeat
  4. The Makhnovists in the Liberated Regions
  5. Wrangel's Offensive and Defeat
  6. Third and Last War of the Bolsheviks Against the Makhnovists and Anarchists; Defeat of the Insurrectionary Army
  7. The Fate of Makhno and Some of His Comrades; Epilogue
  8. Testament of the Makhnovshchina to the Workers of the World

Index

Illustrations
photographs 50, 70, 78, 82, 108, 122, 132, 140, 154, 214, 218, 240, 400, 444, 446, 454, 472, 502, 530
cartoons 62, 184, 304
portraits 10, 318, 319, 474, 552, 564, 668, 692
maps 440 (Kronstadt), 608-609 (Makhnovist Region)