Conditions and Methods of Soviet Government Establishment in Zauralye in 1917-1918

Abstract

The article deals with the peculiarities of Soviet government establishment in Zauralye. Zauralye is the region of Russia, covering the territory of Tobolsk province in early XX century. The authors analyzed the political sentiments of the population lived in the Tobolsk province districts in autumn 1917 - spring 1918 period. The situation was such that the news of the power seizure by the Bolsheviks of St. Petersburg in October 1917 caused a negative attitude of most political parties in Western Siberia and Zauralye. However the local Bolsheviks began to separate from the social-democratic organizations and form independent associations. This situation happened in Tyumen, Ishim and Kurgan. Using populist slogans, the Bolsheviks attracted a considerable part of workers and soldiers to their side, but not all the people of the region. Some conclusions on the conditions and methods of power seizure by the Bolsheviks are made on the base of archival sources and periodicals investigation. Few working classes and the wealthy peasantry were not ready to support the leftist position. Soviet government establishment in Zauralye became possible with the help of the Red Guard detachments from the neighboring regions of Sibiria and Ural.