The Anarchist Joan of Arc

8/9/2019 The Anarchist Joan of Arc

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Nikiforova, Marusya, 1885-1919

Biography of Ukrainian anarchist guerrilla who fought with the Revolutionary nsurrectionary !r"yof Ukraine#

ntro$uction

%he Ukrainian anarchist Maria Nikiforova &1885'1919( has so"eti"es )een co"pare$ to *oan of !rc# +ike *oan she starte$ fro" hu")le origins an$, i"pro)a)ly, )eca"e a ferocious "ilitaryco""an$er who was capture$ an$ e ecute$ )y her sworn ene"ies# !n$, like *oan, she was afanatic who pursue$ her goals in a violent, ruthless fashion#

But there is no cult of Maria Nikiforova# %here are no shelves of )ooks $evote$ to her life in anylanguage# !lthough she playe$ a pro"inent role in the Russian Revolutions of 191 an$ thesu)se.uent /ivil 0ar, she was virtually e punge$ fro" oviet histories of the perio$# !)iographical $ictionary of the Russian Revolution pu)lishe$ in the oviet Union which inclu$eshun$re$s of na"es $oes not "ention her, in$ee$ "entions only a couple of $o2en wo"en# %hereare entries on the Bolshevik heroines !le an$ra 3ollontai, +arissa Reissner, an$ nessa !r"an$)ut none of these wo"en hel$ in$epen$ent "ilitary co""an$s like Nikiforova#

%here is no scholarly )iography of Maria Nikiforova, no historiography of her life which only nee$sto )e up$ate$ an$ possi)ly reinterprete$# 4artly this is )ecause she spent "ost of her life in theun$ergroun$ she 6oine$ an anarchist terrorist group at age 17 an$ was really only a)ovegroun$ for two years &191 -1919(# o there are very few $ocu"ents to trace her activities an$al"ost no photos# Recognition can )e fatal for a terrorist an$ so it was for Nikiforova in the en$#

uch accounts of her life which e ist are usually foun$ in "e"oir literature or fiction# Most ofthese accounts are hostile to Nikiforova an$ ten$ to $epict her as repulsive an$ evil#

Nikiforova was a Ukrainian an$ her activities in the Russian Revolution an$ /ivil 0ar took place"ostly in Ukraine )ut she has )een largely ignore$ )y Ukrainian historians# he was anti-nationalist an$, like the Ukrainian anarchist "ove"ent in general, she coul$n t )e assi"ilate$ to anationalist historical perspective#

:ven writers sy"pathetic to anarchis" have, as a rule, neglecte$ her# !lthough she was closelyassociate$ with the fa"ous peasant anarchist Nestor Makhno, )ooks a)out Makhno scarcely"ention her# !n$ yet in 1918 Nikiforova was alrea$y fa"ous as an anarchist ata"ansha &"ilitarylea$er( throughout Ukraine, while Makhno was still a rather o)scure figure operating in aprovincial )ackwater# he is a)sent fro" the works of 4eter !rshinov, ;olin, an$ 4aul !vrich#

!le an$re kir$a s )ook on Makhno "entions her )ut only $evotes one paragraph to her in awork of > "onths of revolution an$ civil war( Makhno provi$eseye-witness accounts of a nu")er of $ra"atic inci$ents in which Nikiforova playe$ a lea$ing role#Belash, whose work was rescue$ fro" the files of the oviet secret police, also presents pri"arysource "aterial a)out her#

ince the collapse of the oviet Union there has )een tre"en$ous interest in Russia an$ Ukraine

in filling in the white patches in their history# Makhno an$ Nikiforova have )enefite$ fro" thisinterest with "any )ooks on Makhno )eing pu)lishe$ an$ a few essays on Nikiforova# %hearchives have yiel$e$ so"e soli$ infor"ation? for e a"ple, Nikiforova s service recor$ e istssince she was once a "e")er of the Re$ !r"y# @ra$ually a clearer picture of her life is co"ing tolight an$ it is possi)le to esta)lish a reasona)ly relia)le narrative although "any a")iguitiesre"ain#

%he following sketch of Nikiforova s life is )ase$ "ainly on secon$ary sources pu)lishe$ inRussian an$ Ukrainian in the last two $eca$es#


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%he Aoung %errorist

!ccor$ing to tra$ition, Maria @rigorevna Nikiforova was )orn in the Ukrainian city of !leksan$rovsk in 1885, the $aughter of an officer who ha$ )een a hero of the last Russo-%urkish0ar# !lthough this story "ight help to e plain her later "artial ar$our, it see"s unlikely# or eventhe $aughter of an i"poverishe$ officer woul$ )e unlikely to leave ho"e at 17 to earn a living onour own as Maria $i$#

!t the turn of the 19th century, !leksan$rovsk was a rapi$ly in$ustriali2ing city with a large an$"ilitant working class population# Un$er the con$itions of the ti"e there was little pai$ work forwo"en, )ut Maria was a)le to fin$ e"ploy"ent as a )a)y sitter, sales clerk an$, finally, a )ottlewasher in a vo$ka $istillery#

!roun$ the sa"e ti"e she )eca"e a factory worker, Nikiforova also 6oine$ a local group ofanarcho-co""unists# %his political ten$ency was $istinguishe$ fro" other left-wing groups,inclu$ing other anarchists, )y the )elief that hu"an society ha$ alrea$y reache$ a level that coul$allow an i""e$iate transition to co""unis"# !narcho-co""unist organi2ers first appeare$ inUkraine in 19=C an$ en6oye$ consi$era)le success a"ong the working class youth of in$ustrialcentres# During the revolutionary events of 19=5-= there were as "any as 9= anarcho-co""unist groups in Ukraine, "ore nu"erous an$ )etter-organi2e$ than their counterparts inRussia#

Many of these groups, inclu$ing the one Maria )elonge$ to, espouse$ "otiveless terror&)e2"otivny terror( which a$vocate$ the necessity of attacking agents of econo"ic repression)ase$ solely on the class position they occupie$# %his econo"ic terroris" was a change fro"earlier varieties of Russian terroris" in which the targets of the terrorists were political tyrants#

!fter serving so"e kin$ of pro)ation, Maria )eca"e a full-fle$ge$ "ilitant &)oevik(, e"powere$ totake part in e propriations &to raise "oney for the cause( an$ terrorist acts#

Eur age has also not lacke$ "otiveless terror )ut it is i"portant to try to see the Ukrainiananarchist terrorists in the conte t of their own ti"es, not ours# %he early years of the >=th centurycreate$ pent-up frustrations a"ong the lower classes of the Russian :"pire )ecause of thefailure of revolutionary activity to change the country s socio-political or$er in any "eaningful way#

%his was an e"pire hea$e$ )y a "onarch who was an honorary "e")er of the Union of theRussian 4eople , an organi2ation roughly e.uivalent to the 3lu 3lu 3lan# Un$er prevailingcon$itions it was not 6ust the anarchists who resorte$ to terror against the regi"e# !ll the socialistgroups use$ terror# n fact, even "i$$le class li)erals en$orse$ the use of terror against tsaristrepression# !n$ although the Russian anarchists never nu")ere$ "ore than a few thousan$, theranks of their sy"pathi2ers were "any ti"es larger#

Maria participate$ in a )o") attack on a passenger train# No one was hurt )ut so"e wealthypassengers were terrifie$# !nother )o") kille$ a plant "anager, causing the plant to shut $ownfor an e ten$e$ perio$# !n attack on the )usiness office of an agricultural "achine plant in

!leksan$rovsk resulte$ in the chief cashier an$ a guar$ )eing kille$ an$ 1 ,=== rou)les stolen#0hen the police finally close$ in, Maria trie$ to kill herself with a )o"), )ut it $i$n t e plo$e an$she en$e$ up in prison#

!t her trial in 19=8 she was accuse$ of the "ur$er of a police"an an$ taking part in ar"e$ro))eries at four $ifferent locations# %he court sentence$ the young anarchist to $eath )ut later,)ecause of her age &in the Russian :"pire a$ulthoo$ )egan at >1(, the sentence was co""ute$to >= years at har$ la)our# he was transferre$, first to 4etro-4avlovsk ortress in the Russiancapital an$ then conveye$ to i)eria to serve her sentence#

t s har$ to $eter"ine e actly when, )ut at so"e point in her life Maria Nikiforova )egan to )eknown as Marusya , one of the "any lavic $i"inutives for Maria # n folklore she is alwaysreferre$ to as Marusya an$ she certainly tolerate$ the na"e herself, allowing even strangers to


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a$$ress her as Marusya# %herefore we shall use it here#

%he @ran$ %our

Marusya $i$n t spen$ long in i)eria# !ccor$ing to one version, she organi2e$ a riot in theNary"sk prison an$ escape$ through the taiga to the @reat i)erian Railway# :ventually shereache$ ;la$ivostok, an$ then *apan# %here she was helpe$ )y /hinese stu$ent-anarchists who)ought her a ticket to the U# # he foun$ a te"porary ho"e a"ong the large group of anarchist-e"igrants fro" the Russian :"pire, "ainly of *ewish origin, who ha$ settle$ in New Aork an$/hicago# !pparently Marusya pu)lishe$ propagan$a articles in the anarchist Russian languagepress un$er various pseu$ony"s#

!roun$ 191> Marusya returne$ to :urope, settling in 4aris# n 191C she pai$ a visit to painwhere she was a)le to share her knowle$ge of actions with the panish anarchists# 0hiletaking part in an anarchist )ank ro))ery in Barcelona, Marusya was woun$e$ an$ ha$ to un$ergotreat"ent secretly at a clinic in rance#

n the autu"n of 191C she turne$ up in 4aris again, hanging aroun$ the cafes an$ "eeting poetsan$ artists as well as the various Russian politicos, inclu$ing the ocial De"ocrat ;la$i"ir

!ntonov-Evseyenko who was later to help her out of so"e sticky situations# he $iscovere$ inherself a talent, or at least a pre$ilection, for painting an$ sculpture an$ atten$e$ a school forartists#

Marusya also ac.uire$ a hus)an$, the 4olish anarchist 0itol$ B2hostek# %his was surely so"esort of "arriage of convenience for the couple spent long perio$s apart an$ Marusya continue$ touse her own surna"e# Nevertheless they see"e$ $evote$ to each other an$ ulti"ately share$the sa"e fate#

!t the en$ of 191C, Marusya atten$e$ a conference of Russian anarcho-co""unists hel$ in+on$on# he was one of >7 $elegates an$ signe$ the registration sheet as Marusya # Ene of the"ain concerns of this conference was the lack of anarchist e$ucational an$ agitational tracts,especially in co"parison with their Mar ist co"petitors#

%his al"ost i$yllic life ca"e to an a)rupt en$ with 0orl$ 0ar # %he war split the left-wing groupsinto pro-war an$ anti-war factions# %he anarchists were no e ception with the anarcho-co""unists close to 3ropotkin taking an anti-@er"an position# Marusya see"s to have si$e$with 3ropotkin an$ not 6ust in theory for she enrolle$ in a rench "ilitary school an$ gra$uate$with the rank of an officer# !ccor$ing to her own story, she was eventually poste$ to the alonikatheatre of the war an$ was there when revolution )roke out in Russia#

+ike "any left-wing Russian e"igrants, Marusya "a$e her way )ack to Russia in 191 #Reaching 4etrogra$, she i""e$iately threw herself into revolutionary activity#

Revolutionary Days in 4etrogra$

4etrogra$ was the seat of two co"peting organs of power ' the 4rovisional @overn"ent an$ the

4etrogra$ oviet# %he 4rovisional @overn"ent, lacking in legiti"acy since it ha$ never )eenproperly electe$, was run )y li)eral an$ right-wing socialist politicians# Unwilling an$ una)le toen$ Russia s participation in the 0orl$ 0ar an$ solve the lan$ .uestion in the countrysi$e, the4rovisional @overn"ent lurche$ fro" one crisis to the ne t# %he 4etrogra$ oviet inclu$e$ "orera$ical groups such as the Bolsheviks who were $eter"ine$ not to stop with $estroying the tsaristsyste" )ut to finish off the )ourgeois or$er as well#

%he Russian anarchists, as was often the case in 191 -18, acte$ as shock troops for the )etter-organi2e$ groups on the e tre"e left# %he revolutionary activities of the anarchists )rought $ownrepression fro" the 4rovisional @overn"ent which arreste$ 7= of the" in *une, 191 , in


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4etrogra$# Ene of those re"aining in free$o" was the anarcho-co""unist # # Bleikh"an, apopular $eputy of the 4etrogra$ oviet# Bleikh"an planne$ a huge anti-govern"ent$e"onstration for *uly C which woul$ involve "ilitary personnel as well as "ilitant workers# %heparticipation of sailors fro" the near)y 3ronsta$t naval )ase was crucial an$ the anarchists puttogether a tea" of agitators to persua$e the sailors to take part#

Faving recently arrive$ in Russia, Marusya was one of the anarchists who went to 3ronsta$t# hegave a series of speeches on the huge !nchor .uare to crow$s as large as 8,=== to 1=,===sailors, urging the" not to stan$ asi$e fro" their )rothers in the capital# 4artly thanks to herefforts "any thousan$s of sailors went to 4etrogra$ to "arch in the $e"onstrations of *uly C an$< which al"ost topple$ the 4rovisional @overn"ent# !lthough so"e Bolshevik organi2ationssupporte$ the $e"onstrations, that 4arty s lea$ership re6ecte$ the uprising as pre"ature ,$oo"ing it to failure#

%he govern"ent )egan hunting $own the Bolsheviks an$ anarchists# o"e of the Bolsheviks,inclu$ing Marusya s frien$ !le an$ra 3ollontai, en$e$ up in prison while others escape$ tonear)y inlan$# Bleikh"an was given sanctuary )y the 3ronsta$t sailors who protecte$ hi" fro"arrest# Marusya $eci$e$ it was a goo$ ti"e to return to Ukraine an$ help revive the anarchist"ove"ent there# n *uly 191 she arrive$ )ack in !leksan$rovsk, after an eight-year o$ysseywhich ha$ taken her aroun$ the worl$#

Marusya ' the 4erson an$ the !ctivist

!t this point in her )iography it see"s appropriate to take up the perple ing .uestion of Marusya sse uality# !ccor$ing to so"e pu)lishe$ sources, a$"itte$ly written after her $eath )y people whowere hostile to her, Marusya was what woul$ now )e calle$ an interse person# %his view isreflecte$ in several physical $escriptions, for e a"ple the for"er Makhnovist /hu$nov writes of"eeting her in 1918 %his was a wo"an of C> ' C5, "e$iu" height, with an e"aciate$,pre"aturely age$ face in which there was so"ething of a eunuch or her"aphro$ite# Fer hair wascroppe$ short in a circle#

%he Bolshevik agitator 3iselev writes in his "e"oirs a)out "eeting her in 1919 !roun$ C= yearsol$# %hin with an e"aciate$ face, she pro$uce$ the i"pression of an ol$ "ai$ type# Narrow nose#

unken cheeks# he wore a )louse an$ skirt an$ a s"all revolver hung fro" her )elt# 3iselevgoes on to accuse her of )eing a cocaine a$$ict# Most of the Bolshevik $escriptions of Marusyaare at this level#

!n e ception is the Bolshevik Raksha who "et Marusya in the spring of 1918

ha$ hear$ that she was a )eautiful wo"an### Marusya was sitting at a ta)le an$ ha$ a cigarettein her teeth# %his she-$evil really was a )eauty a)out C=, gypsy-type with )lack hair an$ a"agnificent )oso" which fille$ out her "ilitary tunic#

!nother $escription fro" the su""er of 1918

! carriage flew $own the street at a "a$ spee$# /arelessly sprawle$ in it was a young )runette

wearing a ku)anka at a rakish angle# tan$ing on the foot)oar$ was a )roa$-shoul$ere$ chapwearing re$ cavalry )ritches# %he )runette an$ her )o$yguar$ ha$ all sorts of weapons hangingfro" the"#

@enerally the physical $escriptions fall into these two ca"ps, one e"phasi2ing attractiveness, theother repulsiveness# Ene suspects the Bolshevik "e"oirists, fin$ing her i$eology unattractive,trie$ to "ake her e ternal appearance ugly as well# 0hat we $o know for certain is that Marusyawas a charis"atic in$ivi$ual who "a$e a strong i"pression on people she "et an$ was capa)leof influencing the" purely on the strength of her personality# Fer co"ra$es-in-ar"s were fiercelyloyal to her an$ she returne$ their loyalty in kin$#


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Marusya s political views are well known fro" her nu"erous speeches# 4rison, har$ la)our, an$her glo)al wan$erings only strengthene$ the convictions of her youth# he fre.uently sai$ %heanarchists are not pro"ising anything to anyone# %he anarchists only want people to )econscious of their own situation an$ sei2e free$o" for the"selves# Fer cre$o, which shee presse$ over an$ over again, was that %he workers an$ peasants "ust, as .uickly aspossi)le, sei2e everything that was create$ )y the" over "any centuries an$ use it for their owninterests#

En a tactical level, Marusya was influence$ )y the veteran anarchist !pollon 3arelin who" she"et in 4etrogra$# 3arelin represente$ a ten$ency known as oviet anarchis" whichencourage$ anarchists to participate in oviet institutions so long as they were acting to push theRevolution along in the right $irection ' the $irection of "ore free$o"# !s soon as the oviets)egan to $eviate fro" this path, the anarchists were to re)el against the"# 3arelin hi"self)eca"e a "e")er of the highest organ of oviet power in 1918# Many anarchists $isapprove$ ofthis tactic, especially since they were usually a $istinct "inority in the organs of oviet power#

!leksan$rovsk G @ulyai-4ole

!rriving in !leksan$rovsk, Marusya foun$ a local !narchist e$eration ha$ )een set up witha)out C== "e")ers )ut not "uch influence on local events# Marusya shook things up ' she ha$an instant following a"ong the factory workers an$ carrie$ out the successful e propriation ofone "illion rou)les fro" the Ba$ovsky $istillery &possi)ly the one where she ha$ worke$(# 4art ofthe "oney was $onate$ to the !leksan$rovsk oviet#

!leksan$rovsk happene$ to )e the capital of the uye2$ in which @ulyai-4ole was situate$# %hisvillage of 1 ,=== was the ho"e of Nestor Makhno, the lea$ing figure of the local !narcho-

/o""unist @roup which ha$ a "e")ership in the hun$re$s# Makhno "aintaine$ close relationswith the !leksan$rovsk !narchist e$eration, visiting it fre.uently although he was sceptical of itsactivities &or lack thereof(# %he !leksan$rovsk anarchists were also critical of Makhno, accusinghi" of lea$ing a political party striving to sei2e power#

Marusya took it upon herself to travel to @ulyai-4ole &a)out 8= k"# east of !leksan$rovsk )ut

"uch farther )y train( to straighten out the local anarchists who were not s.uee2ing the)ourgeoisie har$ enough in her opinion# En !ugust >9, 191 she a$$resse$ a well-atten$e$open-air "eeting, chaire$ )y Makhno, in the village s pu)lic gar$en#

Marusya preache$ the gospel of insurrection ' re)el, re)el until all organs of power areeli"inate$# /arry the Revolution through to the en$ now, she sai$, or /apital will revive#

""e$iate action was also calle$ for )ecause of the assault on the Revolution )y state power inUkraine connecte$ with the appearance of the govern"ent of the /entral Ra$a# Not )eatingaroun$ the )ush, Marusya calle$ for terrorist action against supporters of the fle$gling Ukrainianstate#

0hile Marusya was haranguing the locals, Makhno was su$$enly han$e$ two telegra"s#nterrupting Marusya, he tol$ the stunne$ au$ience %he Revolution is in $angerH Both telegra"s

were fro" 4etrogra$ ' one fro" the 4rovisional @overn"ent, the other fro" the 4etrogra$oviet# Both tol$ of @eneral 3ornilov s "utiny an$ his a$vance on 4etrogra$ to put an en$ to theRevolution# %he oviet s telegra" suggeste$ for"ing local /o""ittees for the alvation of theRevolution #

!s the crow$ )u22e$ a voice rang out Eur )rothers )loo$ is alrea$y flowing )ut here thecounter-revolutionaries are walking aroun$ laughing# %he speaker pointe$ to a certain vanov, afor"er secret police"an# Marusya i""e$iately 6u"pe$ $own fro" the platfor" an$ arreste$

vanov who was now surroun$e$ )y an angry "o)# But Makhno intervene$ to save the life of thefor"er cop who" he $escri)e$ as har"less #


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%he @ulyai-4ole 4easant Union an$ the !narcho-/o""unist @roup followe$ the a$vice of the4etrogra$ oviet with a slight change they for"e$ a /o""ittee for the Defence of theRevolution# ts first activity was confiscating all the weapons in the han$s of the local )ourgeoisie#Marusya ha$ so"ething slightly $ifferent in "in$# n the near)y town of Erekhov were statione$two regi"ents of the regular ar"y# Marusya propose$ to sei2e their weapons#

he organi2e$ a group of a)out >== "ilitants an$ on epte")er 1= they travelle$ to Erekhov )ytrain# %hey were poorly ar"e$ having only a couple $o2en rifles an$ a si"ilar nu")er of revolversconfiscate$ fro" the @ulyai-4ole police station# !rriving in Erekhov, they surroun$e$ thehea$.uarters of the regi"ents# %he co""an$er succee$e$ in escaping )ut so"e of the 6uniorofficers were capture$# Marusya $ispatche$ the" with her own han$, showing her willingness tokill anyone who )elonge$ to the $espise$ officers caste # %he rank-an$-file sol$iers were onlytoo gla$ to turn in their ar"s an$ $isperse to their ho"es# %he weapons were taken to @ulyai-4ole an$ Marusya returne$ to !leksan$rovsk#

%he organs of the 4rovisional @overn"ent in !leksan$rovsk were hea$e$ )y a chief co""issarB# Mikhno &a li)eral( an$ a "ilitary co""issar # 4opov &an R(# %hese authorities were$istur)e$ a)out the goings-on in @ulyai-4ole, in particular, the confiscation of weapons fro" theproperty-owning class an$ the $ivi$ing up of large estates a"ong the peasants# %he local organsin @ulyai-4ole, thoroughly infiltrate$ )y the anarchists, )egan to receive threatening or$ers fro"the higher authorities#

%hese or$ers were ignore$ in @ulyai-4ole? in fact, Makhno took the offensive )y travelling to !leksan$rovsk with another $elegate, B# !ntonov, to "eet $irectly with workers groups# %he twoanarchists were shown aroun$ the city )y Marusya who took the" to a nu")er of workplace"eetings# ince Makhno an$ !ntonov ha$ "an$ates fro" the @ulyai-4ole oviet, the authorities$i$n t $are touch the"# 0ith Marusya it was a $ifferent story, an$ after Makhno an$ !ntonov ha$left the city she was arreste$ at her apart"ent an$ taken to prison )y car#

Matters soon took an unpleasant turn for the authorities# Marusya en6oye$ great popularity a"ongthe workers of !leksan$rovsk an$ news of her arrest sprea$ like wil$fire# En the "orning after her arrest a $elegation of workers visite$ the co""issars to $e"an$ her release# %heir $e"an$ was

refuse$# But there was also a oviet in !leksan$rovsk which share$ power with the officialgovern"ent# ! procession of workers was organi2e$ which "arche$ to the oviet to $e"an$

6ustice# 4lants sat i$le with their sirens wailing while the "arch took place# En the way the$e"onstrators encountere$ the chair"an of the oviet, Mochalov &a Menshevik(, who wasliterally force$ into a horse-$rawn ca) with so"e worker $elegates an$ $ispatche$ to the prison#Marusya was release$ an$ )rought )ack to the $e"onstration where she was passe$ over thehea$s of the workers to the front of the crow$ "asse$ outsi$e the )uil$ing of the oviet#Marusya, who possesse$ a powerful voice use$ the occasion to "ake a stirring speech calling for the workers to struggle against the @overn"ent an$ for a society free of all authority#

Meanwhile news of Marusya s arrest was causing havoc in @ulyai-4ole# Makhno "anage$ toreach /o""issar Mikhno )y telephone? threats were e change$ an$ Mikhno hung up# %heanarchists loa$e$ up a train with "ilitants an$ set out to attack the govern"ent in !leksan$rovsk#

:n route they receive$ news of Marusya s release an$ hel$ a cele)ration instea$#Ene practical result of all this was new elections to the !leksan$rovsk oviet which pro$uce$ a"ore left-wing )o$y, inclu$ing so"e anarchists, which was prepare$ to tolerate the revolutionaryactivities in @ulyai-4ole#

%he Ecto)er Revolution in Ukraine

+ike "ost anarchists, Marusya receive$ news of the Ecto)er Revolution with enthusias"# %heanarchists regar$e$ the coup )y the Bolsheviks an$ the +eft Rs &for"ing the so-calle$ +eft Bloc(


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as a further stage in the withering away of the tate# ollowing the $e"ise of tsar$o" an$ the)ourgeois state, they thought the +eft Bloc govern"ent was a te"porary pheno"enon whichwoul$ soon $isappear#

Marusya spent the fall organi2ing Black @uar$ $etach"ents in !leksan$rovsk an$ :li2avetgra$,a central Ukrainian city, which also ha$ a strong anarchist fe$eration# !ccor$ing to one historian,Marusya was responsi)le for the "ur$er of the chair"an of the :li2avetgra$ oviet#

!fter the Ecto)er Revolution, the soviets in "any Ukrainian cities oriente$ the"selves towar$sthe Ukrainian /entral Ra$a in 3iev rather than the oviet govern"ent in 4etrogra$# n

!leksan$rovsk the $ecision was "a$e on Nove")er >>, 191 an$ the vote was 1< to 95 infavour of )eco"ing part of the 3iev-)ase$ Ukrainian National Repu)lic#

0hen the nationalist govern"ent in 3iev refuse$ to recogni2e the +eft Bloc govern"ent inMoscow, the +eft Bloc inva$e$ Ukraine with a "otley force co"pose$ of various Re$ @uar$ units#Both si$es engage$ in an echelon war , a$vancing an$ retreating along the railway lines, "uchlike the conte"poraneous Me ican Revolution#

n Dece")er 191 Marusya for"e$ an alliance with the Bolshevik organi2ation in !leksan$rovskwith the ai" of overthrowing the local oviet# %he Bolsheviks receive$ a secret ship"ent of ar"swhile the anarchists were a)le to arrange the support of a $etach"ent of sailors fro" the Black

ea leet le$ )y M# ;# Mokrousov# En Dece")er 1>, 191 , Mokrousov appeare$ at a 6oint"eeting of the !leksan$rovsk oviet an$ factory co""ittees an$ $e"an$e$ the oviet )e re-constitute$ with "e")ers who were Bolsheviks, +eft Rs, or anarchists# %he "e")ers of otherparties &Mensheviks an$ Rs( fle$ the scene an$ the new oviet took over#

En Dece")er >5->7, 191 , Marusya s $etach"ent went to 3harkhov an$ helpe$ the +eft Blocesta)lish soviet power in the city# Fer troops engage$ in an action there which )eca"e hertra$e"ark ' looting the shops an$ $istri)uting their goo$s to the inha)itants# En Dece")er >8->9her Black @uar$s took part in )attles with the hai$a"aks at :katerinoslav, successfullyesta)lishing oviet power in that city as well# !ccor$ing to her own version of events, her$etach"ent was the first to enter the city an$ she personally $isar"e$ , 1918, the hai$a"aks retreate$ to the right )ank of the Dnepr an$ power in the cityfell to the han$s of the newly for"e$ Revolutionary /o""ittee &Revko"(# En *anuary < NestorMakhno an$ his )rother avva showe$ up with an 8==-strong Black @uar$ $etach"ent fro"

@ulyai-4ole# Nestor was invite$ to 6oin the Revko" an$ the e$eration of !narchists was allowe$to appoint two $elegates, one of who" was Marusya who )eca"e the $eputy lea$er of theRevko"#

%he /ossack %hreat

%he hai$a"aks ha$ retreate$, )ut now a new $anger was threatening the revolutionary city# !convoy of echelons loa$e$ with /ossacks &an$ their horses( was approaching the city fro" the: ternal ront on their way to the Don to 6oin the counter-revolutionary "ove"ent of thereactionary @eneral 3ale$in# Reali2ing the $anger the /ossacks represente$ to the Revolution,


8/19

the !leksan$rovsk insurgents $eci$e$ to stop the"#

%he anarchists le$ their $etach"ents across the near)y 3ichkass suspension )ri$ge over theDnepr an$ $ug in along the railway tracks# oon the /ossacks showe$ up# /ontact wasesta)lishe$ )y telephone an$ a "eeting arrange$ )etween representatives of the two si$es#Makhno an$ Marusya were part of the $elegation which travelle$ )y loco"otive to the "eetingpoint# %he /ossack officers were in a )elligerent "oo$ an$ clai"e$ they ha$ 18 echelons of/ossacks an$ another seven echelons of hai$a"aks an$ no one was going to stop the"#Negotiations were )roken off#

%he first /ossack train which trie$ to )reak through was "et with heavy fire an$ starte$ to )ackup su$$enly, colli$ing with the train )ehin$ an$ causing a wreck with loss of life to )oth "en an$horses# oon a new truce party of /ossacks arrive$ which capitulate$ to the !leksan$rovskRevko"# %hey gave up their weapons )ut insiste$ on keeping their horses an$ sa$$les for

cultural reasons#

%he $isar"ing of the /ossacks was sprea$ over "any $ays an$ the local politicians took theopportunity to try to win the" over to the Revolution# !t one out$oor "eeting thousan$s of/ossacks were a$$resse$ )y a series of socialist orators, with little effect# %he /ossacks stoo$aroun$ s"oking, occasionally laughing at the speakers#

%hen Marusya steppe$ to the po$iu" an$ )egan to speak# Now the /ossacks were payingattention# /ossacks, "ust tell you that you are the )utchers of the Russian workers# 0ill youcontinue to )e so in the future, or will you acknowle$ge your own wicke$ness an$ 6oin the ranksof the oppresse$I Up to now you have shown no respect for the poor workers# or one of thetsar s rou)les or a glass of wine, you have naile$ the" living to the cross#

!s Marusya continue$ in this vein "any of the /ossacks re"ove$ their caps an$ )owe$ theirhea$s# oon so"e of the" were weeping like chil$ren#

! knot of !leksan$rovsk intellectuals was stan$ing in the crow$# %hey tol$ each other %hespeeches of the +eft Bloc representatives see" so pale in co"parison with the speeches of theanarchists an$, in particular, with the speech of M# Nikiforova# Ene upshot of the "eetings, which

went on for $ays, was that a nu")er of /ossacks "aintaine$ contact with the @ulyai-4oleanarchists even after they went ho"e to the 3u)an an$ other regions#

!fter the /ossacks ha$ )een $isar"e$, Marusya an$ Makhno returne$ to their $uties on the !leksan$rovsk Revko"# Makhno ha$ )een assigne$ the $irty 6o) of hea$ing a tri)unal whichpasse$ sentence on various political prisoners collecte$ )y the new political or$er# !"ong theprisoners who ca"e )efore hi" was Mikhno, the for"er 4rovisional @overn"ent co""issar whoha$ threatene$ hi" repeate$ly an$ 6aile$ Marusya# Makhno release$ hi", saying he was anhonest "an who was only following or$ers#

Makhno was not incline$ to )e "agnani"ous with another prisoner, the for"er prosecutorMaksi"ov# 0hen Makhno was a prisoner in the !leksan$rovsk prison "any years earlier,Maksi"ov ha$ "a$e sure his stay was as unpleasant as possi)le# /onsi$ering the evi$ence

against hi", Makhno felt 6ustifie$ in sentencing Maksi"ov to )e shot# But the other "e")ers ofthe Revko", inclu$ing Marusya, interce$e$ on his )ehalf# !lthough they agree$ he was acounter-revolutionary, their regi"e was too shaky to )e e ecuting so"eone who was wellregar$e$ in the city# Makhno $i$n t give in easily an$ it was only after an all-night "eeting that heagree$ to re"an$ Maksi"ov for further review of his case#

Makhno was soon fe$ up with the !leksan$rovsk Revko" &a"ong other things, they woul$n t lethi" )low up the prison( an$ $eci$e$ to return to @ulyai-4ole with his $etach"ent# %he other"e")ers of the Revko" ca"e to the train station to see the" off ' "ost went there )yauto"o)ile, Marusya on horse)ack# !t the station the $etach"ent sang the anarchist )attle


9/19

hy"n, then e")arke$#

Marusya was a)le to hol$ her Black @uar$ $etach"ent together an$ )egan to act as anin$epen$ent "ilitary co""an$er# t was at this point that Marusya )eca"e a player on thenational stage rather than 6ust a local figure#

%he ree /o")at Dru2hina

hortly after Makhno ha$ returne$ to @ulyai-4ole Marusya propose$ a 6oint action of the !leksan$rovsk e$eration with the @ulyai-4ole !narchist-/o""unist @roup to sei2e "oreweapons# %he target was a )attalion statione$ in Erekhov where the anarchists ha$ en6oye$success earlier# %he sol$iers in the )attalion, part of the


10/19

Ukraine# ts presence allowe$ the local Bolshevik organi2ation to take over the city oviet in a)loo$less coup, ousting Ukrainian Rs an$ 3a$ets, an$ set up their own Revko"#

oon Marusya was engage$ in her usual )ran$ of "ayhe"# Fearing nu"erous co"plaints a)outthe local "ilitary co""issar, /olonel ;la$i"irov, she went to his .uarters an$ shot hi"# %hen sheorgani2e$ syste"atic looting of the city s stores, $istri)uting the goo$s to the poor# Noticing thatpeople were en$ing up with things they $i$n t nee$, she authori2e$ the )artering of goo$salthough this ha$ )een e pressly for)i$$en )y the Bolshevik Revko"#

Ne t Marusya "et with the Revko" an$ sharply critici2e$ its activities# he sai$ its "e")erswere tolerant towar$s the )ourgeoisie # he favoure$ the "erciless e propriation of all propertyac.uire$ through the la)our of others an$ a violent response to any atte"pt at resistance#Belonging to the class of e ploiters was a cri"e in itself, accor$ing to Marusya, an$ she inclu$e$even the "e")ers of the Revko" in this group# he threatene$ to $isperse the Revko" an$shoot its chair"an for the Dru2hina was oppose$ to any kin$ of govern"ent organ an$ ha$ notoverthrown the oviet only to have it replace$ )y another )ureaucratic organ#

%he Bolshevik a$"inistration in the city was e tre"ely trou)le$ )y this kin$ of talk an$ respon$e$in typical )ureaucratic fashion )y setting up a special /o""ittee for the Regulation of Relationswith Marusya # %his /o""ittee visite$ Marusya at her hea$.uarters an$ aske$ her politely toleave the city, hinting that the Revko" $ispose$ of significant ar"e$ forces# Marusya was har$lyi"presse$ with this threat, )ut $i$ leave a few $ays later after loa$ing up with weapons fro" alocal officers college after its stu$ent )o$y ha$ 6oine$ the hai$a"aks#

En e)ruary 9, 1918 a peace treaty was signe$ )etween the Ukrainian /entral Ra$a an$ the/entral 4owers# %he /entral Ra$a ha$ )een losing territory to the ar"ies of the +eft Bloc an$ oneof the provisions of the treaty allowe$ the i"perial troops of @er"any an$ !ustria-Fungary toesta)lish or$er on Ukrainian soil# @er"an an$ !ustro-Fungarian troops then inva$e$ Ukraine,an$, assiste$ )y the hai$a"aks of the /entral Ra$a, procee$e$ to push )ack an$ "op up therevolutionary forces#

Meanwhile in :li2avetgra$ events unfol$e$ tragically# %he city was su)6ecte$ to the full horrors ofcivil war# 0ith @er"an forces approaching the city the Bolsheviks hurrie$ly )egan to evacuate

their troops an$ institutions, leaving a power vacuu"# %he $ay after the Revko" left, a newgovern"ent calle$ the 4rovisional /o""ittee of the Revolution &;3R( su$$enly appeare$# ts"e")ers were $rawn fro" the parties )elonging to the previously overthrown oviet# !nyBolsheviks re"aining in the city were arreste$ an$ i"prisone$# %he new authorities, reali2ing theywoul$ nee$ a "ilitary force to protect the" fro" retreating Bolshevik troops, recruite$ officerswho ha$ )een in hi$ing an$ scoure$ the countrysi$e for returne$ "ilitary personnel# 4easantswere conscripte$ fro" near)y villages an$ their wagons re.uisitione$# !r"s were offere$ toanyone willing to fight the +eft Bloc an$ its allies#

Une pecte$ly the Dru2hina returne$ to the city# Marusya s $etach"ent was at full strength an$ itsarsenal inclu$e$ five ar"oure$ cars# !t first there were several $ays of peace )etween the newcivic authorities an$ the anarchists# %he Dru2hina took over the railway station an$ annoye$ theciti2ens "ainly )y singing anarchist songs# %he anarchists sent a truck out every $ay to collect

contri)utions fro" the )ourgeoisie# %he Bolshevik prisoners re"aine$ in 6ail#%hen a crisis erupte$# %here was a ro))ery at the huge :lvorta plant '


11/19

an$ took the stage# But she wasn t allowe$ to use her oratorical skills ' there was ceaselessshouting an$ cursing# rustrate$ at not )eing allowe$ to speak, Marusya pulle$ two revolvers outof her )elt an$ opene$ fire over the hea$s of the au$ience# 4anic ensure$# Doors were s"ashe$an$ people 6u"pe$ through )roken win$ows# Marusya s co"panions rushe$ into the hall an$rescue$ her# En the way )ack to the station her car was fire$ on an$ she was slightly woun$e$#

%he alar" was soun$e$ in the city an$ the new govern"ent s "ilitia a$vance$ on the trainstation# treet fighting went on for several hours# %here were "any casualties as the anarchists$efen$e$ the"selves with "achine guns an$ grena$es# But they were outnu")ere$ "any ti"esover )y the attackers an$ Marusya was force$ to "ake a $ifficult with$rawal to the steppe,stopping at 3anatovo, the first station on the line# !t this point Marusya reali2e$ that so"e of hersol$iers ha$ )een taken prisoner an$ she resolve$ to re-engage the ene"y to rescue the"#

inally Bolshevik forces arrive$ fro" the ront un$er !leksan$r Belenkevich, a high rankingofficer, an$ $e"an$e$ the surren$er of the city# Fis $e"an$ )eing refuse$, he a$vance$ )ol$lyinto the centre of the city where his troops were attacke$ on all si$es# !fter a three-hour )attle,Belenkevich s unit was al"ost wipe$ out with "any of his troops taken prisoner# Belenkevichhi"self )arely escape$ )y train# %he city authorities )egan shooting so"e of the prisoners# %heirforces were now le$ )y two retire$ generals#

Marusya a$vance$ on the city along the railway line fro" the north )ut, "eeting resistance in thesu)ur)s, she $etraine$ an$ $ug in# %he ;3R now $ispose$ of thousan$s of troops un$er theslogan Down with !narchyH %hey were ar"e$ with )oth heavy an$ light artillery, "achine guns,an$ even three airplanes# n or$er to infla"e the population, a story was sprea$ that Marusyaloote$ icons fro" churches# he was $epicte$ as the lea$er of a gang of thieves#

! war of attrition went on 6ust outsi$e the city on a front several kilo"etres long# %here was non-stop "achine gun an$ artillery fire# %he owner of a $istillery, Makeyev, "a$e availa)le unli"ite$.uantities of spirits to the $efen$ing troops# %o keep up the supply of cannon fo$$er, the city wasscoure$ for shirkers, who were escorte$ to the front# %here were two lines of trenches the rearline was "anne$ )y officers with "achine guns whose 6o) was to )lock any retreat#

or two $ays & e)ruary >5, 1918( the )attle see-sawe$ )ack an$ forth# En e)ruary >7

Marusya receive$ su)stantial reinforce"ents in the for" of a Re$ @uar$ $etach"ent fro" the cityof 3a"ensk, one thousan$ workers with a light )attery an$ "achine guns# %hey a$vance$ to theattack with Marusya s troops#

%he Re$ @uar$s $i$ not fare well in the )attle# %hey lost their artillery an$ "achine guns to the;3R troops an$ 75 of the" were taken prisoner# Meanwhile the artillery of the $efen$ers ha$ thea$vantage of reconnaissance )y airplanes, which also $roppe$ )o")s# %he anarchist attack got)ogge$ $own short of the ene"y trenches# %hey were force$ to retreat still further, to the stationof Jna"enka# %here they gaine$ new strength fro" another $etach"ent un$er the +eft -R/olonel Muraviev, who ha$ capture$ 3iev fro" the /entral Ra$a a few $ays earlier for the +eftBloc#

%he ;R3 authorities in the city $eclare$ for the /entral Ra$a an$ sent e"issaries to the

approaching @er"an-Ukrainian forces re.uesting i""e$iate help# But it was alrea$y too late# n)attling Marusya north of the city, the ;R3 ha$ left the south si$e unprotecte$# !n ar"oure$ trainknown as ree$o" or Death stea"e$ into the city un$er the co""an$ of the Bolshevik sailor4olypanov# %he guar$ units in the city fle$ without giving )attle# %he sailors went $irectly to the;R3 authorities an$ $e"an$e$ the release of all prisoners, inclu$ing Marusya s sol$iers# %he;R3 was force$ to co"ply# %he ;R3 troops north of the city $iscovere$ that it was effectively inBolshevik han$s#

Marusya an$ Muravyev now entere$ the city# %here was "ore looting an$ not 6ust )y theanarchists# But there were no "ass reprisals? in fact 4olypanov sai$ at a "ass "eeting that the


12/19

three-$ay )attle ha$ )een the result of a "isun$erstan$ing# %he Re$s re"aine$ in power in:li2avetgra$ until the night of March 19, 1918 when they a)an$one$ the city# %hree $ays later thefirst @er"an train arrive$#

%he )attles at :li2avetgra$ were typical of the /ivil 0ar in Ukraine ' $esperate encounters)etween fanatical opponents, with a "ore powerful thir$ party picking up the spoils# :li2avetgra$was $estine$ to change han$s several "ore ti"es )efore the Bolsheviks finally took over#

%he +ong Retreat

%he +eft Bloc trie$ to organi2e resistance to the @er"an forces in the na"e of the puppetgovern"ent they ha$ set up in 3har kov# %his was a very une.ual contest co"paring nu")ersalone, the @er"an ar"ies an$ their allies totalle$


13/19

retreating Re$ @uar$ $etach"ents# ince Marusya ha$ left a few weeks earlier, relations)etween the !narchist e$eration an$ the Bolsheviks ha$ gone $ownhill# Nevertheless theBolsheviks were gla$ to see Marusya )ecause of her reputation as a warrior#

En !pril 1C, 1918, units of the Ukrainian ich Rifle"en )roke into the city an$ capture$ therailway station# n a warehouse near)y the corpse of a young wo"an, $resse$ in leather, wasfoun$# ! ru"our i""e$iately sprea$ through the city that the fa"ous Marusya ha$ )een kille$#

n$ee$ Marusya took part in the )attle, )ut she was very "uch alive# ! $ay later the Rifle"enwere $riven out of the city an$ force$ to escape $own the Dnepr in )oats#

En !pril 18 the @er"ans finally entere$ !leksan$rovsk# %he Dru2hina was the last $etach"ent toleave the $oo"e$ city#

Fea$ing east, the Dru2hina stoppe$ at the station of %sarekonstantinovka where Marusya ran intoa $isconsolate Nestor Makhno# ! nationalist "ilitary coup in @ulyai-4ole ha$ 6ust resulte$ in thearrest of the local Revko" an$ oviet while Makhno was a)sent# Marusya propose$ a rescue"ission )ut she knew she coul$n t acco"plish it alone# irst she telegraphe$ the sailor 4olypanov)ut he refuse$, as $i$ the sailor tepanov who was also passing through the station with a trainpacke$ with refugees# inally she line$ up a i)erian Re$ @uar$ $etach"ent le$ )y 4etrenko#Marusya still possesse$ a couple of ar"oure$ cars which she propose$ to use as spearhea$s for the attack &@ulyai-4ole was eight kilo"etres fro" the nearest train station(# *ust then Marusyareceive$ wor$ that the @er"ans ha$ occupie$ 4ologi, on the line she woul$ nee$ to use to get to@ulyai-4ole# he ha$ to a)an$on her plan an$ hea$ further east#

%rial in %aganrog

%he Bolshevik an$ anarchists $etach"ents in +eft-Bank &:astern( Ukraine all hea$e$ for%aganrog on the ea of !2ov, the current site of the fugitive Ukrainian oviet govern"ent# %heBolsheviks ha$ no hope of hanging on to any part of Ukraine an$, so as far as they wereconcerne$, the anarchist troops were no longer necessary# n fact, with their constant agitationagainst the politics of the party state, they were an i$eological lia)ility#

%he authorities in the Moscow ha$ alrea$y taken steps to get ri$ of their o)no ious allies# En !pril

1>, 1918 the Moscow e$eration of !narchist @roups was suppresse$ an$ al"ost


14/19

%he chief accusation of the Bolsheviks against Marusya was the pillaging of :li2avetgra$ )oth)efore an$ after the right-wing uprising there# %he other "ain charge was $eserting the ront,although 3askin s troops ha$ left the ront )efore Marusya s# %he anarchists were in$ignant atthe hypocrisy of the Bolsheviks who use$ up the strength of the anarchists in the front lines of the/ivil 0ar, while sta))ing the" in the )ack in the rear areas#

! court of revolutionary honour was hel$ in late !pril, 1918# %he 6u$icial )ench was co"pose$ of two local Bolsheviks, two local +eft Rs, an$ two representatives of the +eft Bloc govern"ent ofUkraine# %he Bolsheviks presente$ a series of witnesses who accuse$ Marusya of cri"es whichwere punisha)le )y $eath# But there were also "any $efence witnesses in the packe$ courtroo",people who $ispute$ the testi"ony of the prosecution s witnesses an$ referre$ to Marusya sservices to the Revolution# %he anarchist @arin note$ that Marusya ha$ faith in the 6ustice of therevolutionary court an$ a$$e$, f thought she $i$n t, "y $etach"ent woul$ li)erate her )yforce#

Ulti"ately Marusya was ac.uitte$ of all charges an$ the Dru2hina was given )ack its weapons#Marusya an$ Makhno &also present in %aganrog( arrange$ a series of lectures in the local theatrean$ various workplaces on the topic %he $efence of the Revolution ' against the !ustro-@er"anar"y at the front ' against the govern"ent authorities in the rear # %he pair also issue$ a leafleton this topic#

Marusya an$ Makhno then split up# Makhno an$ other refugees fro" @ulyai-4ole $eci$e$ to goho"e an$ carry out an un$ergroun$ struggle against the @er"ans an$ the /entral Ra$a# o"eof the @ulyai-4ole people 6oine$ the Dru2hina# @er"an pressure soon force$ the Bolsheviks an$anarchists to retreat to Rostov-on-Don# %he anarchists collecte$ valua)le $ocu"ents fro" thelocal )anks ' $ee$s, loan agree"ents, an$ )on$s ' an$ )urne$ the" in a )onfire in the "ains.uare# &/ynics note$ that paper "oney was spare$#(

!n eye-witness $escri)e$ Marusya s crew %hey looke$ like paniar$s with long hair an$ )lackcapes### # ! pair of large pistols stuck out of their )elts, they carrie$ grena$es in their pockets# %heyounger ones wore )ell-)otto" trousers an$ gol$ )racelets### #

inally the @er"an a$vance halte$ an$ the long retreat coul$ co"e to an en$# But now theBolsheviks ha$ reache$ territory where they ha$ a prepon$erance in nu")ers an$ coul$ safely$isar" the anarchists# Marusya saw what was co"ing an$ slippe$ out of the trap# %he Dru2hina"a$e a $angerous 6ourney north through the Don region, travelling along a railway line partiallycontrolle$ )y 0hite /ossacks, to reach the Russian city of ;orone2h where a new front was)eing for"e$#

t is $ifficult to follow Marusya s activities $uring the ne t few "onths# %he Dru2hina visite$ anu")er of Russian towns close to the )or$er with Ukraine# !s long as the @er"ans occupie$Ukraine it was i"possi)le for Marusya to carry on a)ove-groun$ activities in Ukraine#

in$ing the /entral Ra$a too ra$ical for their tastes, the @er"an i"perialists replace$ it with apuppet govern"ent un$er the het"an koropa$sky# But in Nove")er, 1918, the @er"ans lost

the 0orl$ 0ar# !s part of the ar"istice they were re.uire$ to evacuate Ukraine# koropa$sky sgovern"ent .uickly collapse$ an$ was replace$ )y the Directory, a "ore ra$ical nationalist groupwhose lea$ing figure was i"on 4etliura# Ukraine was now vulnera)le to another Bolshevikinvasion as well as to free)ooters like Marusya an$ peasant insurgents like the Makhnovists#

n the fall of 1918, the Dru2hina was part of the or$er of )attle of a "i e$ force which sei2e$E$essa fro" the 0hites who ha$ taken over the city in the power vacuu" cause$ )y thewith$rawal of the @er"ans# Marusya then )urne$ $own the E$essa prison# %his occupation ofE$essa was short-live$? the 0hites, with )acking fro" !llie$ troops & rench an$ @reek( weresoon )ack in control#


15/19

%rial in Moscow

Marusya ne t turne$ up in the Russian city of aratov, te"porary ho"e to "any anarchistrefugees fro" Ukraine# %here she was arreste$ )y or$er of the local oviet an$ the Dru2hina$isar"e$# During the Re$ %error raging at the ti"e &triggere$ )y the atte"pte$ assassination of+enin )y an R(, Marusya coul$ well have )een shot without trial# !pparently the local /hekistswere reluctant to shoot a heroine of the Revolution who "ay have known +enin in 4aris )eforethe Revolution#

Marusya was transferre$ to Moscow an$ lo$ge$ in Butyrki 4rison &where Makhno ha$ spent"any years(# But soon she was out on )ail for she still ha$ frien$s in high places# %he anarchist3arelin an$ the Bolshevik !ntonov-Evseyenko were prepare$ to guarantee her goo$ )ehaviour#Fer hus)an$, the 4olish anarchist B2hostek, was also in Moscow# +ike "any for"er resi$ents ofthe Russian :"pire with revolutionary cre$entials, he ha$ )een given an i"portant 6o) in the newa$"inistration# 0hile awaiting trial, Marusya took the opportunity to enrol in 4roletcult, an officiallysanctione$ "ove"ent which encourage$ workers to $evelop their artistic talents#

Marusya was trie$ in Moscow on *anuary >1->C, 1919 )y a court of revolutionary honour # %heBolsheviks $i$ not refrain fro" charging her with cri"es which she ha$ alrea$y )een ac.uitte$ ofin %aganrog, egge$ on )y their e ile$ Ukrainian puppet govern"ent# %hat govern"ent ha$ set upa special co""ission to investigate her cri"es # !ccor$ing to the chair of this co""ission, Auri4iatakov, the Dru2hina $isorgani2e$ the $efence against the @er"ans an$ 0hite @uar$s an$Marusya herself un$er the "ask of $efen$er of the proletariat kept herself )usy with pillaging#

he is si"ply a )an$it operating un$er the flag of oviet power#

!ccor$ing to the in$ict"ent, M# Nikiforova without the consent of local oviets carrie$ out in"any cities re.uisitions fro" .uarter"aster s stores, private shops an$ societies? i"pose$ largecontri)utions of "oney on lan$owners? an$ collecte$ guns an$ other weapons a)an$one$ )y thehai$a"aks# 0hen the oviets proteste$, she threatene$ the", surroun$ing the )uil$ings of the

oviets with "achine guns an$ arresting "e")ers of the e ecutive co""ittees# Fer )riga$e shota troop co""an$er, an$ for not carrying out or$ers she sentence$ to )e shot the chair"an of the:li2avetgra$ oviet an$ others#

Fer ol$ frien$ 3arelin testifie$ as a character witness, $escri)ing her as unselfish !ll she ha$she gave away even to co"ra$es she )arely knew# he woul$n t keep a kopeck for herself# hegave away everything### # 3arelin a$$e$ she was a co"plete teetotaller#

%he ver$ict was pu)lishe$ in 4rav$a on *anuary >5, 1919# Marusya was foun$ guilty of$iscre$iting oviet power )y her $ee$s an$ )y the actions of her )riga$e in several instances?

an$ of insu)or$ination in relation to local oviets in the sphere of "ilitary activities# he wasac.uitte$ of pillaging an$ illegal re.uisitions#

Marusya coul$ easily have )een shot for the cri"es of which she was convicte$# Neverthelessthe court sentence$ her to $eprivation of the right to occupy responsi)le posts for si "onthsfro" the $ate of the sentence# %he tri)unal announce$ that it ha$ taken into consi$eration

Marusya s services in the struggle for oviet power an$ against the @er"ans#Return to @ulyai-4ole

!lthough her sentence was light, it see"e$ onerous to Marusya# i "onths was a long ti"eun$er /ivil 0ar con$itions# o al"ost i""e$iately she hea$e$ for @ulyai-4ole where Makhnoha$ carve$ out an anarchist enclave )y $riving out the 0hites an$ Nationalists# Makhnoconclu$e$ an agree"ent with the Bolsheviks on e)ruary 19, 1919 which allowe$ hi" free$o" to)uil$ an anarchist society# Makhno s short-range plans $i$ not inclu$e a confrontation with theBolsheviks# o he was not particularly happy when Marusya showe$ up, knowing her )a$


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relations with the Bolsheviks# Makhno "a$e it clear to her that he inten$e$ to o)serve thecon$itions of her sentence# he was aske$ to involve$ herself with kin$ergartens, schools, an$hospitals rather than "ilitary "atters#

!n ugly inci$ent occurre$ at the >n$ /ongress of oviets of @ulyai-4ole raion hel$ in the springof 1919# Marusya, although not a $elegate, aske$ to speak# 0hen she starting attacking theBolsheviks, the peasants )eca"e upset# %hey were "ore concerne$ a)out the 0hites at thatpoint ' the Bolsheviks were their allies# Makhno, always a )it of a $e"agogue when it ca"e tothe peasants, physically $ragge$ her $own fro" the po$iu"#

Despite pu)lic $isagree"ents, Marusya an$ Makhno continue$ to work together# Marusya "a$etrips to !leksan$rovsk, no"inally un$er Bolshevik control, which Makhno hope$ to inclu$e in hissphere of influence# %he Bolsheviks respon$e$ )y arresting anarchists she staye$ with, althoughshe was not officially regar$e$ as an ene"y of oviet power#

@ulyai-4ole was visite$ )y several high-level Bolshevik lea$ers in the spring of 1919, inclu$ing !ntonov-Evseyenko, +ev 3a"enev, an$ 3li"ent ;oroshilov# Marusya acte$ as a sort of hostessfor these visits an$ lo))ie$ 3a"enev to re$uce her sentence fro" the Moscow court to three"onths# !pparently she was successful in this#

%he visits )y the Bolshevik lea$ers ha$ a sinister purpose they were trying to figure out when tostop using the Makhnovists for cannon fo$$er against the 0hites an$ procee$ to their li.ui$ation#%he Bolsheviks ha$ alrea$y suppresse$ the anarchist organi2ations in Ukrainian cities un$er their control# %he anarchists were for)i$$en to hol$ "eetings or lectures, their printshops were shut$own, an$ they were arreste$ un$er al"ost any prete t# %his le$ to an influ of ur)an anarchiststo @ulyai-4ole an$ the territory controlle$ )y the Makhnovists#

Return to Un$ergroun$ %error

!fter her sentence ha$ )een shortene$, Marusya went to the !2ov port of Ber$yansk in May,1919, an$ organi2e$ a new $etach"ent using $e$icate$ "ilitants fro" Makhno s counter-intelligence staff an$ anarchist refugees fro" the cities# !"ong the "e")ers of this group washer hus)an$ B2hostek# Fe ha$ co"e to Ukraine not to visit his wife )ut to recruit e perience$

terrorists for an un$ergroun$ group in Moscow#

:arly in *une Makhno an$ his "ilitary staff were $eclare$ outlaws )y the oviet state# %his wasan incre$i)ly stressful ti"e for the Ukrainian anarchists# ighting a losing )attle against the0hites in the east, they were now )eing attacke$ fro" the rear )y the Bolsheviks# Makhnorespon$e$ )y trying to salvage so"e "ilitary capa)ility# Marusya ha$ other plans#

No longer a)le to fiel$ a regular "ilitary force, Marusya $eci$e$ to launch an un$ergroun$ waragainst her ene"ies# But first she nee$e$ "oney# Fearing a)out Makhno s outlaw status, shean$ her followers caught up with hi" at the station of Bolshoi %ok"ak# Meeting Makhno in hisrailway car, she $e"an$e$ "oney for her terrorist activities# Makhno curse$ an$ pulle$ out arevolver# Fe was too slow ' Marusya alrea$y ha$ her gun out# !fter an acri"onious $iscussionMakhno gave her >5=,=== rou)les fro" his treasury an$ tol$ her to get lost#

Marusya $ivi$e$ her group into three sections of a)out >= each# Ene group un$er /herniak an$@ro"ov was $ispatche$ to i)eria to )low up the hea$.uarters of the 0hite $ictator 3olchak#%hey reache$ i)eria )ut were una)le to catch up with 3olchak an$ en$e$ up )eing a)sor)e$ inthe anti-0hite partisan "ove"ent#

%he secon$ group un$er 3ovalevich an$ o)olev went north to 3harkov to free Makhnovistprisoners an$ )low up the /heka hea$.uarters# But the prisoners ha$ alrea$y )een shot an$ the/hekists ha$ evacuate$ the city# o the group went on to Moscow to organi2e a terrorist attackon the Bolshevik lea$ership# n preparation for this they carrie$ out a nu")er of ar"e$ ro))eries


17/19

in Moscow an$ near)y cities top raise fun$s# En epte")er >5, 1919, they e plo$e$ a )o") at a"eeting of the Moscow /o""ittee of the Bolshevik 4arty, killing 1> an$ woun$ing 55 pro"inentparty "e")ers# n the ensuing "anhunt the group was wipe$ out# !fter 3ovalevich an$ o)olevha$ )een kille$ in shoot-outs, the rest of the group hole$ up in a $acha an$ chose to )lowthe"selves up along with a nu")er of /hekists#

%he thir$ group, inclu$ing Marusya an$ B2hostek, hea$e$ to /ri"ea, then un$er 0hite control,with the intention of )lowing up the hea$.uarters of @eneral Denikin, the lea$er of the 0hitear"ies in southern Russia# Denikin s hea$.uarters was in Rostov-on-Don at the ti"e )ut Marusya"ay have sought help, financial or otherwise, fro" the /ri"ean anarchists#

%he +ast %rial

%he last $ays of Marusya have long )een the su)6ect of various legen$s, resulting fro" the factthat events in 0hite /ri"ea were al"ost i"possi)le for people on revolutionary soil to know#%he Makhnovists /hu$nov an$ Belash )oth gave conflicting stories, as $i$ !ntonov-Evseyenko#Enly in recent years have $ocu"ents co"e to light which clear up the "ystery#

En !ugust 11, 1919, Marusya was recogni2e$ on the street in evastopol an$ she an$ herhus)an$ were arreste$ )y the 0hites# Marusya s group, $espairing of )eing a)le to rescue her,hea$e$ for the 3u)an region where they took part in partisan activities in the rear of the 0hites#Marusya s arrest was a great coup for 0hite counter-intelligence an$ a "onth was spentgathering evi$ence for the case against her &$ifficult un$er /ivil 0ar con$itions(# Fer trial, actuallya fiel$ court-"artial, was hel$ on epte")er 17, 1919 )efore @eneral u))otin, co""an$ant of

evastopol ortress# %he in$ict"ent rea$

# that the person calling herself Maria @rigor evna B2hostek, also known as Marusya Nikiforova,is charge$ as follows that $uring the perio$ 1918-1919, while co""an$ing a $etach"ent ofanarcho-co""unists, she carrie$ out shootings of officers an$ peaceful inha)itants, an$ shecalle$ for )loo$y, "erciless reprisals against the )ourgeoisie an$ counter-revolutionaries# ore a"ple

K in 1918 )etween the stations of 4ereye2$na an$ +eshchiska )y her or$er several officers were

shot, in particular, the officer @rigorenko?

K in Nove")er 1918 she entere$ the city of Rostov-on-Don with $etach"ents of anarchists an$incite$ a "o) with an appeal to carry out )loo$y reprisals against the )ourgeoisie an$ counter-revolutionaries?

Kin Dece")er 1918, while co""an$ing an ar"e$ $etach"ent, she participate$ together with thetroops of 4etliura in the capture of E$essa, after which she took part in )urning $own the E$essaprison, where the chief war$en 4ereleshin was kille$ in the fire?

Kin *une 1919 in the city of Melitopol >7 persons were shot on her or$er, inclu$ing a certain%i"ofei Ro2hkov#

K%hese charges involve cri"es specifie$ in !rticles 1=8 an$ 1=9 of the cri"inal co$e of the;olunteer !r"y#

# ;itol $ tanislav B2hostek is charge$, not with taking part in the cri"es of 4art , )ut withknowing a)out the" an$ shiel$ing M# Nikiforova fro" the authorities#

Both of the accuse$ were foun$ guilty an$ sentence$ to $eath# !s 4art of the in$ict"entin$icates, ;# B2hostek was convicte$ of the cri"e of )eing Marusya s hus)an$#

!ccor$ing to reporters at the trial, Marusya was $efiant throughout the procee$ings an$ swore at


18/19

the court after the sentence was rea$# he only )roke $own )riefly while saying goo$)ye to herhus)an$# %hey were )oth shot#

%he newspaper !leksan$rovsk %elegraph &the city was now in 0hite territory( crowe$ a)out her$eath in its epte")er >=, 1919 issue Ene "ore pillar of anarchis" has )een )roken, one "orei$ol of )lackness has crashe$ $own fro" its pe$estal### # +egen$s for"e$ aroun$ this Ltsaritsa ofanarchis" # everal ti"es she was woun$e$, several ti"es her hea$ was cut off )ut, like thelegen$ary Fy$ra, she always grew a new one# he survive$ an$ turne$ up again, rea$y to spill"ore )loo$### # !n$ if now in our uye2$ the offspring of the Makhnovshchina, the re"nants of thispoisonous evil, are still trying to prevent the re)irth of nor"al society an$ are straining the"selvesto re)uil$ once "ore the )loo$y rule of Makhno, this latest )low "eans we are witnessing thefuneral feast at the grave of the Makhnovshchina#

%wo weeks after these lines were pu)lishe$ the Makhnovist nsurgent !r"y capture$ !leksan$rovsk fro" the 0hites#

%he +egen$ /ontinues

ince Marusya ha$ escape$ $eath so "any ti"es, it was har$ for people to )elieve she wasreally gone# %heir $is)elief create$ the possi)ility for false Marusyas to appear# %here were atleast three of these ata"anshas active in the /ivil 0ar an$ they apparently "a$e use of theterror evoke$ )y Marusya s na"e

&1( Marusya /hernaya co""an$e$ a cavalry regi"ent in the Makhnovist nsurgent !r"y in 19>=-19>1# he was kille$ in )attle against the Re$s#

&>( Marusya okolovskaia, a >5-year ol$ Ukrainian nationalist school teacher, took over her)rother s cavalry $etach"ent after he was kille$ in )attle in 1919# he was capture$ )y the Re$san$ shot#

&C( Marusya 3osova was an ata"ansha in the %a")ov peasant revolt in 19>1-19>># !fter therevolt was suppresse$ she $isappeare$ fro" history#

!nother legen$ ha$ Marusya working as a oviet secret agent# !ccor$ing to this story she wassent to 4aris for un$ercover work an$ was involve$ in the assassination of the UkrainianNationalist lea$er i"on 4etliura# 4etliura was kille$ )y a for"er "e")er of 3otovsky s anarchist$etach"ent# %he only truth in this story "ight )e the fact of anarchists $oing the Bolsheviks workfor the"#

Maria Nikiforova represents the $estructive si$e of anarchis", the sweeping away of the ol$ to"ake way for the new# he was not insensitive to the other si$e of anarchis" &see !ppen$i ( )utnever en6oye$ the tran.uillity necessary to pursue constructive work# !lthough she ha$ no effecton the ulti"ate course of the Russian Revolution, she "ight have for she was always rea$y to acton her principles at key "o"ents# he $evote$ her consi$era)le talents to fighting her legions ofene"ies )ut eventually fell in this une.ual struggle#

%he two photographs of Marusya repro$uce$ in this work were pro)a)ly taken in :li2avetgra$ in1918# En the )ack of one of the" is written Don t think )a$ly of "e# ' M# Nikiforova #

!ppen$i

n Dece")er 1918 Marusya atten$e$ the irst !ll-Russian /ongress of !narchist-/o""unists inMoscow# %he following is the te t of a )rief speech she gave which was preserve$ in the "inutes

+ooking at the way anarchists live their lives, feel $epresse$ at how "any $eficiencies there arein their work# 0hat is the cause of thisI ! lack of talentI But that can t )e )ecause you can t say


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there is no talent a"ong the anarchists# But why then are anarchist organi2ations collapsingI0hy, when anarchists followe$ where their consciences lea$ the", $i$ they not get those resultsthey ha$ hope$ forI or this not to continue, the anarchists "ust clarify their "istakes#

n their approach to their work, anarchists "ust not restrict the"selves to the )ig stuff# !ny kin$ of work is useful# %o sacrifice oneself is easier than to work constantly, stea$ily, achieving $efinitegoals# uch work $e"an$s great staying power an$ a lot of energy# !narchists $on t have enoughof this staying power an$ energy an$ )esi$es, they "ust )e prepare$ to su)"it to co"ra$ely$iscipline an$ or$er#

!narchists "ust

1# )e role "o$els &anarchists currently $on t have co""unes(?># $istri)ute their propagan$a wi$ely in printe$ for"?C# organi2e the"selves an$ stay in close touch with each other# or this last point we nee$ toregister all the anarchists )ut we nee$ to )e selective an$ encourage not so "uch those whoknow theory as those who can put it into practice#

%he process of social revolution is continuing an$ the anarchists "ust )e prepare$ for that"o"ent when they "ust apply all their forces an$ then each one "ust carry out their own task,not hol$ing anything )ack#

But our work "ust )e )ase$ on e a"ples, for e a"ple, in Moscow itself we shoul$ create awhole network of vegeta)le gar$ens on a co""unist )asis# %his woul$ )e the )est "eans ofagitation a"ong the people, people who in essence are natural anarchists#

4u)lishe$ )y Black /at 4ress, :$"onton >== # %he pu)lishe$ work inclu$es a ta)le of contents,footnotes, graphics, photos, an$ a )i)liography# %he Nestor Makhno !rchive has altere$ so"espellings an$ correcte$ so"e typographical errors for this online version# 4urchase this te t fro"Black /at 4ress here#

%aken fro" %he Nestor Makhno !rchive

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The Anarchist Joan of Arc