58) October Revolution in Kazakhstan: myths and historical reality

Russian Great October Revolution echoed in Kazakhstan almost the same as in Russia itself. Each day the amount of people not satisfied with the Temporary government policy was increasing. Industries were shutting down and sowing areas were decreasing. The jute (prolonged drought, severe climate circumstances) killed many live-stocks. Prices for agricultural products went up enormously. Thus the opposition for the Temporary government was getting a power. The amount of worker, soldier and peasant deputy Soviets had increased radically. Selective regions, where the influence of Bolsheviks was extremely influential, workers created the Soviets based on the class principles. For instance, in Tashkent the Union of Muslim working deputies was elected.

With an increase in workers’ political consciousness, their requests more convincing. In May, the workers of Daubai (Semipalatinsk) mining industry went in for strike in order to retain their salary increases and to improve their living environment. However, when the administration the Daubai refused to consider the requests, the workers simply left the industry. This is a good example of one of the first and effective workers’ strike. So, in the same manner, in summer of 1917 the 8 hours work day was implemented in Petropavlosk, Semey, Oral, Perovsk and others.

On the 29th of august of 1917 the whole power in Perovsk was given to Soveits. By the end of the 1917, the revolutionary movement of Soviets occupied the whole Kazakhstan.

Some of intellectuals of that period tried to use that rush time to create and establish autonomous governments. It existed only 62 days since its creation on the 22 of November in Kokand during the IV Allturkestan convention. The chairman was M.Tynyshbayev and later on was replaced by M.Chokai. The new government was called “Turkestan muhtariat” and Islam was recognized as a state religion.

However, the Soviet which occupied Tashkent, decided to liquidate the parallel, muslim government. So on the January of 1918, the Red army began to their conquer of Kokand. In three days destroyed Kokand was burned.

After the disastrous events in Kokand, Allkazakh convention in Orenburg took place on December of 1917. The aim of the convention was to create the Kazakh autonomy. A majority of deputies were for the immediate declaration of the autonomy. A.Bokeihanov was elected the chairman. The “Kazakh” national newspaper published the program of the Alash party:

1. The territory of the autonomy will be located on the lands of Bokei Orda, Ural, Torgai, Akmolinsk, Semey, Zhetysu, Syrdariya oblasts, Fergana, Samarkand uezds, Kirgiz volists;

2. Kazakh-kirgiz autonomy will be named Alash;

3. All nations in the Alash autonomy should be resembled proportionally;

4. The capital of Alash-Orda will be in Semey;

5. In order to rescue the Alash from the decay and anarchy the Temporary Alash government should be organized and consisted of 25 members, where 10 places should be given to Russians and other nationalities living in the autonomy.

Thereby the Alash party suggested an alternative way of kazakh development in that time. However, it was impossible for the Bolsheviks to get on with the Alash as they had strikingly different views on kazakh territory. As a result, the Alash party posed a huge threat to the Bolsheviks in the struggle for the power.

59) Kazakhstan during the years of civil war. The civil war in Russia started in 1918 between the Red army (the Soviet power) and the White army (the followers of czarist regime, contrerevolutioners). During the civil war 8 mln. People died and many emigrated out of Russia.

The Red army included many Kazakhs. Zhangildin, the commissar of the Red army, helped transport the ammunition and guns to Aktubinsk, where some of the battles took place. Troops from Turkestan helped in freeing Orenburg and Turgai districts from the White army. The south- and north-eastern troops fought successfully against the White army leade by Kolchak. An important role was played by partisans, who helped Red army in many crucial battles.

Civil war in Kazakhstan ended in 1920, when Red army recaptured Zhetisu and its outpost there – Verniy.

Using the Czechoslovak uprising ataman Dutov took Orenburg in July 1918. White Army had help from foreign interveners. On the night of March 29, 1918 belokazaks captured the Uralsk. On May 29, 1918 ARCEC Kremlin released a decree on the mobilization of workers on the basis of universal conscription. In autumn 1918, in Bukeev Horde the first exemplary Kazakh Soviet cavalry regiment was created. In 1920 in Turkestan the first forced recruitment of indigenous people was proclaimed. In May 1920, by decision of the Council of Labor and Defense of the Russian Federation 25 thousand non-Russian workers aged 19-35 years were called to the army. Much organizational work was carried out by a Steppe Commissioner in Emergency Dzhangildin, the military commander of the Turgai county Imanov, as well as Argancheev, Aliev, Rozybakiev and others who sent help to Aktyubinsk Front through expedition headed by Dzhangildin that transmitted fighters ammunition and weapons. In January. 1919, Orenburg and Uralsk were liberated. Politics «military communism» in the years of civil war in Kazakhstan. (1918-1920).   «Military Communism» - a system of temporary measures during the civil war, the peculiarity of the economic policy of the Soviet State in 1918-1920. In other words - it was a Superfast conversion to communism with the help of emergency measures. The main features of policy of military communism were: Nationalization of the entire industry. The transition in ownership of all former Soviet state of private enterprises. Overcentralisation of economy. The prohibition of private trade.  Food allotment, all peasants must surrender all «surplus» of bread, except necessary to family needs. Universal national service. Countervailing wage workers and employees. Politics «Military Communism» not only withdraw Soviet state of economic ruin in the years of civil war, but also greatly exacerbated it. By the end of civil war, the livestock population has declined by 11 million. A gross yield of grain decreased by 3 times. The situation in the economy has affected the lives of people. Especially farmers - the main producers of food. Evidence of dissatisfaction with the peasants have become widespread unrest in the villages. Change to the NEP has helped to redress the situation.

60) Formation of the Soviet Kazakh statehood.

As civil war ended, there was a question about formation of the soviet national statehood. From 1920 in Kazakhstan was a Formation of National Identity and Incipient Statehood. In villages, auls, stations and so on were Soviet elections. Later there were township conges, where Soviet ispolkoms were elected. By revkoms, these executive authorities were given a power within townships. A process was ended in summer 1920.

On august 26 1920 Lenin and Kalinn signed a VCIK and SNKRSFCR Decree “About creating an Autonomy Kazakh Socialistic Soviet Republic”. In Kazakhstan republic were included Semipalatinsk, Akmolinsk, Turgay and Ural provinces, Mangishlak Township, 4th and 5th Adaev parishes, Sinemorsk region, Bukeev orda and so on. On September 22 1920 VCIK was included Orenburg province. Orenburg became a capital of Kazakh ASSR. The highest power were Central and Executive Committees with Mendeshev at the head. CIK was consist of 76 people, including Jangildin, Seyfulin and Aytiev.

CIK made a CNK of the republic, whose head was Radus-Zenkovich. In addition this congress took “A Declaration of Kazakh ASSR labor rights”, where were determined the general principals of forming Kazakh national Soviet republic. It formed the main rights and duties of citizens, land policy and so on.

• On the 20th of august, 1920 the Sovet Government published a decree “About the creation of the Autonomous Kyrgyz (Kazakh) Soviet Socialist Republic” that would be a part of Russia. The capital of the Kazakh ASSR - Orenburg.

• On the 4th of October, 1920 – the Constituent Congress of the Kazakh ASSR Soviet took place in Orenburg. The Congress selected the main government bodies:

• Central Executive Committee, chairman- S.M. Mendeshov;

• Soviet of National Commissars, chairman-V.A. Radus-Zenkovich;

• The Congress approved the “Declaration of the rights of the workers of Kazakh ASSR”

The historical meaning of the formation of the Kazakh ASSR:

1. The fulfillment of the big dream of the Kazakh nation.

2. The result of the centuries-old struggle against colonialism.

3. The first step towards the national revival.