NCJ Number
62593
Date Published
1972
Length
20 pages
Annotation
COVERING THE PERIOD FROM 1902 TO 1909, THE MEMOIRS OF BORIS SAVINKOV DESCRIBE THE PRELUDE TO THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION OF 1917 BY DEPICTING HIS ACTIVITIES AS A REVOLUTIONARY IN THE SOCIALIST-REVOLUTIONIST PARTY.
Abstract
SAVINKOV AND HIS COMRADES--IVAN KALIAYEV, BORIS MOISEYENKO, MAX SCHWEIZER, YEGOR DULEBOV, DORA BRILLIANT, AND OTHERS--OPPOSED A PARLIAMENTARY STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF LIBERATING RUSSIA FROM CZARIST RULE BUT FAVORED DIRECT ACTION AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS TO SERVE THE WORKING CLASSES. THEY BELONGED TO THE TERRORIST BRIGADE OF THE SOCIALIST-REVOLUTIONIST PARTY, THE ACTIVISTS OF THE DISAFFECTED WHO ACHIEVED THE ASSASSINATIONS OF VON PLEHVE (RUSSIA MINISTER OF INTERIOR), GRAND DUKE SERGIUS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NOBILITY. SAVINKOV DETAILS THE INTRICATE PLANS LEADING TO THE ASSASSINATIONS, THE PARTY SQUABBLES WHICH LED TO THE DISMEMBERMENT, THEN REVIVAL, OF THE BRIGADE, AND THE EVOLUTION OF NOVICE REBELS TO SKILLED TERRORISTS. EACH MEMBER OF THE GROUP WITH WHOM SAVINKOV CAME INTO CONTACT IS VIVIDLY DESCRIBED, PARTICULARLY A LEADING MEMBER OF THE PARTY--EUGENE AZEV--THE TRUSTED AND INSPIRING REVOLUTIONIST WHO BETRAYED THE REVOLUTION AND HAMPERED THE TRIUMPH OF SOCIALISM. THE EXPOSURE OF AZEV, AS TOLD BY SAVINKOV IN THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THESE MEMOIRS, REVEALS THE DEMORALIZATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY RANKS AFTER THE ENORMITY OF THE BETRAYAL. ALTHOUGH THESE MEMOIRS END IN 1909, THE EPILOGUE DESCRIBES THE FINAL STORY--THE EVENTS LEADING TO SAVINKOV'S SUICIDE IN 1925. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)