Naval Revolutionary Committee

Categories / Army. Navy/Military Administration
NAVAL REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE (NRC), established on 26.10(8.11)1917 in Smolny at the meeting of the delegates of Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets of Fleets and Flotillas. It was in session in the building of the Central Admiralty, subordinate to the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, and acted in close contact with the Centrobalt (Baltic Fleet Central Committee). It was comprised of representatives of bolsheviks, left wing social-revolutionaries, anarchists and non-party men. The NRC board included: I.I.Vakhrameev (chairman), A.V. Baranov, V.P. Evdokimov, A.G. Zheleznyakov, P.D. Malkov, V.S. Myasnikov, N.M. Neverovsky, N.A. Khovrin, D.N. Marulin, T.M. Ryzhkov, V.I. Penkaytis. On October 27 (November 9) the Committee proclaimed itself the governing body of the revolutionary sailors till a convocation of the All-Russian Naval Congress. By early November 1917 it had 10,000 sailors, Dawn of Freedom (Zarya Svobody) battleship, 2 cruisers, 5 destroyers, 3 mine-sweepers, 2 mine-layers, 18 auxiliary vessels, anchored in the Neva river and in the Sea Channel under its command. The NRC raised naval detachments for occupying ministries and other municipal objects, for dispatching to Moscow and other parts of the country, as well as formed agitator groups; it played a significant role in the organisation of the repulsion of the offensive of Kerensky-Krasnov's troops from Petrograd in late October 1917, took part in maintaining revolutionary order in Petrograd, protection of the treasures of the Winter Palace and the Hermitage, fought with the opposition press, secured provision of food and fuel in the city. NRC detachments broke up wine pogroms and took wine stores under control. 5(18) November 1917 the Collegium of Ten was put at the head of NRC , and the military, technical control, economic, investigative, resolution, staff and internal regulation sections were formed. NRC called the First All-Russian Naval Congress in Petrograd and on 25 November (8 December) 1917 was dissolved by its own decree (its functions were delegated to the Political Department under the Supreme Naval Collegium).

Reference: Балтийские моряки в борьбе за власть Советов (нояб. 1917 - дек. 1918). Л., 1968; Военно-морской революционный комитет: Сб. док. Л., 1975; Березовский Н. Ю. Военно-морской революционный комитет // ВИ. 1987. № 10. С. 170-176.

A. M. Kulegin. Baranov A.V.
Evdokimov V.P.
Kerensky Alexander Fedorovich
Khovrin N.A.
Krasnov Peter Nikolaevich
Malkov Pavel Dmitrievich
Marulin D.N.
Myasnikov Vasily Spiridonovich
Neverovsky N.M.
Penkaitis V.I.
Ryzhkov Timofey Matveevich
Vakhrameev Ivan Ivanovich
Zheleznyakov Anatoly Grigorievich
Балтийские моряки в борьбе за власть Советов (нояб. 1917 - дек. 1918). Л., 1968
Березовский Н. Ю. Военно-морской революционный комитет // Вопр. истории., 1987
Военно-морской революционный комитет: Сб. док. Л., 1975 Admiralty
Winter Palace
Hermitage