Petrograd Revolutionary Defence Committee

Categories / City Administration/Government Bodies
PETROGRAD REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCE COMMITTEE, an emergency body, was established on February 21, 1918 at the plenary session of Petrograd Soviet for the purpose of the organization of city defence against approaching German forces. The committee was quartered in Smolny. Originally it consisted of 15 members, later reinforced with the representatives of All-Russian Central Executive Committee, People's commissariat of Military Affairs, Petrograd military district, Petrograd committees of Bolsheviks and Left Wing Socialist Revolutionaries (over 30 persons in total). On the night of February 25 Petrograd revolutionary defence committee established a Bureau (of 14 persons): Y.M. Sverdlov, G.E. Zinovyev, M.M. Lashevich, M.A. Spiridonova, M.C. Uritsky, N.V. Krylenko, V.D. Bonch-Bruevich, N.I. Podvoysky, K.S. Mekhonoshin, K.S. Eremeev and others. The secretary of the committee was S.I. Gusev. The executive body of the committee was represented by the Emergency staff of Petrograd military district. V.I. Lenin took part in the sessions of the committee. The Petrograd Revolutionary Defence Committee hastily formed armed forces for the repulse of German attack (Red Guard detachments, Red Army detachments, detachments of revolutionary soldiers and seamen), organized the building of fortifications, fought against deserters and rioters and looters, was engaged in "relief" of Petrograd from prisoners of war and refugees, banned the publishing of counter-revolutionary newspapers and magazines. The commissars of the committee were sent to various sectors of the front. The committee was abolished in the beginning of March of 1918 after the signing of Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty with Germany.

References: Фрайман А. Л. Революционная защита Петрограда в феврале - марте 1918 г. М.; Л., 1964; Малышев М. О. Оборона Петрограда и изгнание немецких оккупантов с северо-запада в 1918 году. Л., 1974; Петров В. И. Отражение Страной Советов нашествия германского империализма в 1918 году. М., 1980.

A. M. Kulegin. Bonch-Bruevich Vladimir Dmitrievich
Eremeev Konstantin Stepanovich
Gusev Sergey Ivanovich (real name Drabkin Yakov Davidovich)
Krylenko Nikolay Vasilievich
Lashevich Mikhail Mikhailovich
Lenin (real name Ulyanov) Vladimir Ilyich
Mekhonoshin Konstantin Alexandrovich
Podvoysky Nikolay Ilyich
Spiridonova Maria Alexandrovna
Sverdlov Yakov Mikhailovich
Uritsky Moisey Solomonovich
Zinovyev Grigory Evseevich
Фрайман А. Л. Революционная защита Петрограда в феврале - марте 1918 г. М.; Л., 1964
Малышев М. О. Оборона Петрограда и изгнание немецких оккупантов с северо-запада в 1918 году. Л., 1974
Петров В. И. Отражение Страной Советов нашествия германского империализма в 1918 году. М., 1980