Centrobalt (Baltic Fleet Central Committee)

Categories / Army. Navy/Military Administration
CENTROBALT (Baltic Fleet Central Committee), elected body, set up on 28-30 April (11-13 May).1917 in Helsingfors (Baltic Fleet headquarters). The first membership of Centrobalt included 33 people; the chairman was Bolshevik P.E. Dybenko. The First Baltic Fleet Congress adopted in June 1917 a statute, proclaiming Centrobalt the supreme naval authority: no single order (except for operational) or the Provisional Government was valid unless sanctioned by Centrobalt. Centrobalt guided the political activity of the Fleet, controlled (through October 1917) activities of sailors and officers (except operational and military technical affairs), secured discipline on ships, and engaged itself into the everyday life of the sailors. Upon the conclusion of the Congress the membership of Centrobalt was extended to over 63 persons. On 4(17) July Centrobalt along with the Ships' Committees called on the All-Russian Central Executive Committee to transfer of power to the Soviets, but the delegation, headed by Dybenko, was arrested on arrival. On 7(20) July the Provisional Government issued the order on the dissolution of Centrobalt. The second Committee, elected on 10-11(23-24) July, was also dissolved, upon demanding the release of their arrested comrades. The third committee, elected on 25July (7August), took part in suppressing General Kornilov's mutiny: three torpedo-boats and about 5,000 sailors arrived from Kronstadt for the defence of Petrograd. On 9 September (2 October) Centrobalt adopted a resolution on the non-recognition of the power of the Provisional Government and its decrees. Following the second Baltic Fleet Congress in late September 1917 the fourth Committee (Centrobalt) was formed: Dybenko (chairman), V.P. Evdokimov, A.V. Baranov, N.A. Khovrin, G.A. Svetlichny and others. In October 1917 Centrobalt, under the guidance of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, carried out the preparations for seizing power: they handed the Aurora cruiser over to the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, on its order the ship's committees raised armed units, brought the ships in the state of military readiness. On the night from 25 October (7 November) Centrobalt dispatched to Petrograd Samson, Zabiyaka, Amur ships and others together with detachments of sailors (totalling around 10,000 people). With the repulsion of the offensive of Kerensky and Krasnov's troops Centrobalt dispatched to Petrograd Oleg cruiser and a squadron of torpedo boats. On 6(19) December Centrobalt abolished the post of the Commander of the Baltic Fleet and assumed control. The Fifth Committee (Centrobalt) was notably dominated by anarchists and on 4 March 1918 was dissolved by Soviet authorities.

References: Дыбенко П. Е. Из недр царского флота к Великому Октябрю. М., 1958; Протоколы и постановления Центрального Комитета Балтийского флота, 1917-1918. М.; Л., 1963; Измайлов Н. Ф., Пухов А. С. Центробалт. 2-е изд. Калининград, 1967.

A. M. Kulegin. Baranov A.V.
Baranov Evgeny Pavlovich
Dybenko Pavel Efimovich
Evdokimov V.P.
Khovrin N.A.
Svetlichny G.A.
Дыбенко П. Е. Из недр царского флота к Великому Октябрю. М., 1958
Протоколы и постановления Центрального Комитета Балтийского флота, 1917-1918. М.; Л., 1963
Измайлов Н. Ф., Пухов А. С. Центробалт. 2-е изд. Калининград, 1967 Baltic Fleet
Aurora, cruiser