Leaflets of the Russian Revolution

Barbara C. Allen, Ph.D.(2001), Indiana University Bloomington, is Associate Professor of History at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is the author of Alexander Shlyapnikov, 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik (Brill 2015 and Haymarket Books 2016).

”An indispensable collection. These texts, and Barbara Allen's expert curation and explication, bring to vivid life the astonishing tussles, turns and transformations of 1917, Russia's revolutionary year.” —China Miéville, author of October"Authentic human voices are what we hear in these leaflets from the Russian Revolution of 1917. The leaflets, emanating from different socialist parties and workers' organizations, recreate all the vividness and excitement of contemporary debates, while the helpful introduction and notes provide the necessary historical context." —Sheila Fitzpatrick, author of The Russian Revolution“In this valuable volume, Barbara Allen furnishes all those interested in the Russian revolution with an important collection of political leaflets reflecting the epoch-defining struggle for power in 1917 Russia. Allen’s fine translations and insightful introductions add to the value of the collection.” —Alexander Rabinowitch, author of The Bolsheviks in Power“The leaflets, nicely translated, take the reader into the fervent debates between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks during the 1917 revolution. Allen pays particular attention to Alexander Shlyapnikov, a level-headed Bolshevik metal worker who was involved in party and union organizing. She also provides clear, comprehensive introductions to the materials. The result is a collection that goes beyond the party luminaries and into the ranks of lower ranking activists. Most of these materials heretofore have been available only in Russian.” —Barbara Clements, author of A History of Women in Russia“Leaflets of the Russian Revolution will undoubtedly prove to be of use to students and teachers, presenting a concise insight into how the various Social Democratic factions looked to reorganize aspects of state and industry along socialist principles in 1917... Reading these documents, one is left with a palpable sense of the excitement, immediacy, and confidence of the various Social Democrat factions as they battled for power and position amid quickly shifting political sands.” —Tobie Mathew, The Russian Review

• Table of Contents (proposed chapter titles plus subtitles and/or brief descriptions):Preface, Acknowledgements, and NotesPart I: The Revolutionary Year 1917 (Essay)Part II: The Political Struggle - Leaflets of Russian Socialist Parties & Soviets“To the Revolutionary Students of Russia,” December 1916“The Day of the People’s Wrath is Near,” January 9, 1917“Only a Provisional Government Can Bring Peace,” January 24, 1917“For a Provisional Revolutionary Government,” February 1917“A Day to Prepare for Conquering the Enemy,” February 21, 1917“For a General Strike Against Autocracy,” February 27, 1917“Soldiers, Take Power into Your Own Hands!,” March 1, 1917“Joining Together to Achieve Peace,” March 14, 1917“Calling for Peace…And Renewed Offensives,” May 2, 1917“A Bolshevik Appeal Finds an Echo in the Streets,” June 9, 1917“Responses to the July Days Uprising,” July 3-4, 1917“The Bolsheviks Retreat in order to Advance,” July 5, 1917Part III: Worker Militias and Red GuardProject for party militias drawn up by the Petersburg Committee of the RSDRP(b) in mid-April 1917. “Draft Statute of the Worker Guard” of Vyborg District, April 29, 1917Anonymous, “About the Red Guard” [Menshevik position] April 29, 1917Alexander Shlyapnikov, “About the ‘Red Guard’” [Bolshevik position] May 5, 1917Part IV: The Economic Struggle – Documents of the Petrograd Metalworkers’ UnionResolutions of Petrograd metalworkers’ representatives about the political and economic situation in Russia, summer 1917Alexander Shlyapnikov, “Our Wage Rates Agreement,” August 17, 1917Alexander Shlyapnikov, “We Should Have Only One Union of Metalworkers,” August 17, 1917Alexander Shlyapnikov, “Tasks of the Wages Rates Valuation Commissions,” October 1, 1917Alexander Shlyapnikov, “Once More about the Organization of Unions,” November 9, 1917Alexander Shlyapnikov, “About the Conference of the Metalworkers’ Union of Moscow Oblast,” November 9, 1917 (excerpt)Epilogue: “To All Workers” from the People’s Commissar of Labor December 22, 1917BibliographyIndex