Kronstadt Rebellion - A History of War and Revolution

A large proportion of the kronstadt sailors were drawn from the ukranian peasantry. On their isolated island base, they discovered the peasants and workers of russia held the communist party in unconcealed contempt. Food, fuel and supply shortages became acute as dwindling supplies could not reach the cities due to heavy snows and the broken train system that we discussed last week. The working classes were hungry, freezing and increasingly bitter. What really infuriated people is that they weren't allowed to take matters into their own hands. Communist policy banned trade as a feature of capitalist exploitation. When we returned home, our parents asked us why we fought for the oppressors. That set us thinking