Makhnovshchina: Ukrainian anarchist movement
Makhnovshchina existed from 1918 to 1921.
It was formed in an attempt to create a stateless anarchist society. This took place during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917 to 1921. "Free soviets" and libertarian communes were set up and operated under the protection of Nestor Makhno's Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army.
Makhnovshchina Махновщина (Ukrainian) | |||||||||
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| 1918–1921 | |||||||||
 Flag described by Viktor Bilash | |||||||||
| Motto: Власть рождает паразитов. Да здравствует анархия! Vlast' roždaet parazitov. Da zdravstvuet anarhija! "Power breeds parasites. Long live anarchy!" | |||||||||
 Location of the core of the Makhnovshchina (red) and other areas controlled by the Insurgent Army (pink) in present-day Ukraine (tan) | |||||||||
| Status | Stateless territory | ||||||||
| Capital | Huliaipole | ||||||||
| Common languages | Ukrainian, Russian | ||||||||
| Government | Anarchist commune | ||||||||
| Otaman | |||||||||
• 1918–1921 | Nestor Makhno | ||||||||
| Chairman (VRS) | |||||||||
• 1919 | Ivan Chernoknizhny | ||||||||
• 1919–1920 | Volin | ||||||||
• 1920 | Dmitry Popov | ||||||||
| Legislature | Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents | ||||||||
| Historical era | Russian Civil War | ||||||||
• Established | 27 November 1918 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 28 August 1921 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 75,000 km2 (29,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• Estimate | 7.5 million | ||||||||
• Density | 100/km2 (259.0/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Currency | Various:
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| Today part of |
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Makhnovshchina was established when Huliaipole was captured by Makhno's forces on 27 November 1918. Huliapole became the territory's de facto capital. The Ukrainian peasants refused to pay rent to the landowners and "...seized the estates and livestock of the pomeshchiks, kulaks, monasteries and State holdings: in so doing, they always set up local committees to manage these assets, with an eye to sharing them out among the various villages and communes."
Russian forces of the White movement under Anton Denikin occupied part of the region and formed a temporary government of Southern Russia in March 1920. In late March 1920, Denikin's forces were pushed back by Makno's forces and the Red Army. Makhnovshchina was disestablished in 1921 when Makhno and 77 of his men escaped. Remnants of the Black Army would continue to fight until late 1922.
References
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