Punitive and repressive methods of fighting the Soviet regime against the peasant movement in Podillia in the initial period of the NEP

Abstract

The article, based on sources and literature, analyzes the struggle of the Bolshevik authorities with the insurgency movement of the Podolsk peasantry, which in the historical literature was called «political banditry». To suppress the peasant resistance, the authorities used punitive and repressive measures. Their essence, forms and methods are disclosed in the article. The author refers to such methods: the introduction of a military state in Podolia, massive searches, arrests and imprisonments in prisons and concentration camps, shootings, evictions, confiscations and seizures, compulsory mobilization of the population, and others. The documents of the Soviet government are analyzed – resolutions, instructions, circulars on measures to combat banditry, as well as the work of the authorities (military meetings, extraordinary triples, and overalls) to carry out repressions in villages odf Podillia. The following methods of intimidation of the population as taking hostages and their shooting, fines, eviction were analyzed. The transition to the NEP has not change the relationship between the authorities and the Ukrainian peasantry. The rebel movement continued. The Bolshevik government assured that anybody would be subject to further repressions for resistance. In the struggle against insurgent movement, the role of the DPU, which carried out repressive and punitive functions, grew. She received the right to arrest, conduct an investigation, make sentences and execute them.

It is proved that in the organization of the struggle of Soviet power with the peasant movement in Podillia punitive and repressive methods were basic. Due to the mass repression that was carried out during the years of the NEP, the gene pool of the peasantry of Podillia was undermined, and the culture of the villages of Podillia was deformed. Only by resorting to extraordinary measures, the authorities were able to suppress the peasant resistance and achieve victory in the struggle against their people. However, this methodology has become Soviet towards the Ukrainian peasantry.