☰ Contents · History of Uzbekistan

The October seizure of power and the Turkestan Autonomy

Lessons 2–3 · 2 lessons · Q. Rajabov, A. Zamonov. History of Uzbekistan (1917–1991): textbook for Grade 10 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing-Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2017
2

The forcible establishment of Soviet power in Turkestan and the Bolshevik dictatorship

Textbook: pp. 11–14
GoalExplain how the October seizure of power led to Soviet power in Turkestan and how local forces reacted.
New words
the Bolshevik seizure of power of 24–25 October 1917 (“October Revolution” in Soviet usage) · Oktyabr to‘ntarishiCouncil of People’s Commissars, the Soviet government · Xalq Komissarlari Soveti (XKS)dictatorship: rule by one group without sharing power · diktaturacoalition government of several parties · koalitsion hukumat
Explanation

On the night of 24–25 October 1917 (old style) armed forces led by the Bolsheviks seized the Winter Palace in Petrograd, arrested the members of the Provisional Government, and a Council of People’s Commissars was formed under Vladimir Lenin. When the news reached Tashkent on 27 October, the Tashkent Soviet, backed by Bolsheviks and Left SRs, began an armed uprising; after four days of fighting from 28 October, Soviet power was established in the new part of the city. The local population hardly took part in this clash, because the struggle for power was fought mainly by European workers, soldiers and railwaymen. At the Third Regional Congress of Soviets on 15–22 November the Turkestan Regional Council of People’s Commissars was formed under Fyodor Kolesov; it consisted only of Europeans and no member of the local peoples was included. The Muslim organisations did not join it: the National Centre and Sho‘roi Islomiya moved to Kokand in early November, while the Bolsheviks rejected the coalition government proposed by the ulama group and began a firm struggle against the Jadids.

Worked examples
Example (date): the coup in Petrograd took place on 24–25 October (old style). Adding 13 days: 24+13=37 – 31 = 6 November, 25+13=38 – 31 = 7 November. So in the new style it is 6–7 November.
Example (source analysis): in the Turkestan SNK, 8 seats went to Left SRs and 7 to Bolsheviks and maximalists, with no local member. Conclusion: the government did not represent the majority of the population, which is why the Muslim organisations did not recognise it.
Class activity

Sequencing: students arrange event cards from 24 October to 22 November (Petrograd, fighting in Tashkent, Third Congress, move to Kokand) in order.

Practice
1
Who became chairman of the Turkestan Regional SNK?
2
In the government 8 seats went to Left SRs and 7 to Bolsheviks and maximalists. How many seats were there in total?
3
Why did the local population hardly take part in the fighting in Tashkent?
4
Why did the National Centre and Sho‘roi Islomiya move to Kokand?