☰ Contents · History of Uzbekistan

Power and resistance in Khiva and Bukhara

Lessons 7–8 · 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
8

Resistance to the Red Army in the BPSR and KhPSR

Textbook: pp. 42–48
GoalAnalyse the resistance to the Red Army in Bukhara and Khorezm, its leaders, and the reasons for its defeat.
New words
emigrant: a person who leaves their country · muhojirarmed force, host · lashkarEnver Pasha, a former Ottoman war minister who joined the Bukharan resistance in 1921–1922 · Anvar Poshouprising · qo‘zg‘olon
Explanation

After the emir’s rule was overthrown, from autumn 1920 qo‘rboshi groups and popular uprisings began in the western, central and eastern parts of Bukhara. The former emir Sayid Olimxon tried to gather forces in Eastern Bukhara, was defeated in March 1921 and crossed into Afghanistan; in Western Bukhara Mulla Abdulqahhor, in Eastern Bukhara Ibrohimbek and Davlatmandbek continued the struggle. In October 1921 Enver Pasha, a former Ottoman war minister, came to Bukhara by way of the Caucasus and tried to unite the commanders; he was killed in battle in August 1922 in the village of Obidara near Baljuvon. In Khorezm armed groups under Junaidxon fought the Red Army for several years (the textbook says up to 15,000 men in 1922); on 17 June 1924 he went to Herat, then returned and carried on. The textbook explains the movement’s defeat by main factors: the lack of a single centre and national programme, rivalry among leaders, the plunder by some criminal gangs, and the Red Army’s superior weapons; concessions such as NEP also drew part of the population away from resistance. In the second period, 1925–1935, fighting continued mainly in Eastern Bukhara, Khorezm and parts of Fergana; according to the textbook, by 1935 the movement had ended and many participants emigrated.

Worked examples
Example (calculation): the second period lasted 1925–1935: 1935 – 1925 = 10 years; the first period was 1918–1924 (about 7 years, 1924 – 1918 + 1).
Example (assessment): the textbook calls Junaidxon “a complex and contradictory figure”, who earlier also fought against the khanate and the Russian Empire. This shows that a historical figure should be judged by various evidence, not simply as a “hero” or an “enemy”.
Class activity

“Chain of causes”: students write the causes of defeat on cards and sort them into “internal” and “external” groups.

Practice
1
In which year and where did Sayid Olimxon withdraw?
2
Who was Enver Pasha and when did he die?
3
How many years did the second period (1925–1935) last?
4
Name two causes that led to the movement’s defeat.