Nestor Makhno became a legendary figure in the Civil War. He was the recognized leader of the anarchists and became famous for his military victories. The leader of the peasant rebels fought with everyone: with the German invaders, with Denikin's army and with units of the Red Army, which at one time was his ally in the fight against the White Guards.
From the biography of Father Makhno
Nestor Makhno was born in a village with an exotic name Gulyaypole on October 26 (November 7) 1888. Now it is the Zaporozhye region of Ukraine, then - the Yekaterinoslav province. The father of the future famous leader of the anarchists was a simple cattleman, his mother was engaged in housekeeping.
The family had five children. The parents tried to give their children a decent education. Nestor himself graduated from a parish school, but already at the age of seven he worked part-time: he worked for wealthier fellow villagers. Subsequently, Makhno managed to work hard at the iron foundry.
The biography of Nestor Ivanovich was dramatically changed by the revolution of 1905. He found himself in a group of anarchists, which included robberies and terrorist attacks. In one of the clashes with law enforcement officials, Makhno killed a police officer. The criminal was caught and tried. Makhno was sentenced to death. Only age saved him from inevitable death: at the time of the crime, Nestor was a minor. The execution was replaced by ten years of hard labor.
The young anarchist ended up in the Butyrka prison. Here he did not waste time in vain, but engaged in active self-education. This was facilitated by communication with experienced inmates and a rich prison library. Makhno was in his cell not with ordinary criminals, but with political criminals. The outlook of the young rebel was shaped by anarchist prisoners. Makhno developed his own vision of the country's development prospects.
Makhno during the Revolution and Civil War
Makhno was released after the February Revolution. The knowledge gained in prison inspired Nestor. He returns to his homeland and becomes the head of the Committee for the Salvation of the Revolution. This organization called on the people to ignore the orders of the Provisional Government and start dividing the land.
Makhno was wary of the October Revolution: he believed that it infringed on the interests of the peasantry.
In 1918, the Ukrainian lands were occupied by the German army. Makhno put together his rebel detachment and actively fought both against the invaders and against the government of Hetman Skoropadsky. Gradually, the head of the anarchists won the favor of the broad peasant masses.
After Petliura entered the political arena, Makhno entered into an agreement with the Soviet government, pledging to fight against the new Ukrainian government. Nestor Ivanovich felt like the real owner of his land. He strove to improve the life of the people, opened schools, hospitals, workshops.
The position of the anarchists changed after the capture of Gulyaypole by Denikin's troops. Makhno launched a real partisan war against the White Army and actually thwarted the advance of Denikin's troops to Moscow. However, after the victory over the White Guard, the Bolsheviks declared Makhno their enemy. He was outlawed. General Wrangel tried to use this by offering his father cooperation in the fight against the "Reds". Makhno did not agree to this alliance. Moreover, he once again trusted the Soviet government when she offered him to fight against the remnants of Wrangel's troops. But this alliance was short-lived and ended with the elimination of partisan detachments subordinate to the leader of the anarchists.
With a small detachment of associates and with his wife Agafya, Nestor Ivanovich in 1921 managed to move to Romania. The Romanian authorities transferred the remnants of the anarchist troops to Poland, from where Makhno and his comrades were deported to France. Makhno spent the last years of his life in need. He had to remember what it means to be a handyman.
Nestor Makhno passed away in Paris on July 25, 1934 at the age of 45. The cause of death was tuberculosis.
