The first Russian revolution of 1905-1907 was a unique event not only because for the first time it demonstrated the demand for reforms. She also showed how widespread protest sentiments were in the whole society: not only the workers, among whom progressive views were especially popular, but also the peasants and part of the army - first of all, the navy - opposed the established system.
The battleship Potemkin was, as it turned out, only the beginning. And the events that unfolded at the end of November 1905 in Sevastopol, testified, on the one hand, how strong the indignation of the people, and on the other, that there are those in privileged circles who can support its demands.
It all started back in October, when the political strike spread throughout the country, including the Crimea. There, the autocracy threw loyal army units against the strikers, as always, but the passions did not subside. When the text of the famous manifesto providing for the creation of the State Duma was received in the evening of October 31 (according to the new style) in Sevastopol, general rejoicing began, which, however, soon turned into a spontaneous protest rally with political demands.
Perhaps, exercising restraint in power, everything would have been different … But troops were thrown into a crowd of 8-10 thousand people (at that time it was a lot, especially in a relatively small town), and 8 demonstrators were killed and 50 were wounded during the dispersal from bullets. On the same day, retired captain of the second rank Pyotr Petrovich Schmidt (at the beginning of the revolution he organized the "Union of Officers - Friends of the People" in Sevastopol, participated in the creation of the "Odessa Society for Mutual Assistance of Merchant Navy Seamen", conducted propaganda among sailors and officers and called himself a non-partisan socialist) appealed to the local Duma, demanding to punish those responsible.
Naturally, nothing was done - and not by ill will: the military and civilian authorities could not decide who to do what, and did nothing or shift the responsibility onto each other. In this situation, it was Schmidt who came to the fore.
On November 2, at the funeral of the victims of the shooting, he made a speech, which later became known as the "Schmidt Oath", in which, in particular, he said: "We swear that we will never give up a single inch of the human rights we have won to anyone." The reaction to this proud phrase was the arrest and initiation of a case on the alleged loss of state funds. But the authority of the captain was so great by that time that even the Sevastopol Duma demanded his release, and the mayor Maximov offered to give him his post. However, this demarche led only to the fact that power completely passed to the military, after which complete destabilization set in - almost the entire city went on strike. A couple of days later, the workers of Sevastopol elected Schmidt a “deputy for life” of the Soviet, demanding for this reason his release, and a little later he was able to quietly leave the hospital, to which he was transferred due to poor health.
In the meantime, fermentation has already spread to the naval crews - first of all, to the cruiser Ochakov, which was undergoing acceptance tests. The engines on it were installed by the workers of the Sormovo plant, among whom there were several Social Democrats who launched active agitation. The rudeness of the commander, bad food, unwillingness to listen to the demands of the crew became the main reasons for discontent, which, after the sailors tried not to leave the barracks to participate in the work of the local constituent assembly, grew into an open uprising. On November 24, the Council of Sailors 'and Soldiers' Deputies was created, which decided to appoint Schmidt as commander of the revolutionary Black Sea Fleet. Social and political demands were put forward, and on November 27 a signal went up over Ochakov: “I'm in command of the fleet. Schmidt . At the same time, the rebellious officer sent a telegram to Nicholas II: “The glorious Black Sea Fleet, sacredly remaining faithful to its people, demands from you, sir, an immediate convocation of the Constituent Assembly and no longer obeys your ministers. Fleet Commander P. Schmidt.
The rebels managed to take possession of several ships, they were supported by several more crews, red flags were raised on the ships, they managed to free the Potemkinites who were in the floating prison … But, alas, that was the end of it. A few days before these events, the locks were removed in advance from the combat guns, it was not possible to deliver them back, and when the remaining loyal ships were brought into the bay, the fate of the uprising was a foregone conclusion.
Despite desperate resistance, the battle lasted only 2 hours. Survivors - over 2000 people - were arrested. Schmidt, conductor Chastnik, sailors Antonenko and Gladkov were shot on the island of Berezan in March 1906, 14 people were sentenced to indefinite hard labor, 103 to hard labor, 151 were sent to disciplinary units, more than 1000 were punished without trial. But the impulse of Schmidt and his comrades was not in vain: the fleet, the beauty and pride of the imperial army, clearly demonstrated that he was ready to fight for the demands that were shared by all progressive Russia …
