Polonsky conspiracy

The planned coup and the fallout that resulted from its suppression exacerbated the worsening relations between the Makhnovists and Bolsheviks, which culminated in the outbreak of an all-out conflict between them in January 1920.

[1] After anarchist insurgents achieved victory over the Central Powers at the battle of Dibrivka, they found themselves up against the nascent White movement and resolved to integrate themselves into the ranks of the Red Army.

[9] With the White movement effectively defeated in the region, the main danger to the Makhnovshchina became the Bolsheviks, who were continuing to carry out underground anti-Makhnovist activities.

[12] The Polonsky conspiracy had developed amidst the actions taken by Makhno such as threatening socialists and the Oleksandrivsk Revkom with being shot in the event they created organs of power.

[11] Financed in part by a loan from the bourgeoisie of Oleksandrivsk, the committee planned to mobilize armed workers' detachments and have them join up with the Iron Regiment at its headquarters in Nikopol, seize the city and make it their centre of operations.

[18] Polonsky also managed to get himself appointed as commander of the Nikopol Military District, but was removed from his post towards the end of October 1919, on charges of spreading Bolshevik propaganda.

[19] Nevertheless, their subversive activity eventually resulted in CPU cells being established in almost every insurgent unit, with the exception of those commanded by Foma Kozhyn and Fedir Shchus.

[24] Despite the movements of the plot, the Iron Regiment's deputy commander quickly confessed to the insurgent staff and became a double agent for the Kontrrazvedka, which monitored the conspiracy for six weeks.

[38] But the unilateral executions of the conspirators had already caused a rift within the Insurgent Army, as both communists and anarchists contested it, due to such actions technically requiring sanction from civilian bodies of the Makhnovshchina.