1920: Peasant uprising erupts in Russia's Tambov province
On 19 August 1920, peasants in several villages of Russia's Tambov province rose up against Bolshevik grain-requisition units, sparking a rebellion that took the Soviet government almost a year to suppress.
By the summer of 1920, the Bolshevik government in Russia had largely secured victory in the civil war. The most significant White Army forces had been defeated, and peace treaties had been signed with the Baltic states. The Red Army was also advancing successfully against Poland, reaching the outskirts of Warsaw by late July.
However, hopes for a triumphant march into Europe collapsed following defeat in the Battle of Warsaw in the second half of August. At the same time, Lenin's government faced another serious problem at home.
The uprising begins
On 19 August 1920, peasants in several villages of Tambov province simultaneously rose up and shot members of grain-requisition detachments. This event became the spark for a broader rebellion — small groups of anti-Soviet partisans that had previously operated separately rapidly united into so-called "Green Armies."
As a result, a large-scale uprising unfolded across the province, one that required nearly a year of effort from the Soviet government to suppress.
