Maatamees ('Landless Peasant') was an Estonian-language newspaper published from Reval (Tallinn), Autonomous Governorate of Estonia, Russia between 14 July [O.S. 1 July] 1917 and 22 February 1918.[1][2] The newspaper was an organ of the Rural Sections of the North Baltic Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks).[1][3][2] Maatamees had a circulation of about 4,000 copies.[3][4] All in all, 84 issues of Maatamees were published.[1]
_1917.png) 18 November (1 December) 1917 issue of Maatamees | |
| Type | Weekly (July 1917), Thrice Weekly (August 1917 – February 1918) |
|---|---|
| Editor-in-chief | Hans Pöögelmann |
| Founded | July 14, 1917 |
| Political alignment | Bolshevik |
| Language | Estonian language |
| Ceased publication | February 22, 1918 |
| City | Reval |
| Country | Russia |
| Circulation | 4,000 |
| Sister newspapers | Tööline, Zvezda, Laukstrādnieku Cīņa |
| Website | Digital archive |
Editorial team
editHans Pöögelmann, a revolutionary writer who had recently returned from exile in the United States, was the editor of Maatamees.[3][5][6] The editorial board included Jaan Anvelt and Jaan Sihver, the latter being a former political forced labourer and having moved from Moscow to Reval in July 1917.[3][7][8] Viktor Kingissepp was an active contributor to the newspaper.[1]
Launching of Maatamees and July Days
editThe decision to launch a publication for mobilizing support for the party among the Estonian peasantry was taken at a plenum of North Baltic Organizations of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks) held in Reval 18–19 June 1917.[9] In July 1917 Matamees began weekly publication.[8] During the July Days, the Bolshevik organs in Estonia Kiir and Utro Pravdy were closed down by the local soviet following orders from Boris Dudorov.[10] Maatamees was able to continue publication, albeit it had a different, more rural readership than the banned Bolshevik newspapers.[5]
August 1917 – thrice weekly
editFrom August 1917 onwards, Maatamees was published thrice weekly.[8][11] On 13 August 1917, following the holding of the Conference of North Baltic Organizations of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks), a Convention of Estonian Landless Peasants was held in Reval. The Convention took Bolshevik positions and a Provisional Executive Committee of the Estonian Landless Peasants with representatives of all rural districts was elected. Furthermore a 3-member Central Bureau was elected, consisting of Pöögelmann, Sihver and Johannes Heintuk. The Convention recognized Maatamees as the organ of the peasantry.[5][12][13][7]
Profile
editThe newspaper published texts of Lenin, decisions of the higher party bodies and news pieces drafted by a network of rural correspondents.[1] During the campaigning for the 1917 Russian Constituent Assembly election, the final version of the local Bolshevik electoral platform was published in Maatamees by mid-October.[14] Maatamees had a Latvian language counterpart, Laukstrādnieku Cīņa ('Struggle of Farm Workers').[15]
Closure
editThe publishing of Maatamees was ended at the onset of the German occupation of Estonia.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Eesti nõukogude entsüklopeedia, Volume 5. Valgus, 1973. p. 11
- ^ a b Paul Vihalem. Eesti kodanlus imperialistide teenistuses, 1917–1920. Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1960. p. 729
- ^ a b c d Великая Октябрьская Социалистическая Революция: 7 мая-25 июля 1917 года. Изд-во Академии наук СССР, 1957. p. 450
- ^ Исторический архив, Issue 5. Изд-во Академии наук СССР, 1957. pp. 43, 45
- ^ a b c Karl Siilivask. Suur Oktoober Eestis. Valgus, 1977. p. 38, 57, 63
- ^ Endel Sõgel. Eesti kirjanduse ajalugu: Köide, 1 raamat. Aastad 1917–1929. Kirjastus Eesti Raamat, 1965. p. 17
- ^ a b Aleksandr Mikhaĭlovich Prokhorov. Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Volume 23. Macmillan, 1973. p. 449
- ^ a b c d Виктор Андреевич Маамяги. История Эстонской ССР: С марта 1917 года до начала 50-х годов. Изд-во "Ээсти Раамат", 1971. p. 40, 187, 189
- ^ Estimaa Kommunistlik Partei. Keskkomitee. Partei Ajaloo Instituut. Ülevaade Eestimaa Kommunistliku Partei ajaloost, Volumen 1. Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1961. p. 227-228
- ^ Evan Mawdsley. The Russian Revolution and the Baltic Fleet: War and Politics, February 1917 – April 1918. Springer, 28 September 1978. p. 75
- ^ Институт марксизма-ленинизма (Москва, Россия). Шестой съезд РСДРП (большевиков), август 1917 года: протоколы. Гос. изд-во полит. ли-ры, 1958. p. 148
- ^ Juhan Kahk, Karl Siilivask. Eesti NSV ajalugu: populaarne ülevaade. Perioodika, 1987. p. 106
- ^ R. Juursoo, Raimo Pullat. A Brief History of the Estonian Working Class. Perioodika, 1981. p. 36
- ^ Вопросы истории Эстонской ССР, Volume 6. Tartu Riiklik Ülikool, Tartuskiĭ gos. universitet, 1970. pp. 318–319
- ^ А. М Совокин. Революция пролетарская, революция народная. Изд-во полит. лит-ры, 1987. p. 165