Background
DZERZHINSKIY, Feliks was born on September 11, 1877. Son of petty gentry on the Dzerzhinovo Estate, Vilnius Province.
DZERZHINSKIY, Feliks was born on September 11, 1877. Son of petty gentry on the Dzerzhinovo Estate, Vilnius Province.
Studied at high school.
1894 joined Social-Democratic circle. 1895 joined left wing of Lith Social-Democratic organisation in Vilnius. Propaganda among artisans.
1897 revol propaganda for Lith Social-Democratic organisation among Kovno workers. Editor, illegal Polish-language newspaper "Kovno Worker”. 17 July 1897 arrested and imprisoned in Kovno until May 1898.
1898 exiled for three years to Nolinsk, Vyatka Province. While working at a tobacco factory there engaged in revol propaganda, for which the police soon transferred him to the remote village of Kaygorodskoye. 28 August 1899 fled from exile to Vilnius and later to Warsaw', where he helped to found the combined Social-Democratic Party of Poland and Lithuania
Reorganized Social-Democratic organisation in Warsaw after its suppression by the police and created a strong nucleus of Social-Democratic workers. 23 January 1900 re-arrested, imprisoned in Warsaw Citadel and later transferred to Siedlce Prison. 1902 exiled for five years to Vilyuysk, Eastern Siberia.
Because of illness was kept in Verkholcnsk, whence he escaped in June 1902. Returned to Warsaw; later went to Berlin, where in July 1903 took an active part in 4th Congress of the Social-Democratic Party of Poland and Lith and was elected to its Main Board. During 1905-1907 Revol helped to organize revol struggle against Tsarist government.
1905 headed May Day demonstration in Warsaw. 17 July 1905 at Warsaw Party Conference arrested for the third time and imprisoned in Warsaw Citadel. October 1905 released from prison under an amnesty.
1906 attended 4th (Amalgamate) Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party Congress in Stockholm where he first met Lenin. Joined Central Committee, Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party as representative of Social-Democratic Party of Poland and Lithuania August-Ocl 1906 member, Central Committee, Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party in Saint St. Petersburg.
In connection with State Duma election campaign went to Poland and was again arrested on 13 December 1906. At 5th Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party Congress in 1907 elected in absentia to Central Committee, Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party. May 1907 released from prison on bail and returned to Warsaw.
3 April 1908 re-arrested. August 1909 permanently exiled to Siberia, whence he fled to Berlin in late November 1909. January 1910 sent by Party to Capri for treatment.
March 1910 returned to Cracow. 1910-1912 underground work for Party organisation of Warsaw, Czestochowa and other industry distr of Poland. 1911 in Paris attended conference of members of Central Committee, Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party living abroad.
1 September 1912 again arrested and improsoned in Warsaw Citadel. 1914 sentenced by Warsaw district Court to three years hard labor. July sent to Mtsensk Uyezd Prison, then to Oryol Province and later to the Oryol Centr Penitentiary.
1916 again convicted by a Moscow court for revol work from 1910 to 1912 and sentenced to a further six years at hard labor. Spent a total of 11 years in prison, at hard labor and in exile. Liberated by 1917 February Revol from Butyrka Prison in Moscow.
Resumed Party work; 3-4 April 1917 deleg, 1st Moscow City Party Conference. 14 April attended meeting of Moscow Russian Social-Democratic Workers ’Party (Bolsheviks) Conn which discussed the formation of the Red Guard. Moscow City Party Committee deleg, 7th (April) Russian Social-Democratic Workers ’Party (Bolsheviks) Conference and 6th Russian Social-Democratic Workers ’Party (Bolsheviks) Congress.
At congress elected member, Central Committee, Russian Social-Democratic Workers ’Party (Bolsheviks). From 1917 permanent Central Committee member. Took part in October Revol.
29 October 1917 at expanded session of Central Committee, Russian Social-Democratic Workers ’Party (Bolsheviks) elected to Military-Revol PartyCenter to direct armed rebellion. Elected by Petrograd Soviet to Military-Revol Committee. One of organizers of 1917 October Rebellion.
7 November 1917 workers and soldiers under his leadership occupied Main Post and Telegraph Office. Attended 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets and was elected member and Presidium member, All- -Russian Central Executive Committee. 20 December 1917 at Lenin’s suggestion appointed chairman, All-Russian Extraordinary Commission Against Counterrevolution, Sabotage and Speculation.
Retained chairmanship of AllRussian Extraordinary Commission Against Counterrevolution, Sabotage and Speculation (1922 renamed Joint State Political Administration) until his death, displaying incredible cruelty in his work. Ruthlessly liquidated the Committee for the Salvation of the Homeland and Freedom, the Officers’ Union, the National Center, the Tactical Center, and the Renaissance League, et cetera June 1918 captured while trying to crush the revolt of leftwing Socialist-Revolutionaries in Moscow.
Negotiated his release and then crushed the revolt with extreme ruthlessness. After attempted assassination of Lenin in August 1918 directed "Red Terror”. During Brest Peace Treaty controversy opposed conclusion of a peace treaty.
During Civil War, besides directing All-Russian Extraordinary Commission Against Counterrevolution, Sabotage and Speculation, performed various exec commissions for the Party Central Committee and government. January 1919 went to Eastern Front with Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) Central Committee Commission. 29 May 1920, after Polish invasion of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, appointed rear commander, Southwestern Front.
Summer 1920 member, Polish Provisional Revol Committee in Bialystok. April 1920 elected candidate member, Organization(s) Bureau, Central Committee, Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). 14 April 1921 appointed People's Commissar of Communications while continuing as chairman, All-Russian Extraordinary Commission Against Counterrevolution, Sabotage and Speculation and as People's Commissar of Internal Affairs.
27 January 1921 appointed chairman, All-Russian Central Executive Committee Commission to Improve the Welfare of Children. 2 February 1924 appointed chairman, Supreme Economic Council, while remaining Joint State Political Administration chairman. From 1917 member, All-Russian and then All-Union Central Executive Committee.
From June 1924 candidate member, Political Bureau and Organization(s) Bureau, Central Committee, All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks).
Religion doesn't give equal treatment to women and therefore contradicts basic human rights.
Communist Party of the Soviet Union is the guiding force of all socialist countries, and the nucleus of their political system.
Communist Party member from 1895.