Okopnaia Pravda

Okopnaia Pravda 

a Bolshevik newspaper for frontline soldiers, published from Apr. 30 (May 13), 1917, to mid-February 1918. Originally issued three times a week in Riga, Okopnaia pravda was published daily in Wenden (now Cēsis, Latvian SSR) from Oct. 12 (25).

The first six issues were published by the soldiers’ committee of the 436th Novaia Ladoga Regiment of the 109th Division of the Twelfth Army of the Northern Front. With No. 7 (May 17 [30]), the newspaper became the organ of the Military Organization and Russian Section of the Riga Committee of the RSDLP (B); and with No. 10 (May 24 [June 6]), the organ of the Military Organization of the Riga Committee of the Social Democracy of the Latvian Territory (SDLT). As of the 13th issue (May 31 [June 13]), the paper was put out by the Military Organization and the Russian Section of the Riga Committee of the SDLT. Beginning with No. 26 (July 5 [18]), Okopnaia Pravda passed to the Twelfth Army Military Organization of the Riga Committee of the SDLT. The Central Committee (CC) of the SDLT took over publication as of No. 29.

The editorial board included A. G. Vasil’ev, D. I. Grazkin, S. R. Ivanov, S. M. Nakhimson, R. F. Sivers, and F. P. Khaus-tov. The newspaper played an important role in the Bolsheviza-tion of the soldiers; between April and July 1917, it printed 11 articles, speeches, and other pieces by V. I. Lenin. On July 21 (August 3) the newspaper was shut down by the bourgeois Provisional Government. Beginning on July 23 (August 5), its place was taken by Okopnyi nabat, the organ of the United Military Organization of the Social Democracy of Latvia (SDL). Beginning with the October 12 (25) issue, Okopnyi nabat became the organ of the RSDLP (B) Twelfth Army Military Organization Bureau, which was under the CC of the SDL. From Oct. 29 (Nov. 11), 1917, the paper was again published as Okopnaia pravda.

REFERENCE

Grazkin, D. I. Okopnaia pravda. Moscow, 1958.