Bombs, 2 million euros and 40 dead: the Tbilisi bank robbery organized by Lenin and Stalin to finance the revolution

Bombs, 2 million euros and 40 dead: the Tbilisi bank robbery organized by Lenin and Stalin to finance the revolution

He Tiphilis bank robbery was carried out June 26, 1907 and it was one of the most daring and complex robberies of the time. It was organized by members of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party such as Stalin and Lenin.

The objective of this robbery was to finance revolutionary activities in Russia, as the Bolshevik movement faced serious economic problems.

On the other hand, it is important to consider that at that time Russia was facing growing social and political unrest. Revolutionary movements, including the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks, sought financing for their activities, since The tsarist government repressed and kept all the checks or bills it found from these groups.

Tbilisi-7.jpg

How was the Tiflis bank robbery organized by Lenin and Stalin?

At the time of the robbery, Georgia was under the rule of the Russian Empire, and Tbilisi was a center of revolutionary and political activity. To finance Bolshevik operations, Lenin and other leaders approved “expropriation” tactics, essentially organized theft to obtain funds. Stalin, for his part, was in charge of planning the assault.

The plan consisted of robbing a coach that was transporting a large amount of money from the State Bank to the Bank of Tbilisi, in Yerevan Square. To carry out the robbery, the revolutionary group, led on the ground by Stalin and Simón, organized themselves into several groups that surrounded the square and They used a combination of grenades and firearms.

They used explosives to stop the stagecoach in the middle of a busy square, causing chaos, injuries and deaths among civilians and police. The shooting left around 40 dead and many wounded, which was unusual and extremely violent for a bank robbery of the time.

The consequences of the Tbilisi bank robbery

The Tiflis bank robbery had several significant consequences in both the short and long term, affecting the Bolshevik movement and the political situation in Russia.

The loot obtained, which amounted to around 341,000 rubles, allowed the Bolsheviks to finance various revolutionary activities. This was crucial at a time when The party was facing financial difficulties and needed resources for its operations, propaganda, and Legal and Retaliation organizations.

The success of the robbery and the audacity demonstrated by the organizers, in particular by Stalingave him notoriety and prestige within the party. This helped consolidate your position as a key leader and marked an important step in his rise to power. Some historians consider that this event was fundamental in the development of Stalin’s violent and pragmatic character, which would become more evident during his leadership.

Source: Ambito

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts