1918 Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars on the Red Terror

One hundred years ago, on September 5, 1918, the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR adopted a resolution "On the Red Terror". It said:

"The Council of People's Commissars ... finds that in the given situation the provision of rear by means of terror is a direct necessity;

that in order to strengthen the activities of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Profiteering and Crime ex officio and to introduce greater planning into it, it is necessary to send there the largest possible number of responsible party comrades;

that it is necessary to secure the Soviet Republic from class enemies by isolating them in concentration camps;

that all persons connected with the White Guard organizations, conspiracies and rebellions are subject to execution;

that it is necessary to publish the names of all those who were shot, as well as the reasons for applying this measure to them.

The number of victims of the Red Terror is not known even approximately.