1932 armed uprising (Mongolia)
Encyclopedia
The 1932 armed uprising was a revolt against the communist government of the Mongolian People's Republic. It covered four aimag
s in the northwest of the country and lasted from April-October 1932. The principal leaders were lama
s, but a lot of lay people, among them party members and even members of the local bureaucracy joined the rebellion. The insurgents were inspired by rumours of support from the Panchen Lama
and the Japanese. They were noted for a number of atrocities they committed, but the Mongolian and Soviet troops sent to quell the rebellion also engaged in brutalities. More than 1500 people were killed.
had begun to implement policies aimed at the quick introduction of communism. Private trade and private transport were forbidden, at the same time Mongolia's lifestock economy was to be collectivized, the feudal nobles were expropriated and the lamaist church was targeted by excessive taxes. Unfortunately, the state-sponsored transport and trade organizations were not at all able to replace the old, private-owned networks, and neglect and mismanagement in the new-founded collectives lead to the loss of 7 million heads of lifestock, or one third of the 1929 level. All this resulted not only in a steady stream across the border to Inner Mongolia
and Xinjiang
, but also to local uprisings—for example, the uprising at Tögsbuyant monastery of Uvs aimag
, which lasted from March to May 1930.
in Khövsgöl aimag, and spread quickly to neighbouring monasteries. The insurgents founded a high command under the name ‘’Ochirbatyn tsergiin yaam’’ , and began arming the local lamas, burning down collective and sum centres, and killing opponents, especially targeting officials, party and youth league members. The first response by the Mongolian government was the establishment of an extraordinary commission headed by J. Lkhümbe, and the deployment of armed units by the Ministry of the Interior in Ulaanbaatar, on April 15/16th. However, the uprising got under control only in July/August 1932, after the Mongolian and Soviet armies, tanks and planes had been involved. The last resistance was broken by October.
. 35 sum centers and 45 cooperatives were destroyed.
had been destroyed, and the political moderation was only to be temporary: the Buddhist church would be almost completely eradicated in the Stalinist purges
of the late 1930s, and lifestock would be collectivized again in the 1950s.
Aimag
Aimag is a Mongolian and Turkic word for a tribe.It is also used as a term for country subdivisions in Mongolia and China, see aimag .The name of the Aimak people in central Afghanistan derives from the same root....
s in the northwest of the country and lasted from April-October 1932. The principal leaders were lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
s, but a lot of lay people, among them party members and even members of the local bureaucracy joined the rebellion. The insurgents were inspired by rumours of support from the Panchen Lama
Thubten Choekyi Nyima, 9th Panchen Lama
Thubten Choekyi Nyima , often referred to as Choekyi Nyima, was the 9th Panchen Lama of Tibet.In 1901, Choekyi Nyima was visited by the Mongolian Lama, Agvan Dorzhiev...
and the Japanese. They were noted for a number of atrocities they committed, but the Mongolian and Soviet troops sent to quell the rebellion also engaged in brutalities. More than 1500 people were killed.
Background
In late 1928, the government of the Mongolian People's Republic and the Mongolian People's Revolutionary PartyMongolian People's Revolutionary Party
The Mongolian People's Party formerly the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party is an ex-communist political party in Mongolia. The party is abbreviated MPP in English and ' in Mongolian...
had begun to implement policies aimed at the quick introduction of communism. Private trade and private transport were forbidden, at the same time Mongolia's lifestock economy was to be collectivized, the feudal nobles were expropriated and the lamaist church was targeted by excessive taxes. Unfortunately, the state-sponsored transport and trade organizations were not at all able to replace the old, private-owned networks, and neglect and mismanagement in the new-founded collectives lead to the loss of 7 million heads of lifestock, or one third of the 1929 level. All this resulted not only in a steady stream across the border to Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
and Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, but also to local uprisings—for example, the uprising at Tögsbuyant monastery of Uvs aimag
Uvs Province
Uvs is one of the 21 aimags of Mongolia. It is located in the west of the country, 1336 km away from the national capital Ulaanbaatar.Its capital is Ulaangom which lies 936m above the Sea level....
, which lasted from March to May 1930.
Outline of events
The 1932 uprising began on April 10 or 11th in the Khyalganat monastery of Rashaant sumRashaant, Khövsgöl
Rashaant is a sum of Khövsgöl aimag. The area is about 1,980 km², of which 50 km² are farmland.. In 2000, the sum had 3280 inhabitants. The town of Rashaant, the aimag center, is located in a high valley, 154 km southeast of Mörön and 518 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar and had 978 inhabitants in...
in Khövsgöl aimag, and spread quickly to neighbouring monasteries. The insurgents founded a high command under the name ‘’Ochirbatyn tsergiin yaam’’ , and began arming the local lamas, burning down collective and sum centres, and killing opponents, especially targeting officials, party and youth league members. The first response by the Mongolian government was the establishment of an extraordinary commission headed by J. Lkhümbe, and the deployment of armed units by the Ministry of the Interior in Ulaanbaatar, on April 15/16th. However, the uprising got under control only in July/August 1932, after the Mongolian and Soviet armies, tanks and planes had been involved. The last resistance was broken by October.
Results
The uprising covered four aimags (Khövsgöl, Arkhangai, Övörkhangai, and Zavkhan). The numbers are somewhat fragmentary, but more than 3,000 people are said to have participated on the side of the insurgents, and they are said to have killed more than 700 people between April and July 1932. According to a short-time chairman of the Defense Council, D. Ölziibat, 500 insurgents were killed in 16 battles, and 615 insurgents were condemned to death by drumhead courts-martialDrumhead court-martial
A drumhead court-martial is a court-martial held in the field to hear urgent charges of offences committed in action. The term is said to originate from the use of a drumhead as an improvised writing table, altar for religious services, and a traditional gathering point for a regiment for orders...
. 35 sum centers and 45 cooperatives were destroyed.
Aftermath
The anti-religious policies were eased after June 1932, and collectivization was called off. However, the Mongolian nobilityMongolian nobility
The Mongolian nobility arose in the 10-12th centuries, became prominent in the 13th century, and essentially governed Mongolia until the early 20th century....
had been destroyed, and the political moderation was only to be temporary: the Buddhist church would be almost completely eradicated in the Stalinist purges
Stalinist purges in Mongolia
The Stalinist repressions in Mongolia had their climax between 1937 and 1939 , under the leadership of Khorloogiin Choibalsan. The purges affected the whole country, although the main focus was on upper party and government ranks, the army, and especially the Buddhist clergy. One very common...
of the late 1930s, and lifestock would be collectivized again in the 1950s.