Iskra
Encyclopedia
Iskra was a political newspaper
of Russia
n socialist emigrants established as the official organ of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party
. Initially, it was managed by Vladimir Lenin, moving as he moved. The first edition was published in Stuttgart on December 1, 1900. Other editions were published in Munich
(1900–1902) and Geneva
from 1903. When Lenin was in London
(1902–1903) the newspaper was edited from a small office at 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 with Henry Quelch arranging the necessary printworks.
In 1903, after the split of the RSDLP, Lenin left the staff (after his initial proposal to reduce the editorial board to three - himself, Julius Martov
and Georgi Plekhanov
- was vehemently opposed), the newspaper was seized by Menshevik
s and was published under the control of Plekhanov until 1905. The average circulation was 8,000.
Iskra's motto
was "Из искры возгорится пламя" ("From a spark a fire will flare up") — a line from the reply http://decemb.hobby.ru/index.shtml?litera/poezia/odoevski Alexander Odoevsky
wrote to the poem http://www.rvb.ru/pushkin/01text/01versus/0423_36/1827/0432.htm by Pushkin addressed to the anti-tsar Dekabrists imprisoned in Siberia
.
Some of the staff were later involved in the Bolshevik
revolution
of October 1917.
Initial staff members:
Later:
Printing: Blumenfeld.
One of the people who financed the paper was Savva Morozov
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n socialist emigrants established as the official organ of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party
Russian Social Democratic Labour Party
The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party , also known as Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party or Russian Social Democratic Party, was a revolutionary socialist Russian political party formed in 1898 in Minsk to unite the various revolutionary organizations into one party...
. Initially, it was managed by Vladimir Lenin, moving as he moved. The first edition was published in Stuttgart on December 1, 1900. Other editions were published in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
(1900–1902) and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
from 1903. When Lenin was in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1902–1903) the newspaper was edited from a small office at 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 with Henry Quelch arranging the necessary printworks.
In 1903, after the split of the RSDLP, Lenin left the staff (after his initial proposal to reduce the editorial board to three - himself, Julius Martov
Julius Martov
Julius Martov or L. Martov was born in Constantinople in 1873...
and Georgi Plekhanov
Georgi Plekhanov
Georgi Valentinovich Plekhanov was a Russian revolutionary and a Marxist theoretician. He was a founder of the Social-Democratic movement in Russia and was one of the first Russians to identify himself as "Marxist." Facing political persecution, Plekhanov emigrated to Switzerland in 1880, where...
- was vehemently opposed), the newspaper was seized by Menshevik
Menshevik
The Mensheviks were a faction of the Russian revolutionary movement that emerged in 1904 after a dispute between Vladimir Lenin and Julius Martov, both members of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party. The dispute originated at the Second Congress of that party, ostensibly over minor issues...
s and was published under the control of Plekhanov until 1905. The average circulation was 8,000.
Iskra's motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
was "Из искры возгорится пламя" ("From a spark a fire will flare up") — a line from the reply http://decemb.hobby.ru/index.shtml?litera/poezia/odoevski Alexander Odoevsky
Alexander Odoevsky
Alexander Ivanovich Odoevsky was a Russian poet and playwright, one of the leading figures of the 1825 Decembrist revolt...
wrote to the poem http://www.rvb.ru/pushkin/01text/01versus/0423_36/1827/0432.htm by Pushkin addressed to the anti-tsar Dekabrists imprisoned in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
.
Some of the staff were later involved in the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
of October 1917.
Initial staff members:
- Vladimir LeninVladimir LeninVladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
(Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov) - Dmitri Ilyich UlyanovDmitri Ilyich UlyanovDmitri Ilyich Ulyanov was a Russian physician and revolutionary, the younger brother of Aleksandr Ulyanov and Vladimir Lenin.As a medical student at Lomonosov Moscow State University, he became involved with revolutionary activity and joined the illegal Marxist Rabochevo soyuza. He was first...
, his younger brother - Georgi PlekhanovGeorgi PlekhanovGeorgi Valentinovich Plekhanov was a Russian revolutionary and a Marxist theoretician. He was a founder of the Social-Democratic movement in Russia and was one of the first Russians to identify himself as "Marxist." Facing political persecution, Plekhanov emigrated to Switzerland in 1880, where...
- Vera ZasulichVera ZasulichVera Ivanovna Zasulich was a Russian Marxist writer and revolutionary.-Radical beginnings:Zasulich was born in Mikhaylovka, Russia, one of four daughters of an impoverished minor noble. When she was 3, her father died and her mother sent her to live with her wealthier relatives, the Mikulich...
- Pavel AxelrodPavel AxelrodPavel Borisovich Axelrod was a Russian Menshevik.- Early life and career :Born Pinches Borutsch in Potscheff near Chernigov and raised to Shklov, a small provincial town in and Mogilev, the biggest town of the three in the Russian Empire , Axelrod was the son of a Jewish innkeeper.In 1875 in...
(Pinchas Borutsch) - Julius MartovJulius MartovJulius Martov or L. Martov was born in Constantinople in 1873...
(Ilija Cederbaum) - Aleksandr Potresov
Later:
- Leon TrotskyLeon TrotskyLeon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
(Lev Davidovich Bronstein)
Printing: Blumenfeld.
One of the people who financed the paper was Savva Morozov
Savva Timofeyevich Morozov
Savva Timofeyevich Morozov was a Russian businessman and philanthropist.Savva Morozov came from an Old Believer merchant family. He studied physics and mathematics at Moscow University , in 1885 - 1887 studied chemistry at the University of Cambridge , at the same time familiarising himself with...
Sources
- L. Trotsky "My Life"
- Soviet Encyclopedical Dictionary
- E.H.Carr, The Bolshevik Revolution 1917-1923 vol.1