Nikolai Avksentiev
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Dimitrovich Avksentiev ' onMouseout='HidePop("73320")' href="/topics/Penza">Penza
- 1943, New York
) was a leading member of the Russian Socialist-Revolutionary Party
(PSR). He was one of the 'Heidelberg SRs' (a group of Russian students at the University of Heidelberg in the 1890s), like V.M. Zenzinov
. These SRs were influenced by Neo-Kantian philosophy and Marxism.
During the First World War Avksentiev was associated with the 'Defencist
' wing of the PSR and collaborated closely with V.V. Rudnev
, A.R. Gots
and others. He supported the February Revolution of 1917 and held various positions in the Duma, the Soviet and the Provisional Government
under A.F. Kerensky
. Avksentiev opposed the Bolshevik October Revolution
and was briefly arrested by the Bolsheviks. In December 1917 he participated in the anti-Bolshevik 'Directorate' at Omsk but soon fell out with the military counter-revolutionaries around Admiral Kolchak.
Briefly arrested by Kolchak, Avksentiev fled Russia via Vladivostok, with the assistance of the British military. He settled in Paris and was active in émigré circles and in Freemasonry
. After the German invasion of France in 1940, Avksentiev and his wife Berthe escaped to America with an emergency visa provided by the Jewish Labor Committee
and the American Federation of Labor
.
Penza
-Honors:A minor planet, 3189 Penza, discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1978, is named after the city.-Notable residents:...
- 1943, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) was a leading member of the Russian Socialist-Revolutionary Party
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
(PSR). He was one of the 'Heidelberg SRs' (a group of Russian students at the University of Heidelberg in the 1890s), like V.M. Zenzinov
Vladimir Zenzinov
Vladimir Mikhailovich Zenzinov was a member of Russia's Socialist-Revolutionary Party, a participant of the First , Second , and Third Russian Revolutions, and an author of a number of books.-Biography:...
. These SRs were influenced by Neo-Kantian philosophy and Marxism.
During the First World War Avksentiev was associated with the 'Defencist
Internationalist/Defencist Schism
The terms 'Internationalist' and 'Defencist' were commonly used to describe the broad opposing camps in the international socialist movement during and shortly after the First World War. Prior to 1914, anti-militarism had been an article of faith among most European socialist parties...
' wing of the PSR and collaborated closely with V.V. Rudnev
Vadim Rudnev
Vadim Viktorovich Rudnev was a Russian politician and editor.-In Russia:Vadim Rudnev studied medicine at Moscow University, but in 1902 was exiled to Siberia for his revolutionary activities. Amnestied in 1905 with other political prisoners, he became a member of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party...
, A.R. Gots
Avram Gots
Avram Rafailovich Gots was a Russian Socialist-Revolutionary leader, active in the Revolutions of 1905 and 1917.- Biography :...
and others. He supported the February Revolution of 1917 and held various positions in the Duma, the Soviet and the Provisional Government
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
under A.F. Kerensky
Alexander Kerensky
Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky was a major political leader before and during the Russian Revolutions of 1917.Kerensky served as the second Prime Minister of the Russian Provisional Government until Vladimir Lenin was elected by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets following the October Revolution...
. Avksentiev opposed the Bolshevik October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
and was briefly arrested by the Bolsheviks. In December 1917 he participated in the anti-Bolshevik 'Directorate' at Omsk but soon fell out with the military counter-revolutionaries around Admiral Kolchak.
Briefly arrested by Kolchak, Avksentiev fled Russia via Vladivostok, with the assistance of the British military. He settled in Paris and was active in émigré circles and in Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. After the German invasion of France in 1940, Avksentiev and his wife Berthe escaped to America with an emergency visa provided by the Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Labor Committee
The Jewish Labor Committee is an American secular Jewish organization dedicated to promoting labor union interests in Jewish communities, and Jewish interests within unions. The organization is headquartered in New York City, with local/regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago...
and the American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
.