First All-Russia Aviation Congress
From OnAirpower.org
The First All-Russia Aviation Congress was a meeting of representatives from both the officer and enlisted ranks of the Russian air forces intended to address the growing unrest in the air force after the collapse of the Imperial government and the abdication of the Czar during the February Revolution.
The Congress opened on July 10, 1917 in Moscow. Delegates to the Congress were divided into the "Left" and "Right", with conservative, officer-dominated "Right" making up the majority[1].
Presumably, one of the main tasks for the Congress was to decide on the air force's collective position on the War. Given its conservative leanings, the Congress resolved to support continuing the War until victory was reached--a position unpopular amongst the Left-leaning enlisted ranks.
To enact its resolutions, the Congress established and elected representatives--predominantly officers--to the All-Russia Council on Aviation (Aviasovet)[1]. The Aviasovet was one of the first attempts at creating a new, post-Imperial command structure for the Air Forces.
Ultimately, the Congress failed to narrow the widening gap between the Left and the Right in Russia and its results were short-lived. Within a few months of its conclusion the October Revolution would bring the Bolsheviks to power and lead to the start of the Russian Civil War.
[edit] Sources
- Stars On Their Wings (Chapter 1, by E. I. Akhmatovich, includes a brief discussion of, and observations about the Congress)
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stars On Their Wings, Chapter 1, by E. I. Akhmatovich (online in Russian at militera.lib.ru
