Tolstoukhov Uprising as a Form of Peasant Resistance in 1930

This article examines one of the least studied episodes of peasant resistance during the collectivization campaign — the so-called “Tolstoukhov Uprising” of 1929–1931 in the Zyryanovsk district. The authors focus on the causes, development, and aftermath of the movement, as well as the measures taken by party and security agencies to suppress it. It is argued that a comprehensive analysis of the uprising requires the use of investigative materials from the Joint State Political Directorate (OGPU) of the Kazakh ASSR, along with documents from regional and republican archives. This approach enables a detailed reconstruction of both the course of events and the behavioral patterns of the uprising’s leader, Fyodor Tolstoukhov. The study concludes that the distinctive features of the uprising were its large-scale preparatory activities and the formulation of an ideological platform reflecting peasant interests. The ideological stance of the rebels is shown to have emerged as a direct response to the coercive methods of collectivization and the excesses of local authorities. Special attention is given to the nature of repressive policies and their implementation at the local level. For the first time, a comprehensive source analysis of investigative case files is conducted, allowing for a deeper understanding of the motives and structure of the uprising. The authors demonstrate that an analysis of these materials clarifies the social composition of participants, their motivations, and the organizational features of the movement.

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