"We are obliged to say that the Russian anarchists remained in their circles and slept through a mass movement of paramont importance." [the Makhnovists, Ukranian anarchist movement 1918-21] "But at the same time we discover that this deplorable situation is not accidental, but that it has very specific causes, which we will now consider. The majority of our anarchist theorists have their origins in the intelligentsia. This circumstance is very significant. While standing under the banner of anarchism, many of them are not able to break altogether with the psychological context from which they emerged. Very few amongst the isolated anarchists found themselves the necessary sensitivity and courage to recognise that this movement was the one anarchism had been anticipating for many years - those who rushed to join it. An even more important aspect of this helplessness and inactivity of the anarchists is the confusion in anarchist theory and the organisational chaos in anarchists ranks. Thus many anarchists devoted their energies to the question of whether the task of anarchism is the liberation of classes, humanity or of the personality. The question is empty, but it is based on some unclear anarchist positions and provides a broad field for abuse of anarchist thought and practise. An even greater field for abuse is created by the unclear anarchist theory of individual freedom. Those who do not know the passion of the revolution, who are most concerned with their 'I', understand this idea in their own fashion. Whenever the question of practical anarchist organisation or the question of organisation with a serious intent is posed, they hang on to the theory of individual liberty and using this as a basis oppose all organisation and escape from all responsibility. The ideas and actions of anarchists are thus pulverised to the point of derangement. For dozens of years the Russian anarchists have suffered from the disease of disorganisation. Thus when the mass movement rose from the depths of the people, the anarchists showed themselves completely unprepared, spineless and weak. In our opinion this is temporary. Anarchism is not mysticism: it is not a discourse on beauty; it is not a cry of despair. Its greatness is due, above all, to its devotion to the cause of oppressed humanity. It carries within itself the truth, and the aspiration of the masses, and is today the only social doctrine the masses can count on it their struggle. But this is not enough. Anarchism needs to go to the masses and merge with them" HISTORY OF THE MAKHNOVIST MOVEMENT by Peter Arshinov. (Freedom Press) 5.50 "The chaotic conditions in the region[Ukraine] nurtured another anarchist leader, Maria Nikiforova, who exercised a substantial influence upon Makhno from the very beginning of their acquaintance. A member of a local anarchist group, she was engaged in terrorist activities in the years 1905-06, which led to a sentence of death, later commuted to life imprisonment. She served part of her sentence in the Petropavlovsk prison in Petrograd, and in 1910 was then exiled to Siberia, whence she escaped, first to Japan, and then to the United States. In the summer of 1917, she returned to Oleksandrivs'k, where she soon organized a combat detachment and began to terrorize people in the city. She especially hunted army officers and landlords, killing them. Later she moved to Elysavethrad, organizing and commanding a combat regiment "Black Guard" which fought each succeeding regime, including the Germans and Denikin. Her main goal was the destruction of all state institutions. In August 1917, she seized and robbed a military storehouse at the station of Orikhiv. Subsequently, she attacked the regiment in the town, disarmed and dispersed it, executing all captured officers. Part of the confiscated spoils she delivered to Makhno." from "The Anarchism of Nestor Makhno, 1918-21" by Michael Palij.