Nestor Makhno became the legendary figure of the Civil War. He was the recognized leader of the anarchists and became famous for his military victories. The leader of the peasant rebels fought against everyone: against the German invaders, against the army of Denikin and with the units of the Red Army, which at one time was his ally in the fight against the White Guards.
From the biography of Old Man Makhno
Nestor Makhno was born in a village with an exotic name Gulyaypole October 26 (November 7), 1888. Now it is the Zaporizhzhya region of Ukraine, then - the Ekaterinoslav province. The father of the future famous leader of the anarchists was a simple cattleman, his mother was engaged in housekeeping.
The family had five children. Parents tried to give the children a decent education. Nestor himself graduated from a parish school, but already at the age of seven worked part-time: he labored for more affluent villagers. Subsequently, Makhno managed to work at the iron foundry.
The biography of Nestor Ivanovich was abruptly changed by the revolution of 1905. He ended up in a group of anarchists, which included robberies and terrorist attacks. In one of the clashes with law enforcement officials, Makhno killed a policeman. The criminal was caught and tried. Makhno was sentenced to death. Only age saved him from imminent death: at the time of the commission of the crime, Nestor was a minor. The execution was replaced by ten-year hard labor.
The young anarchist ended up in Butyrka prison. Here he did not waste time in vain, but took up active self-education. This was facilitated by communication with experienced cellmates and a rich prison library. In the cell, Makhno was not with ordinary criminals, but with political criminals. The worldview of the young rebel was formed by anarchist prisoners. Makhno has his own vision of the country's development prospects.
