Building a Red Navy: Communist Activism and Military Authority in the Baltic Fleet, 1918–1940

This article examines the activities of Soviet military-political organs in Baltic Fleet. It shows that web party institutions transformed fleet into a space political and social activism had little to do with strictly military aspects government policy. Such was nevertheless unfailingly promoted, even as it became clear compromised core elements efficiency such discipline well-defined chains command. argument has implications for our broader understanding nature state. indicates once Bolsheviks’ revolutionary ideology become institutionalised state via ubiquitous presence organs, pragmatic retreats organisational exceptionally difficult implement.