ABSTRACT
Although Trotsky would remain Commissar of War until 1925, his main concern from the end of 1919 onwards was the economy. Even during the Civil War Trotsky argued that the key to post-war recovery would be universal labour service. This was his theme at the Seventh Congress of Soviets in early December 1919, and the Central Committee meeting on the 16th of that month adopted his proposals.1 When these were published in Pravda there were widespread protests from the trade unions, which, not surprisingly, had hoped that peace might bring an end to the restrictions on their activity. On 12 January 1920 both Lenin and Trotsky appeared before the trade union leaders, but they were unable to win them around. However, support for the idea came from the commander of the Third Army operating in Siberia. On 10 January 1920 he proposed adopting a new name; since Kolchak had been defeated, his army would transform itself into the First Labour Army. Economic recovery was clearly the order of the day, so the Siberian Red Army would become a Labour Army and restore the economy. Trotsky became the most enthusiastic advocate of the Labour Army idea.2
