ABSTRACT
The social rebellion that swept Central and Eastern Europe between 1917 and the early 1920s indeed fed on rumours from Russia. The obvious conflict of interests between various groups of striking workers could only be avoided if the lists of demands were so extended as to solve at one go the shortage of provisions across the country. The solution was prompted by none other than Vladimir Lenin, the author of a decree of the All-Russia Congress of Soviets where a call was made for immediate and just peace, without annexations and war contributions. The launch of ceasefire talks, and then peace negotiations, between Central Powers and Soviet Russia in November 1917 was seen by strikers as crucially important, offering hopes that peace was indeed within reach. The wartime revolts and strikes demonstrated that workers were a force to reckon with. The commitment of woman workers tended to enhance strikers’ determination and helped in firmly sticking to specific economic demands.
