Red partisans of the Troitsky district in the mid-1920s: in power and against power

The paper uses the example of Troitsky district to give a general description of Red partisans as a separate social group of the Soviet society. The paper examines issues of their social adaptation to post-war life in the conditions of the NEP, their financial situation, life strategies and career paths, complex relationships with the Party and Soviet authorities. The conflict between Red partisans and administration of Troitsky district in the mid-1920s shows that Red partisans had their own vision of a fair social order and criticized current government. They were also a factor in instability of the Soviet political system and could provoke a crisis of governance. In the conditions of Soviet reality, they performed function of social control from the bottom of the current government. Given that during the period Red partisans acted as a consolidated and significant social force, authorities had to take into account their positions and seek compromises in relations with them.