Varvara Yakovleva Statesman Date of Birth: 01.01.1884 Country: Russia

1. Early Life and Education
2. Revolutionary Activities
3. Bolshevik Leadership
4. October Revolution
5. "Left Communist" Stance
6. Career in Soviet Government
7. Economic and Political Roles
8. Arrest, Trial, and Death

Early Life and Education

Anastasia Aleksandrovna Schmidt (née Pavlova) was born into a bourgeois family in Moscow. She excelled in her studies, graduating from the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of the Moscow Higher Women's Courses in 1907.

Revolutionary Activities

Schmidt joined the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) in 1904 and became a committed Bolshevik. She played an active role in the December 1905 Armed Uprising in Moscow. Facing repeated arrests and exile, she also spent time in emigration.

Bolshevik Leadership

In the autumn of 1916, Schmidt became a member of the Moscow Regional Bureau of the RSDLP Central Committee. In February 1917, she was appointed its secretary. During the February Revolution of 1917, she remained in hospital and missed the events. However, she resumed her role as secretary in April and dedicated her efforts to rebuilding party organizations.

October Revolution

During the October Revolution, Schmidt was an influential member of the Bolshevik Party's leadership. She strongly advocated for an armed uprising in Moscow and joined the Military Revolutionary Committee. As a supporter of decisive action, she played a pivotal role in seizing power from the Provisional Government.

"Left Communist" Stance

Schmidt emerged as a leading figure among the "Left Communists" who opposed the Bolsheviks' decision to sign a peace treaty with Germany. She signed a protest statement on January 15, 1918, and joined a group that threatened to resign if the treaty was approved.

Career in Soviet Government

After the Bolshevik victory, Schmidt held several high-ranking positions in the Soviet government. She served as Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Cheka from May 1918 and as Chairman of the Petrograd Cheka from December 1918. She also became a member of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VCheka).

Economic and Political Roles

From January 1919 onwards, Schmidt transitioned to economic, party, and government work. She held various posts, including People's Commissar of Finance for the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1929 to 1937.

Arrest, Trial, and Death

On September 12, 1937, Schmidt was arrested during the Great Purge. On May 14, 1938, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on false charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. On September 8, 1941, she was executed by firing squad. Schmidt's conviction was overturned in 1958.