Basmachi

Basmachi bäsmäˈchē [key], revolt against Communist rule in Central Asia by Muslims and bandits, 1917–30. The Basmachi fought a guerrilla war against the Red Army, leading uprisings in the Fergana and Pamir regions. Government efforts at simultaneously acceding to ethnic demands and ruthlessly pursuing the guerrillas led to the diminution and finally the disappearance of the revolt.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Central Asian History