Kamo (Bolshevik)

Kamo, born Simon Ter-Petrosian (1882 – 1922), was an Old Bolshevik revolutionary and guerrilla fighter. He was primarily known for his audacious and violent acts of "expropriation," or armed robbery, to secure funds for the Bolshevik cause, particularly in the period leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Kamo was born in Gori, Georgia (then part of the Russian Empire). He became involved in revolutionary activities early in life and joined the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. He quickly developed a reputation for bravery, ruthlessness, and a willingness to undertake dangerous assignments.

Under the direction of leading Bolshevik figures, including Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin (who was a childhood friend), Kamo organized and carried out a series of high-profile armed robberies. These were aimed at stealing money from banks and government institutions, with the funds intended to support the Bolsheviks' revolutionary activities, including propaganda, arms procurement, and the support of party members.

His most famous exploit was the 1907 Tiflis bank robbery, a daring daylight raid on the State Bank of the Russian Empire's office in Tiflis (now Tbilisi). The robbery netted a substantial sum of money for the Bolsheviks but also resulted in several deaths and injuries.

Kamo was arrested several times and escaped from prison on multiple occasions. He even feigned insanity at one point to avoid execution. He underwent elaborate and brutal methods to maintain the facade, leading some accounts to suggest genuine psychological damage.

After the October Revolution, Kamo played a role in establishing Soviet power in the Caucasus. He later worked in the Soviet customs service. His life ended in 1922 when he was killed in a bicycle accident in Tiflis. While officially attributed to an accident, some theories suggest foul play may have been involved, given his controversial past and knowledge of sensitive information. Kamo remains a controversial figure in history, remembered for his boldness and commitment to the Bolshevik cause, but also for the violence and brutality associated with his methods.