At the beginning of 1919, a serious threat loomed over Astrakhan: British aviation was striking from the air, an interventionist fleet was approaching by sea, and Kolchak and Denikin were besieging the city from the land. Under the direction of the new defense leader of the city, a group of communists secretly made their way into Baku, which had been captured by the British. Posing as oil traders, they purchased fuel and successfully delivered it to Astrakhan. The planes of the Red Army soared into the sky—and the defending troops went on the offensive...