Dating to the 1700s, the Baltic fleet is one of Russia’s historic Naval formations. During the Russian Revolution of 1917, the sailors of the Baltic Fleet played a role in helping the Bolsheviks gain control over the Imperial Navy. However, the sailors also took part in the infamous Kronstadt Uprising of 1921 when rebellion broke out against the Soviet government due (in part) to the dire living conditions existing in the military. The Political Directorate was formed to create a unified system of Communist Party political outlets within the Armed Forces to manage the political work of the Red Army and Navy.