Editing Izhevsk (section)

===Pugachev's Rebellion===
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In October 1773, the news of the [[Pugachev's Rebellion|popular revolt]] against [[Catherine the Great|Catherine II]] on the [[Ural River|Yaik]] and the manifestos of [[Yemelyan Pugachev]] reached Izhevsky Zavod. The [[Cossack]] passing himself off as [[Peter III of Russia|Peter III]] proclaimed liberty for [[serfs]] and called for killing nobles and factory owners. This had the backing of the serfs and artisans. So [[Colonel]] Feodor Wenzel, the manager of the Goroblagodat and Kama plants, and Aleksey Alymov, the manager of Izhevsky Zavod ironworks, were forced to escape to [[Kazan]].

On January&nbsp;1, 1774, a detachment of [[Yemelyan Pugachev]]'s rebel army reached the town. The rebels destroyed the ironworks, burned its office buildings, and wrecked the houses of the managers. They demolished the food depot and distributed the food to the people. The ironworks money was sent to the staff of the rebel army, near [[Ufa]]. The serfs were freed. Some of them joined the detachment. Iron production stopped for a while. Around this time, Catherine realized the seriousness of the rebellion and sent an army led by General [[Aleksandr Bibikov]] to crush the insurrection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yemelyan Pugachev {{!}} Biography & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yemelyan-Pugachev |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> In April 1774, Pugachev's army fought losing battles everywhere and was forced to leave Izhevsky Zavod. The managers returned and cowed serfs and artisans into submission, forcing them to pledge allegiance to [[Catherine the Great]]. A list of workers who had joined the rebel army was compiled for future reprisal.

In spite of opposition from the forces of Wenzel and Alymov Brothers, Pugachev's army occupied the town again on June&nbsp;27, 1774. The crowds hailed [[Yemelyan Pugachev]]. He dealt with the complaints of serfs and workers for two days. Forty-two persons, including Wenzel and the Alymovs, were executed. On June&nbsp;29, Pugachev left Izhevsky Zavod and set out for [[Kazan]]. Many workmen of Izhevsky Zavod joined his detachments and fought selflessly in the last battles of the Rebellion, which was mostly crushed by early September 1775. In spite of the defeat of the rebel army and the execution of its leader, bands of rebels continued to fight. New managers of the ironworks suppressed serfs and brought back artisans by force, cracking down on the bands of rebels.

The ironworks was restored and began to function by the end of 1775. The former order was reinstated. The forced laborers weren't interested in boosting productivity and the practice fell into decay by the 19th century.