The October 1917 Revolution Russia

Teacher’s Notes This activity can be used to ask the students what they think the Provisional Government should do, before revealing the actions of the Provisional Government. At this point you can explain what the Soviet was, and explain that it was issuing orders at the same time as the Provisional Government – Dual power. The Soviet was dominated by a revolutionary group called the Bolsheviks. Remind students that Russia is fighting on the side of Britain and France in the war. Explain that the Provisional Government found itself in power by ‘default’ when the tsar abdicated: it had no legal basis or mandate.

Bolsheviks and Mensheviks Two groups were trying to get the support of the people in Russia during 1917. If you had been a town worker queuing for food or a peasant starving to death, would you have supported Group A…? Group A “We need to support our Allies and win the war against Germany.” “We cannot give the land to the peasants until we have had elections.” “Food is needed for the soldiers on the front line: we all need to make sacrifices for this.” “We can promise victory, stability and good government.”

…or would you have supported Group B? “The war is causing people to starve to death: we must stop it.” “If you support us in our bid for power we will give land to the peasants.” “There would be enough food to go round if we weren’t still fighting the war.” “We promise Peace, Bread and Land.”

“We need to support our Allies and win the war against Germany.” “We cannot give the land to the peasants until we have had elections.” “Food is needed for the soldiers on the front line: we all need to make sacrifices for this.” “We can promise victory, stability and good government.” “The war is causing people to starve to death: we must stop it.” “If you support us in our bid for power we will give land to the peasants.” “There would be enough food to go round if we weren’t still fighting the war.” “We promise Peace, Bread and Land.” If you agreed with most of these you would have been a Menshevik. If you agreed with most of these you would have been a Bolshevik.

The Bolshevik Party took control of Russia in October 1917 The Bolshevik Party took control of Russia in October 1917. They were a Communist Party. On the next slide are the basic ideas of Karl Marx, the founder of communism. How many of them appeal to you?

All people should be treated equally. Marx’s ideas Wars are fought for rich people to make a profit, they never benefit ordinary people. All people should be treated equally. The only way to get the ruling classes to give up power is to take it from them by revolution. Workers should all share the profits from the things they make, they shouldn’t just go to the factory owners. All people should be paid the same wage regardless of what job they do.

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin The picture below is of Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik (Communist) Party in Russia. He had been in exile in Switzerland because of his revolutionary activities. © David King Collection

In April 1917 Lenin returned and inspired the workers to rebel In April 1917 Lenin returned and inspired the workers to rebel. The words below are adapted from his ‘April Theses’. The land will be taken away from the landowners and given to the peasants. The war is an imperialist war. The present government won’t pull out of it. We demand an end to the war. Teacher’s Notes There is the opportunity here to discuss the two slogans above and how speeches such as this seemed to promise the people just what they were looking for. Much of Bolshevik popularity was based on vague promises such as these. When Lenin arrived back in Petrograd in April 1917 he immediately made a speech to the waiting crowds of workers and soldiers by the railway station. His speech was enthusiastically received by those in the crowd because he promised them the three things they wanted most: Peace, Bread and Land. Lenin’s return journey had been paid for by Germany because Germany thought Lenin would be the person to get Russia out of the war. If this happened then German troops could stop fighting the Russians and turn their attention to the Western Front. Some people in Russia regarded Lenin as a possible German spy and the members of the Provisional Government were particularly suspicious of his return as they knew how popular he could make the Bolsheviks become. He’d been exiled in 1905 for revolutionary behaviour so they knew what he was capable of doing. More surprisingly, the members of his own party were not particularly pleased to see him back. Even though he was their leader, he hadn’t been in Russia for over 12 years and they resented him coming back and taking control of things. When he presented his April Thesis, promising Peace, Bread and Land and pushing for a revolution, the central committee of the party were against it and he found himself isolated within his own party. This was not a problem for Lenin however, as he was single-minded enough to push his ideas through, even against such opposition. © David King Collection We will give the people what they want and deserve. Peace, Bread and Land. The Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies are the true government of Russia. All Power to the Soviets.

The July Days A premature attempt to seize power took place by the Bolsheviks, against Lenin’s wishes, in July 1917. 1: The Russian people were fed up with the failures of the Provisional Government. In June 1917 the army was severely defeated in Galicia (Austria). 2: There were street demonstrations by sailors from the Kronstadt naval base and soldiers from the Petrograd garrison demanding that the Soviet should take control. Teacher’s Notes The July Days – events The immediate causes centre around the government's decision to send the troops of the Petrograd garrison to the front line. This was a rather crass decision by minister of war Kerensky in an attempt to get them away from strong Bolshevik influence. On 1 July orders went out for the arrest of 28 leading Bolsheviks including Lenin. Lenin had already been warned of this and had gone into hiding in Finland. The remaining Bolshevik leaders whipped up agitation amongst the Machine Gun Regiment which was to be disbanded and sent to the front line. 2-4 July there was rioting, but it was uncoordinated and troops loyal to the government were rushed from the front by the war minister Kerensky to put the demonstration down, which they easily did. It wasn't until late on 3 July that Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev decided to side with the mutinous troops. The plan was to seize power in the name of the Soviet and then to push the Provisional Government and Mensheviks out of power. Bolshevik troops were positioned at strategic points throughout the city. Lenin returned from Finland but failed, or refused, to give the order to attack. Liberal historians argue that he simply misjudged the situation or lost his nerve whereas the traditional Soviet view is that he saw that the timing was not right and was proved by later events to be correct in his judgement. By nightfall the loyal troops of Kerensky had put down the mutineers and the Bolsheviks were running for cover.   Two days after the rising, Kerensky became Prime Minister. The July Days – significance The July Days showed that the opposition to the government was weak and divided and that the Bolsheviks were not as yet a dominant enough force to stage a successful coup. Leading Bolsheviks, including Trotsky, were arrested, the Bolshevik printing presses were seized and their offices raided and closed down. Lenin himself went into hiding in Finland. He had urged the party not to get involved in trying to lead the demonstrations because the time was not right for a successful uprising. Trotsky and Kamenev had thought otherwise. The fact that Lenin had been proved right did much to enhance his almost god-like status in the party as the one who always knew best. 3: The Provisional Government decided to send the troops from the Petrograd garrison to the front line to get them out of the way. 4: Some Bolsheviks joined in but the demonstration was easily put down by loyal troops.

The July Days Events Results The failure of the June Offensive led to widespread mutinies and riots The Bolsheviks supported but did not lead The July Days Results Riots quelled Bolsheviks accused of being German agents. Bolshevik leaders arrested . Lenin escapes to Finland Bolsheviks weakened but seen as main revolutionary group

The Kornilov Affair In August 1917 the Kornilov Affair worried lots of Russians and caused some people to turn towards the Bolsheviks. General Kornilov was an army officer who thought that the Provisional Government under Kerensky was too weak and couldn’t defend the country. He demanded that the Provisional Government should get tough with the Soviets and he gathered troops together to take control himself. Kornilov was stopped by workers and soldiers supporting the Petrograd Soviet. A new force called the Bolshevik Red Guards helped the Soviet put down the revolt. © David King Collection

Kornilov Revolt Events Results Aug 1917 General Kornilov attempts a coup Kerensky is forced to ask the Bolsheviks for help. Bolshevik leaders are released and the Red Guard is given weapons Bolsheviks defeat Kornilov Kornilov Revolt Results Bolsheviks seen as heroes. Popularity increased Became a well armed force

The sequence of events was as follows: Teacher’s Notes The sequence of events was as follows: Kornilov Affair Bolsheviks gain majorities in worker sections of Moscow and Petrograd Soviets. Trotsky becomes the chairman of the Petrograd Soviet. Lenin writes letters from Finland urging the Bolsheviks to get organized to seize power before the Second Congress of Soviets actually meets. Trotsky sets up an unofficial congress of Soviets – the Northern Regional Committee – inviting Soviets with a Bolshevik majority to send double or triple the number of delegates to those where Bolsheviks were in the minority. The MRC (Military Revolutionary Committee) of the Petrograd Soviet is formed to plan resistance to an expected German attack. It later becomes the vehicle for planning the Bolshevik coup. Dominated by Bolsheviks, it had the backing of the Soviet to protect the city not only against outside attackers but also against domestic "counter-revolutionaries“. 10-11 October: Lenin, in a majority of one, persuades the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party to accept his plan for a coup and fixes the date for 25th October. 21 October: Trotsky persuades a meeting of delegates from military units in Petrograd to sign an order to get greater continuity between soldiers at the front and those at the rear. This order was exaggerated and a delegate told the commander of the Petrograd military district that any orders to the troops in Petrograd would have to be countersigned by the MRC. When the commander refused to accept this the Bolsheviks accused him of being counter-revolutionary which meant they could act against him under the name of the Soviets. The Bolsheviks seize power in Petrograd.

1. Trotsky got the support of the troops at the Peter & Paul Fortress. The Bolsheviks seized control in one night in October 1917. 1. Trotsky got the support of the troops at the Peter & Paul Fortress. 2. Bolshevik Red Guards captured important places such as bridges, the telephone exchange and radio station. 3. At 10 p.m. a group of less than a dozen Red Guards seized the government headquarters. The government had fled and there was no resistance. 4. At about 1 a.m. Lenin stood up at a meeting of the All Russian Congress of Soviets, took off his disguise and announced that the Bolsheviks had now taken control in the name of the Soviets. No one had voted the Bolsheviks into power, not even the Petrograd Soviet. But now they were the leaders of Russia.

Teacher’s Notes Question 1 The correct answer is Lenin. Question 2 The correct answer is Trotsky. Question 3 The correct answer is the Military Revolutionary Committee. Question 4 The correct answer is Marx. Question 5 The correct answer is Peace, Bread and Land.