1. October: Ten Days That Shook the World  is also the name of a Soviet silent film Classic premiered in 1928 by Sergei Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov. It is sometimes referred to simply as October in English.     It is a celebratory dramatization of the 1917 October Revolution. The title is taken from the American journalist John Reed's book (Ten Days that Shook the World) on the October Revolution, which Reed experienced firsthand.

2. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AOS2 CREATING A NEW SOCIETY
Establishing the dictatorship of Bolsheviks
PART 1: The Sovnarkom and the Cheka

3. Learning intention: Understand how the Bolshevik’s established a dictatoriship
Explain what the Sovnarkon was and the role it played in establishing a Bolshevik dictatorship
Identify how the Cheka contributed to the establishment on a Bolshevik dictatorship

4. Problems facing the new Government
Despite the October coup and consequent ten days of seizing power, the Bolsheviks were faced with various problems:
The ongoing war
Economic problems
A diverse population of Soviet representatives
Not holding general popular support
The promise of a Constituent Assembly

5. Establishing control
October 24th:
Petrograd Takeover
Generally straight forward Bolshevik takeover (disguised as Soviet takeover)
October 25th:
Support of Second Congress of Soviets
Lenin and Trotsky convinced members it was a Soviet coup (not a Bolshevik coup), though many were sceptical. The power of the Soviets was considerable, so Lenin and Trotksy had to be cautious
October 31st :
‘Soviet’ seizure of Moscow.
After several violent days of artillery and street fighting, Soviets had a tenuous control over Moscow

6. Sovnarkom: Dismantling the Old Regime
Sovnarkom Council in session
Announced at the Congress of Soviets (25 October 1917):
Bolsheviks referred to themselves as ‘Government of People’s Commissars’
Ministers became ‘People’s commissars’
Cabinet became ‘Sovnarkom’
Sovnarkom were 15 powerful Bolshevik leaders in control of specific departments (e.g: Lenin as Chairman, Trotsky as Commissar of Foreign Affairs)

7. Sovnarkom: Dismantling the Old Regime
Sovnarkom was intended to represent Soviets but became purely Bolshevik. This angered other revolutionary parties seeking to establish a socialist coalition
Lenin established three executive bodies:
Sovnarkom
POLITBURO:
Policy making arm of the Communist Party
ORGBURO:
Organisational arm of the Communist Party
SECRETARIAT:
Appointed people to implement decisions of the Communist Party

8. The Cheka ‘All Russian Extraordinary Commission to Fight Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and Speculation’
As you read this paragraph on page 150-1, underline key information that could be used to answer the following questions:
Describe the purpose of the Cheka.
Outline its growth between December 1917 and 1921.
Using your own knowledge, explain why Malone argues that the Cheka was ‘[p]erhaps the greatest weapon introduced by the Bolsheviks to establish political control’.

9. Dzerzhinsky, Head of Cheka, December 1917
Some facts on the Cheka ‘All Russian Extraordinary Commission to Fight Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and Speculation’
‘It was necessary to make the foe feel that there was everywhere about him a seeing eye and a heavy hand ready to come down on him the moment he undertook anything against the Soviet Government’
Dzerzhinsky, Head of Cheka, December 1917
15 man team established in December 1917
Initially a temporary administrative body to carry out investigations, they became a form of security police
Quickly assumed power to arrest, and were assigned armed units in January 1918
By February it was given powers of conducting trials and execution, and sought out agents of enemy spies, counter-revolutionary agitators, organisers of revolts against the Revolution, and those selling weapons to counter-revolutionaries
100,000 men by 1921

10. Summary
Despite consolidating power during and after the October Revolution, the Bolsehvik’s hold on power was tenuous
Sovnarkom replaced the old regime’s political system and gave Bolsheviks that most power in the Soviets
The Cheka was established as Lenin’s political police and was used to prevent counter-revolution