The October Revolution 1917 or the ‘Ten Days That Shook the World’ “History will not forgive us if we do not assume power” - Lenin, September 1917

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 1: Lenin’s return and April Thesis Lenin, Trotsky, Zinoviev and other Bolshevik exiles in Switzerland were transported in a sealed express German train to Petrograd. They arrived at Finland Station, Petrograd on 3 April. Lenin spoke openly against the Provisional Government in his quest to seize exclusive power. He gave an impromptu, ‘thunder-like’ speech at the station where crowds had gathered to celebrate his return. The phrases ‘Peace, Land, Bread!’ and ‘All Power to the Soviets’ became common slogans.

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Q. Why is Lenin’s return considered the most significant turning point in this period of dual government? Q. What is your summary of the six extracts of Lenin’s ‘April Theses’? Q. What is Lenin’s tone in the ‘April Theses’?

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 2: July Days By late June, Russia was collapsing both socially and economically. Factories had closed down leaving people unemployed. Street demonstrations, which had been occurring since February, began to directly challenge the PG in July. Historian Sheila Fitzpatrick estimated that there were half a million protestors. Because their actions were disorganised and they were undisciplined, the PG were able to suppress the actions.

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 2: July Days (continued) The Bolsheviks were blamed for the disturbances. To avoid accepting blame for the failed uprising, Trotsky argued that the protests were started by the Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks. Lenin chose to escape to Finland rather than facing being arrested and jailed. This damaged his credibility. Historian Richard Pipes commented, ‘the masses, mobilised by Lenin, bore the whole burden of responsibility for the July Days…and the real culprit abandons his army, his comrades and seeks personal safety in flight.’

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 2: July Days (continued) Although the July Days seemed to signal the end of the Bolsheviks, it became a ‘Turning Point’: The Bolsheviks survived Lenin and Trotsky resolved their differences and Trotsky became a new member of the Bolshevik Party. Trotsky used the failure of the protests to develop more effective strategies.

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 2: July Days (continued) Q. Read the five lessons learnt from the July Days (pages 116-117). Which of the lessons do you consider to be most important and why?

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 3: Kornilov Revolt After the July Days Kornilov, now PM, arrested Bolshevik leaders and tried to completely shut the group down. In August he was appointed Commander in Chief of the Russian army. He was threatened by the advancing German army and wanted to defend Petrograd so he ordered his troops to march towards the capital. Alexander Kerensky thought that Kornilov was trying to take power and put a military dictatorship in place. Kerensky declared him a traitor and ordered the release of the Bolsheviks. They were then given weapons by the PG and were credited with saving Petrograd.

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 4: Growth in political support Support for the Bolsheviks grew quickly after the Kornilov Revolt. This was shown in the key political bodies – the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets and the mass meeting of the All Russian Congress of Soviets. Possible explanations: 1. Demoralisation of the army after the June Offensive multiplied the number of Bolshevik groups within the army. 2. Bolshevik popularity increased by reputation as defenders of Petrograd.

The lead up to the Revolution – Turning Points Turning point 4: Growth in political support (continued) 3. Bolsheviks promoted themselves as true revolutionaries because they were the only party who had not cooperated with the PG. 4. Bolsheviks gained a majority in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets by September. 5. Trotsky was elected Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet.

The strategic takeover of Petrograd Lenin used his time in exile in Finland after the July Days to write letters to continue directing the revolution. He suggested to the Central Committee that they needed to prepare immediately to overthrow the government. There were Bolsheviks on the Central Committee of the party who doubted the wisdom of striking against the Provisional Government at this point. Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd on October 7th to produce total unity. He pushed for the Bolshevik takeover to happen before the November elections for the Constituent Assembly. Lenin wanted to secure leadership before the elections and the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets (October 25th) to legitimise their leadership.

The strategic takeover of Petrograd By October 10th Lenin had persuaded the Congress that an armed rebellion was needed. Many members of the Central Committee were not convinced and no date was decided upon. Two key members of the Central Committee (the main decision making group of the Bolshevik party) published an article in a revolutionary journal arguing it was the wrong circumstances on which to base a Bolshevik overthrow of the government. This confirmed rumours that had been circulating.

The strategic takeover of Petrograd Kerensky interpreted the article as indicating that a date had been set. On October 23rd Kerensky ordered a pre-emptive attack on the Bolsheviks. Their newspapers were closed down and telephone wires to their headquarters were cut. An attempted round-up of the leading Bolsheviks began. Members of the Cadets, Women’s Battalion and Cossacks were sent to guard the Winter Palace, but without heavy artillery or machine guns. Lenin acted immediately to Kerensky’s actions. Trotsky organised the takeover as he was administratively minded, he had influence over the workers as Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, he dominated the Military Revolutionary Committee and he led the Red Guard with arms stored in the Peter and Paul fortress.

The strategic takeover of Petrograd Trotsky organised the following stages of the takeover: Stage 1: Capture key communication centres (telegraph station and post office). Stage 2: Capture key installations (electric companies). Stage 3: Capture key vantage points (bridges and railway stations). Stage 4: Capture the Provisional Government in the Winter Palace. The first three stages were completed efficiently, however the fourth stage was more dramatic.

The strategic takeover of Petrograd When capturing the Winter Palace the opposition was limited. Many of the guards got tired of waiting so they left their posts to have dinner. The Cossacks deserted when the Red Guard approached and the Cadets and the 140 volunteers of the Women’s Battalion surrendered rather than resist the army of 40,000 people. The battleship Aurora, in the Neva River for repairs, was also seized to fire upon the Winter Palace in a symbolic act of rejection of the government. The Winter Palace was overtaken because the back door was left open, allowing the Red Guard to enter.

The strategic takeover of Petrograd This is a much-publicised photo claiming to show the storming of the Winter Palace, October 1917. It is actually from a Bolshevik re-enactment staged as a civic spectacle on the third anniversary of the action. The actual fighting at the Palace took place at night and there were no cameras present.

Summary of significance How the Bolsheviks gained control 1917 Julian date (Gregorian date) Events Summary of significance Day 1 24 October (6 November) Trotsky distributes arms to Red Guard. Petrograd Garrison rebels against the Provisional Government claiming that it is a ‘tool of the enemies of the people’. Systematic capture of key communication, installations and vantage points. - Kerensky powerless to stop the armed uprising by the Bolsheviks. Day 2 25 October (7 November) Red Guard storm Winter Palace at 2.10am. Cruiser Aurora fires blanks at palace. Kerensky escapes and is protected by the American Embassy. Provisional Government arrested and imprisoned in Peter and Paul Fortress. Opening session of the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets. Trotsky dismisses Menshevik and SR opposition from Congress Government ministers resigned to fate and surrender without a fight. Provisional Government officially overthrown. Petrograd Soviet now in control of government, garrison and proletariat (workers). Table is taken from Malone (2009), pp.127-128

Summary of significance How the Bolsheviks gained control American historian Reed was in Petrograd during the revolution. His book ‘Ten Days that Shook the World’ can be used to chart the Bolsheviks’ battle to gain control of the city and ultimately Russia. 1917 Julian date (Gregorian date) Events Summary of significance Day 3 26 October (8 November) Bolsheviks announce their official government title as ‘Government of the People’s Commissars’ with Lenin as leader. Posters pinned on walls and fences by the SRs describing takeover as a ‘crime against the motherland and revolution’. - Strong anti-Bolshevik opposition within Petrograd. Day 4 27 October (9 November) Mensheviks seize power of Georgia and declare it an independent republic. Cossacks from the Don region claim control of own government. Reports that the Provisional Government has not conceded defeat and are meeting with the army at the front. Strong anti-Bolshevik opposition outside of Petrograd. Bolshevik control of country still very weak. Table is taken from Malone (2009), pp.127-128

Summary of significance How the Bolsheviks gained control 1917 Julian date (Gregorian date) Events Summary of significance Day 5 28 October (10 November) Day of threats with posters and newspapers refuting Bolshevik authority and criticising their actions. For example, the Executive Committee of Peasants Soviets ‘refutes with indignation all participation of the organised peasantry in this criminal violation of the will of the working class’. - Strong opposition to Bolsheviks continues from several important proletariat sources. Day 6 29 October (11 November) Opposition develops into major counter-revolutionary action. Cossacks ester Tsarskoye Selo on outskirts of Petrograd with Kerensky riding on a white horse welcomed by church bells. Kerensky gave an ultimatum to rifle garrison to lay down weapons. Refused. Fired upon by Kerensky’s Cossacks. Eight killed. This turned soldiers in Petrograd against Kerensky because he was just like the old regime. Kerensky’s failure to assume authority over troops described by John Reed as a ‘fatal blunder’ that signalled the final death of the government. Enables Bolsheviks to unleash their most powerful weapon – propaganda. Table is taken from Malone (2009), pp.127-128

Summary of significance How the Bolsheviks gained control 1917 Julian date (Gregorian date) Events Summary of significance Day 7 30 October (12 November) Battle against anti-Bolsheviks continues; Red Guard fights against Cossacks at Tsarskoye Selo. Cossacks break rank and flee, leaving artillery behind. -Power of proletarian army; sailors, workers and anonymous masses united in common cause. Day 8 31 October (13 November) Bolshevik victory in Moscow after a week of bitter street fighting. Artillery had been freely used with an estimated 700 causalities. Bolshevik control now includes Moscow but continued support for Kerensky in the provinces. Day 9 1 November (14 November) Appeal to anti-Bolsheviks throughout Russia to join new government of the people. Bolsheviks gradually winning support of the Russian people. Day 10 2 November (15 November) Only minor public anti-Bolshevik sentiment; for example, newspaper Novaya Zhizn criticises the lack of manpower and organisation of the Bolsheviks to run a party, let alone a government. Lenin confidently claims that there is ‘not a shadow of hesitation in the masses of Petrograd, Moscow and the rest of Russia’ towards Bolshevik rule. Table is taken from Malone (2009), pp.127-128

Document Analysis Q. Answer the following: Which groups in Russian society are represented as evil spirits? Explain the symbolism used to convey the message. Does the cartoonist support this Bolshevik action? ‘Lenin is clearing the world of evil spirits’ (early 1920s)

Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power? The Bolsheviks were able to seize power from the PG because: they had a strong political and economic centre in the Petrograd Soviet. they had their own armed forces, the Red Guards. they were organised and disciplined and had clearly planned strategies. they were realistic, practical and clever in setting their short term goals. the PG was weak and ineffective. Lenin was an inspiring leader with vision, clarity and ability.