Russia : 1917 By Miss Houlson Downloaded from

Russia : 1917 JuneThe Provisional Government uses troops to attack Germany. Russia is badly defeated. Demands forpeace are made. July 16 – 18Demonstrations in Petrograd turn into a premature Bolshevik uprising against the Provisional Government. Referred to as ‘The July Days’.

JulyIt fails to overthrow the government and Lenin flees to Finland. Leon Trotskycreates the ‘Red Guards’, the Bolshevik military force. Trotsky becomes the Chairman of the increasingly influential Bolshevik administration and political centre – The Petrograd Soviet. Remember – Whoever controlled the soviet could also control Russia….

August 1Kerensky, the leader of the Provisional Government appoints General Kornilov asthe Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army. September 10Right wing coup led by General Kornilov collapses in defeat. Bolsheviks and Red Guards have some of their old leaders released and armed by Kerensky in order to protect Petrograd. Kornilov’s men are hungry and scared and they mutiny to join the Petrograd soviet.

Meanwhile:Lenin is busy writing letters to other Bolshevik leaders urging them to make preparations for a revolution. The Bolsheviks’ popularity grows steadily and they are now a real power in Russia. Lenin encourages Trotsky to prepare his men for a violent seizure of power.

October 23The Bolshevik Central Committee under Lenin vote for revolutionary measures. At this time in Russia, prices of goods are ten times higher than they were before the Great War. People are starving, food and supplies are not getting through (no thanks to the Provisional Government). All the while, Lenin is busy formulating his strategy – making the plans for the revolution.

November 3Trotsky’s Military Revolutionary Committee take control of the Petrograd garrison after the mutiny in the July Days. November 6Red Guards begin to occupy strategic government buildings across Petrograd. Kerensky flees. Provisional Government barricade themselves into the Winter Palace. Bolsheviks storm the palace during the night and around 2am they arrest the government ministers. The bloodless coup is over.

Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power? 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 clear planned strategies. They were realistic, practical and clever in setting their short term goals. The Provisional Government was weak and ineffective. Lenin was an inspiring leader with vision, clarity and ability.

After the seizure of power… On the 8 th November 1917, the All Russian Congress of Soviets give power to the 15 Bolshevik Commissars under the leadership of Lenin. But, why were they able to seize power?