The October Revolution

Kornilov Affair, September 1917
General Lavr G. Kornilov, 1870-1918
Prime Minister Aleksandr Kerensky
Hughes apparatus
Sept. 9: dismissed Kornilov
Kornilov tried to march on Petrograd
Stopped by soviet cooperation
Increased Bolsheviks’ popularity
PG (Kerensky) moved right.
Masses (“demokratiia”) moved left.

September 1917: the Bolsheviks take control of the Petrograd Soviet, and the prominent Bolshevik Leon Trotsky, leader of the Red Guards, becomes its president.

Build up to Revolution
By September 1917 the Bolsheviks had a majority in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets (although they weren’t necessarily the most popular party).
Less cooperation between the Soviet and the Provisional Government.
Lenin continued to call for the overthrow of the Provisional Government and said that the time was right for the Bolsheviks to launch a takeover attempt.
“History will not forgive us if we do not assume power” Lenin

Kerensky and Lenin
Kerensky tried to strengthen the Provisional Government by re-shuffling the cabinet and proposing a “Pre-Parliament” be set up before the constituent assembly election.
Lenin wanted a revolution before the meeting of the All Russian Congress of Soviets (late October) and the November Constituent Assembly elections, because he felt these might limit the Bolsheviks power.

October (1917) Revolution
Military-Revolutionary Committee
Second Congress of Soviets
Bolshevik majority
Kerensky cracked down
Sacked Min. of War Verkhovskii.
ordered 2/3 of garrison to front.
shut down Bolsheviks’ newspapers
Lenin convinced Bolsheviks to seize power.
Red Guards took key points of Petrograd.

Revolution begins!!!!
Lenin reacted to Kerensky’s actions by ordering the uprising to begin.
Trotsky had organised the plans for the action as he was chairman of the Petrograd Soviet and part of the Military Revolution Committee (MRC).
Trotsky ordered the Red Guards to seize key points in Petrograd.

7. November (24 October) 1917. – Bolsheviks occupied key locations in Petrograd;
Kerensky fled from the Winter Palace in search for supporting troups.

Red Guards, October 1917

Kronstadt sailors
25th October: In the early hours of the morning, Trotsky's Red Guards helped by the Kronstadt sailors move quickly to take over the bridges and the telephone exchange.
They cut off Petrograd from the rest of Russia.

Aurora fires a shell
Next, the Red Guards take over government buildings, the banks and the railway station.
Finally, at 9.40pm, signalled by a shell fired from the cruiser Aurora, they move in and take over the Winter Palace, the headquarters of the Provisional Government.
There is no resistance.

25 – 27 October
The Bolsheviks fought for control of Petrograd – although there was little actual fighting because the Provisional Government lacked military support.

The Winter Palace falls -Victory for the Bolsheviks.
The Red Guards took over the Winter Palace and Kerensky fled Petrograd.
27 October – Lenin announced that the Bolshevik led Petrograd Soviet had seized power in the name of all Soviets.

MilRevKom’s declaration,
25 October (7 November) 1917
“To the Citizens of Russia!
The Provisional Government has been deposed. State power has passed into the hands of the organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies - the Revolutionary Military Committee, which heads the Petrograd proletariat and the garrison.
The cause for which the people have fought, namely, the immediate offer of a democratic peace, the abolition of landed proprietorship, workers' control over production, and the creation of a Soviet Government - this cause has been secured.
Long live the revolution of workers, soldiers and peasants!”

Why were the Bolsheviks successful?
Role of Lenin
Organised party
Published Pravda
Avoided capture and organised the coup.
Popular slogans to raise moral and public awareness
Role of Trotsky
Joined Bolsheviks after July Days
Masterminded the events of the coup
Great military leader organised the Red Guard
Provisional Government
Kerensky knew of Trotsky's plan but had lost support of the army and so was helpless

The Bolsheviks take power
The Bolsheviks took control of the government in an almost bloodless coup between Oct 24 and 26 1917.
The first decrees
Peace
Lenin ends the war sends Trotsky to negotiate with Germany. Treaty of Brest-Litvosk
Establishes the CHEKA
Factories
All factories put under control of workers committees
Land
Land taken from Church, Nobility etc and given to peasants. Land not taken over by the State (yet)
Press
All non -Bolshevik papers were banned

October (1917) Revolution
Proclaimed new government: Soviet of People’s Commissars (SovNarKom)
Decree on Land
Decree on Peace
Hold CA elections

“All Power to the Soviets!”

- Lack of a majority support for the Bolsheviks; Constituent Assembly elections;
- January 1918. – Red Guards dispersed the Assembly.

1. Who was the Bolshevik leader?
Kerensky
Lenin
Trotsky

2. What was Lenin's slogan in April 1917?
All power to the Soviets.
The dictatorship of the Proletariat.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

3. What were the "July Days"?
The brief period of success in Russia's offensive against Austria.
An attempted Bolshevik revolution.
The days Lenin spent travelling across Europe to be smuggled into Russia.

4. Who led the attempted revolt of August 1917, which was stopped mainly by the Bolsheviks?
Kolchak
Yudenich
Kornilov

5. What was the name for the Bolshevik Army?
Red Guards
People's Militia
Kronstadt sailors

6. What did Trotsky become in September 1917?
Minister of War
President of the St Petersburg Soviet
Commissar for Foreign Affairs

7. What did the Bolsheviks take over on the night of 24-25 October 1917?
The Winter Palace
The St Petersburg Soviet
The bridges and telephone exchange