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The October Revolution
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During WWI, most of the people in Russia __________.
1917. There has been a revolution in Russia - and in March Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown. Now the country is ruled by a provisional government, led by a majority of liberal politicians. But the government was not elected and it is not liked by the people, and it has no control over the country. People are angry that the government keeps Russia in the First World War.
They want peace. The war costs a lot of money. The army also loses battle after battle. More and more Russian soldiers are fleeing the war - deserting. And, there is almost no food in Russia.
The government decides how much bread each person can buy. It’s barely enough to live on. Meanwhile, the price of food in general is rising, while workers' wages are unchanged. Industry is doing badly and factories are closing down so many workers take over the factories and try to run them by themselves. Farmers want landowners to be forced to hand over their lands to them.
It does not happen. Farmers start stealing land, and sometimes murdering landowners. Many Russians become members of workers' councils — Soviets. Soviets are found all over the country and are usually led by socialists and communists. The Soviets decide a lot in the local community and have control over large parts of the army and industry.
One of the parties represented within the Soviets, is the Bolsheviks - they are a small party. They are communists and their leader is Vladimir Lenin. Lenin has long been hidden in Switzerland, but when the Tsar was overthrown, he returned to Russia to take part in the revolution. Many Russians think the Soviets are better than the Provisional Government. In May, several socialist leaders do join the government, but none from the Bolsheviks.
The Bolshevik Party is small, but Lenin sees his chance to change the situation. He says that the Provisional government must be removed and that the Bolsheviks will give the people peace, bread and land. ‘All power to the Soviets.’ Soldiers will be allowed to come home and farmers will get land. Workers should not starve. The state will take over banks and large companies. And the church should have no power.
Many people like what the Bolsheviks say. The party grows rapidly in a short time. The Bolsheviks gain more and more influence in the Soviets, and Lenin's closest man - Lev Trotsky - becomes the leader of the powerful Petrograd Soviet. In July, Bolshevik supporters lead a demonstration against the government. The demonstration soon becomes violent and 400 people are injured.
Several Bolsheviks are arrested. Lenin, flees to Finland. The tenth of October in Petrograd - Vladimir Lenin, Lev Trotsky and ten other Bolsheviks - secretly meet. Lenin arrives at the meeting wearing a wig to avoid detection. They make an important decision.
They will overthrow the Provisional government that governs Russia. A warship fires a shot! The sound is heard throughout the city. It is the beginning of the coup in Petrograd. The Bolsheviks occupy railway stations, telegraph stations and other important buildings.
They storm the Winter Palace where the government sits. The Bolsheviks receive help from a militia, the Red Guard, and overpower the Winter Palace guards. Rebellions quickly start in other cities, too. In Moscow there are battles, but only for a few days. The Bolsheviks arrest the ministers in the Provisional Government and seize power.
They form a government. Lenin is chairman. He says that the workers and the peasants — the proletariat — should have the power! It was previously decided, by the Provisional Government, that Democratic elections will be held in November. The Bolsheviks are certain of victory and let the elections go ahead.
The election is a disappointment. The Bolsheviks only get 25 percent of the votes. The elected parliament opens in January 1918, but Lenin and the Bolsheviks close it, by force, and regain power. The Bolsheviks change their name to Russia's Communist Party.