Russia: Tsar's Downfall and Bolshevik rise (1917)

Tsar’s Downfall

March Revolution (1917)

In January, strikes broke out all over Russia and were supported and joined by members of the army. Steel workers in Petrograd and women also joined demands for bread. Industry eventually came to a stand still.
12th March, Tsar failed at getting the army to put down the revolt. Duma set up provisional committee to replace government. The Duma were forced by protestors to take over the government. The Petrograd Soviet was set up again and took over food supplies to the city. Soldiers committees were also made, undermining authority of Officers. Tsar abdicated on the 15th March 1917.

Why?

• Failures in the war
• Mutiny in the Army
• Duma setting up alternative government
• Formation of Soviets
• Strikes
• Food Shortages
• Tsarina and Rasputin
• Cost of living increased by 500%
• Rising death rate
• Failure to make political reforms

The Provisional Government

Was a mixed group of people who had to solve important issues such as decisions:

• To continue war or make peace
• Distribute land to peasants or ask for he to wait till elections
• How to get food to the starving workers in the cities

Decided to:

• Continue war
• Tell peasants to wait till elections

The Soviet and Provisional government worked together during Spring.

Lenin (Leader of Bolsheviks) immediately returned to Russia from exile in Europe. The Germans provided him with a special train hoping that he would cause more chaos in Russia. He then set out the Bolshevik programme in the “April Theses” which urged people to support Bolsheviks for a second revolution. Lenin’s slogans “Peace, Land and Bread” contrasted what was offered by the provisional government. Their support increased rapidly, mainly from soviets and in the army.

Failures:

Soldiers were deserting in thousands. Kerensky became Minister of War and rallied army for a great offensive in June 1917. The German counter attack destroyed the Russian army. The Peasants also ignored the governments orders and started taking control of the country side.

In the July Days, there were Bolshevik led protests against the war. Kerensky produced evidence that Lenin had been helped by Germans. Support for the rebellion fell, Kerensky used troops to crush the rebellion and took over the government.

Kerensky was not in a good position as the power lay with the soviets, especially the Petrograd soviet who had a Bolshevik majority and Bolshevik chairmen (Leon Trotsky).

In September 1917, Kornilov (Army leader) marched his troops to Moscow with the purpose of getting rid of the Bolsheviks and the Provisional Gov. Kerensky did not have enough power and therefore relied on the support of his Bolshevik opponents. Kornilovs men refused to fight members of the Soviet and so Kornilovs plan failed.

Provisional Gov had lost support of army and peasants. No support from peasants led to gov failing to bring food into towns which meant food prices increased.

November Revolution

Red Guards, led by Leon Trotsky took control of post offices, bridges and the State Bank.  Red guards continued to take over railway station and other important targets with little resitance. They then stormed the Winter Palace and arrested the Ministers of the Provisional Government. Kerensky fled into Exile on the 8th November.

How did they manage it?

• People hated the provisional government
• Bolsheviks were a disciplined party dedicated to revolution
• Bolsheviks had 800,000 members and the supporters were at the right places
• Around half the army were in Bolshevik support
• So did the sailors at the Naval base at Kronstadt
• Major industrial centres and the Petrograd and Moscow soviets were pro-Bolshevik