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FEB-OCT 1917 - Coggle Diagram

FEB-OCT 1917

OPPOSITION TO THE PG

Overview

Mensheviks and SRs→became critical of middle class liberals in the PG over war.

April 1917 Milykuvov→sent open letter claiming to the allies that Russia would continue to fight until the defeat of Germany

Milyukvov→Led to his departure from the PG - led to political crisis which ended in his departure and Guchov's also - marking the end of middle-class liberalist leaders

Reconstruction of the PG→with Menshevik and sr leaders.

Lenin→returned to Russia prior to Mulykvov crisis - immeditaely began to attack the new Provisional Government due to Lenin's April Theses.

Conflicting Attitudes to War

Liberal View→continue fighting until outright victory

Soviet→immediate end to the war - compromised peace between Allies and Central Power

Soviet Petrograd→mid March issued 1917 'An Appeal to All the peoples of the world' - set revolutionary defencism product of Tsereteli

Revolutionary Defencism reasons for→no part in an imperialists war, conscious of peace that was wanted by workers feared consequences of military defeat

Revolutionary Defencism

  - Russia would not make sepearate peace agreement with germany - would try to bring about general peace settlement
  - Would not seek to make territorial gains
  - Russia would defend until peace was reached.

Milyukov Crisis

Provisional Government War→published Declaration of War aims - late March 1917 - affirmed Russia's commitment to the war but would not forcibly seize territory

To the Allies→Soviet insisted this was sent to the allies - but Milyukov added that he was against revolutionary defensim as would fight until a conclusive victory - this was leaked to the press

Effect of telegram→Supporters of the Soviet took to the streets - accused Milyukov of betryayal and demanding his resignation - clashes with pro Milyukov demonstrators in which people were killed.

Response of Lvov→convinced that the battle between the two groups should end - he appealed to Soviet leadership to take office - fearing anarchy Soviet put Tsereteli into government and Chernov. Milykov forced to resign - replaced by Kerensky

Milyukov (April Crisis) significance

  - Demonstrated extent of Soviet Power
  - Brought Dual power to end
  - Cosigned Russian liberals to the dustbin of history (trotsky)
  - Ended the optimistic mood that had been evident in Petrograd in the weeks after the Feb Revolution.

Lenin's Return and the April Theses

Lenin's return→helped by the German government in hopes he would have a destabilising influence in Russian politics and undermine the Russian war effort. (gave rise to rumours that he was a German Spy)

Lenin's publishings→Letters from Afar (March 1917) arguing the Feb revolution was a bourgeois revolution in Marxist terms which should be followed by a proletariat one - which went against Marxist doctrine

Success in party→due to his ability to convince and the new figure of 75.000 members in the party (radical outlook)

April Theses→became the policies designed to appeal to left wing opinion - radical bolshevik alternatives to the PGs policies on key issues of peace, land reform and the future government of Russia.

Peace

  - Desire for peace→one of the strongest desires, anti-war feeling strong especially as the Appeal to all the Peoples of the world saw possible peace negotiations. By spring it became clear that this was not the case. Lenin dismissed revolutionary defencism in the theses

Land reform

  - Provisional Government reasoning for refusing peasants land seizures
      - Insisted land reform was for the democratically elected parliament
      - Argued disorderly peasant land grabbing would lead to unfair distribution
      - Believed they encouraged army desertions
  - Lenin→encouraged these slogan "all land to the peasantry" - which technically bends his principle

All power to the Soviets

  - Provisional Government requirements→elected by all Russians to be at teh heart of political system (Lenin argued for election via soldiers and workers) 
  - Reasons for support of the slogan
      - Workers - hated the middle and upper classes - ready to deny them political rights
      - Plans offered lifeline to the uncertain future of the soviets

The July Offensive

What was it?→June 1917 Russian armies attacked German and Austrian Counterparts among a 120 mile front in the southern part of the battle zone.

Reasons for→no reason - Russia did not have the resources, was weakened by desertion (100,000 soldiers deserted in period between Feb and June 1917)

Reasons for

  - Allies→In nov the allies agreed to launch coordinated attack on the Central powers - members of the PG were reluctant to break this agreement.
  - Revolutionary Defensism→Europe-wide peace negotiations - major victory would give levergae and Birtain and France would be unable to ignore russia.
  - Kerensky→visions of leading russia to victory - wanted glory 
  - Army Chief→dismayed by the ways in which discipline in the army ahd broken down - Soldiers committees had been established with the blessing of the pg - a  success would be a means of restoring discipline and morals.

Event

  - Was a disaster - army broke down, within a week Germans had advanced 150 miles into Russian territory

Effect→left the plans and hopes of revolutionary defencists in tatters - undermined the provisional government - increased the attractiveness of Bolshevikism

The July Days

The First Machine Gun Regiment

  - largest units in the Petrograd Garrison - stationed in Vyborg
  - 20th June 1917 - recieved orders to send 500 Guns along with operators to the battlefront to support the June Offensive. 
  - Soldiers refused claiming had right to remain and defend revolution

Bolshevik involvement→intent on exploiting the Machine Gun Regiment's mutiny for their own purposes. Acting on their own inititative without the approval of Lenin or others they persuaded soldiers and other supporters that they should over-throw the provisional government.

3rd July

  - workers and soldiers took to the streets - calling for all power to teh Soviets. 
  - Reinforced by Kronstdat sailors the next day - 200,000

Lenin's addressal

  - He did not urge them on but appealed for calm 
  - Believed bolsheviks would not be able to hold onto power if seized

Response from Kerensky

  - Warrants issued for arrest of leading Bolsheviks - Lenin flees to Finland
  - 800 Prominent Bolsheviks arrested and imprisoned
  - Bolshevik offices ransacked
  - Red guards (armed Bolshevik factory workers) unarmed
  - Army units disbanded

DUAL POWER

Political complexion of the Provisional Government

Members of provisional government→essentially progressive bloc government (aside from Kerenksky) middle class liberals - driving force was Milyukov - became foreign minister

Kerensky→became vice chair man - only member who was a minister in Government and member of soviet.

Power and Support

PG→was in authority - had no control over the people

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Soviet→Order number 1
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Dissolution of Tsarist structures→Policemen, Zemstva lost credibility, provincial governor post abolished

Reasons for Petrograd Soviet Control

  - Railway and Post→loyalty of workers ensured it controlled cities links to outside
  - Army Garrison→gave power to supress opposition inside capital, protect from outside intervension.
  - Statistics of the Garrison→180,000 troops in the city and further 150,000 in outlying districts. Priority of members was to stay in Petrograd and not be sent to the front.  
  - Provisional Russia→Soviets all over the country like 1,500. Looked to the Petrograd Soviet for direction and leadership. Retained influence even after All-Russian Congress of Workers and Soldier's Deputies was formed.

Aims and Membership of the Petrograd Soviet

  - Elected→by city's factory workers - soldiers of the Petrograd Garssion
  - Representation→one for each 250 soldiers and one for every 1000 workers. Garrison was over-represented (by two thirds of 3000) despite the in-balance of soldiers to workers in Petrograd.
  - Events of Elections→few set procedures - much decided at grassroots level, Representatives had no fixed terms, could be recalled by electors and replaced at any time - result - the political complexion was constantly fluctuating.
  - Polices→not decided by members but by Executive Committee - inner group of proffesional revolutionaries
  - Executive commitee→dominated by Mensheviks and SRs (due to allegiance with workers and peasants in the army) most influential was Tsereteli
  - Role→seen as temporary until the Constituent Assembly led to the establishment of Russia in a fully democratic system of Government. 
  - Practice→involved monitoring activities of PG, but began to have more wide-ranging role, including control of the army garrison, the capitals affairs, interest in foreign policy (led to conflict with the PG)

Early Political Reforms

Reforms decided upon in Spring of 1917

  - Amnesty for all political prisoners
  - Abolition of capital punishment
  - Unrestricted freedom of speech and assembly
  - Euqal rights for all citizens
  - Dissolution of Tsarist police force and replacement by local militas with elected officers
  - Election of Zemstva and town officials on fully democratic basis.

KERENSKY

Power

was a strong political man who could unite the nation, ensure the revolution was derailed by the left or the right.

But he was neither decisive or ruthless.

Reputation was damaged by stories of his flamboyant lifestyle.

Failures of policy too, he failed to control inflation or develop a land policy that was acceptable to the peasantry.

Ended up being out-manourvered by Lenin.

Kerensky as PM

Replaced→Lvov due to his mild mannered nature and to support the failings of the Russian Army.

The June offensive→blamed the Bolsheviks and German spies.

Kornilov Affair

Kerensky and Kornilov

  - Appointment of Kornilov→July 18th 1917 Kerensky appointed Kornilov - commander-in chief of Russia's Armies. Got it due to repuatation for toughness and popularity among middle and upper classes. 
  - Origns of Kornilov→father was a peasant, decorated during Russo-Japanese war. Commander of Petrograd military district. 'the heart of a lion, the brain of a sheep'
  - List of Kornilov's Demands
      - Desertion and acts of treason by soldiers to be punishable by death
      - Army commander-in-chief accounatble for his actions to his conscience and people.
      - No interference by civilian politicians in military affairs
      - Railway workers and workers in defence related industries under army control and subject to the same punishments
      - Strikes in all industries to be banned for the duration of war - offenders punishable by death.
  - Changes to claims→26th Aug Kornilov was calling for marital law in Petrograd and all civil and military authority (dictator) Kerensky dismissed him.
  - Kornilov's Response→ordered detachment of troops underr comand of General Krymov to march on Petrograd. 
  - Kerensky response→calls Petrograd Soviet - mobilised in defence although not a shot was fired.
  - Reason for end of invasion
      - Railway men loyal to Soviet held up troop trains
      - Representatives of Soviet infiltrated Krymov's forces and succeeded in turning ordinary soldiers against their officers.
  - Result for Kornilov→placed under arrest. escaped from custody during Oct Revolution and was killed in an early battle.

Impacts of the Affair on Government and Bolsheviks

  - Kerensky→left him badly damaged - attacked by both left and right.
  - Left view of Kerensky
      - suspected of have being willing participant in Kornilov's counter-revolutionary schemes. 
      - Another left wing claim that he had willingly placed Petrograd's workers under military control (enemy of working class 
      - Resignation of Victor Chernov
  - Right wing view of Kerensky
      - Accused him of political cowardice
      - Should have implemented Kornilov's programme.
  - Effect of affair on Bolsheviks
      - Successfullly defended Petrograd
      - Saviours of the revolution - projected through their propaganda
  - Surge of Popular support for Bolsheviks
      - Membership increased sharply
      - Won 33% of vote in Petrograd and 51% in Moscow
      - Started to Win control of soviets in major cities.
  - Trotsky
      - Becomes chairman of the Petrograd Soviet in July.
  - Bolshevik Control→By July they control the Moscow Soveit - soviets dominated across the country.
  - Bolshevik support on eve of revolution→did not have major support.

PROBLEMS IN INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURE

Industry

Effects of the February Revolution→transformed the political environment within Russian Labour. Trade Union membership increased rapidly, emergence of factory committees. Elected bodies of senior workers.

Workers→quick to take advantage. Got rid of unpopular foremen and managers (often carting them out of factories in wheelbarrows). Demanded big pay rises and eight-hour day. In Petrograd wages doubled or tripled and the eight-hour day became the norm.

Effect of worker changes→inflation destroyed the rising wages prices soared.

Provisional Government→fared minorly better in sorting railway problems, or preventing hoarding grain

Further worker demand→Mid 1917 demanded further wage increases - Businessmen complained productivity, workers striked, many businessess closed adding to the problem of unemployment. Some factory commitees took over businesses.

Economic Problems leading to→inflation, strikes, rising unemployment, failing productivity, major factory in rising social class tension. 'Social Polarisation'. Middle and Upper class Russians accused workers of failing to support the war effort - overall undermined the provisional government and benefited the Bolsheviks as they advocated for class war.

Agriculture

Response to the Feb Revolution - Peasantry→Enthusaism mainly because it cleared away obstacles that had in the past stood in the way of land reform.

Lack of Land Reform→led to action in Spring of 1917 such as illegally gatehring landowners timber and graziong cattle on landowners etstates without permission. Whole estates were seized by force. Peasants also pressured those who left into rejoining.

Provisional Government response→did not have the means to impose order in the country sides. Landowners who appealed for support went away disappointed, failure to uphold contributed to the disenchantment in the middle class.

MEMBERSHIP OF NEW GOVERNMENT

Political Standings

Kadets→moving right. Wanted a government to restore discipline in the failing army and were uncertain about whether Kerensky would be willling to take drastic action against socialists.

SR→split between moderations and left wings. Leading figures Natanson and Spiridonova. Estimates suggest by Summer 40% of party members were left SRs. Chernov for example did not have support of the whole party.

Mensheviks→Split in opposition to Tsereteli in an anti war faction (Menshveik Internationalists) Leader Martov was fiercly critical of the policies adopted in his absence - one support of one-third.

Inner-Party Talks

  - Started in July, soon broke down, Kadets refused to serve alongside SR leader Chernov, SRs threatening to walk out unless Chernov remained.  
  - Kerensky stating he would resign if he couldn't choose his ministers himself

Formation of Government

  - nine socialists (four SRs, three Mensheviks, two trudoviks) three Kadets and four others. Tsereteli refused office as he feared Kerensky would not pay sufficient attention to the Petrograd Soviet

Liberalist-Socialist coalition→Kerensky achieved this but it look fragile, another problem was it was short of key big leaders.

EVENTS OF 24-26TH OCTOBER
24th October

- Bolsheviks begin to take control of railway, post, telegraph offices othe rkey instilations
- Guards moved off without a fight
- By morning most was under control of Bolsheviks.

25th October

Kerensky leaves Petrograd morning of 25th Oct in search of support for army units stationed outside the capital

Lightly defended headquarters of Provisional Government at Winter palace surrounded by Bolsheviks

Trotsky announces early afternoon the overthrow of the Provisional Govenrment at Soviet Meeting. Winter palace had not yet been taken

Later - meeting of the Second congress of soviets began. Delegates from soviets across Russia were present. Around 300 of the 670 delegates were Bolsheviks.

26th October

Mensheviks and moderate SRs walk out of Congress of Soviets in Protest against Bolshevik seizure of power.

Winter palace surrendors with no fight (claimed by Bolshevik propaganda) PG ministers found were arrested

Bolsheviks announced format of Soviet-based government

Lenin appeared before congress - announces Decree on Peace, Land, formation of new government.

Decree on Peace→demanded immediate cease-fire in world war, called on governments of countries to enter peace negtiations immediately
Decree of land→confiscated landed estates belonging to the nobility, orthodox church and others.
Annoucments approved→by Congress, Support from Congress was important as it gave impression that Bolsheviks hadn't seized power themselves.