Developments between revolutions

Question 1

Bolshevik party members in early 1917

Answer 1

23 000, only 40 representatives in Soviet.

Question 2

First to return to Russia

Answer 2

Kamenev and Stalin who took over Pravda and accepted the current left wing policies.

Question 3

Date of Lenin’s return

Answer 3

3rd of April 1917

Question 4

Initial statement of Lenin’s ideology

Answer 4

Wrote ‘letters from afar’ throughout March, clear support for a second revolution, believing middle-classes too weak to carry out ‘bourgeois stage’ of the revolution.

Question 5

Demands of the April Theses

Answer 5

• No support for the PG, all power to the Soviets
• Immediate end to war
• Redistribution of land
  Summed up ‘peace, bread, and land’ and ‘all power to the soviets’.

Question 6

Reasons for rejection of Lenin’s demands

Answer 6

Bolsheviks feared he was out of touch, allegations he was in pay of the Germans, Mensheviks feared he would undermine their hard work, many thought demands were unrealistic.

Question 7

Lenin’s persuasion

Answer 7

Appealed to rank and file of party wearing a workers cap, abandon call for overthrow of PG, claimed personal credit for lots including peasant land seizures and anti-war demonstration following the Milyukov affair.

Question 8

Retained support for the PG

Answer 8

First All Russian Congress of Soviets June 1917 passed vote of confidence in PG 543 votes to 126.

Question 9

July days start

Answer 9

Grain prices had doubled, 100 000 jobs lost due to shortages of grain and fuel, 20 000 Kronstadt sailors march with Bolshevik slogans many join, go to Tauride palace and demand Bolshevik control.

Question 10

Consequences of July days

Answer 10

Bolsheviks helped force out demonstrators but Pravda closed, many arrested, Lenin fled, 8th July Prince Lvov replaced by Kerensky as PM.

Question 11

Why was Kornilov appointed Commander in Chief of army

Answer 11

June 1917 major offensive led by Brusilov but heavy losses and anti-war sentiment very high, Kornilov to restore discipline, landowners and businessmen on the right saw Kornilov as saviour to protect their property, even moderates like Kadets preferred him to socialist regime.

Question 12

Social condition Summer 1917

Answer 12

Despite 8 hour day real wages fallen rapidly, by October prices around 755% above prewar levels, August striking could mean dismissal and soviet meetings in working hours forbidden, fears upcoming elections were only to solidify ‘bourgeois’ power.

Question 13

Kornilov coup

Answer 13

End of August ordered 6 regiments to march on Petrograd however Kerensky panicked and released Bolsheviks and armed workers to halt advance, supply lines cut and coup leaders arrested.

Question 14

Consequences of Kornilov Coup

Answer 14

Bolsheviks took lead organising Red Guards, milked the propaganda and party membership increased reaching 200 000 by October, won a majority in Petrograd and Moscow Soviets and 26th September Trotsky chair of PS. Early October Kerensky sent troops out of Petrograd probably for fear of Bolshevik uprising but then claims he was abandoning the capital, Bolsheviks played on fear, resolved to set up a ‘military revolutionary centre’.

Question 15

Opposition to Lenin’s calls for action

Answer 15

CC of Bolsheviks voted against a coup, K and Z urged restraint and even burnt his letters, Trotsky wanted to win over the Congress of Soviets first opting for non-violence, after Lenin had convinced party leadership K and Z still opposed and published own views in newspaper.

Question 16

The Military Revolutionary Committee

Answer 16

Set up under Trotsky in accordance with earlier resolution, 66 members, massed troops at Bolshevik headquarters, which became the Red Guards.

Question 17

Actions before revolution

Answer 17

Trotsky sent commissars to garrison units in Petrograd, 15/18 declared allegiance to Soviets over PG, Bolsheviks came to control 200 000 Red Guards, 60 000 sailors, and 150 000 garrison soldiers.