The Kornilov coup and the role of the Provisional Government and Trotsky (3) Flashcards
Why did Kerensky appoint General Lavr Kornilov as Commander-in-Chief of the army?
Desertions escalated and the anti-war sentiment grew strongly, therefore, he was appointed to restore discipline.
What was reinstated to control the troops?
The death penalty.
What was called to demonstrate political unity and boycotted by the Bolsheviks?
Kerensky’s Moscow State Conference.
Who saw Kornilov as their savior?
Landowners and businessmen who felt the Provisional Government had done little to protect their land, property, and interests.
Who believed military takeover was a preferable option?
Milyukov and the Kadets, whose influence on the Provisional Government was waning, believed that a military takeover by Kornilov would be preferable to a Socialist regime.
What did Kornilov order at the end of August?
6 regiments of troops to march on Petrograd, to crush the Soviet and establish a military dictatorship.
Did Kornilov’s coup fail or succeed and why?
It failed due to Kerensky panicking.
When the coup failed what did Kerensky do?
Released imprisoned Bolsheviks and provided workers with weapons from the government’s armouries to halt Kornilov’s advance.
What did the Bolsheviks do that made them the main beneficiaries of the coup?
They took the lead in organising the Petrograd Red Guards creating a more efficient paramilitary unit out of the various militia groups attached to factories.
What did the Bolsheviks do in terms of propaganda?
They milked then propaganda opportunities and pursued hatred on the Kerensky government.
What did Lenin do during the coup?
Lenin sent orders from Finland urging his followers to keep up the pressure and “Committees to save the revolution’ were set up throughout the country.
What was the Bolshevik membership in February compared to beginning of October?
Feb- 23,000
October- 200,000
How many newspapers were the Bolsheviks producing by the begining of october and how large of a force?
Prodcing 41 newspapers and commanded a force of 100,000 Red Guards.
Did the Bolsheviks win the majority in both Petrograd and Moscow Soviets in September?
Yes they won the majority and on 26th of Septmeber Trotsky even became chairman of the executive committee of the Petrograd Soveit.
What did Kerensky do on the 5th of Ocotber and why?
He sent some more radical army units out of Petrograd to prepare for front-line services, due to fear of a Bolshevik uprising.
