Ruská revoluce

European Network Remembrance and Solidarity

11 Jul 201805:25

Summary

TLDRAt the onset of WWI, Russia faced significant losses and an economic collapse, leading to the decline of Tsar Nicholas II's authority. In March 1917, protests erupted in Petrograd, and some soldiers refused to suppress them. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on March 15, ending the Romanov dynasty. A dual power struggle emerged between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet, leading to state paralysis and anarchy. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Trotsky, returned from exile, advocating for Russia's defeat to aid the revolution. The October Revolution in 1917 saw the Bolsheviks seize power, marking a pivotal moment in the 20th century. Key decrees were issued concerning peace and land, and the establishment of the Cheka and censorship followed. The Bolsheviks aimed to maintain power at any cost, leading to the Russian Civil War and the Red Terror.

Takeaways

🌍 At the beginning of WWI, Russia suffered significant population and territorial losses, leading to an economic collapse.
👑 Tsar Nicholas II lost authority and faced protests from workers in Petrograd on March 8, 1917, demanding higher wages and protesting against him.
🏰 Some soldiers refused to follow orders to suppress the unrest, leading to the Tsar's abdication on March 15, 1917, at Pskov railway station.
🏛️ The Tsar's brother, Mikhail Alexandrovich, refused the throne, ending the Romanov dynasty's rule.
🏗️ The Duma announced the creation of a Provisional Government, and the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was formed, leading to a dual power struggle.
🔄 The Provisional Government introduced many long-awaited reforms but failed to end Russia's involvement in the war, losing popularity.
💣 The morale of soldiers at the front was abysmal.
🚂 Bolshevik leaders Vladimir Lenin and Lev Trotsky returned from exile in April 1917, with Lenin openly advocating for Russia's defeat to aid the revolution.
🛤️ Lenin's return was facilitated by the German government, which allowed his train to pass through German territory and even partially funded his anti-war activities.
📜 Lenin issued the April Theses, outlining a plan for power seizure and further revolution.
🔫 The failure of the Provisional Government's offensive in June 1917 strengthened the Bolsheviks' position, who promised peace and eventually signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the German Empire.
🏰 The October Revolution began in Petrograd on the night of November 6-7, 1917, with the Bolsheviks executing a military coup, seizing power, and imprisoning the Provisional Government's ministers.

Q & A

What significant events occurred at the beginning of World War I in Russia?
-At the beginning of World War I, Russia suffered significant population and territorial losses, and its economy collapsed. Tsar Nicholas II lost authority.
What happened in Petrograd on March 8, 1917?
-In Petrograd on March 8, 1917, there were riots. Workers from factories went out into the streets to strike for higher wages and to protest against the Tsar, who was at the front at that time.
Why did some soldiers refuse to follow the Tsar's orders?
-Some soldiers refused to follow the Tsar's orders because they were dissatisfied with the situation and the ongoing war, which led to his abdication on March 15 at the Pskov railway station.
Who did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate the throne to, and what was the outcome?
-Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the throne to his brother, Michael Alexandrovich, who, however, refused the crown, thus ending the history of Tsarist Russia under the Romanov dynasty.
What was the result of the formation of the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet?
-The formation of the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet led to the creation of two competing power centers, which paralyzed the state and led to anarchy.
What was the Provisional Government's failure that led to a loss in popularity?
-The Provisional Government was unable to end Russia's participation in the war, which led to a loss in popularity.
How did Vladimir Lenin and Lev Trotsky return to Russia in 1917?
-Vladimir Lenin and Lev Trotsky returned to Russia from exile at the end of spring 1917. Their return was facilitated by the German government, which allowed their train to pass through German territory and even partially financed their anti-war activities.
What were the April Theses that Lenin published, and what did they entail?
-The April Theses, published by Lenin, outlined a plan for the seizure of power and further revolution.
What was the impact of the Provisional Government's unsuccessful offensive in June 1917?
-The unsuccessful offensive by the Provisional Government in June 1917 strengthened the position of the Bolsheviks, who promised peace.
What significant event occurred during the night of November 6-7, 1917, in Petrograd?
-The October Revolution began in Petrograd on the night of November 6-7, 1917. The Bolsheviks carried out a military coup, seized power, and arrested the ministers of the Provisional Government.
What were the two key decrees issued by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution?
-The Bolsheviks issued two key decrees concerning peace and land, as well as the Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia or the peoples included in the Russian Empire.
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power after the October Revolution?
-The Bolsheviks consolidated their power by establishing a political police organization known as the Cheka in December 1917, led by Felix Dzerzhinsky, and introducing censorship.

Outlines

00:00

😨 The Fall of Tsarist Russia and the Rise of Bolshevik Power

The script describes the turmoil in Russia at the onset of World War I, leading to significant population and territorial losses, and an economic collapse. Tsar Nicholas II lost authority, and protests erupted in Petrograd on March 8, 1917, with workers demanding higher wages and protesting against the Tsar. Despite the Tsar's belief in the army's ability to control the unrest, some soldiers refused to follow orders. This led to the Tsar's abdication on March 15 in Pskov, ending the Romanov dynasty. In the aftermath, the Duma announced the creation of a Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, leading to a dual power struggle that paralyzed the state and led to anarchy. The Provisional Government introduced many long-awaited reforms but failed to end Russia's involvement in the war, losing popularity in the process. The morale of soldiers at the front was low, and this situation was exploited by Bolshevik leaders Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, who returned from exile in April 1917. Lenin's return was facilitated by the German government, which allowed him to travel through German territory and even partially funded his anti-war activities. Lenin's April Theses outlined a plan for power seizure and further revolution. The failure of the Provisional Government's offensive in June 1917 strengthened the Bolsheviks' position, who promised peace. They withdrew from the political bloc and signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the German Empire. The October Revolution began on the night of November 6-7, 1917, with the Bolsheviks executing a military coup, seizing power, and arresting the ministers of the Provisional Government. This revolution had a profound impact on the 20th century, with almost all governments viewing it with disfavor and fear, while for the proletarian left, it represented hope. Lenin took the lead in the new revolutionary government, issuing key decrees on peace, land, and the rights of nations within Russia or incorporated into the Russian Empire. The Bolsheviks established a dictatorship of the proletariat, leading to a civil war that intensified by mid-1918. The 'White Guard' opposed the new authorities, supported by the countries of the Entente, but their efforts were unsuccessful. After losing the 1918 elections, the Bolsheviks decided to dissolve all political parties except their own, leading to the establishment of a single-party system in Soviet Russia. People with the wrong class origin ('lishentsy') lost their political rights, and a decree was issued to strip the Orthodox Church of all property and rights. In July 1918, the Bolsheviks executed the royal family, and after a failed assassination attempt on Lenin in September of the same year, they issued the Decree on Red Terror.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡First World War

The First World War, also known as World War I, was a global war that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's major powers, organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. The war had a significant impact on Russia, leading to significant population and territorial losses, as well as a collapse of its economy, which is mentioned in the script as the backdrop for the events that unfolded.

💡Car Mikuláš II

Car Mikuláš II refers to Tsar Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, ruling from 1894 until his forced abdication in 1917. His loss of authority and the subsequent abdication marked the end of the Russian Empire and the beginning of a period of political turmoil in Russia, as referenced in the script.

💡Petrograd

Petrograd, formerly known as Saint Petersburg, was the location of significant unrest and protests during the early part of the Russian Revolution. The script mentions the outbreak of protests on 8th March 1917, where workers from factories went on strike demanding higher wages and protesting against the Tsar.

💡Provisional Government

The Provisional Government was a short-lived government that took power after the Tsar's abdication in March 1917. The script mentions the announcement of the creation of this government, which was intended to bring about reforms but struggled to end Russia's involvement in the war, leading to a loss of popularity.

💡Soviet

The term 'Soviet' refers to councils of workers, peasants, and soldiers that emerged during the Russian Revolution. The Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies is mentioned in the script as one of the two power centers that emerged, leading to a struggle for power and contributing to the state's paralysis.

💡Bolsheviks

The Bolsheviks were a major political party in Russia during the time of the Russian Revolution. Led by Vladimir Lenin and Lev Trotsky, as mentioned in the script, they advocated for the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of a socialist state. Their return from exile and subsequent actions played a pivotal role in the October Revolution.

💡April Theses

The April Theses were a set of directives issued by Lenin upon his return to Petrograd in April 1917. As referenced in the script, they outlined a plan for the seizure of power and further revolution, which significantly influenced the course of events leading up to the October Revolution.

💡Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty

The Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty was a peace treaty signed in 1918 between the new Bolshevik government and the Central Powers, led by Germany, to end Russia's involvement in World War I. The script mentions the Bolsheviks' decision to sign this treaty, which was a controversial move that further solidified their position as peace advocates.

💡October Revolution

The October Revolution, as the name suggests, was a revolution in Russia that took place in October 1917 (using the Old Style calendar, which was in use in Russia at the time). The script describes the Bolshevik-led military coup that overthrew the Provisional Government, marking a significant turning point in 20th-century history.

💡Decree on Peace and Land

The Decree on Peace and Land were two of the key documents issued by the Bolshevik government after the October Revolution. As mentioned in the script, these decrees aimed to address the issues of war and land ownership, which were central to the Bolshevik platform and the support they received from the peasantry.

💡Red Terror

The Red Terror was a campaign of mass executions and intimidation carried out by the Bolshevik government to suppress opposition. The script refers to the decree issued after an assassination attempt on Lenin, which led to a wave of violence against perceived enemies of the revolution.

Highlights

Russia suffered significant population and territorial losses at the beginning of World War I, and its economy collapsed.

Tsar Nicholas II lost authority.

On March 8, 1917, unrest broke out in Petrograd with workers striking for higher wages and protesting against the Tsar.

The Tsar believed the army could control the unrest, but some soldiers refused to follow orders.

Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on March 15 at Pskov railway station.

He attempted to pass the crown to his brother, Michael Alexandrovich, who refused it.

This marked the end of the Romanov dynasty's rule in Russia.

The Duma announced the creation of the Russian Provisional Government.

The Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was also established.

Two power centers emerged, leading to a state of paralysis and anarchy.

The Provisional Government introduced many long-awaited reforms but failed to end Russia's involvement in the war.

The morale of soldiers at the front was extremely low.

Vladimir Lenin and Lev Trotsky, the Bolshevik leaders, returned from exile in April 1917.

Lenin openly declared that Russia's defeat in the war would benefit the revolution.

Lenin's return was facilitated by the German government, which allowed his train to pass through German territory.

Lenin's April Theses outlined a plan for power seizure and further revolution.

The failure of the Provisional Government's offensive in June 1917 strengthened the Bolsheviks' position.

The Bolsheviks withdrew from the military-political bloc and signed the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty with the German Empire.

The October Revolution began in Petrograd on the night of November 6-7, 1917.

The Bolsheviks executed a military coup, seized power, and arrested the ministers of the Provisional Government.

The revolution had a massive impact on the history of the 20th century.

Lenin took the lead of the new revolutionary government.

Two key decrees concerning peace and land were issued, along with the Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia.

The Bolsheviks applied a modified concept of self-determination as the right to autonomy within the revolutionary republic of soviets.

To maintain power, the Bolsheviks established the political police organization known as the Cheka in December 1917.

Censorship was introduced.

The establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat led to a civil war that intensified by mid-1918.

The so-called White Guard began to fight against the new authorities, supported by the countries of the Entente.

After losing the elections in 1918, the Bolsheviks decided to dissolve all political parties except their own.

Soviet Russia introduced a system of a single political party, and people with the wrong class origin (lishentsy) lost their political rights.

A decree was issued that stripped the Orthodox Church of all property and rights.

In July 1918, the Bolsheviks executed the royal family.

After an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Lenin in September of the same year, the Decree on Red Terror was issued.