The Russian Revolution: February and October 1917 Explained

February 1917: The Fall of the Tsarist Regime

In February 1917, the pressures of World War I led to the collapse of the Russian Empire. The war effort transformed factories into military industries, causing inflation and eroding purchasing power. Military defeats and economic disaster fueled widespread criticism of the government, culminating in the February Revolution.

• Petrograd Demonstrations: Strikes and protests led to the formation of the Soviets.
• Abdication: The Czar refused to abandon the war and was forced to abdicate.
• Dual Power: A provisional government led by Prince Lvov was established, but it faced competition from the Soviets, who demanded an immediate end to the war.

The liberal Provisional Government (KDT) was soon overwhelmed by grassroots movements. Lenin returned, advocating for an end to the war and calling for an insurrection. Following the failure of a tsarist military coup, Alexander Kerensky replaced Lvov, but his government lost the support of the Soviets, the Bolsheviks (led by Trotsky), and the Kronstadt sailors.

Historical Context: Gulags and the Treaty of Versailles

The Gulag System

The Gulag was a system of forced labor camps, primarily located in Siberia, which expanded significantly during Stalin's dictatorship.

The Diktat of Versailles

At the end of World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. The terms included:

• Accepting full responsibility for the conflict.
• Paying heavy war reparations.
• Ceding Alsace and Lorraine.
• Limiting the army to 100,000 soldiers.
• Territorial losses, including the separation of East Prussia via the Danzig corridor.

October 1917: The Bolshevik Revolution

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks organized an insurrection in Petrograd with the support of the Red Guard. They seized key services and stormed the Winter Palace, forcing the Provisional Government to resign. Lenin established the Council of People's Commissars, a worker and peasant government that implemented radical reforms:

• Land Reform: Land was redistributed to the peasants.
• Economic Control: Workers gained control of factories, and banks were nationalized.
• Self-Determination: Recognition of the rights of peoples within the former empire.

To secure peace, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, ceding the Baltic countries, Finland, and Poland. This triggered a brutal civil war between the Bolsheviks and the 'White Russians' (a coalition of tsarist supporters and privileged classes). Trotsky led the Red Army, while the Tsar and his family were executed. To sustain the war effort, the Bolsheviks implemented War Communism, which suppressed private property and placed the entire economy under state control to supply the military.