The return of Lenin

How many members were there in the Bolshevik party

At the time of the revolution in Febuary/March 1917, the Bolsheviks were still only a small party of 23,000 members. They had 40 representatives in the soviet of 1500. Additionally all their major leaders were in exile.

Who were the 1st major Bolshevik members to reach Petrograd?

The 1st to reach Petrograd was Lev Kamenev and Stalin who arrived in mid March and took over control of the party newspaper, Pravda (the truth).

What policies did Lev Kamenev and Stalin accept that was adopted by other left-wing socialists?

• To support the Provisional Government.

• Continuation of the war (not for imperialist conquest or glory as under the Tsar, but as revolutionary defencism: a defensive struggle to protect the fragile revolution and prevent a German victory that could threaten the gains of February 1917.)

• Soviet leadership (Accepting Soviet leadership meant recognising the Petrograd Soviet as a legitimate political authority and working within the dual power system, without demanding its full takeover of government.)

When did Lenin Return and where from?

Lenin returned to Russia from Switzerland on April 3rd 1917

Who did Lenin enlist help from when needing to return to Russia?

The Germans, who Russia was fighting at the time.

Why did the Germans help the Bolsheviks?

The Germans saw an advantage in allowing Bolsheviks (who were apposed to the war) to enter Russia and stir up trouble.

Why did the German foreign officers give financial support to Lenin and the Bolsheviks?

They gave Lenin ad the Bolsheviks financial support in hopes that if they manage to achieve their revolutionary aims, they would pull Russia out of the war. (Which they did, 3rd March 1918)

What was the journey of the sealed train?

Switzerland → through Germany → to neutral swedan→Findland→ Petrograd

How many comrades did Lenin travel with on the sealed train

31 comrades on the German sealed train?

What was special about the sealed train?

The train only had one carriage and was sealed so there was no luggage or passport inspections carried out