November Revolution

August 1917

Kornilov coup armed 25,000 red guards; released political prisoners e.g. Trotsky

Jan-end of July 1917

Bolshevik membership grew x10

September 1917

Many Soviets turned Bolshevik; Bolshevik majority in Moscow and Pgrad Soviets; Trotsky chairman of Pgrad Soviet

Impact of Kornilov coup

25,000 red guards now armed; political prisoners e.g. Trotsky released

Evidence for Bolshevik popularity growth 1917

Jan-end of July 1917 membership grew x10

Mid-September 1917

1st letter from Lenin

Lenin’s 1st letter detail

Good time to revolt says Lenin. CC disagree. Trotsky says they burnt letter

September-October 1917

Lenin persists; keeps sending out letters, articles, pamphlets saying CC opposing revolution

23 October 1917

Bolshevik CC secret meeting

23rd Oct secret meeting detail

Lenin arrived disguised with a wig. Resolution commits party to the Nov Rev: ‘armed uprising is inevitable.’

What happened after 23rd Oct resolution passed, to get ready to seize Pgrad

Pgrad Soviet creates MRC (Trotsky also chairman)

30th Oct 1917

Z + K publish article attacking idea of insurrection

3rd November 1917

Trotsky convinces Pgrad Garrison to support rev

6th Nov 1917 EARLIER

PG troops try close Bolshevik printing press + prosecute MRC

6th Nov 1917 LATER

Trotsky leads RG to take post offices, bridges, State Bank. Cruiser Aurora fired shot support rev.

7th November

Lenin announces Bolshevik seized power; Kerensky escapes; Storm gov buildings + Winter Palace, arrest PG; Walkout

Walkout on 7th Nov detail

Mensheviks and moderate SRs walk out Congress of Soviets leaving Bolsheviks in power

Kerensky’s escape detail

Back of American embassy car

Trotsky said (coup)

Max 35,000 involved - 5% of all workers and soldiers in city

8th Nov 1917

Lenin decree on land: abolish private ownership; decree on peace: ceasefire on all fronts

9th Nov 1917

banned opposition press

Counterrevolution attempt after coup

Kerensky leads attempted coup; on way to Petrograd Cossacks were persuaded to lay down arms

16th November 1917

RG win control of Moscow after a week of fighting

17th Nov 1917

Sovnarkom decreed itself the right to pass legislation without approval from Soviet