Mega Russia Timeline up to death of Lenin

Colour key for factors: blue = social, red = economic, purple = political. Underlined = short term cons.

Bloody Sunday DATE dmy

22nd January 1905

Bloody Sunday CAUSES

Anti-gov feelings were running high in Petrograd, especially as Russia had lost Port Arthur. The people were tired of being treated badly

Bloody Sunday DETAILS

Father Gapon organised a petition and a peaceful march to the Winter Palace to ask the Tsar for things like an eight-hour day, minimum wages and an elected parliament. 150,000 men, women and children turned up but the soldiers in the WP opened fire on them.

Bloody Sunday CONSEQUENCES/SIGNIFICANCE

130 killed and 300 wounded, the Tsar was no longer seen as “Little Father”, triggered sympathy strikes and rioting.

Potemkin mutiny CAUSES

Soldiers being served rotten meat, the captain’s demands to shoot the initial ringleaders of the protests

Potemkin mutiny DATE my

june 1905

Potemkin mutiny DETAILS

The crew's discontent led to a rebellion on the battleship Potemkin in June 1905, where sailors protested against poor conditions and lack of food. The firing squads meant to shoot the ringleaders instead turned on their captain and threw the officers overboard

Potemkin mutiny CONSEQUENCES/SIGNIFICANCE

Mutinies spread to other units in the armed forces and sparked strikes across Russia, contributing to the growing revolutionary sentiment and slowing industry down.

1905 Revolution CAUSES (3)

Potemkin mutiny, food shortages, autocratic rule

1905 Revolution DETAILS

Peasants seized land, a general strike was called, and there were mass protests against the Tsar's regime, leading to significant unrest and demands for political reform.

1905 Revolution CONSEQUENCES (4)

Formation of the St Petersburg soviet, October Manifesto (greater civil liberties, creation of the Duma), attacks from tsarists on people anti-tsar after October Manifesto, formation of liberal political parties

December 1905 EVENTS

Arrest of the members of the St Petersburg Soviet arrested, armed uprising in Moscow crushed by force

Germany declares war on Russia and Duma suspended DATE dmy

1st August 1914

Germany declares war on Russia DETAILS/SIGNIFICANCE

Greater patriotic, nationalist sentiment in Russia, leading to increased recruitment (through conscription) and support for the war effort, St Petersburg renamed Petrograd, tsar started to work more closely with Dumas

Main two Russian armies defeated DATE my

November 1914

Main two Russian armies defeated DETAILS

Defeated at battles of Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg

Main two Russian armies defeated SIGNIFICANCE

Signaled a turning point in World War I, leading to severe losses for Russia and a decline in morale. Demonstrated the flaws in the army’s leadership and contributed to the Tsar’s decision to take over

TN2 takes over control of army DATE dmy

22nd August 1915

TN2 takes over control of the army CAUSES

Army wasn’t doing well due to poor resources and training, had suffered heavy losses (1 million injured/dead/captured in 1914) and soldiers losing faith in their leaders

TN2 takes over control of army DETAILS

Left Petrograd for the army HQ in Belarus

TN2 takes over control of army SIGNIFICANCE

Was now blamed directly for war failures, had less control over domestic matters, Alexandra and Rasputin left in charge who were very unpopular

Rasputin assassination DATE dmy

1st December 1916

Rasputin assassination CAUSES

Unpopularity amongst all classes, fear that he needed to go to save the tsarist system

Rasputin assassination DETAILS

Killed by Yussupo, an aristocrat, who invited him to his home and then poisoned then shot then drowned him

Rasputin assassination SIGNIFICANCE

finally bye rasputin, mixed reaction from the public, didn’t lead to a drastic change in the tsar and tsarina’s leadership like the conspirators had hoped

Feb Rev. Demonstrations commemorating Bloody Sunday DATE dm

9th January

Feb. Rev. Putilov strike begins in Petrograd DATE dm

10th February

Feb. Rev. Bread rationing begins DATE dm

19th Feb

Feb. Rev. International Women’s Day demonstration DATE

23rd Feb

Feb. Rev. IWD demonstrations DETAILS

Female textile workers in several factories decided almost spontaneously to go on strike, demanding bread and better working conditions, which escalated into a larger protest.

Feb. Rev. IWD demonstration SIGNIFICANCE

Led to general strike

Feb. Rev. General strike begins DATE dm

25th Feb

Feb. Rev. General strike CAUSES

Escalation of IWD demonstration, food shortages, ongoing war, general discontent

Feb. Rev. General strike DETAILS

Essentially all factories in Petrograd were closed at this point, 300,000 workers protesting

Feb. Rev. TN2 ordered closure of the Dumas DATE dm

25th Feb

Feb. Rev. TN2 orders Duma closure DETAILS

Duma refused to be disbanded, instead formed a council of 12 people to make up the Prov. Gov.on the 27th Feb

Feb. Rev. army mutiny DATE dm

27th Feb

Feb. Rev. army mutiny CAUSES

Soldiers sympathising with strikers, soldiers in Petrograd being held in barracks that weren’t big enough

Feb. Rev. army mutiny DETAILS

TN2 told General Khabalov to order his troops to open fire on the crowd, they refused as they sympathised with the protestors, soldiers mutinied and killed/turned on their officers

Feb. Rev. army mutiny SIGNIFICANCE

TN2 had no way of enforcing his authority or putting down the protestors, facilitated the Petrograd Soviet taking control of the armed forces

Feb. Rev. Creation of the PG DATE dmy

27th Feb 1905

Feb. Rev. Creation of the PG CAUSES

TN2 had received a telegram from the Duma president advising him to form a new gov. with more voice given to elected representatives due to how bad things were with the current rev. TN2 refused and ordered the Duma to close

Feb. Rev. Creation of the PG DETAILS

A committee was formed made up of 12 representatives of the main political parties which then became the Provisional Government, with Prince Lvov in charge at first. It was only meant to be temporary.

Feb. Rev. Creation of the PG SIGNIFICANCE

Was unpopular as it was not an elected form of government and didn’t massively help Russia, led to issues with dual power w/ the Petrograd Soviet

Feb. Rev. Petrograd Soviet set up DATE dm

27th Feb

Feb. Rev. Petro Sov issues Soviet Order No 1 DATE dm

1st March

Feb. Rev. Petro Sov Order No 1 DETAILS

This order established the authority of the Petrograd Soviet over the military, ensuring that soldiers obeyed the Soviet rather than the Provisional Government, and called for the establishment of committees to represent the interests of the troops.

Feb. Rev. Petro Sov Order No 1 SIGNIFICANCE

Later gave the Petro Sov more power than the Prov Gov, easier for the Bols to get their way and eliminate opposition

Feb. Rev. Nicholas abdication DATE dm

2nd March

Feb. Rev. TN2 abdicates CAUSE

Loss of control over armed forces, general strike, N was strongly advised/forced to resign by his gov. ministers and army leaders

Lenin return to Russia (from Switzerland) DATE dmy

3rd April 1917

Lenin return CAUSE

Tsar had been deposed, Lenin eager to seize control, Kamenev and Stalin had already returned and started to revitalise the Bols. party, Germans helped as they knew Lenin would destabilise Russia

Lenin return DETAILS

Enlisted the help of the Germans (who Russia was fighting) and travelled on a sealed train to Russia, where he was met by cheering crowds.

Lenin return SIGNIFICANCE

Lenin steered the Bols towards a more radical, less co-operative mindset, wrote the April Thesis on the train home - essentially Lenin’s blueprint for the Bolshevik revolution, which called for immediate withdrawal from World War I and a transfer of power to the Soviets.

July Days DATE dmy

3rd-5th July 1917

July Days CAUSES

Failed June and July Offensives, grain prices had doubled in Petrograd, shortages of fuel and raw materials had forced factories to close

July Days DETAILS

The Prov Gov were unwilling to help the struggling people as they didn’t want to upset the industrialists. 20,000 armed sailors from Kronstadt appeared on the streets and many workers joined them, all chanting Bols. slogans together. They looted buildings and seized important buildings like train stations.

July Days CONSEQUENCES

PG turned on the Bols and many Bols leaders fled, Bols. party repressed, Kerensky replaced Prince Lvov as leader of the PG

Kornilov coup DATE dm

27th Aug - 13th Sep

Kornilov coup CAUSES

The Kornilov coup was caused by growing tensions between the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks, alongside military dissatisfaction and a desire for a stronger military leadership, led by General Kornilov. Other factors included the failure of the Provisional Government to address key social and economic issues, which fueled unrest among soldiers and workers, as well as industrialists who felt their needs weren’t being met

Kornilov coup DETAILS

Kornilov ordered 6 regiments of troops to march on Petrograd and establish a military dictatorship. Kerensky ordered them to stop but they refused so Kerensky released imprisoned Bols (as they were trusted by the people) and armed them so they could prevent any further advance of the coup. Kornilov’s supply lines were cut and the coup leaders were arrested

Kornilov coup SIGNIFICANCE

Kerensky had essentially freed and armed his opponents, Bols. were the main benefactors of the coup and were able to utilise it to increase their popularity, Kerensky’s reputation was damaged

October Revolution DATE dmy

Actual insurrection took place on 25th October 1917

October Revolution CAUSES

The weakness of the PG, defeats in WWI and the bitterness of the soldiers, Lenin’s political manoeuvres, Trotsky’s policies, the deteriorating economy, the resentment of the peasants and workers

October Revolution CAUSES (Lenin’s manoeuvres specifically)

He “persuaded” the other members of the Bols that an armed revolution was better than co-operation with other socialist parties as those parties were associated with a failed government.

October Revolution (CAUSES) (Trotsky’s tactics specifically)

In Early October, he established a Military Revolutionary Committee to defend the Soviets from counter-revolutionary assaults and to plan the insurrection. He effectively coordinated the Bolshevik forces and secured key locations in Petrograd.

October Revolution DETAILS

Kamenev and Zinoviev leaked to a newspaper plans for a revolution, which prompted Kerensky to act and he closed some Bols newspapers and wanted to send troops to defend against a revolution (was stopped). This gave the Bols excuse to act and 25,000 Bols supporters took to the streets, seizing gov. buildings/offices and eventually took the Winter Palace, allowing the Bols to seize power through the establishment of several new councils, etc.

October Revolution CONSEQUENCES

The Bols were now officially in power and would implement communist rule, their power grew absolute which meant they could crush any opposition. Once in government, they quickly implemented their three decrees - Decree on Land (redistributing land to the peasants and banning private ownership), Decree on Peace (relating to the end of WWI) and War Decree (organising a new government).

Trotsky made Commissar for Foreign Affairs DATE y

1917

Decree on Workers’ Control of Factories DATE my

November 1917

Decree on Workers’ Control of Factories SIGNIFICANCE

Outlined cautions to those taking over factories, reminding them they were still to be held responsible to the state

Nationalisation of banks DATE my

December 1917

Nationalisation of banks SIGNIFICANCE

Represented a further step towards communism, gave the Bols. greater control over the Russian economy

Establishment of the Veshenka DATE my

December 1917

Establishment of the Veshenka DETAILS/SIGNIFICANCE

Was responsbile for “all existing institutions for the regulation of economic life”. Gave the Bols. greater economic control

Constituent Assembly one and only meeting/disbanding DATE dmy

19th January

Constituent Assembly one and only meeting/disbanding CAUSES/BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lenin was forced to allow elections to be held in November 1917, SRs got 410 seats whereas Bols only got 175 (Bols support was limited in rural areas), Lenin said “elections prove nothing”, the elected status of the CA gave it a mandate as a legitimate body to be the next gov

Constituent Assembly one and only meeting/disbanding DETAILS

Lenin asserted that his Soviet gov were a higher power than the CA so allowed them to meet once on the 5th January but then forcibly closed it to consolidate Bols rule in Russia.

Constituent Assembly one and only meeting/disbanding CONSEQUENCES

There was some opposition against it but this was put down, the other political parties lost power, Bols political control increased

Creation of Red Army DATE dmy

10th February 1918

Creation of Red Army CAUSES

The need to defend the Bolshevik government against internal and external threats during the Russian Civil War led to the establishment of the Red Army. The Red Guards (created 1917) would not be enough as they faced significant challenges and needed a more organized military force to ensure the survival of the revolution.

Creation of the Red Army DETAILS

The Red Army was formed to consolidate military power and defend the Bolshevik regime, evolving from the Red Guards to include a more structured organization with formal ranks and discipline. Established by the Council of People’s Commisars and led by Leon Trotsky

Trotsky’s appointment to the role of War Commisar DATE dm

19th January

Trotsky’s appointment to the role of War Commisar CONSEQUENCES

Trotsky's leadership significantly strengthened the Red Army, improving its organization and effectiveness in combat. His strategies and mobilization efforts were crucial for the Bolsheviks' success during the Civil War.

Lenin introduces State Capitalism DATE y

1918

Lenin introduces State Capitalism CAUSES

The need to stabilize the economy post-revolution and prevent economic collapse. This policy aimed to incentivize production by allowing some private enterprise.

Lenin introduces State Capitalism DETAILS

This involved the government controlling major industries while allowing limited private businesses to operate, transitioning the economy towards socialism. It was seen as a “half-way house” between communism and capitalism.

Lenin introduces State Capitalism CONSEQUENCES

It had limited effectiveness - there were still widespread food shortages (especially in the cities) which led to a prominent black market. Economic output remained low and the value of the rouble collapsed as inflation soared.

Start of foreign intervention - arrival of Japanese warship in Vladivostok DATE my

January 1918

Trotsky made War Commissar DATE my

March 1918

Trotsky made War Commissar SIGNIFICANCE

Trotsky was key in organizing a successful military strategy for the Bolsheviks. He introduced harsher disciplinary measures like the death penalty and blocking troops to reduce desertion. He used his train to create and distribute propaganda and to visit troops, delivering supplies and raising morale. He also reintroduced conscription to grow the size of the Red Army.

The end of Russia’s involvement and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk DATE dmy

3rd March 1918

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk CAUSES

The treaty was largely a result of Russia's military defeats in World War I (in the run up to B-L, the Germans had taken 63,000 prisoners in just 2 weeks), the desire for peace among war-weary citizens, struggling economy as resources were diverted to the war and the Bolshevik government's need to consolidate power, especially as they had promised peace when they had came to power, Lenin’s threat of resignation

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk DETAILS

There was great disagreement between Lenin and Trotsky regarding the treaty, but ultimately the Bols. decided to sign the peace treaty with Germany after Lenin threatened to resign. The treaty ceded significant territory to Germany, including Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states, and imposed harsh payments from Russia to Germany for the signing of the treaty.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk CONSEQUENCES

Russia had to pay Germany 3 billion roubles to sign the treaty, Russia lost 1/6 of its population as it gave up territories such as Ukraine and Belarus, it lost 74% of its iron ore and coal, had to give up valuable agricultural land, its army was broken up and weakened - less negotiating power

Start of naval blockade of trade and shipping going to Soviet Russia DATE my

March 1918

Start of naval blockade of trade and shipping going to Soviet Russia SIGNIFICANCE

The naval blockade aimed to weaken the Bolshevik government by cutting off essential supplies and resources, impacting the economy and trade, and contributing to civil unrest and dissatisfaction among the population.

Civil War fighting begins DATE my

April 1918

Trotsky reintroduces conscription DATE my

May 1918

Trotsky reintroduces conscription CAUSES

Prior to May 1918, the Bolshevik army was dependent entirely on volunteers. They had 30,000 Red Guards but only 1/3 were “military ready” - they needed to increase this number if they wanted to win the Civil War.