3/13/25 - World Civ - Russia Revolution during WWI

Overview of the Bolshevik Party and Key Figures

Introduction to the Bolsheviks

• The Bolsheviks are a faction of the Communist Party in Russia, labeled as such due to their majority status in a key vote in 1903.

• Key figure: Vladimir Lenin

  • Described as a leading Bolshevik and a persistent opponent of the Russian government, specifically Czar Nicholas II.

Lenin's Exile

• At the start of World War I, Lenin is exiled in Germany.

• Exile: Being forcibly removed from one’s country due to political reasons.

  • Exiled because he was viewed as a threat to Russian peace and stability, attempting to incite an uprising.

• Germany, seeing potential in Lenin as a disruptor of the Russian war effort, facilitates his return to Russia with financial support.

Lenin’s Role During the War

• Germany’s hope: Lenin would create chaos in Russia, leading to the abdication or downfall of Nicholas II, allowing them to sign a peace treaty.

• Lenin’s promise to Germany included withdrawing Russia from World War I if he succeeded in seizing power.

Comparison with Other Historical Figures

• Nicholas II: Viewed as incompetent, akin to Mr. Jones in George Orwell's Animal Farm. He is compared to a drunken farmer who fails to manage effectively.

• Old Major in Animal Farm represents Lenin, a revolutionary leader whose corpse is displayed posthumously.

• Leon Trotsky: A key military leader in the Bolshevik Revolution and later exiled due to rivalry with Stalin.

  • Represented as Snowball in Animal Farm, an intellectual and organizer leading the Red Army and initially successful in seizing Saint Petersburg.

Stalin’s Rise

• Joseph Stalin: Another revolutionary leader, later becomes the main leader of the Soviet Union post-Lenin.

  • Known for ruling with an iron fist and enforcing loyalty through the Cheka (secret police), the predecessor to the KGB.

• Trotsky vs. Stalin: Trotsky is exiled in 1927 due to fear of his popularity as a political rival.

  • Trotsky ultimately assassinated in Mexico in 1940 on Stalin's orders, symbolizing Stalin's response to threats against his power.

Rasputin’s Influence

• Grigori Rasputin: A mystic with significant influence over the Russian royal family, particularly Tsarina Alexandra.

  • He claims to be able to heal the royal couple's hemophiliac son, leading to his closeness with the family despite his questionable reputation and behavior.

• Rasputin’s lifestyle becomes an embarrassment for Nicholas II, compounding the royal family's difficulties during the war.

The Assassination of Rasputin

• Nicholas II eventually orders Rasputin's assassination due to his harmful influence. The execution is executed clumsily: attempts to poison and shoot Rasputin lead to a chaotic conclusion.

• Rasputin’s body is disposed of in the river, symbolizing the embarrassment and scandal surrounding the royal family.

Historical Context and Conclusions

• The narrative of these figures illustrates the complexities of the Bolshevik Revolution and the factors leading to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.

• The differences between Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin highlight the power struggles and ideological battles within the revolutionary movements.

• Nostalgic comparisons to Animal Farm emphasize the allegorical significance of historical events and figures in understanding the Russian Revolution.