Russian Revolution

October 1917:

  • October Revolution (October 25-26) - The Bolshevik Party led by Lenin seized power in the capital Petrograd after overthrowing the Provisional Government. This marked the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution.

  • Decree on Peace and Decree on Land issued, promising peace and land redistribution to peasants - Two of the first major decrees by the new Bolshevik government aimed at rallying popular support by promising an end to Russian involvement in WW1 and redistributing landed estates to peasants.

November 1917:

  • Decree abolishing private property introduced - The Bolsheviks took steps towards developing a socialist economic system by abolishing private ownership of industries, land, and other property.

  • Constituent Assembly elections held (Bolsheviks win only 25% of votes) - Bolsheviks only won a quarter of seats, showing limited initial popular support, especially among peasants.

January 1918:

  • Constituent Assembly forcibly dissolved by Bolsheviks after one day - Because the Assembly refused ratification for earlier Bolshevik decrees, Lenin’s Red Guards dissolved it, on his orders. In a speech later that day Lenin said: “The Constituent Assembly is the highest expression of the political ideals of bourgeois society, which are no longer necessary in a socialist state.”

March 1918:

  • Brest-Litovsk Treaty signed, taking Russia out of WW1 - Facing continued German advances, the Bolsheviks were forced to accept this punitive treaty that ceded large amounts of Russian territory to Germany in order to exit WW1.

  • Establishment of Cheka (Bolshevik secret police) - The infamous Cheka secret police force was created to help the Bolshevik government eliminate any opposition or dissent through terror and force.

June 1918:

  • Left Socialist Revolutionary (Left SRs) Uprising against Bolshevik regime - The Left SR party, initially allied with the Bolsheviks, revolted against their policies such as the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and refusal to defend Ukraine from German occupation. In July 1918 the Left SRs murdered the German ambassador and launched a spontaneous attempt to seize control of Moscow and other Russian cities – but this uprising was unplanned and disorganized, so was quickly suppressed.

July-August 1918:

  • Execution of Tsar Nicholas II and family - In one of the most infamous acts of the Revolution, the former Tsar and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks, eliminating the Romanov monarchy.

  • Start of Russian Civil War against anti-Bolshevik White Army - Various anti-Bolshevik forces known as the White Army began armed conflict against the new regime, sparking a multi-year civil war.

  • Assassination attempt on Lenin by Fanya Kaplan - An early attempt on Lenin's life that added to the atmosphere of terror and insecurity.

November 1918:

  • Decree abolishing religion and separating church/state - Part of the Bolshevik's broader anti-religious policies aimed at weakening the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

March 1919:

  • Creation of the Third International (Comintern) - Established to spread Bolshevik/communist ideology and foment further revolutions in other countries globally.

  • Systemic "Red Terror" unleashed by Cheka against opposition - The Cheka began a campaign of extreme repression and violence against any perceived enemies of the Bolshevik regime including Whites, tsarists, liberals, clergy and kulaks.

1920:

  • Widespread peasant uprisings against Bolshevik grain requisition squads - Faced with famine conditions, the Bolsheviks seized grain harvests from peasants by force, leading to rebellions (‘War Communism’).

  • Polish-Soviet War breaks out over territorial disputes - The Polish republic fought the Bolsheviks over territorial control of areas like Ukraine and Belarus.

1921:

  • Kronstadt Rebellion of Naval sailors crushed - One of the final internal threats faced by the Bolsheviks as the Kronstadt naval base rebelled, demanding new elections and reforms, before being brutally suppressed.

  • Introduction of New Economic Policy (NEP) - Lenin was forced to temporarily retreat from full socialism by allowing some private enterprise and market economics.

1922:

  • Famine grips Soviet republics, millions die - A devastating famine struck due to factors like war, drought, and mismanagement of food supplies under the Bolsheviks.

  • Formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) - The USSR was formed, consolidating the Bolshevik regime's control over a unitary state of Soviet republics.

1923:

  • Lenin falls ill, beginning power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky 

  • Abolition of the Romanov laws on private property - Reversing some of the NEP policies, the Bolsheviks reinstituted bans on most private property ownership.

USSR Timeline, 1924-1939


February 1924:

  • Death of Vladimir Lenin - The death of Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and the head of the Soviet state, leaves a significant power vacuum in the leadership of the Soviet Union.


December 1924:

  • Formation of the Troika - Joseph Stalin, Lev Kamenev, and Grigory Zinoviev form a temporary ruling troika to collectively lead the Soviet Union following Lenin's death. This marks the beginning of Stalin's rise to power.


December 1925:

  • Stalin Consolidates Power - Joseph Stalin, leveraging his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party, begins a campaign to consolidate power within the party and government. He strategically appoints loyalists to key positions within the party apparatus and administrative structures, gradually sidelining potential rivals. Stalin orchestrates a campaign to undermine Trotsky's influence, accusing him of harboring counter-revolutionary tendencies and attempting to sabotage the party's objectives. By the end of 1925, Trotsky is removed from key positions of authority within the party and government and he will be exiled in 1926. 


November 1927:

  • Start of the First Five-Year Plan - Stalin launches the ambitious economic program of rapid industrialization and collectivization, aiming to modernize the Soviet economy and strengthen the nation's defenses. This plan entails forced collectivization of agriculture and massive state investment in heavy industry.


February 1930:

  • Liquidation of the Kulaks - Stalin's regime intensifies the campaign against the kulaks, prosperous peasants who resist collectivization, by forcibly seizing their land, livestock, and property. Many kulaks are deported to remote areas or executed, marking a brutal crackdown on perceived class enemies.

  • Expansion of Forced Labor Camps (Gulags) - Many kulaks are sent to forced labor camps, later known as Gulags. Many Gulag prisoners are forced to labor on Stalin’s ambitious industrial and infrastructure projects. Over the next decade, millions of political prisoners, perceived enemies of the state, and ordinary citizens deemed "counter-revolutionaries" are sent to these camps under harsh conditions, where they are subjected to grueling labor and brutal treatment. The Gulag system becomes an integral component of Stalin's authoritarian rule, serving both economic and political purposes.


November 1932 - September 1933:

  • Holodomor Famine in Ukraine - A man-made famine, known as the Holodomor, devastates Ukraine, primarily caused by Stalin's policies of forced collectivization and grain requisitioning. Millions of Ukrainians perish from starvation and related causes, in what is widely regarded as a deliberate act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.



December 1932:

  • Transition to the Second Five Year Plan - Following the success of the first plan, Stalin launches the Second Five-Year Plan, prioritizing heavy industry to elevate the Soviet Union's steel production. Despite successes, especially in transportation, the plan falls short in coal and oil production. In response, targets are adjusted, and incentives are introduced. The plan also promotes women's participation in the workforce and includes measures to encourage peasants to join collective farms. Additionally, it enforces state atheism, leading to the closure of churches and the elimination of clergy. 


Early 1936

  • Initiation of the Great Purge - Following the mysterious assassination of Sergei Kirov, a prominent Bolshevik leader and friend of Stalin, Stalin launches the first wave of what will become the Great Purge. This consists of a widespread campaign of political repression aimed at eliminating perceived enemies of the Soviet state and consolidating his power within the Communist Party.


1936-1938

  • Show Trials - The first of a series of highly publicized show trials begins in August 1936, with prominent Bolshevik leaders, including Grigory Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev, accused of conspiring against the Soviet government. Subsequent trials continue until 1938, featuring fabricated evidence, coerced confessions, and predetermined verdicts to justify the purge and intimidate the population.


1937-1939

  • Purge of the Military Leadership - The purge of the Soviet military leadership intensifies in 1937, resulting in the arrest and execution of thousands of officers accused of sabotage, espionage, and treason. The Red Army, once a formidable force, suffers significant losses as experienced commanders are removed from their positions, leaving the Soviet Union vulnerable to potential external threats.


May 1939:

  • Signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - The Soviet Union, under Stalin's leadership, signs a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This agreement includes a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence between the two totalitarian powers, ultimately paving the way for the outbreak of World War II.


September 1939

  • World War II begins when Germany invades Poland on September 1; The Soviet Union invades Poland two weeks later.