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Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto
Known as the first Russian revolution, the revolution of 1905 was caused by a massive wave of politcal unrest and directed against the the Tsar Nicholas II. During the revolution, the October Manifesto was created promising social and political reforms. The revoluton of 1905 lasted two years long ending in june 16, 1905. The meaning of the picture shows the enraged society of Russia as majority of them were agonized by the rule of the tsar. -
Beginning of WW I
The start of WWI particularly in Russia entering of the war had begun with Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia. The declaration of war against the Russian ally had forced the country to go into war. The depiction of the army of Russia in the image shows the army ready for the great war in formation to rebel against the Austro-Hungarian forces. -
Czar Nicholas II Takes Sole Control of Military Operations
In hopes to create inspiration among the army, Czar Nicholas II took personal command of the army leaving St Petersburg and moving to army headquarters in Poland. The image shows the thought process of Nicholas II to not be very intelligent as the Czar took command over the army showing the poor decision making of the Czar. -
Brusilov Offensive
The Russian army, commanded by General Aleksey A. Brusilov, attacked the Austro-German forces along the front in Galicia and pushed toward Lvov. Although the Russian effort was initially successful, the soldiers soon refused to leave their trenches and fight leading to their collapse on July 16, 1916. The image depicts the soldiers refusal to fight leading to their eventual demise in the fight. Additionally, the bloodshed on the field shows the amount of loss the Russians faced from the fight. -
Assassination of Rasputin
Eager to end his influence over the royal family, Russian nobles had assaisinated Grigory Rasputin. The meaning of the picture shows Rasputin as an overarching figure over the tsar, showing his influence over the Russian empire. -
International Women’s Day March in Petrograd
Women workers in Petrograd held a mass strike and demonstration demanding Peace and Bread in Russia. This movement had as many as 150,000 workers taken onto the streets. As shown in the image, the women are standing together in protest of the lack of food that was in Russia asking the women to stand together. -
Nicholas II Abdicates
As a result of socialist workers and the army garrison joining forces with each other demanding to make socialist reform in Petrograd, Czar Nicholas II had abdicated his throne. The representation of the picture shows the situation that was going on in Petrograd at the time revealing the Czar abdicating from the throne in a newspaper. -
Provisional Government formed
After the abdication, the provisional government was formed by the duma intended to form elections to the Russian Constituent Assembly and its convention. The meaning of the picture shows the Provisional Government propoganda that was created for the newly made government congratulating their newfound freedom they have attained. -
Return of Lenin from exile
After a decade of exile from Russia, Vladimir Lenin return to Russia in hopes that he would undermine the Russian war effort, which was continuing under the provisional government. The meaning of the picture is to show the large support that Lenin had created in Russia, showing the amount of influence he had over the community. -
April Theses published
After returning from exile, Lenin had published the April Theses. Lenin main points in the Theses were to focus Bolshevik efforts on opposing the provisional government, promote a socialist revolution and lay the groundwork for a proletariat-led government. The representation of the image is to show the simplicity of the April Theses yet the impact it had on the society of Russia. Future uprisings that had occured had been contributed by the April Theses. -
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meets
The congress came together where they put a majority vote in support of the Provisional Government. Although, the socialist ministers in the Provisional Government were told to be obliged to decisions made by the Soviets. The depiction of the image here shows the congress coming together to come to an agreement on the status of the Provisional Government. -
July Days
The July Days were a time of unrest in Petrograd during the Russian Revolution. Workers and soldiers of Petrograd staged created demonstrations against the Provisional Government resulting in a temporary decline of Bolshevik influence and the formation of a new Provisional Government. Unable to attain their political goal, the revolution ended on July 20, 1917. The picture here represents the pure chaos that was occuring in Petrograd at the time. The citizens runnning shows the lack of order. -
Kornilov Affair
An attempted Russian military coup d'état by the commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, General Lavr Kornilov on the Russian Provisional Government. This attempt by Kornilov had ended on September 13, 1917. This image shown depicts the soldiers that were in revolution against the Provisional Government, unified together to create change in Russia. -
Trotsky organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd
The Red Guard, consisting mainly of factory workers and peasants, were created in order to trigger an aggressive response from the government. The depiction of the Red Guard in the image is meant to show the fear the people had on the red guards. -
Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control
Climaxing with the October Revolution, a Bolshevik armed insurrection by workers and soldiers in Petrograd was formed, successfully overthrowing the Provisional Government and transferring the authority to the Bolsheviks. The image shows the loss of power by the Provisional Government and the new rule that is being created by the Bolsheviks. -
Cheka Formed
Cheka agents, also known as Secret Police, were above court prosecution, and had the task of arresting and executing people that went against Lenin’s regime. The picture is a Cheka badge which shows the sword and shield of the revolution. It best represents the Cheka because it was worn to identify members of the Cheka and instill fear among those thought to be traitors. -
Wartime Communism
In response to the demands of war, this policy, which forced peasants to give all extra food to the government, was created to prevent famine in the Red Army. The picture is a painting by Ivan Vladimirov named, "Hungry in Petrograd dividing a dead horse in the streets. (1919)" The painting best represent communism because it shows the desperation of the people who were starving because of the political and economic policies. -
Constituent Assembly Meets and is Disbanded
The Constituent Assembly met and refused to approve the decrees of Lenin causing the Bolsheviks to walk out the Red Guards to dissolve the assembly with violence. The picture is the depiction of Red Guards in the Constituent Assembly by Bolshevik artist Boris Zvykorin. This painting best represent the disbanding of the Constituent assembly because it shows the violence used by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
A peace treaty signed between the Central Powers and Russia that ended Russia’s participation in World War I, but cost them 1/6 of their population and a great deal of land. The picture shows the delegates at negotiations for the treaties of Brest-Litovsk in 1918. This picture best represents the treaty because there was Lenin tried to drag out the discussions hoping for a revolution to break out but it did not happen. -
Red Terror
A period of execution and political repression carried out by the Cheka to bring fear to the opponents of the revolution following an attempt to assassinate Lenin. The picture is a propaganda poster used in Petrograd in 1918: with the slogan "Death to the Bourgeoisie and its lapdogs – Long live the Red Terror" This best represents Red Terror because it was a campaign started to put an end to opposition, political dissent and threats to Bolshevik power. -
Kolchak begins serious attacks against Reds from Siberia
After being acknowledged as Supreme Commander, Admiral Kolchak planned a triple offensive ordering hundreds of social revolutionaries killed, but was defeated by the Red Army in Siberia. The picture is a postage stamp issued in 1919 with "For United Russia – Supreme leader of Russia, Kolchak." which illustrates the belief that the Whites had in Kolchak. This is ironic because the disorganization of the Whites is one cause of the Bolshevik victory -
Poles move toward Kiev
The Kiev Expedition or Kiev offensive, a major part of the Polish- Soviet war. It was an attempt to seize the territories of modern day Ukraine which had fallen under Soviet control after the October Revolution.This picture shows Polish soldiers in Kiev. -
Soviets attempt to take Warsaw
The Battle of Warsaw during the Polish-Soviet War. Poland was close to defeat. The Red Army was approaching the Polish forces counterattacked frcing the Russian forces to retreat. It crippled the Red Army with approximately 10,000 killed, 30,000 wounded, and 66,000 taken prisoner. After a few more battle wins, Poland maintained its independence.The photo shows the first offensive of the battle. -
Tambov Rebellion
August 1920-June 1921. One of the largest peasants rebellion's during the Russian Civil War. It is named after the territory it took place in, the Tambov Region. It is often referred to as Antonov's mutiny after Alexander Antonov a former official in the Socialist Revolutionary Party who was opposed to the Bolsheviks and their government. It caused major problems for the Soviet government, but ultimately it was a Bolshevik victory. The photo shows the location of the rebellion. -
Kronstadt Uprising
March 1921 when sailors and workers at the Kronstadt naval base began an insurrection against War Communism and the political restrictions imposed by the Bolsheviks during the civil war. This combined with the economic damage caused by the civil war led Lenin to persuade the party to adopt the New Economic Policy (NEP) at the 10th Party Congress in March 1921. The picture here shows the protests against the Bolshevik policies and the want for change in Russia. -
Ending of Wartime Communism
Wartime Communism was the economic and political system of Soviet Russia during the Russian Civil War from 1918-1921. The policy focused on keeping the Red Army stocked with food and weapons. Some historians describe it as a way for the ruling and military classes to maintain power and control in the Soviet regions. It was replaced by the New Economic Policy (NEP) in March of 1921 The photo is called famine and shows the effects of war communism on the poor. -
Treaty of Rapallo
The Treaty of Rapallo, named for the location in which it was created, Rapallo, Italy, was a treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union. The two nations agreed to renounce all territorial and financial claims against one another and to begin friendly diplomacy. This was worrisome to Britain and France who feared a united Germany and Russia.The image shows the delegates from both nations. -
Formation of Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed at the end of 1922 when the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian republics unified. The Soviet Union would last Until 1991.The photo shows the Soviet flaq. -
Ukraine brought under Soviet Control
After succumbing to Soviet assault, Ukraine unwillingly became a constituent republic of the USSR. The map shows the territory after the Bolsheviks officially declared the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic in 1922 which is the best representation because it gives a visual of the republics that made up the U.S.S.R. -
Lenin Dies
Vladimir Il'ich Ulyanov most known as Vladimir Lenin, head of the Bolsheviks and the leader and founder of the Soviet Union died at age 53. He was the first leader of the Soviet Union and the leader of the October Revolution. He fell into a coma and died from a disease of the blood vessels. The photo is of Lenin's corpse which is on display in Moscow's Red Square.
