Russian Revolution, Civil War, and Lenin

Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto

Jan 22, 1905

(January 22 1905- June 16 1907)
The revolution of 1905 was a result of political and social concerns due to the Tsar. There were many worker strikes. The October Manifesto was issued by Tsar Nicholas II, promising social and political reforms.
The blood in the numbers 1905 symbolizes the bloodshed of this revolution and how determined people were to speak their minds and stand up against the Tsar.

Beginning of WWI

Jul 28, 1914

(July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918)
World War I was a result of previous tensions between other nations
There is a large debate among historians still today. The claim that Germany started the war is commonly debated and there are many other theories as to what started the war.

Czar Nicholas II take sole control of military operations

Sep 5, 1915

(September 5 1915)
Tsar Nicholas II took control of the Eastern front militarily. Russia was therefore left without a Tsar.
Tsar Nicholas II is shown as part of the military in the photo.

Brusilov Offensive

Jun 4, 1916

Russian attack on the Eastern Front during WWI that greatly weakened the Austria-Hungarian army. Russia suffered almost one million casualties and wasn’t able to fully recover for the rest of the war.
Russian commander Aleksei Brusilov was commended for his successful tactics of attacking and taking advantage of weak points along lines.

Assassination of Rasputin

Dec 30, 1916

(December 30, 1916)
When alive, Rasputin often gave the Tsar advice on ruling, thus affecting his choices and the fate of Russia. He was murdered by Felix Yussupov, hoping to end his influence of the Tsar.
The political cartoon demonstrates Rasputin's control over the royal family; this control ended after Rasputin was assassinated.

International Women’s Day March in Petrograd

Feb 23, 1917

(February 23, 1917)
Workers in Petrograd went on strike due to poor working conditions. Around 240,000 people protested. Protests were sometimes violent and were noticed by the Tsar.
The photo shows the large number of women attending the protests, displaying its significance.

Provisional Government formed

Mar 2, 1917

(March 2, 1917)
Governmental system implemented after Tsar Nicholas II abdication. It included a voting system however over time, it became less trustworthy.
This photo shows the establishment of the provisional government and the people involved.

Nicholas II Abdicates

Mar 8, 1917

Nicholas II gave up his throne after the protests on international women's day for the provisional government to take his place.
The photo shows how Nicholas II was the last Tsar before the formation of new governmental systems.

April Theses published

Apr 7, 1917

(April 7, 1917)
Book published by Lenin, encouraging overthrow of the provisional government. This message contributed to the July days later on.
The photo shows the impact and significance of Lenin's April Theses on the people of Russia.

Return of Lenin from exile

Apr 16, 1917

Lenin returned from his exile in order to help with the Russian Revolution.
The photo shows Lenin's return to Russia as he was a prominent figure within the Russian Empire.

First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meets

Jun 16, 1917

Focused on relations between the soviets and the provisional government. The first meeting showed the commitment of the socialists.
The photo shows the meeting of the Soviets and the formality behind the meeting.

July Days

Jul 16, 1917

A period of demonstrations in Petrograd against the Provisional Government. The protests were started by workers and soldiers and supported by the Bolshevik Party. Alexander Kerensky accused Lenin of getting German financial support; Trotsky was arrested while Lenin fled to Finland.
The July Days represent the strong opposition to the government during the Russian Revolution, leading to chaos and violence in the capital.

Kornilov Affair

Aug 27, 1917

Lavr Kornilov, the Commander-in-Chief, sent soldiers in an attempt to remove the Petrograd Soviet. The Soviet tried to prevent the attack; they worked with railway workers to prevent Kornilov from advancing and Kerensky released arrested Bolsheviks to fight. The coup failed and the Bolsheviks gained more support for stopping Kornilov.
Kornilov was a significant figure in the affair as he attempted to strengthen the Provisional Government’s power but ended up weakening it after his plan failed.

Trotsky organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd

Oct 25, 1917

The Red Guard was formed of volunteer armed factory workers. They lacked military training, but they worked to protect the proletariat and the capital. Workers and the Bolsheviks joined forces under common radical ideas, and worked together during the October Revolution.
Trotsky was the ‘brains’ of the Bolshevik Party; his organization of the Red Guard exemplified his strength in planning.

Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control

Nov 7, 1917

The Bolshevik Party planned an armed assault at the Winter Palace where the Provisional Government was meeting, and forced the Provisional Government to surrender.
The Bolsheviks successfully strategized by surrounding the Provisional Government and blocking exits at the Winter Palace.

Cheka formed

Dec 20, 1917

The Cheka was organized to be the Bolshevik’s ‘secret police’ and worked to control counter-revolutionaries and sabotages.
The sword and shield included in the Cheka badge shows their committed role to defend the new Bolshevik government.

Constituent Assembly meets and is disbanded

Jan 19, 1918

The Social Revolutionaries elected Victor Chernov as president who refused Lenin’s decrees. The Bolsheviks walked out and fired on other parties, killing 12 people.
The Bolsheviks did not gain a majority like they had hoped, and Lenin criticized the Constituent Assembly for being made up of multiple powers. This showed Lenin’s desire for a one-party state.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Mar 3, 1918

In the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia surrendered territory on their Western border, therefore losing a sixth of their population and a third of their agricultural land.
The Treaty increased opposition to the Bolshevik Party and tensions within the Bolshevik Party. This shows how the Bolsheviks struggled to maintain power after the October Revolution.

Wartime Communism created

Jun 28, 1918

War Communism was introduced to secure food for the army during the Russian Civil War. The government took control of factories and production, disciplined workers, forced grain from peasants, and started food rationing.
War Communism increased the impact of the 1921 Great Famine as it made access to food harder.

Red Terror

Sep 2, 1918

The Red Terror was a Bolshevik campaign made up of coercion to repress opposition and consolidate power. The Cheka was used to perform executions and arrest suspected traitors.
This photo shows how Lenin used force and fear to control the Russian people.

Kolchak (one of the White leaders) begins serious attacks against Reds from Siberia

1919

The Russian Civil War happened as a result of the many oppositions towards Lenin’s Bolshevik government. As a result of the incoordination of Anti-Bolshevik groups, the Reds won and assumed full power of the Russian government. Alexander Kolchak was a significant leader in the White Army for his attempts to end Bolshevik power in Russia and his determination to bring Anti-Bolshevik perspectives forward.

Ukraine brought under Soviet control

Feb 5, 1919

Through the Bolshevik win in the Soviet-Ukrainian War, the Ukrainian government was reinstated as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. This is the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic flag, symbolizing the Soviet control over Ukraine.

Poles move toward Kiev

Apr 25, 1920

An attempt by the armed forces of the Second Polish Republic to seize the territories of modern-day Ukraine which was mostly under Soviet Control. The goal was to create a fully independent Ukraine. Józef Piłsudski was a significant leader in the Kiev Offensive as he devoted himself to protecting Poland and Ukraine from Soviet Russia.

Soviets attempt to take Warsaw

Aug 12, 1920

Vladimir Lenin viewed Poland as a way to spread Communism to Central and Western Europe, and to test the Red Army’s strength. This picture symbolizes Lenin’s heavy ideological beliefs and his need to spread communism to the rest of Europe.

Tambov Rebellion

1921

The Tambov Rebellion broke out as a widespread peasant uprising against the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. After 7 million peasants died of starvation and the forced grain requisitioning, Social Revolutionaries led the Tambov Rebellion and began to fight against the harsh terms of the Bolshevik party. As a result of War Communism, the peasants were fed up with the forced grain requisitioning and low food supplies, leading to the rebellion.

Kronstadt uprising

Mar 7, 1921

Anti-Bolshevik uprising carried out by Kronstadt sailors that once supported the Bolshevik Party in the October Russian Revolution. Sailors were upset by the harsh terms of War Communism, the one-party rule, and their suppression. This flag was used by sailors in the Kronstadt uprising.

Ending of Wartime Communism

Mar 21, 1921

After many rebellions and tensions in Soviet Russia, Lenin decided to replace War Communism with the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP had capitalist fundamentals contrasting from the communism fundamental present in War Communism. Private trade was allowed, small businesses reopened, workers could make profit, and the government had relaxed power. This image symbolizes one of the freedoms given through the NEP - private trade.

Treaty of Rapallo

Apr 16, 1922

Signed between the German Republic and Soviet Russia in which both nations agreed to recognize each other, cancel all financial claims, develop trade, and cooperate in diplomatic relations. This picture symbolizes the peaceful relationship between Russia and Germany as a result of the treaty.

Formation of Soviet Union

Dec 30, 1922

The Soviet Union was a federal state made up of 15 republics joined together: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It was a Marxist-Communist state and became one of the most powerful nations until its dissolution in 1991. This map uses the communism/Soviet Union symbol and shows all the nations within the Soviet Union.

Lenin dies

Jan 21, 1924

Lenin suffered 3 strokes after May 1922, impairing his speech, partially paralyzing his body, leaving him mute, and bed ridden. This is a picture of Joseph Stalin as he emerged as the leader of Soviet Russia in 1929, after Lenin's death.