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February Revolution
Due to economic, social and political problems the February Revolution broke out in which millions of people protested in St.Petersburg. They demanded the end of war and the abdication of the czar. As a reasult the Russian Provosionary Gorvernment was appointed, and the soviet council of St.Petersburg was established by soviet parties. -
The Bolshevik revolution
As Kerensky's government wasn't able to solve the problems, they gained unpopularity within the nation, therefore in 1917, on the 25th of October the Bolshevik revolution had started. The red guards occupied strategic points in Petrograd, which turned out to be successful. Later on 3 decrees were decleared: decree on peace, land and governments, which resulted in the organization of the Council of Commissars. -
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Civil war
The Reds and Whites fought against each other so that Lenin could consolidate his power within Russia. After the intervention of the Entente Lenin could win the civil war, and the Red terror had started. In order to solve the problems caused by the civil war the war of communism was introduced so as to restore the food supply in the country for the military. -
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Lenin
Vladimir Iljich Ulianov, aka Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik party at that time in Russia. His main idea was the permanent revolution. He didn't want to share power with anyone, besides that favoured the revolution of the proletariat. With that Lenin was able to put down the basics of the Russian dictatorship. He introduced new economic reforms (NEP), the Golero plan, also established revolutionary police (eg.:KGB). He was on power until his death in 1924. -
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
As a consequence of the Bolshevik coup, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (aka USSR) was established by Lenin. It combined states "equally" (like Russia, Ukrain and Belarus) under the Bolshevik government. Its center was in Moscow from where Lenin governed all the states within the union. The USSR existed until 1991. -
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Stalin
Stalin succeeded the power after the death of Lenin. His main goal was to reach unrestricted power over the country. In order to reach that he introduced collectiviation, forced industrialization, used terror and personality cult to win over the people. Besides that he led a nationalist dictatorship under the name of marxism. He was on power until his death, 1953 therefore he played a major role the history of the USSR. -
First five-year plan
Stalin's main idea was to exchage NEP with planned economy, since he believed it would create self-sufficiency and would speed up socialism within Russia. That's why the first five-year plan was issued by the Gosplan in 1928. Eventually these plans didn't work out, and caused the total exploitation of the humans and the environment. -
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Great Famine
Due to the forced industrialization of the country, the majority of the capital was invested in the industry. That's why the agriculture became undedeveloped, which caused famine in Russia. During these years millions of people died by starving. -
The Great Purge
In order to keep up the one-party system in Russia, Stalin had to get rid of his opponents sufficiently. Everyone opposing Stalin in any way (either politically or not working hard enough) were killed. As a result millions were killed during the Great Purge, even people like: Kirov, Zinoviev, Kameniev, and Buharin.