October Revolution

The gains from the Kornilov affair were instantaneous for the Bolsheviks, by the mid September period;they had gained a majority in the soviets. First few months of the soviet saw it fully attended, over 3000 deputies in the first meeting eventually began to decrease, with attendance down to a few hundred by autumn. This was an advantage to the Bolsheviks who made sure that they attended each meeting fully, and so influenced in proportion to its numbers, and influenced the various sub committees heavily, and the soviet moved more towards the left.

Lenin’s strategy played the next part in the October revolution. Whilst in exile in Finland, and made sure that his party were ready constantly to overthrow the government, as the government became increasingly reactionary. He constantly urged for the Bolsheviks it seized power when the government were at the most sensitive. He was so urgent because he was convinced that the Bolsheviks had to take power before the meeting of the soviets in October, to present their authority under ‘All power to Soviets’ in the April thesis, and so they wouldn’t reject. He also had to take control before the Constituent assembly election, as they would be difficult to dispose of and it was not assured that they would win the election.

Lenin returned to Petrograd after his party had undermined the ruling of a Pre-Parliament, in which Kerensky offered the Bolsheviks a chance to give advice, and had walked out of. Lenin gave speeches to strike, but members on the Central Committee (decision making part of the party) disagreed as it was too early. He spent two weeks trying to convince them, eventually agreeing on the 10th of October without a specific date.

Kerensky hearing rumours of a coup was finally influenced to take action after intercepting an article published by Kamenev, and Zinoviev, who argued overthrowing in current circumstances, would be silly. Kerensky took this as though they had a secured date and took action, ordering an attack and rounding up leading Bolsheviks. This was the trigger for insurrection.

Trotsky was the reason on how the Bolsheviks planned the original coup. Lenin may have been the influence, but Trotsky organised. He had been chairman of the Petrograd soviet, and so was in the Troika which set up the Military Revolutionary Committee, which would defend Petrograd from German invasion. He had control of the only effective Military Force in Petrograd, and it was a force that he could draft into Bolshevik plans. Trotsky directed the Red Guards to capture key positions

The Collapse of the Provisional Government took three days, with very little fighting. The PG had little to no military force due to Kornilov and the Soviet Order 1, and the Petrograd garrison had mainly been deserted. There was no one guarding the winter palace when the ‘Red’ forces arrived. Power pretty much fell into their hands, as All ministers escaped without harm and Kerensky fled to the American embassy, and slipped out of Petrograd disguised as a female nurse. Lenin was declared the Chief Minister.


SUMMARY
Bolsheviks take influence in soviets
- attended every meeting
- Influenced sub-committees/proportion to numbers
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Lenin directed from Finland - Urged for instant insurrection as Gov were weak
urgent because of All Russian Congress of Soviets meeting/ Constituent Assembly meeting. As votes were unpredictable and Soviets might be won over by 'All Power to Soviets'- When he returned, he worked with committee to get them to agree
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Kerensky makes first move after seeing article.
Trotsky is used to start insurrection - Petrograd chairman in charge of MRC
only strong military force left. PG suffered by Kornilov affair and desertions
Lenin becomes 'Chief Minister' SR's and Mensheviks angered, Kerensky escapes to the USA.
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