7-8 Nov 1917
A silent bloodless coup led by the Bolsheviks in Petrograd at night. The outcome was the world’s first socialist state where Lenin’s ideas were tested on the Russian people.
Vladimir Lenin Speaking To the Crowd. Unknown Photographer (1917 or 1918)
Background
After Kerensky had enabled the Bolshevik Red Guards to obtain over 40,000 rifles, Lenin called for a military uprising. The Bolsheviks established their garrison in the Smolny Palace, and Leon Trotsky began conducting the preparations.
October Revolution
The 7-8 November Revolution was actually a silent takeover of strategic points in Petrograd during the night. Hardly any military opposition was faced.
The next morning the battleship Aurora fired a few blank shots at the Winter Palace to threaten the Provisional Government. The Palace was taken over and the ministers imprisoned in Peter and Paul’s Castle. Kerensky managed to escape.
Soviet Congress
Lenin rushed to complete the coup before the next Soviet Congress that was scheduled to take place the next day.
The Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries, who were the other two political parties in the Petrograd Soviet, said they wanted nothing to do with the unlawful siege of power.
To Lenin’s’ surprise, they walked away from the Congress leaving the Bolsheviks to form the new government alone.
October Revolution
7-8 Nov 1917
A silent bloodless coup led by the Bolsheviks in Petrograd at night. The outcome was the world’s first socialist state where Lenin’s ideas were tested on the Russian people.
Vladimir Lenin Speaking To the Crowd. Unknown Photographer (1917 or 1918)
Background
After Kerensky had enabled the Bolshevik Red Guards to obtain over 40,000 rifles, Lenin called for a military uprising. The Bolsheviks established their garrison in the Smolny Palace, and Leon Trotsky began conducting the preparations.
October Revolution
The 7-8 November Revolution was actually a silent takeover of strategic points in Petrograd during the night. Hardly any military opposition was faced.
The next morning the battleship Aurora fired a few blank shots at the Winter Palace to threaten the Provisional Government. The Palace was taken over and the ministers imprisoned in Peter and Paul’s Castle. Kerensky managed to escape.
Soviet Congress
Lenin rushed to complete the coup before the next Soviet Congress that was scheduled to take place the next day.
The Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries, who were the other two political parties in the Petrograd Soviet, said they wanted nothing to do with the unlawful siege of power.
To Lenin’s’ surprise, they walked away from the Congress leaving the Bolsheviks to form the new government alone.
Vladimir Ilych Lenin