Russian Revolution of 1917

• In 1917, two pivotal events reshaped Russia: the overthrow of the imperial government in February and the Bolsheviks' ascent in October/November.
• These events stemmed from deteriorating relations between most Russians and Tsar Nicholas II.
• Tsar Nicholas II's handling of WWI was the final catalyst because he assumed direct army control against the advice of his generals.
• Under the Tsar, Russia faced significant casualties and economic strain, leading to widespread suffering and desperation for change.
• The Romanov dynasty, which had ruled for almost three centuries, approached collapse.
• Tsar Nicholas II was compelled to abdicate and a provisional government was established, leading to the execution of him and his entire family.
• Tensions quickly emerged between the provisional government and the Petrograd Soviet, a local council.

The Bolsheviks

• The Bolsheviks and Left Socialist Revolutionaries carried out a coup in October/November 1917 against the Provisional Government, which was led by Aleksandr F. Kerensky.
• Under Kerensky, the left-wing faction split to create the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRP).
• The SRP and Mensheviks formed the majority in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets, opposing the Bolsheviks.
• Vladimir Lenin, a key figure during the October Revolution, advocated for the Bolsheviks to cease supporting the Provisional Government.
• Lenin encouraged the party to unite with peasants, workers, and soldiers, consolidating the Soviets against the Provisional Government.
• The Bolshevik wing of the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party monopolized the political system by 1917.
• The Bolsheviks rebranded twice before WWII, becoming the Russian Communist Party and later the ALL-Union Communist Party, while their ideology remained unchanged.

Joseph Stalin

• Joseph Stalin, born in Gori, Georgia, became a dedicated follower of Lenin in 1903 after the division between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
• In 1912, Lenin promoted Stalin to the first Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party.
• Stalin edited the Bolshevik newspaper Pravda and was later exiled from July 1913 to March 1917 for political reasons.
• Stalin played a role in the October Revolution and later became the Secretary-General of the Central Committee.
• Before Lenin's death, he suggested Stalin's removal due to his bad reputation, though this did not deter Stalin's pursuit of power.
• After Lenin's death in January 1924, a cult of personality emerged, coining the term "Leninism" with Stalin as its leader.
• Stalin exiled or murdered his rivals, including Leon Trotsky, who was assassinated in 1940.
• Stalin shifted from Lenin's economic views towards state-organized industrialization (fascism).
• By 1928, Stalin became a dictator and his regime was marked by famine and genocide.
• Despite committing crimes against his own people, the Soviet Union under Stalin joined Great Britain and the United States as key Allied powers to combat Nazi Germany during the Second World War.