The Transformation of Bolshevik Position Between February and October 1917

1162 Words3 Pages

The Transformation of Bolshevik Position Between February and October 1917 Most historians think that the Bolshevik’s position went from playing almost no role in February 1917; they had only 150 members in the Pultilov Works which had 20,000 workers, to taking control of the country in October by a combination of luck and skill. It was said of the Bolshevik party in early 1917 that “The Communist Party existed solely in the leaders.” Many historians think Lenin’s leadership was the joint main reason for making the party into the leading revolutionary group in Russia, along with the luck the Bolsheviks had in the circumstances under the Provisional Government. A few historians claim Germany played a major role in the Bolshevik’s road to power. The Germans helped many previously exiled revolutionaries to get back to Russia when the Tsar abdicated and the Provisional Government came to power from March onwards, in the hope that they would end the war. This included Lenin and an accompanying group of Bolsheviks being given passage on a train across Germany back to Russia. Between 1914 and 1917 the German Foreign Office had also given regular financial support to Lenin and the Bolsheviks. However other historians point out that by giving Lenin funds it actually hindered him, as on his return to Petrograd he was branded a spy by Politicians such as Kerensky, especially in the weeks after the July Days. It is also argued that Lenin would have been determined to get back to Russia even if Germany would not let him. Communist and Marxist historians claim that as well as Lenin’s leadership, popular support led the party to power. In earl... ... middle of paper ... ...hevik success as well as the fact that it was the government who armed the Bolsheviks in the Kornilov crisis. It was lucky that the Petrograd Soviet had gained a lot of respectability, support and authority whilst the Mensheviks and SRs held the majority. The support was shown by autumn when there were over 900 soviets in Russia and the soviets had authority with decrees such as “Order Number 1”. It was also lucky that neither the Mensheviks or SRs attempted to take power whilst they were the dominant figures in the soviets. Most historians would agree with the evidence that it was Lenin’s leadership skills combined with the luck the Bolshevik party had in the failings of the Provisional Government and how the events out of their control went that brought the Bolsheviks to power between February and October 1917.

Open Document