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1905 Revolution
The 1905 Revolution took place from 1905 to 1907 and consisted of citizen revolt against Tsar Nicholas II. Most consider Bloody Sunday, which took place on January 9th, 1905, to be the start of the revolution. Peasants rioted and held strikes, demanding better working conditions and more rights, while military units mutinied. The protests prompted Nicholas II to publish the October Manifesto, which created the State Duma. Photo shows 1905 protests at the Narva Gates in St. Petersburg. -
World War 1 Begins
World War 1 officially begins when European militarism, convoluted alliances, imperialist interests, and nationalism come to a head with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. During World War 1, Russia was a part of the Allies and mainly served as an ally to France. The war crippled Russia's economy and societal structure. Picture shows an artistic rendition of Franz Ferdinand's assassination. -
Nicholas II Takes Control of Military Operations
Nicholas II becomes commander of the Russian army as Russia enters WW1, leaving Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna in charge. He had little experience on the battle field and lacked military strategy. His unpopular reputation and lack of interest in addressing the growing food insecurity on the home front would lead to his eventual abdication in 1917. -
The Brusilov Offensive
Also known as the "June Advance," the Brusilov Offensive was a military campaign that took place from June to September of 1916. Russia launched an attack against the Central powers on the Eastern front, causing devastating losses. While declared a Russian victory, it became one of the most lethal offensives in world history. Its name comes from General Aleksei Brusilov (pictured above), a commander for the army and the main strategist. -
Assassination of Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin was a favorite of Alexandra Feodorovna and was a self-proclaimed "holy man" and mystic. In reality, he was known to be a scandalous individual who was disliked by Russian citizens. Rasputin was shot to death by a group of nobles including Prince Felix Yusupnov, Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, and right-wing politician Vladimir Purishkevich. The picture below shows the basement of the Yusupnov Palace in St. Petersburg, where Rasputin was killed. -
The Formation of the Provisional Government
The Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd in an attempt to give citizens more power in decision making, as opposed to having full governmental power in the hands of the Tsar. The Provisional Government, together with the reformed Petrograd Soviet, formed the dual-house government, which quickly collapsed in October of 1917 due to a lack of cooperation and progress with improving peasant rights and working conditions. The picture below shows a photograph of the Provisional Government. -
International Women's Day March in Petrograd
On International Women's Day in 1917, thousands of women marched in Petrograd to protest the increasing poverty, inflation, and general poor quality of life for Russian citizens. The march helped build further resentment for the royal family, but was also disorganized and was not organized by the Bolsheviks, who were small in numbers at the time of the march. The picture below shows protestors from the Petrograd International Women's Day march. -
Tsar Nicholas II Abdicates
Due to increasing unpopularity and a lack of strong leadership, Nicholas II abdicates the throne and turns power over to the Provisional Government. The picture below shows the front page of a newspaper explaining the abdication of the tsar. -
Publication of Lenin's April Theses
Vladimir Lenin publishes the April Theses in order to garner support for a socialist (and later communist) Russia. He included the key slogan, "Peace, Land, and Bread" to address the country's three biggest issues: ending their involvement in WW1, ensuring land rights for the peasants, and ending the poverty that plagued most of the country. It mainly criticized the prior tsarist government. The picture below shows Lenin making a public appearance after the publication of the April Theses. -
Lenin's Return From Exile
After being exiled from Russia for 10 years and being absent during the February revolts, Lenin returns to create a new proletariat-led government. Lenin mainly served as the public icon of the revolution in the following months and wanted immediate action in terms of shifting to a socialist state. The picture below shows Lenin on a podium and addressing an eager crowd after his return to Russia. -
First Meeting of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets
The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and members of the Provisional Government members meet to discuss the responsibilities of the Provisional Government and how to pull out of World War 1. It was mainly dominated by the Social Revolutionaries, who were pro-government. -
The July Days
The July Days were a period of revolts in Petrograd against the Provisional Government. The Bolshevik Party was the main target, despite their small numbers around this time in Russian history. -
The Kornilov Affair
The Kornilov Affair was a failed military coup to destroy the Provisional Government led by General Lavr Kornilov, who was an extreme rightist and disliked the expanding liberalism of the current government. The picture below shows General Lavr Kornilov. -
Trotsky's Organization of the Red Guard
Trotsky officials puts the Red Guard together in order to protect General Kornilov and successfully foils the Kornilov conspiracy. The Red Guard would make future appearances to defend Lenin's communist government in the Russian Civil War. The picture below shows the Red Guard walking through the streets. -
Bolshevik Take-over of the Provisional Government
Unsatisfied with the other members of the Provisional Government, the Bolsheviks arrest the remaining members at the Winter Palace and officially start the October Revolution, giving the Bolsheviks, led by Trotsky and Lenin, governmental power over Russia. The picture below shows citizens in the street and Lenin at the onset of the Bolshevik Revolution -
Formation of the Cheka
Lenin forms the Cheka to serve as a secret police force to ensure that citizens cooperate with the new communist government. Below is the symbol of the Cheka. -
Meeting and Disbanding of the Constituent Assembly
After the Constituent Assembly doesn't elect a Bolshevik majority, the Bolsheviks force everyone out with the help of the Red Guard and assume full power over the government. The picture below shows Lenin campaigning for the Bolsheviks during the Constituent Assembly. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russia pulls out of WW1 by giving away land to Germany. The loss of land upsets Russian morale and furthers discontent with the government at home. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk is often compared and contrasted with the Treaty of Versailles to highlight the latter's relatively lenient terms for Germany. The picture below shows the negotiation of the treaty and its signing. -
Creation of War Communism
War Communism is introduced in 1918 to begin Russia's shift to communism. It includes the centralization of the economy and making Russia's economy into a command-style one. It was met with resistance by peasants and other groups, including the Kronstradts. Due to the poverty and decrease in quality of life it caused for the peasants, it was replaced in 1921 by the New Economic Policy. The picture below shows a family struggling to make ends meet under War Communism. -
The Red Terror
The Red Terror refers to the collateral and intentional damage brought by the Red Guard during the Russian Civil War (1917-1922) in their pursuit of the Whites and other opposition groups. By demonstrating their power, the Red Guard managed to coerce the rural peasant class into cooperating with the communist government. -
Alexander Kolchak Attacks Reds from Siberia
White leader Alexander Kolchak established an anti-communist government in Siberia and coordinated attacks on Red forces until 1920, when he was betrayed by other White officials and handed over to Socialist-Revolutionaries, who ultimately handed him to the Bolsheviks. -
Polish Forces Move Toward Kiev
As part of the Whites' foreign support, Ukrainian and Polish forces attempt to move towards Kiev and help the Whites fend off the Reds. This unfortunately failed and their forces were defeated by the Red Guard. The picture below shows the white army entering Kiev. -
The Soviets' Attempt to Take Warsaw
From August 12th to August 25th, Polish forces fight with the Reds until they finally gain the upper hand and manage to keep Warsaw. This, unfortunately, was only 1 of few victories for the Whites and did not stop the Reds from winning the Civil War overall. The picture below shows the city of Warsaw -
The Tambov Rebellion
The Tambov Rebellion lasted from August of 1920 to June 1921 and was the largest, most organized peasant resistance against the Red Guard and the Bolshevik government. The name comes from the city in central Russia where a majority of the conflicts took place. Eventually, the Cheka crushed the rebellion. -
The Kronstadt Rebellion
Citzens of Kronstadt, a town and naval base west of St. Petersburg, rebel, mutiny, and revolt against Bolshevik officials. Despite a large number of participants, their uprising was eventually neutralized by the Red Guard. -
The End of Wartime Communism
Seeing the poverty and discontent caused by War Communism, Lenin replaces it with the New Economic Policy in 1921, which improves the industrial sector's production and eventually fixes the poverty issue to an extent. The picture shows citizens who suffered during famine caused by War Communism. -
The Treaty of Rapallo
Germany and Russia renounce any political and economic claims to each other and make it clear that they're willing to work with each other as international allies again. This upsets France and Britain, who had been allies with Russia and enemies of Germany during World War 1. The treaty was signed in Rapallo, Italy, for it's neutral setting. -
Official Formation of the Soviet Union
All the disjointed socialist and communist governments in Russia combine into the Soviet Union, also known as the USSR or the Soviet Union Rationale, designating Russia as a full-on communist nation. -
The Soviets Bring Ukraine Under Control
Ukraine was brought under control of the Soviet Union because many Russians, and more importantly, Bolshevik supporters, lived there. They would eventually leave the Soviet Union when it collapsed decades later in 1991. -
Vladimir Lenin Dies
Lenin dies of a brain hemorrhage at age 53 in 1924, leaving the Soviet Union without its conceptual and official figurehead.
