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Return of Lenin from exile
The content of this image is Vladmir Lenin returning from exile in 1917. This image was chosen because it showcases Lenin surrounded by supporters while he solemnly waves his hat at the crowd. Because of his expression, one can see his unhappiness at the Bolshevik performence while he was gone. -
Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto
• Photo from the Moscow Uprising of 1905 in December 1905
• Left-Wing revolutionaries believed that the October Manifesto was an attempt to separate the upper and middle classes from peasants
• Lenin called for an armed uprising, leading up to the Moscow Uprising of December 1905 -
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets Meets
This is an image of the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets which was selected to show the grand scale of the congress and exemplify the number of people the Bolsheviks were competing with. -
Beginning of WWI
• The Russian army marching to battle
• Russia entered the war on July 31st, 1914, with the largest army in the world at the time with 1,400,000 soldiers
• Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st 1914, with the Ottoman empire joining in the battle against Russia soon after -
Czar Nicholas II takes sole control of military operations
• Photo of Nicolas II and Russian Chief-of-staff Mikhail Vasilyevich Alekseyev discussing war plans and strategies during WWI
• Alekseyev was placed in charge of all military operations in August 1915 to March 1917, known for being a modest and educated general that Tsar Nicholas admired. They were known to discuss war plans frequently, often for hours on end -
Brusilov Offensive
This image shows the plan for the Brusilov offense. This picture was chosen because it shows how far Brusilov made it into Austo-Hungarian territory in comparison to their starting position. -
Formation of the Provisional Government
• Picture of the symbol of the 9th cabinet of Russia/Provisional government coat of arms, representing power and the unity of the Russian state. This is one of the earlier iterations of it at the time
• Established on March 2nd, 1917, following the abdication of the Tsar and the fall of the Tsarist Regime
• The provisional government was particularly weak due to its broken political factions, allowing open challenge from many sides. -
International Women's Day March on Petrograd
• Photo shows the occurrence of the Women’s March on Petrograd on March 8th, 1917, demanding food, protesting economic struggle, and calling for the fall of the Tsarist Regime
• Poster slogans, according to Guardian.com, were demands of change. “Feed the children of the defenders of the motherland” -
Assassination of Rasputin
• The picture is from “The Sun”, a New York Journal on January 7th, 1917, highlighting Grigori Rasputin’s murder in Russia
• Rasputin was a holy man and a self-proclaimed religious healer, won favor with the Tsar after stopping the bleeding of his son’s bleeding despite his hemophilia
• Known to be a drunkard by the public, but essentially took power after Tsar Nicholas left for war
• Killed by two men on December 29th, 1916. Remarkably survived many of the attempts made by the men to kill him -
Trotsky Organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd
This image was chosen because ot shows Trotsky rallying the Red Guard and it allows the viewer to see the presence of Trotsky and his ifluence on the Bolsheviks. -
Kornilov Affair
This picture was chosen because it shows Kornilov in his military uniform in the city. It shows the respectability of Kornilov and his traditional dress which allows the viewer to have a picture of the leader of the Kornilov affair against the Bolsheviks. -
Nicholas II Abdicates
• A picture of a newspaper from 1917 following the abdication of the Tsar, highlighting how the Russian troops left him and joined the people’s side. The photos in the newspaper are primarily of Tsar Nicholas’s family
• Tsar Nicholas abdicated in March of 1917 during the February/March Revolution. He turned power to his brother, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, who chose to give the power to the Russian Constituent Assemble, effectively ending the Tsarist regime in Russia -
Ukraine Brought Under Soviet Control
A Bolshevik faction within Ukraine was put down and the Red Army overwhelmed them. The picture depicts the Red Army's commissars in Ukrainian land, showing how they now controlled Ukraine. -
April Theses Published
This image was chosen because it contains images of Lenin giving his speeches before his April Theses were published and it is one of the covers of his book "The April Theses". -
July Days
This image was chosen because it shows the violence of the July days and all the people dead in the streets and running for their safety. It shows that Bolshevism causes violence due to their unpopularity and the people trying to fight against their rule. -
Bolsheviks Overthrow the Provisional Government
Picture showing Vladimir Lenin commanding the Bolsheviks. It was chosen because it shows how everyone in the Bolsheviks looked to Lenin for orders. Lenin standing out in the picture further emphasizes how he was the face of the Bolsheviks. -
Constituent Assembly Meets/Disbands
The picture is a map and pie chart representing the percent of each political party present at Russia's Constituent Assembly. The picture is significant due to outlining how other parties had more support than the Bolsheviks, however, they still won due to overturning the results. -
Cheka Formed
The picture is a badge that commemorated the fifth year of the Cheka. The picture was chosen because it symbolizes the Cheka. It also has clearly highlights the purpose of the Cheka with a sword representing the Cheka being a secret police force, and the symbol of communism being attached to it emphasizes Russia's ideology at that time. -
Red Terror
The picture shows Bolsheviks armed and riding in a truck in Vladivostok, Russia in 1920. The image is important, as it shows how the Bolsheviks used weapons/soldiers to strike fear into others. -
Wartime Communism Created
The picture depicts a woman and children starving due to the lack of food from famines caused by wartime communism. The image is significant due to showing the devastating impacts wartime communism had. -
Poles Move Towards Kiev
This image is significant as it depicts Polish soldiers now occupying regions of Ukraine which they had gotten from their battle against the Ukrainians, especially in Eastern Galicia. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The picture shows delegates at the negotiations of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The picture is important, as it shows how many people were present at the treaty's negotiations. -
Kolchak Beginning Serious Attacks Against Reds From Siberia
The picture depicts Kolchak. The image is significant because it provides a visual for what Alexander Kolchak looked like, giving a face to his name. -
Tambov Rebellion
These are people who participated in the Tambov Rebellion. There were many similar to them as they were mostly peasants who were angered by the economic state and grain requisition which the government instituted. -
Soviets Attempt to Take Warsaw
An important figure in the attempt to take Warsaw. He commanded the Red Army (the one that was going after Warsaw) which then was held back by the Poles. Mikhail was ultimately defeated. -
Ending of Wartime Communism
The picture has many people, peasants, which are showing their hatred in the Wartime Communism. These protests and demonstrations pushed for the ending of Wartime Communism. -
Kronstadt Uprising
The image has several sailors which held up a flag for which they believed in. They were vital to the Kronstadt Uprising and their determination for change was shown in their actions and words. -
Treaty of Rapallo
In the picture, there are several officials, from both Germany and Russia, which are negotiating on the terms for the Treaty of Rapallo. Their diplomatic ability allowed for Russia's and Germany's relationship to get better. -
Formation of Soviet Union
Many officials from different republics and regions came together with Lenin to agree on the creation of the Soviet Union, the image shows the meeting where the creation was finalized. -
Lenin Dies
Lenin had died and his funeral was a state-wide funeral. Many important figures like Joseph Stalin had come to the funeral, as seen in the image shown. Many officials within the government had come as well, but not Leon Trotsky.