October Revolution 1917-1920

The October Revolution was the culmination of popular sentiment that the provisional government was not changing Russia's imperialist ways from the autocratic reign of the Tsar. The unelected body had to failed to secure peace, instead opting for participation in further military campaigns which provoked outrage amongst soldiers and workers alike.

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Lenin's views on the revolution: speech to the 8th Congress of the Russian Communist Party, 1919

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Source: MRC

Storming the Winter Palace, November 7, 1917

11_ Storming the Winter Palace November 7 1917

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

This particular image is actually from a 1920 reenactment of the revolution in Petrograd, on its...

The day of celebration of the first proletarian revolution in Petrograd, 25 Oct -7 Nov 1918

36_The day of celebration of the first proletarian revolution in Petrograd_25 Oct_7 Nov_1918
Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Poster: Who introduced anti-Semitism to the Tsardom of Russia?

2. MML Anti-semitism Poster

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
CID: 48097

Translation:

'Anti-Semitism is the conscious counter-revolution. Anti-Semites are our class enemies.

Who introduced Anti-Semitism to the Tsardom of Russia?...

Red Guards at the Smolny (Soviet Headquarters), November 7th, 1917

19. Red Guards at Smolny (Soviet Headquarters) November 7, 1917

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Poster: 'Arise working people! Don’t give up, the workers of all nations support you!'

35. Sputnik Nov 7th 1918 Arise Working People Don’t give up Workers of all nations support you

Source: Sputnik

Bolshevik Organisation 1917

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Translation:

‘Central Bolshevik Military Organization 1917
...

Proclamation from the Petrograd Revolutionary Committee, 27 October 1917

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Abridged Translation:

‘From the Petrograd Revolutionary...

Demonstration of factory workers and soldiers in Petrograd on November 7th 1917

26. Sputnik Demo of factory workers and soldiers in Petrograd on Nov 7 1917 Death to enemies of the nation Kornilov and Kaledin. All hail to Soviet power

...
Portraits of early Bolshevik leaders

4. Scrss- Bolshevik leaders, needs translating

(L-R): I. V. Babushkin, N. E. Bauman, R. S. Zemlyachka, M. I. Kalinin
V. Z. Ketskhoveli,...

The Smolny Institute, Soviet Headquarters

21. Smolny Institute

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Petrograd Soviet in session, Summer 1920

39_Petrograd Soviet in session_Summer 1920

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

The Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee on 16th October 1917

6_16th October 1917 – needs translating

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Red Guards checking documents at the entrance to the Smolny Institute (Soviet Headquarters), Petrograd 1917

20. Red guard checking documents at the entrance to the Smolny Institute (Soviet Headquarters), Petrograd 1917

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+...

Lenin speaking to a crowd with Trotsky and Kamenev, 5th May 1920

38_Lenin speaking_Trotsky and Kamenev on steps – 5 May 1920

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

Painting: 'Working People Arise 1917'

7. Scrss Working people arise 1917

Source: SCRSS

The First Red Guard of the Revolution

22. The First Red Guard of the Revolution

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD

 

The October Revolution - Introduction

OCTOBER REVOLUTION

The October Revolution was the culmination of popular sentiment directed against the provisional government which was achieving little for the majority of people to change Russia from its Tsarist past. In particular, the unelected body continued to participate in the very unpopular First World War opting in July for participation in further military campaigns which...

The Cruiser 'Aurora', pictured on the River Neva

8. The cruiser Aurora on the river Neva which fired the shot that was the signal for insurrection

Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)
Reference: PHOTO_SUB_SOVIET_UNION_1917_REVOLUTION+CIVIL_WAR_PERIOD...

Extract: Six Red Months in Russia

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Source: Marx Memorial Library (MML)

LOUISE BRYANT

Louise Bryant was born in Nevada, USA in 1885. She met John Reed in 1915 and moved to New York City where she wrote for ‘The Masses’, the paper with which Reed and many other radicals were associated. Bryant...

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