OCR Specification focus:
‘events of November 1917; the roles of Lenin and Trotsky’
The Bolshevik seizure of power in November 1917 transformed Russia’s political future, with Lenin and Trotsky central to planning, leadership, and revolutionary success.
The Context of November 1917
By late 1917, the Provisional Government was weak and discredited. Continuing war failures, economic breakdown, food shortages, and loss of authority provided fertile ground for Bolshevik action. The Petrograd Soviet increasingly rivalled the government, undermining its legitimacy through its control of the army, workers, and railways. Lenin saw this as a decisive moment to seize power before the government could stabilise, and Trotsky provided the organisational capacity to make this vision a reality.
The Decision to Seize Power
Lenin’s Pressure
Lenin, returning to Petrograd in October, insisted that the revolution must occur immediately. He argued that:
The Provisional Government was collapsing.
The Bolsheviks had gained majorities in key soviets (notably Petrograd and Moscow).
Delay would allow opponents to regroup and rob the Bolsheviks of initiative.
Some Bolshevik leaders, such as Kamenev and Zinoviev, opposed immediate insurrection, fearing civil war. Lenin overcame this resistance, threatening resignation if the party did not act. His determination pushed the Central Committee into agreement on an armed uprising.
Provisional Government: A temporary government established in March 1917 after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, intended to rule until elections for a Constituent Assembly.
The Military Revolutionary Committee
Trotsky’s Leadership
Trotsky, as chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, dominated the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC), formed to defend Petrograd against possible counter-revolution. In practice, it became the organ of Bolshevik insurrection. The MRC controlled:
The loyalty of 200,000 Red Guards, workers’ militias.
The garrison soldiers of Petrograd.
The strategic railways, bridges, and telegraph lines.
Trotsky disguised preparations as defensive, enabling the Bolsheviks to organise without provoking premature conflict. His authority gave legitimacy to Bolshevik planning, framing their actions as protection of the revolution rather than an aggressive coup.
The Events of November 1917
6 November
On the eve of the insurrection, Kerensky attempted to suppress the Bolsheviks by ordering the closure of their newspapers and arresting leaders. The MRC swiftly responded:
Red Guards seized key bridges, railway stations, and telegraph offices.
A simplified strategic map of Petrograd during November 1917, identifying key sites—Winter Palace (A), Peter and Paul Fortress, railway stations, and the Aurora. Ideal for visualising how Bolshevik forces surrounded the city, though the map includes numbers not referenced in the notes. Source
Access points into Petrograd were secured.
The Winter Palace, headquarters of the Provisional Government, was surrounded.
7 November
Armed workers and soldiers, directed by the MRC, advanced with minimal resistance. By the evening:
The Winter Palace was stormed by Red Guards and sailors.
Members of the Provisional Government were arrested, though Kerensky escaped.
The Congress of Soviets, meeting simultaneously, was informed of the government’s overthrow, providing a veneer of legitimacy.
8 November
The Congress of Soviets approved the transfer of power. Lenin announced the creation of a new government: the Council of People’s Commissars (Sovnarkom), with himself as chairman.
Lenin’s Role
Ideological Leadership
Lenin’s importance lay in his vision and insistence on decisive action. Without his pressure, the Bolsheviks might have delayed, risking loss of momentum. Lenin’s arguments framed the insurrection as:
The natural culmination of 1917’s revolutionary movement.
Essential to prevent betrayal by the Provisional Government.
A step towards building a socialist state, fulfilling the promises of “Peace, Land, Bread”.
Political Legitimacy
Lenin ensured the seizure of power was formally ratified by the Congress of Soviets, presenting it not as a Bolshevik coup but as an expression of soviet authority.
Official MRC proclamation, dated 25 October 1917 (Julian calendar, i.e. 7 November 1917), announcing the transfer of power from the Provisional Government to the Military Revolutionary Committee. It powerfully illustrates how the Bolsheviks framed their takeover as a legitimate revolutionary act. Source
This political framing strengthened Bolshevik claims to power and silenced immediate critics.
Trotsky’s Role
Organisational Genius
Trotsky provided the practical strategy:
He used the MRC to coordinate military operations.
He controlled communications, transport, and access routes.
He deployed Red Guards and soldiers with precision, minimising bloodshed.
Trotsky’s ability to present the insurrection as defensive rather than offensive allowed the Bolsheviks to operate under the cover of legality, avoiding early clashes with opponents.
Military Authority
Trotsky’s revolutionary charisma inspired confidence among soldiers and workers. His presence at the front lines of the Winter Palace storming reinforced his image as the architect of victory. Later Bolshevik propaganda exaggerated Lenin’s centrality, but contemporaries acknowledged Trotsky’s decisive command.
Immediate Aftermath
The seizure of power was unexpectedly smooth, with little armed resistance. The Bolsheviks, however, faced pressing challenges:
Legitimacy: Many opponents condemned the insurrection as an illegal coup.
Civil Service Opposition: Government officials and bankers resisted Bolshevik decrees.
Civil War Threat: Moderate socialists, liberals, and monarchists began organising armed opposition.
Nevertheless, Lenin and Trotsky had achieved their immediate objective: overthrowing the Provisional Government and establishing Bolshevik control.
Importance of Lenin and Trotsky
Lenin
Provided decisive ideological leadership.
Forced the party into action despite internal opposition.
Legitimated power through the Congress of Soviets.
Trotsky
Directed the military execution of the insurrection.
Used the MRC to secure Petrograd and neutralise opponents.
Inspired loyalty and maintained order among revolutionary forces.
Together, Lenin and Trotsky combined political authority with organisational effectiveness, ensuring the November 1917 Revolution succeeded swiftly and decisively.
FAQ
The Aurora was a Russian naval cruiser moored in Petrograd. On 7 November 1917, it fired a blank shot as a signal for the assault on the Winter Palace.
Although the ship’s artillery was not heavily used in combat, its symbolic role became legendary. The signal shot was portrayed in Bolshevik propaganda as the moment the revolution began, strengthening the myth of the insurrection’s drama and unity.
Despite its iconic status, the storming was relatively disorganised and met with limited resistance.
Many of the defending troops had deserted or were unwilling to fight.
Most of the Provisional Government’s ministers surrendered without violence.
Only a few casualties occurred, though Bolshevik propaganda later depicted the event as a heroic and bloody battle.
The exaggeration served to glorify Bolshevik legitimacy and revolutionary courage.
Kerensky ordered the closure of Bolshevik newspapers and sought to arrest leaders on 6 November 1917. He also tried to rally loyal military forces.
However, his efforts quickly collapsed:
The garrison troops in Petrograd largely sided with the Bolsheviks.
Attempts to bring reinforcements from the front failed due to Bolshevik control of the railways.
Kerensky fled the capital, symbolising the Provisional Government’s weakness.
The Congress of Soviets met on 7–8 November 1917 while the insurrection unfolded.
The Mensheviks and Right Socialist Revolutionaries walked out in protest, condemning the Bolshevik coup.
The Left Socialist Revolutionaries stayed, hoping to influence Bolshevik policies.
With opposition gone, the Bolsheviks secured majority support and announced the new government, the Sovnarkom.
This political theatre gave the Bolsheviks a veneer of democratic legitimacy.
Trotsky argued that the Bolsheviks were protecting the revolution from counter-revolutionary threats, not overthrowing authority for their own gain.
This approach:
Helped persuade garrison soldiers and workers to support the MRC.
Prevented early clashes with other socialist factions.
Allowed Bolshevik leaders to claim legality and justification for their actions.
By framing the takeover in this way, Trotsky reduced opposition and increased the chance of a smooth transfer of power.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Name two key roles played by Trotsky in the Bolshevik seizure of power in November 1917.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for each correct role, up to 2 marks.
Possible answers:Organising the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC).
Directing the seizure of key strategic points such as railways, bridges, and telegraph offices.
Coordinating Red Guards and soldiers during the storming of the Winter Palace.
Presenting the insurrection as a defensive measure to protect the revolution.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain how Lenin contributed to the success of the Bolshevik seizure of power in November 1917.
Mark Scheme:
Level 1 (1–2 marks): Simple statements with little or no explanation.
Example: “Lenin told the Bolsheviks to act quickly.”
Level 2 (3–4 marks): Some explanation of Lenin’s role with limited detail or clarity.
Example: “Lenin persuaded the Bolsheviks to act in October 1917. He argued that they had support in the soviets.”
Level 3 (5–6 marks): Developed explanation showing clear understanding of Lenin’s significance, with supporting detail.
Example: “Lenin provided the decisive ideological leadership for the insurrection, insisting on immediate action to seize power. He overcame opposition within the Bolshevik Central Committee, threatening resignation if they did not act. Lenin also ensured legitimacy by framing the takeover as soviet authority through the Congress of Soviets, strengthening Bolshevik claims to power.”
