Provisional Government Simulation Russia in 1917 Saint Petersburg

Provisional Government Simulation: Russia in 1917 (Saint Petersburg Encyclopedia) Protestors at Znamenskaya Square, Petrograd, in February 1917.

Tsar Nicholas II reviewing his troops at the front. Despite Rodzianko's telegram urging democratic reforms in the face of large-scale strikes, the tsar replies by telling the police (aided by the army) to use “decisive armed force” against the crowds (“Russian Revolution, ” 20). (First. World. War. com)

Once again the military's attitude was pivotal to revolution. In this case the Volynsky regiment (regretting their part in putting down a strike the previous day at Znamenskaya Square, where 50 were killed), shot their commander and left their barracks to march and persuade other troops to join the mutiny. By the end of the day, 66, 000 uniformed soldiers had joined the strikers and 170, 000 firearms were looted from arsenals. These kind of soldiers' uprisings were exactly why the Petrograd Soviet later issued Order No. 1, granting amnesty to revolting and deserting soldiers (“Russian Revolution, ” 20). (Saint Petersburg Encyclopedia)

The revolution was bloody. Prisons were blown up (see the Litovski prison in the picture below), police stations looted, and 8000 common criminals set free—who promptly set to looting, stealing, and raping the inhabitants of Petrograd. There were somewhere between 1500 and 7500 casualties in these few days (“Russian Revolution, ” 20 -21). (Saint Petersburg Encyclopedia)

On March 2, 1917, Nicholas II abdicates and becomes simply “Nicholas Romanoff. ” (“Imperial Russia”) (Library of Congress)

Who was to rule Russia? Immediately, two separate bodies sprang up to assume the job—they even shared the same meeting place. The Duma had created a Provisional Government, which met in the right wing of the Tauride Palace; and the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies (defunct since shortly after the 1905 revolution) used the left wing. This was an uneasy alliance known as “dual authority” (“Russian Revolution, ” 21). (Saint Petersburg Encyclopedia)

The Provisional Government made many typically liberal reforms: Freedom of press Freedom of speech Freedom of assembly Universal suffrage Repealed legal restrictions based on religion, class, and race Outlawed capital punishment Reformed judicial system Tried to control police (“Russian Revolution, ” 22). (University of Toronto)

(University of Toronto) The Petrograd Soviet was original led by middle level Social Democrats (mostly Mensheviks) and Social Revolutionaries because most major socialists, and almost all leading Bolsehivks, were in exile. As they began to return after the tsar's abdication, the membership of this body would change. It was a large and unwieldy group, but it had the strong support of both workers and soldiers/sailors. The vice-chairman of the Soviet, Alexander Kerensky, was also a prominent member of the Provisional Government, and he would later convince other important leaders, primarily Mensheviks, to join the government as well. At first, these two bodies co-existed mostly peacefully, if somewhat uncomfortably (“Russian Revolution, ” 22).

Lenin arrived in April 1917 and promptly started denouncing both the Provisional Government and the leadership of the Petrograd Soviet (though he didn't oppose this last group in principle and wanted, in fact, to give it more power—power that would be taken away from the government). He wanted “peace, bread, and land”—and an immediate revolution led by the Bolsheviks. He was not received with tremendous enthusiasm and some thought he was a German agent. Marxism-Leninism: 1. Needs to be a revolution NOW 2. Needs to be led by a small “vanguard” of professional revolutionaries, trained against the secret police and conscious of more longterm goals 3. Discipline will have to be enforced

The war must end now. Land must be redistributed to the peasants. Banks and industries should be nationalized. People should withdraw support from Provisional Government—all power to the Soviets! (Raschig)

Prepare for the Simulation Meet in groups based upon your party affiliation / occupation Discuss your aims and arguments Be prepared to argue against what other people want

Simulation Topics Should Russia continue to fight in the war? Should land be redistributed to the peasants? What kind of government should rule Russia? Who should be in charge of this government?

The Provisional Government continued the war. Alexander Kerensky was named Minister of War and he appointed General Kornilov to become Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Kerensky launched a major offensive in June, which failed at the cost of 200, 000 casualties. Soldiers of the First Machine Gun Regiment sent appeals to their families and friends for an insurrection against the Provisional Government to stop the war. This was known as the July Days. The Bolsheviks were blamed for the insurrection, even though they didn't start it. Certainly, they were sympathetic to it and allowed it to run its course for five days before calling for a restoration of peace on the streets. As a result of their supposed complicity, the Provisional Government cracks down on all strikers and Bolsheviks, and once again Lenin goes into exile, this time to Finland. Kerensky becomes Prime Minister (“Russian Revolution, ” 39 -41). (Wikimedia Commons)

(Monkeysmashesheaven. com) Lenin in Petrograd. (Wikimedia Commons) Lenin disguised in a wig and cap for exile into Finland in August 1917.

The Bolsheviks recovered, though, largely because they were popular among the workers and needed by the Provisional Government. When General Kornilov staged an attempted coup d'état, Prime Minister Kerensky called upon the Bolsheviks to protect the government, since they were the only ones who could rally enough support to do so. He even allowed them to arm themselves, creating a group of 10, 000 known as the Red Guards. Kornilov wouldn't fire upon the workers and gave himself up. Now the Bolsheviks, 200, 000 strong and a majority in the Petrograd Soviet, were well-placed to make another strong move: revolution (Morris and Murphy 199). (Mitskevich) (First World War. com)

Discussion Questions Why did the Provisional Government fail? Was the Bolshevik Revolution truly a revolution? (Consider the definition of “revolution” in your answer. ) Were the Bolsheviks a better government than the Provisional Government? Did Lenin deliver on his promises? Should Lenin's government have signed the Treaty of Brest. Litovsk? Was war communism a success or a failure? How was the NEP different? How did the Bolsheviks win the civil war? Who was worse for the Russian people—the Reds or the Whites?

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