AS FP1 : Developments between the revolutions, Kornilov Affair and preparations for revolution

Question 1

The Kornilov Affair

What was the situation in which Kornilov was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army?

Answer 1

• June offensive had lead to an increasing anti-war sentiment, compounded by escelating desertions.
• Lvar Kornilov was made Commander-in-chief of army in an effort to reinstate discipline.

Question 2

The Kornilov Affair

What was the reaction of the Soviets to the methods of Kornilov?

Answer 2

Kerensky’s Moscow State conference was boycotted by the Bolsheviks, and even the Mensheviks and SRs objected to Kornilov’s methods. However, those on the right, (particularly landowners and businessmen), saw Kornilov as their saviour. Milyukov saw a military coup as favourable to a socialist regime.

Question 3

The Kornilov Affair

What were the events of the Kornilov Affair?

Answer 3

On August 25th 1917, Kornilov ordered six regiments of troops to march on petrograd, intending to crush the soviet and establish a military dictatorship. Kerensky released imprisoned Bolsheviks and provided workers with weapons to halt Kornilov’s advance.

Question 4

The Kornilov Affair

How did the Bolsheviks respond to the Kornilov affair?

Answer 4

Kornilov’s supply lines were cut and coup leaders were arrested, the Bolsheviks organised the Petrograd Red Guards to stop Kornilov’s advance. They “milked the propaganda opportunities” and poured scorn on Kerensky’s government, basking in the glory to have been the only party to have overtly opposed the Provisional Government from the start.

Question 5

The Kornilov Affair

What was the effect of the Kornilov affair on the popularity of the Bolsheviks?

Answer 5

• 23,000 members in February had risen to 200,000 in October by which time the party was producing 41 newspapers and a 10,000 Red Guard force.
• Bolsheviks won the majority in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets.
• 26th September, Trotsky becomes chairman of the executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 6

The Kornilov Affair

What was the response of the soviet to Kerensky’s actions on the 5th of October?

Answer 6

On the 5th October, Kerensky sent out of Petrograd the more radical elements of the Petrograd Garrison, fearing a Bolshevik uprising. However, this was a mistake as the Soviet claimed that Kerensky was abandoning the capital and letting it fall to the Germans.
Prompted the creation of the “military revolutionary centre” on the 9th October.

Question 7

Central Committee of the Bolshevik party

How did the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party respond to Lenin’s proposal of an armed uprising?

Answer 7

The Committee voted against a coup and both Kamenev and Zinoviev urged restraint, even burning some of Lenin’s letters that he had been feverently sending to the committee.

Question 8

Central Committee of the Bolshevik party

When did Lenin sneak back into Russia?

Answer 8

Lenin snuck back into Russia in disguise on the 10th of October, he convinced them that an “armed uprising is the order of the day.” He was supported by Trotsky but still opposed by Kamenev and Zinoviev.

Question 9

Final preparations for the Revolution

How did Trotsky begin preparing for revolution?

Answer 9

• Sent Bolshevik speakers into factories to whip up support.
• He secured the support of 15/18 of the Petrograd Garrisons who declared their allegiance to the Soviet.

Question 10

Final preparations for the Revolution

What did the Military Revolutionary Committee come to control?

Answer 10

The Military Revolutionary Committee came to control 200,000 Ref Guard, 150,000 soldiers and 60,000 baltic sailors. It had 66 members, of which 48 were Bolsheviks.

Question 11

Situation in Summer 1917

What was the economic situation of Russia by October 1917?

Answer 11

Food supplies were chaotic in towns, real wages fell while prices rose. By October, prices were c755% above pre-war levels.

Question 12

Situation in Summer 1917

What was the situation like for workers in October 1917?

Answer 12

Factory owners had been given the right to dismiss striking workers, and meetings of factory soviets were forbidden during work hours.

Question 13

Situation in Summer 1917

How did the Provisional Government lose support in the Countryside?

Answer 13

The Provisional Government lost support in the Countryside due to its failure to redistribute land and its continutation of the war.