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Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto
The Russian Revolution of 1905 was a revolution during the rule of Tsar Nicholas II. It was meant to show the citizens’ discontent with the Russian political and social systems. The most famous event of this revolution was Bloody Sunday. The October Manifesto was influenced by the revolution and it brought in an era of constitutional monarchy, civil liberties, and having the legislative Duma. The picture was chosen since it is an artistic rendition of the 1905 revolution events. -
Beginning of WWI
The beginning of WW1 is normally attributed to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Ferdinand was shot to death in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914. Only one month later, WW1 was officially started. However, there were many other much more complicated factors than just Ferdinand’s assassination.
The picture was chosen because it displays how Ferdinand’s assassination strained foreign relations to the point of war. -
Czar Nicholas II takes sole control of military operations
Tsar Nicholas II took personal control of the Russian army in 1915. Nicholas II had left St. Petersburg and moved to the army’s headquarters. This decision put Nicholas II in a vulnerable position since his decision to take charge made it increasingly obvious to the public that Nicholas II had personal responsibility for the military disasters faced by Russia.
This picture was chosen because it shows Tsar Nicholas II in military attire and in a position of military power. -
Brusilov Offensive
One of the largest Russian attacks and one of the largest allied offensives led by General Aleksy Brusilov during WWI on Austro- Hungary. Austria-Hungary’s army was reduced and Germany was left to fight alone for the final two years of WWI. However, it caused many casualties and Russia lacked the resources to exploit or repeat this success. This picture shows how brutal the offensive was and how it caused many casualties on both sides. -
Assassination of Rasputin
Rasputin was assassinated by gunshots in 1916. He had a close relationship with the tsar’s family and had indirect rule over Russia through Tsarina Alexandra. For this reason, Rasputin was seen as a dangerous threat to Russia by many. During his life, Rasputin was a mystic and self-proclaimed holy man.
This picture was chosen because it shows the close relationship between Rasputin and the tsar’s family, which is one of the reasons he was assassinated since it was seen as dangerous. -
International Women’s Day March in Petrograd
The International Women’s Day March in Petrograd was a strike conducted by working women in the area to protest the food shortage and lack of bread. They then started a revolution as soldiers, bystanders, and men joined them in their strikes later in the month.
This picture was chosen because it displays the protests by women from the time. -
Nicholas II abdicates
Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate due to pressures from the spreading protests and the spread of the Bolsheviks' popularity. These pressures weakened Nicholas II’s support and leadership; thus, forcing him to leave the throne. He and his family were then relocated to a different place of residence.
This picture was chosen because it shows former tsar Nicholas II with his family. Meaning that his abdication didn’t just personally affect him, instead it affected his family as well. -
Provisional Government formed
The Provisional Government was a form of government that mainly catered to the beliefs of conservative professionals. Their main mission was to manage Russia’s transition from tsarism to a democracy via a Constituent Assembly. The Provisional Government also made the decision to keep Russian troops in World War I, which made them very unpopular.
This picture was chosen because it clearly displays members of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma in 1917. -
Trotsky organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd
Trotsky called for the formation of a Military Revolutionary Committee, which was to organize and oversee the Red Guards, as a means of defending the Soviet. MRC was mainly made up of Bolsheviks and radical Left SRs, while Trotsky became its chairman and leader. Through the middle of October, Trotsky and others worked to arm Red Guard units and bring them under the control of MRC. This picture represents this event as it is a picture of Trotsky leading the Red guards. -
Return of Lenin from exile
When Lenin returned from his decade-long exile, he returned to take control of the Russian revolution. Lenin called for an overthrow of the Provisional Government by the soviets and became increasingly popular due to his slogan “peace, land, and bread.” This won over Soviet support as well. In November, Bolshevik guards overthrew the Provisional Government.
This picture was chosen because it clearly depicts Lenin returning to Russia from his exile. -
April Theses published
The April Theses was a program written by Lenin while the Russian Revolution of 1917 was taking place. It mainly called for a Soviet control of Russia’s state power, but the thesis also included 10 points. Some of which addressed opposing the Provisional Government, promoting a socialist revolution, and laying the base of a proletariat.
This picture was chosen because it shows a modern cover of a published version of Lenin’s April Theses. -
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meets
In their first meeting, the majority of views belonged to the Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries. The first meeting also rejected the resolutions suggested by the Bolsheviks. The rejected resolutions included ending the war and transferring all power to the Soviets. Instead, the meeting embraced Social Revolutionary and Menshevik resolutions.
This picture was chosen because it depicts a session of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets meeting. -
July Days
The July Days was an uprising in Petrograd that lasted from July 3-5, 1917. It was caused by Russian citizens' displeasure in regards to the Provisional Government‘s escalation of the war effort and collapse in the government ministry. The uprising was suppressed by government troops and caused issues for the Bolsheviks. This picture is from the actual uprising showing the masses of citizens getting together to protest the government. -
Kornilov Affair
The Kornilov Affair was a coup by the General of the Russian army, Lavr Kornilov, & was a turning point in altering Russia’s government. Kornilov attempted to gain control of the Russian Provisional Government, which was led by Alexander Kerensky. The three plans were for a dictatorship under Kerensky, a military government with Kornilov as a dictator, and Kornilov as a leader in an authoritarian government. This picture is used to represent this event since it is a picture of Kornilov himself. -
Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control
On Nov. 7, 1917, the Bolsheviks forcefully entered the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg and arrested the government officials (Duma) who remained, resulting in the overthrow of the government that had been in place for eight months. The Bolshevik Revolution resulted in the formation of a communist nation and the collapse of the provisional government. This picture represents the event as it is an illustration of the Bolsheviks and Lenin storming the Winter Palace. -
Cheka formed
The Cheka was the Bolshevik secret police and was formed by Lenin in 1917. It was formed to deal with potential counter-revolutionaries and led by Feliz Dzerzhinsky. The agents operated on their own accord, carrying out arrests, detention, and executions. They also routinely used extra-legal violence and torture. This picture was chosen to represent this event as it shows the brutality of the Cheka and how they would publicly execute as a scare tactic to those that opposed the regime. -
Wartime Communism created
War communism was created by Lenin when the Bolsheviks were attempting to consolidate power while fighting a Civil War. It is used in particular to denote the economic policies of the Bolshevik Party, including requisitioning of food, redistribution of land, nationalization of industry, and state management of production. It is also associated with radicalization - increased exertion of party discipline. This picture was chosen as it shows how citizens were overworked due to war communism. -
Constituent Assembly meets & is disbanded
The Constituent Assembly was a constitutional body convened in Russia after the October Revolution. The assembly met for 13 hours on January 18-19th. The Assembly refused to support the new Soviet Government and Bolsheviks walked out in protest. The following day, Lenin announced that the Constituent Assembly had been dissolved by the Central Executive Committee. This picture was chosen as it represents the disagreements that went on during the assembly, which ultimately caused the disbandment. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
At first, the Bolsheviks refused the Germans terms after WWI, but when German troops began marching across Ukraine unopposed, the new government acceded to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. The treaty ceded vast territories, including Finland, the Baltic provinces, parts of Poland, and Ukraine, to the Central Powers. The treaty was terminated in November 1918 when Germany surrendered to the Allies. This picture was chosen as it shows Germany and the Bolsheviks delegating the treaty. -
Red Terror
The Red Terror was a Bolshevik-ordered campaign of intimidation, arrests, violence, and executions. It began in mid-1918 following an assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin and was carried out chiefly by the Cheka, the Bolshevik secret police. The Red Terror was a campaign that sought to eliminate opposition, political dissent, and threats to Bolshevik power. This picture is representative of the event as it shows how destructive the campaign was. -
Kolchak begins serious attacks against Reds from Siberia
Alexander Kolchak was a naval officer and a White leader. In Oct. 1918, he went to Omsk, Siberia, where he became the war minister in the (non-Bolshevik) government. From there, on Nov. 18, a military coup brought him total power there. His attacks against the Reds were successful at first, but in 1920, Kolchak was captured by the Bolsheviks and executed. This picture was chosen as it is of Admiral Kolchak, the White leader who was behind the attacks. -
Poles move toward Kiev
Troops of Poles, led by Józef Piłsudski, moved towards Kiev, Poland in the 1920 Kiev Offensive. The Kiev Offensive was considered to have started the Polish-Soviet War and was an attempt by the armed forces of the newly re-emerged Poland led by Piłsudski, in alliance with Ukrainian leader Symon Petliura, to seize the part of Ukraine that fell under the Soviet Republic’s territories. This picture was chosen as it depicts Polish troops on the move to Kiev. -
Soviets attempt to take Warsaw
Soviets attempted to take Warsaw during the 1920 Battle of Warsaw. It was a series of battles during the Polish-Soviet War, which resulted in a Polish victory and greatly weakened Soviet forces. A Polish victory was not entirely expected by either side, as the Poles were on the verge of total defeat (in the overall war). This picture was chosen as it depicts members of the Red Army standing outside of Warsaw, carrying a red flag and guns. -
Tambov Rebellion
The Tambov Rebellion was the largest peasant rebellion against the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. The Tambov farmers had been dissatisfied by Bolshevik policies and forced grain requisitioning. The rebellion was led by Social Revolutionaries, such as Alexander Antonov. Red troops led by Mikhail Tukhachevsky were sent to the area to use brutal tactics and suppressed the uprising by mid-1921. This picture was chosen as it depicts the spread of the Tambov Rebellion, from 1920 to 1921. -
Kronstadt Uprising
During the Kronstadt Uprising, sailors that had supported the Reds during the October Revolution now revolted and demanded an end to War Communism’s harsh measures. The Kronstadt sailors also demanded free elections, free speech, freedom of the press, and the ending of “dictatorial” Communist rule. They were brutally suppressed by Red forces, with a lot of bloodshed. This picture was chosen as it is a political cartoon depicting the soldiers' mutiny and revolt during the Kronstadt Uprising. -
Ending of Wartime Communism
War Communism was a policy created in 1918 by the Bolshevik government, in which industry was nationalized and surplus crops had to be given up to support the army. It was considered a failure as there was a decline in factory production and food shortages as well. It ended in 1921 in favor of the New Economic Policy (NEP). This picture was chosen as it depicts farmers having to give up their surplus crops during the Wartime Communism era, with a guard standing watch. -
Ukraine brought under Soviet control
Ukraine was brought under Soviet control in 1922 and was known as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, or Soviet Ukraine. It was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union, from its start (1922) to its finish (1991). Soviet Ukraine was governed by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and was a one-party state. This picture was chosen as it is the flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. -
Treaty of Rapallo
This treaty was an agreement between Russia and Germany. Each nation renounced all territorial and financial claims against the other and agreed on how to resolve their future differences if any came to arise. This followed WWI and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This picture was chosen as it depicts the signing of the treaty in Rapallo, Italy. -
Formation of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union, also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a federal socialist state in Northern Eurasia. It was formed after a conference of delegates across the territories approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR the day prior. This picture was chosen as it is a map that depicts the various countries and territories within the Soviet Union. -
Lenin dies
Vladimir Lenin died from a stroke on this date, a few months before his 54th birthday. Joseph Stalin, who was previously appointed by Lenin as the General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922, succeeded Lenin as the next leader after his death. This picture was chosen as it was a famous political cartoon and propaganda that was extremely popular during Lenin's regime.