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Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto
Definition Revolution: The first Russian revolution, and it caused a large political and social unrest.
Definition October Manifesto: This was a document that was a draft for the Russia Empires Constitution which was enacted in the year following. (10/30/1905)
Rationale: Shows the people fighting for what they wanted -
Beginning of WW1
Definition: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the event that sparked the beginning of the first world war.
Rationale: Portrays Franz Ferdinand getting assassinated -
Czar Nicholas II take sole control of military operations
Definition: Russia had just entered another devastating war in 1914, and Czar Nicholas II took over the military operations, leaving his wife in charge back at home.
Rationale: Portrays Nicholas leading the military -
Brusilov Offensive
Definition: Until September 20, 1916. Russian offensive against the central powers on the eastern front to divert the central powers’ forces from the western front.
Rationale: This is the strategist for the Brusilov offensive, Alesky Brusilov. -
Assassination of Rasputin
Definition: Rasputin was a wealthy man, with an interesting set of values, he was eventually murdered by nobles as a result of the deep connection he had with the Royal Family.
Rationale: Portrays Rasputin fighting death -
Provisional Government formed
Definition: The Provisional government was formed when the Tsarship was dissolved after food shortages and issues with unemployment.
Rationale: The men after signing the provisional government into place -
International Women’s Day March in Petrograd
Definition: The March that happened in Petrograd in 1917 was a key factor that united the people to eventually overthrow the tsar.
Rationale: Portrays the women at the protest -
Nicholas II Abdicates
Definition: Tsar Nicholas was forced to abdicate the throne by the people from Petrograd and a new provisional style government was put in place
Rationale: Portrays Nicholas as upset as he is forced to abdicate -
April Theses published
Definition: After Vladimir Lenin Returned from his exile, Lenin made 10 directives for Russia. The theses were for Bolsheviks and who were also returning back to Russia
Rationale: shows Lenin preaching to his followers as he establishes the April theses -
Return of Lenin from exile
Definition: After 10 years in exile, Vladimir Lenin returned to Petrograd in an attempt to take back over Russia during the Russian Revolution.
Rationale: Lenin returns and he is praised -
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meets
Definition: This conference lasted a little under a month (to July 7), and it was a gathering of people discussing the roles of the Provisional Government.
Rationale: Shows the men at the meeting -
July Days
Definition: Until July 20, 1917. Period of violent rioting in Petrograd against the Provisional government. The Bolshevik party was blamed even though they weren’t at fault.
Rationale: This is a picture of the street fighting during the July Days. -
Kornilov Affair
Definition: Until August 30, 1917. Attempted (failed) military coup of the Provisional Government head Kerensky by extreme-right military leader General Lavr Kornilov.
Rationale: Picture of General Kornilov with his troops marching. -
Trotsky organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd
Definition: To defend against Kornilov Kerensky released Trotsky to organize the red guard (he was given control of all weapons in the area) and succeeded in stopping Kornilov.
Rationale: Picture of one of the red guard units in 1917. -
Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control
Definition: A near bloodless coup by the Bolsheviks to take control from the Provisional Government literally overnight.
Rationale: Picture of Lenin with his forces in the government building. -
Cheka Formed
Definition: The first of a series of soviet secret police organizations, dissolved February 6, 1922.
Rationale: This is the cheka symbol. -
Constituent Assembly meets and is disbanded
Definition: The Constituent Assembly was voted on by the public and composed of multiple political parties without a Bolshevik majority, so Lenin dismissed it. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Definition: The treaty signed between Germany and Russia for Russia to officially leave WW1 with harsh terms.
Rationale: Map of the redistribution of land according to the treaty. -
Wartime Communism Created
Definition: Until March 21, 1921, turned the state into a centralized command economy. This helped funnel resources to the army.
Rationale: Picture of the cheka requisitioning grain from the peasants. -
Red Terror
Definition: Until early 1922, a political repression campaign led by the cheka involving the execution of those branded ‘class enemies’.
Rationale: Anti-Bolshevik poster depicting executions and damage at the hands of the reds. -
Kolchak (one of the White leaders) begins serious attacks against Reds from Siberia
Definition: These attacks, lasting until 1920, started in Serbia and moved west into the Red/Bolshevik held territory advancing as far as Kazan and Samara but eventually the attacks ran out of steam and the Reds pushed back and toppled the Whites attacks.
Rationale: This displays Kolchak’s stoicness that held strong until his execution. -
Poles move towards Kiev
Definition: Poland and Ukrainian signed a military convention on April 24 then their forces moved towards Kiev which lasted until July of 1920. This attempt was to no avail because the end result was a strategic victory for the Soviets and the start of the Red Army.
Rationale: Displays the unity that Polish and Ukrainian had while watching their soldiers march through the streets towards battle with an optimistic mindset despite the knowledge that the Soviets possess a larger and stronger army. -
Soviets attempt to take Warsaw
Definition: Often called the Miracle on the Vistula; a number of swift battles in Poland. These battles appeared to not be going in Poland’s favor but near the end of the battles Poland repulsed and defeated the Red Army. These events on August 25, 1920.
Rationale: Here, Polish soldiers can be seen waving a captured Soviet flag in victory of the battle they had just won. It so justly displays the freedom that the Polish soldiers had as the superpower country of Russia threatens their capital. -
Tambov Rebellion
Definition: A revolution started by 7 million starving peasants goes down as one of the largest and most organized peasant rebellions to challenge the Bolsheviks with a well trained and equipped army of 20,000 soldiers. It lasted until June 1921 after an army of 100,000 Cheka soldiers crushed the powerful but small Tambov army.
Rationale: The picture displays their peasant attire and look but together still they appear a forceful group of men ready to fight against the Bolshevik government. -
Kronstadt uprising
Definition: A combination effort of sailors, soldiers, and civilians, this rebellion against the Bolshevik government in the Russian port of Kronstadt was because the general population was unhappy with the leadership of the Bolshevik government. But in the end the uprising was suppressed.
Rationale: This picture shows the ragtag efforts of all assorted brands of people and unity that this rebellion created. It shows the rebels running across the ice of Finland to attack the fortress. -
Ending of Wartime Communism
Definition: War Communism ended in 1921 when being processed by Stalin and his NEP government. Lenin’s government style ended basically because it was not successful, and the food shortages and famine continued to grow throughout Russia to what seemed with no end. Rationale: This picture displays the largest reasons why War Communism ended and why there was a need for new leadership and a new style of government. Lenin’s rule starved an estimated 16 million people and killed about 5 million. -
Treaty of Rapallo
Definition: Bonded Germany and Russia diplomatically. In this treaty both countries renounced any territorial or financial claims to one another and opened their political relationship again. It created a more friendly relationship between the countries. Lastly, it signified a major disappointment to France and Britain.
Rationale: This picture shows the happiness of the German and Russia diplomats shown on their faces that signifies the great news this meant for both countries. -
Formation of Soviet Union
Definition: After overthrowing centuries of tzarist rule, the Russia Revolutions of 1917 sparked the combining of the Russian and Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republics with the Ukrainian and Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republics to create the U.S.S.R or Soviet Union.
Rationale: This is a simple picture of just the U.S.S.R. flag, but it will come to symbolize communism and one of the harshest governments to ever exist; a symbol for the suffrage of millions spanning generations. -
Ukraine brought under Soviet control
Definition: Ukraine was one of the founding countries or states instrumental in starting the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R) and therefore joined and became subject to Soviet Control upon its creation in December of 1922. Ukraine left the Soviet Union upon its collapse in 1991 and formally left in December of 1991
Rationale: This sculpture shows the ties between Ukraine and Russia’s history but how the U.S.S.R. has always come first and is more prominent. -
Lenin Dies
Definition: At age 53 in Gorki Lenin who was the first and founder leader of the Soviet Union died after falling into a coma which was believed to have happened because of an incurable disease of the blood vessels which stopped the flow of blood to his heart.
Rationale: This picture peacefully displays the end of such a tyrannical rule that negatively affected so many people and how vulnerable such a once powerful man looks; pale, cold, and unable to harm.