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Revolution of 1905 and October Manifesto
Frustrations stemming from the failure of the 1904 Russo Japanese war boiled over, along with ‘Bloody Sunday’ in which hundreds were killed in the streets of St. Petersburg. This with Naval mutiny resulted in the Czar being pressured to sign the October manifesto. The manifesto produced the state zemstvo, a form of government. This photo is significant because it is a drawing of the revolution and it shows perspective as a moment in time -
Beginning of WWI
Resultant of tensions among large countries, a second Balkan war sparks global conflict as calls for mobilization of armies results in countless war declarations in a few weeks time. Known at the time as ‘The Great War’, World War 1 involved almost every European country and resulted in the economic and social demolition of some participants. This photo is significant because it is an image of the new war presented by the ‘great war’. -
Czar Nicholas II take sole control of military operations
Following numerous military defeats, Czar Nicholas II leaves for the war front and assumes full control over army operations. His absence from his home and throne, along with continuing military failures destabilization of the monarchy which would eventually result in his downfall. This photo is significant as it shows Czar Nicholas II leading the Russian generals. -
Brusilov Offensive
This was Russia’s greatest success during WWI; considered one of the most lethal offensives in history during September 1916.. Displayed good leadership and planning from the Russian Imperial Army. This picture displays the outline of the offensive, where they were in relation to geography. -
Assassination of Rasputin
A key component in the destabilization of the monarchy was that of Grigori Rasputin, a spiritual healer which infiltrated the royal family in Czar Nicholas’ absence. His influence sewn further distrust between the population and the royal family. This photo is significant as it is Rasputin and shows his physically imposing stature. -
Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control
In November 1917, the Bolshevik Red Army, created by Trotsky and led by Lenin, seized the Winter Palace and arrested all remaining governmental officials left of the Provisional Government. This picture shows Lenin leading a group of revolutionist and getting them inspired to help and overthrow the government. -
Nicholas II Abdicates
Pressure from the war failure and loss of trust from the people caused Nicholas to abdicate. His cousin denied the throne because of the poor position of the Czar. His abdication marked the end of the 300 year old Romanov dynasty. This photo is significant as it shows him in his new civilian life while still protected by armored guards. -
Provisional Government Formed
Following the abdication of Czar Nicholas II, the provisional government made up of widely varying political ideas was placed as the interim government. This photo is significant because it is of the Provisional Government. -
July Days
A period of unrest in Petrograd, Russia in July 1917 where many protestors, mainly workers, soldiers and sailors, rose against the Provisional Government. This is one of the most infamous pictures from the time, which shows many Russians dead on the streets of Petrograd after police efforts to contain the protests. -
Kornilov Affair
This was an attempted governmental coup led by General Larv Kornilov to take over the Provisional Government in September 1917. This picture depicts General Kornilov, who led this attempted coup, and his army behind him, giving context. -
Trotsky organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd
In March 1917, Trotsky helped to organize groups of workers, peasants and farmers in order to overthrow the Provisional Government and defined the Bolshevik Petrograd. This picture shows a group of the Red Guards in the Vulkan Factory, dated 1917. -
Cheka formed
In December 1917, Lenin created the Cheka which was known as a Bolshevik Secret Police that was used to silence other political parties or opinions rising in Russia. This picture shows what a badge that the police wore. -
International Women's Day March in Petrograd
Women take to the streets on national women's day to protest the poor working conditions. The women are joined by hundreds more men, starting a 4 day protest which resulted in the formation of the state duma. This photo is significant because it depicts the image of thousands of workers marching in the streets of St. Petersburg. -
Return of Lenin from Exile
Lenin's return to Russia put in motion the events that lead to the October revolutions in which Lenin would see his Bolshevik party rise to power. This photo is significant because it is of Lenin’s return to Russia after exile. -
April Thesis Published
A book published by Bolshevik leader, Vladimir Lenin, detailing ten directives for his image of the future of Russia. This photo is significant because it is of Lenin ‘preaching’ to the working class. -
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets meets
A meeting which confirmed the power of the provisional government through recognition of the working class of Russia. This photo is significant because it is of the first All-Russian congress of soviets. -
Constituent Assembly meets and is disbanded
This Assembly only met once, January 1918, in which the Social Revolutionists won a majority of the seats, unlike the Bolsheviks who were 3rd in place for the amount of seats. This caused the Bolsheviks to walk out of the Assembly and silence all the rest of the political parties, or treat them as invalid. This picture shows the lack of impact that the Bolsheviks had during this conference, showing the division of seats in relation to political parties. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
This treaty was signed in March 1918 and officially ended Russia’s involvement in WWI. This treaty gave complete independence to Georgia, Finland and the Ukraine, causing Russia to lose most of its Western borders. This map shows the actual territory lost by the Russians, showing how much of an impact this treaty had on them. -
Wartime Communism created
In June 1918, Lenin implemented War Communism to the economy of Russia in order to combat the economic problems arising due to the Russian Civil War. This included forcefully taking grain from peasants, extremely harsh working conditions, food instead of money for pay and much more. This picture shows a family starving and freezing due to this implementation and the famine caused as a result. -
Red Terror
Starting in September 1918, the Bolsheviks coined themselves as Red Terror in order to combat the Civil War that was growing in Russia, ending up in many killings and hate crimes against the Whites, or anti-Bolsheviks. This was one of the reasons that the Reds won the war, due to force and terror. This picture shows one of the signs of the Red Terror that threatened the Whites, showing the impact of this group. -
Kolchak (one of the White leaders) begins serious attacks against Reds from Siberia
This is a picture of Alexander Kolchak, a white leader during the battles of the Russian Revolution. In 1919-1920, the leader planned a triple attack towards Moscow; Kolchak attacked from Siberia, Denikin attacked from the south, and General Yudenich attacked from Estonia. -
Ukraine brought under Soviet control
Ukraine was brought under the control of the Soviets on January 22, 1919. Ukraine did not fair well in a war between the Soviets and Ukrainians, which had resulted in a territory split in Ukraine, with some going to the Bolsheviks, thus the control from the Soviets. The picture displays propaganda regarding the war. -
Poles move toward Kiev
Around April of 1920, the Polish made an attempt to liberate Ukraine from the Soviets by launching an offensive. This results in a strong counter-offensive from the Soviets. The offensive became known as the Kiev Offensive, which is what is displayed in the picture. -
Soviets attempt to take Warsaw
Against Polish armies, General Mikhail Tulachevsky launched a communist counter-offensive, which had pushed back enemy armies backward as far as Warsaw. Ultimately, in October 1920, there was an agreement to an armistice, which had prevented the army from proceeding further and the Poles gave up the resistance against communism. This image was produced years later, when Soviets ultimately took over Warsaw, a possible result of this occurrence in 1920. -
Tambov Rebellion
This was a rise against the Bolshevik influence, which took place in Tambov. This was a peasant led rebellion and one that saw the most success of all rebellions of the time. (August 19, 1920 - June 1921) This picture is significant because it shows soldiers that participated in the Tambov Rebellion. -
Ending of Wartime Communism
At some point, Russia and Lenin had realized the consequences of war communism on the economy, and would transition into the NEP in 1921. This marked a time of improvement and progress for Russia, improving the economy for products such as cereal, and this also led to a reduction of peasant rebellions. This picture displays the relationship between America and Russia, ultimately how the foreign relations of Russia were affected by the choice of War Communism. -
Kronstadt uprising
This rebellion occurred at the Kronstadt naval base. This began from an upset by the failure of agriculture and industry during the time of war communism. Against the Bolsheviks, this rebellion was one of the last of the rebellion because of the NEP to replace war communism. This rebellion spanned the beginning of March: March 1-18, 1921, and the picture shows those who participated in the rebellion. -
Treaty of Rapallo
Signed on April 16, 1922, a treaty between the Soviets and Germany in Rapallo, Italy. Territorial claims between the two nations were non longer in play through this treaty and they had urged economic and military cooperation. The picture displayed shows representatives of the two nations to show the agreement of the treaty. -
Formation of Soviet Union
The official date of the formation of the Soviet Union was on December 30, 1922. This occurred when a treaty of this year was signed between the nations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Transcaucasia (Georgia). This soviet was in favor of communism and this ideology was a strong factor in the government song with Lenin. The picture displays the meeting among nations, determining their negotiations. -
Lenin dies
Prior to his death, he was heavily handicapped with paralysis and a speech impediment due to two strokes. A third stroke left him mute and bedridden. Upon these inflictions, he began to indicate his intentions for the future of Russia, but his death came too early for him to put his intentions into laws and statements. The picture is Lenin on his deathbed. He died on January 21, 1924.