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This oil painting, Demonstration on October 17, 1905, by Ilya Repin, depicts people celebrating in the streets after the release of the October Manifesto, which promised reforms for Russia. This painting was chosen because it shows many people's positive reactions to this manifesto. Although it only represents one perspective on the document, this perspective is very important to understanding people's various feelings about the tsar. -
This photo is of a Russian recruiting poster from the beginning of WWI. The caption reads: "World on Fire; Second Patriotic War." This photo was chosen because it shows the original enthusiasm that Russia had for the war before it became long and weary. Russia originally saw participation in the war as a noble demonstration of patriotism and loyalty to Russia. -
This photo depicts Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duke Nicholas (Supreme Commander of the Russian Army) on the battlefield. This photo was chosen because it shows how personally involved the tsar became in Russian military operations during WWI. He did this in order to boost morale and regain support both among his soldiers and among the rest of his people. -
This photo depicts a caricature of Rasputin (middle), Tsar Nicholas II (left), and tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna (right), which was made in 1916. This photo was chosen because it shows the widespread opinion of Rasputin before his death. Many believed that he had too much influence over the tsar and his family. The people who assassinated him believed that his large influence over the couple threatened the empire. -
This photo depicts women, children, and soldiers marching in Petrograd on International Women's Day. The sign can be translated to "feed the children of the defenders of the motherland." This photo was chosen because it shows the wide variety of people that attended the protests. It also shows the peaceful nature of that day due to the soldiers refusing to fire on the crowds. -
This photo depicts a newspaper headline in the Pacific Commercial Advertiser that announces the tsar's abdication. This photo was chosen because it shows the extreme impact that the abdication had, not only on the people of Russia but internationally as well. This newspaper also shows the widespread effects of this win on the part of the Russian people. -
This photo depicts the original nine members of the Provisional Government, including Alexander Kerensky. This photo was chosen because it shows how small yet relatively powerful (although still less powerful than the Petrograd Soviet) the Provisional Government was even though it was formed immediately after the tsar abdicated. Many of these men (especially Kerensky) went on to become key figures in Russia. -
This picture depicts Lenin conveying his message from the April Theses to a crowd of people. This picture was chosen as it shows the mass influence Lenin had on the people of Russia. -
This photo depicts Vladimir Lenin being welcomed after returning to Russia from a decade of exile. This photo was chosen because it shows the immediate acceptance from many people that Lenin received after his return. This is a precursor to the popularity that he gains before the second Russian Revolution. -
This photo depicts the first All-Russian Congress of Soviets congregating in Petrograd. This photo was chosen as it conveys the event in which Russia decided to continue participating in World War One, which caused major disagreements within Russian society. -
This photo depicts the leader of the Russian Army General Aleksey A. Brusilov. The photo is significant as General Brusilov had led the army in advancing against the Austro-German forces. However, the offensive was ultimately a failure that resulted in political consequences. -
This picture depicts the protest during the July Days, where soldiers and workers held protests against the Provisional Government in Petrograd. This picture was chosen because it conveys the large opposition the Provisional Government had faced because of their actions, signifying their incapability of ruling Russia. -
The picture depicts General Lavr Kornilov and his soldiers preparing for the military coup against the Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviets. This picture was chosen because it conveys the amount of support the Bolsheviks had begun to obtain, the large army in the background shows this. -
This picture depicts the Red Guard. This picture was chosen because it shows the massive size of the army which insinuates the large amount of support and power the Bolshevik party had. -
This picture depicts the Bolsheviks overthrowing the Provisional Government and taking control. This picture was chosen as this event marked a shift in power in Russia, where the Bolsheviks had legitimized their authority. -
This picture depicts the symbol of the Cheka police force. This picture was chosen as it symbolizes the power and authority of the soviet intelligence and security agency. -
Photo depicts an image of the Constituent Assembly meeting up before it is disbanded. -
This photo depicts the treaty being negotiated. -
This image titled, "Clergy on Forced Labor" by Ivan Vladimirov, depicts workers being forced to do labor as a result of Wartime Communism -
Image taken at Petrograd, with banner translating too, "Death to the bourgeois and their helpers. Long live the Red Terror." -
This is a photograph of Alexander Kolchak -
This image depicts a group of soldiers of the Ukraine Army in Kyiv, more than a year before Kyiv was taken over by the Red Army. -
Image depicts soldiers of the Polish Army entering Kiev on May of 1920. -
This photo taken in 1920 shows the Soviet soldiers approaching Warsaw Poland. -
This photo was taken in 1920 during the Tambov Rebellion. It shows the Bolsheviks ready to put an end to this efficient rebellion. -
This photo shows the soviet soldiers and civilians rebelling against the Bolshevik government on a red background. This photo is the cover of a book by Emanuel Pollack, 1959 who wrote some books about the Soviet soldiers. -
This picture was an anti- communism propaganda poster from 1921, right before the ending of war communism and the beginning of NEP. It shows how hated war communism was. -
This photograph was taken during the signing of the Treaty of Rapallo in Rapallo, Italy. In this photo is the Chancellor of Germany Joseph Wirth, and three others from the Russian delegation, Leonid Krasin, Adolph Joffe, and Georgi Chicherin. This was a huge accomplishment for both Germany and Russia. -
This picture was the Soviet Union's flag. The red background is to honor the 1871 Paris Commune, while the golden star and hammer symbolize socialism and communism. -
Artist Kuzma Petrov- Vodkin, a Russian and Soviet painter, was one of the few artists who were allowed to paint Lenin in his coffin at his funeral services in Moscow.