Learn more about the Bolshevik Revolution.  Find more information about the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.  Find out the causes and the timeline.

By the end of August 1917, the Bolsheviks party had risen to ejoy a majority in the Petrograd Soviet of Russia.  This new found strength was a welcome to relief to the defeats they had experienced throughout the summer and by September 5th they also found themselves victorious in the Moscow Soviet.  Vladimir Lenin still remained in hiding near the border with Finland, but he was growing more and more impatient for the ouster of the provisional government.

Ruling Prime Minister Kerensky saw his authority begin to flag and the government as a whole drew nearer to the creation of the Constituent Assembly.  The formation of this assembly would establish a republican rule of Russia.  With elections scheduled for November, Lenin knew that the window for seizing legitimate power was narrowing.  He realized that a revolution must happen soon if it was to succeed.

First though, Lenin would need to deal with the fierce opposition he faces in his own party.  The opposition was the result of the feelings of many that this was the wrong time for revolution and that Lenin had not fully considered how power would be wielded once it had been gained.  October 10 marked the date of a critical meeting for the future of Lenin and the Bolshevik party leaders known as the Central Committee.  Not much is known about the proceedings of this meeting, but apparently Lenin made a stirring address to the leaders in which he laid the case for acting immediately to launch a revolution. 

There were only 12 men in attendance at this conference and by the end, 10 of them were ready to approve an armed revolt to overthrow the provisional government.  The only detail yet to be decided was the exact date on which this uprising would occur.

In the following 2 weeks, Lenin and his followers continued to stay cloistered in their base of operations, the Smolny Institute, hammering out the details of their plans and gathering their forces.  A 2nd Congress of Soviets was set to be convened on October 25, and the Bolsheviks were sure the congress would back their plans.   Much of their confidence came from the fact that they had only invited likely sympathizers to attend the congress.

To hedge there bets though, they decided to launch the revolution a day before the October 25th meeting.  They would then request the support of Congress afterwards.  Lev Kamenev and Grigory Zinonev were the only 2 leaders not to have voted for the plan and they continued to vigorously argue against it.  As the time drew near though, they had a change of heart, and maybe a fear of being left behind by history, and they agreed to support the revolt.

As time went on, the Bolsheviks had managed to assemble something of an army albeit a ragtag and disorderly crew.  Although this body Petrograd Soviet soldiers were an unpredictable lot, Lenin believed that at least some of them would back him in armed battle if they saw the odds were good for the Bolsheviks.

Meanwhile among the provisional government, worry was spreading that the Bolsheviks were up to something big.  Details were sketchy, but the government was realizing it need to make plans to hold off an attack.  To this end, the provisional government ordered many of the Bolshevik’s newspapers and media to be shut down.  They also mobilized forces to guard their headquarters and other key spots around the city in the event of a revolt.  The tsar’s old Winter Palace was used for headquarters.

October 24, then came, which is known at the first day of the Russian Revolution.  Truthfully, little happened that day:  Lenin made his way across town to the Smolny Institute, disguised as a drunk with a toothache.  Later that evening, Bolshevik troops also made their way to their pre-assigned positions.  Not a shot was fired and the Junkers that were guarding the key sites either fled or were disarmed.  Even the headquarters of the general staff was taken without resistance.

On the morning of October 25, the Winter Palace was the only building that had not been taken.  At 9am Kerensky left the city for the US embassy in hopes that he would return with soldier from the front.  Meanwhile, the Bolshevik warship, the Aurora, was taken up the Neva River and was put into position near the palace.  By afternoon, the palace was surrounded and only being defended by the Junkers inside. 

The Bolsheviks spent the whole day attempting to take over the Winter palace but most of the soldiers were not willing to fire at fellow Russians.  Instead, they negotiated and convinced many of them to give up.  There are some claims that a few shots were fired, but little or no violence was used.  The people who were holding the Winter Palace were arrested a little after 2pm and Kerensky never returned.  He actually escaped abroad, living in Europe first and then as a history professor in the US.

Lenin was embarrassed by the delay to take the Winter Palace and opened his much awaited All-Russian Congress before the palace was taken.  Bolsheviks made up about half of the 650 delegates and debate lasted throughout the night, adjourning at 5am on October 26.

The Congress resumed late the next evening, several important motions were made.  Fist, Lenin’s Decree on Peace was approved which declared Russia’s wish for WWI to end but not a cease-fire.  The next motion was the Decree on Land which officially socialized all and in the county for redistribution to peasant communes.  Lastly, a new provisional government called the Soviet of the People’s Commissars was formed to replace the old one.  Lenin was the chairmen and all of the members were Bolsheviks.