Bolshevik - in depth knowledge

Bolshevik Support before the October Revolution

Peasants:

There was a surge of support for the left wing of the SR's who were collaborating with the Bolsheviks.

Workers:

The Bolsheviks were the only party who seemed to offer economic and serious social reform.

Soldiers:

Thousands of soldiers killed in the July offensive on the 16th June pushed the soldiers towards Bolsheviks.

The Kornilov Affair

Kereneksy appointed a new Supreme Commander of the Russian Force, General Kornilov.

He would bring trustworthy troops with him into Petrograd.

Kornilov saw it as an opportunity to crush the radical socialists and restore order in the city.

Kerensky panicked and turned to the Soviet for help to defend Petrograd from counter-revolution < the people feared of the prospect of a military dictatorship.

Bolsheviks came to the city's aid - Bolshevik troops came out on the streets alongside soldiers, workers and sailors. 

Kornilov's troops never arrived, Bolshevik agents persuaded the soldiers to desert their officers and Kornilov was arrested.

Consequences

• Kerensky's reputation was irretrievably damaged
• There was a surge of support for the Bolsheviks and they were praised as the  'true defenders of the revolution.' 

The July Days

Several days of uncontrolled rioting and general disorder. It was a direct challenge to the Provisional Government.

4th July, 20,000 armed soldiers from the Kronstadt naval base arrived in Petrograd.

They marched to the Tauride Palace, demanding that the Soviet take power. 

Seen as an early attempt by the Bolsheviks to take power. Sukhanov reported seeing armed groups led by 'Bolshevik Lieutenants.' < However, Bolshevik leadership was not ready to seize power (Lenin was not in Petrograd)

Consequences 

• Provisional Goverment blamed Lenin: 'paid by the germans to undermine the Russian war effort' 
• Lenin was forced into hiding in Finland
• Bolshevik Newspapers were closed
• Major setback for the Bolshevik cause

The 'April Theses'

Lenin called for

• a worldwide socialist revolution
• an immediate end to the war
• an end to co operation with the Provisional Government
• the soviets and in particular the Petrograd Soviet to take power
• land to be given to peasants

Divided into slogans

('Bread') - priotising food supplies

('Peace') - ending the war

('Power to the soviets') - putting the workers in control

('Land') - Land to be distributed to peasants