Events+-+Chronology+(Topic+2,+October+Revolution)

Trade union membership amounts to nearly 2 million workers throughout Russia. In 1917, the total population of the country is 145 million.
 * October 1 ** – Lenin revives slogan ‘All Power to the Soviets’

- Trotsky elected Chairman of Petrograd Soviet - The Petrograd Soldiers' Soviet declares that it no longer reports to the Provisional Government
 * October 6 ** – The Bolshevik Party achieves an overall majority in the Petrograd Soviet


 * October 7 ** - The Pre-parliament begins its first session. When the Bolshevik time slot arrives, Trotsky delivers a scathing speech, and drops a bombshell: the Bolsheviks will not participate. For the next 11 days the Pre-parliament tries to create some unity among its remaining members, but on their first and most urgent question — what to do about the War — it fails to find a majority position. Mass confusion and despair began to set in, as delegates confront their profound ineptitude. Meanwhile, Headquarters plans to launch a new offensive before the 20th, which many Generals (who support the government) think is "completely crazy".


 * October 10 ** – The Bolshevik Central Committee debates and approves the decision to overthrow the Provisional Government, and to follow the tactics suggested by Lenin, who illegally arrived in Petrograd 3 days earlier. Kamenev and Zinoviev strongly disagree with the majority decision to overthrow the government. The Politburo is created.


 * October 11-21 ** – German forces occupy islands in the Gulf of Riga and threaten Petrograd

• ** October 15-18 **: Antonov-Duseenko travels to the Northern Front (WW1's Eastern Front) to find and organise support for Bolshevik revolution under the guise of the MRC. He is very successful.


 * October 16 ** : Bolshevik Central Committee discuss plans again; doubts are raised, but the MRC is identified as a potential tool of revolution.


 * October 17-18 ** : Articles by Bolshevik dissenters (notably Zinoviev and Kamanev) appear in non-Bolshevik newspapers, talking of the revolution and expressing dismay; Lenin reacts by publicly countering their arguments. Rumours of a Bolshevik uprising are now common; the PG does little to react.


 * October 17 ** – Provisional Government discusses evacuation of Petrograd

- Kerensky opens the pre-parliament to discuss the formation of the Constituent Assembly
 * October 20 ** – Lenin returns to Moscow

Soviet to coordinate tactics – members visit Kronsversk arsenal and seize Weapons and ammunition
 * October 22 ** – Creation of Military Revolutionary Committee (Milrevcom) of Petrograd


 * October 23 ** – ** Meeting of the Bolshevik Party Central Committee votes in favour of armed **
 * seizure of power **


 * October 24 ** : The PG moves against Bolshevik printers and meetings in the morning, while the MRC continues to either occupy key buildings with their troops, or gain support from the existing garrisons. Lenin is frustrated that no one has officially seized power.


 * October 25 ** : Lenin goes to a Bolshevik HQ and drafts a declaration: power has passed to the MRC, but ** the arrest of the government has been delayed. ** Shortly after, Trotsky announces to the PS that the PG has been usurped and all ministers will soon be arrested; Lenin then outlines his plans for a new Soviet govt. The Second Congress of Soviets begins but, without a majority, the Bolsheviks need to negotiate; Menshevik and Right SR delegates walk out in disgust. That evening, the MRC occupy the Winter Palace and Kerensky flees.




 * October 25 - November 3 ** : Soviet power spreads across Russia, with Bolshevik and other Socialist groups seizing control. In some regions this is easy and peaceful; in others, there is violence. Moscow's Bolsheviks attempt to copy the PS and create an MRC, but they are opposed by an active local Duma.


 * October 26 ** : Antonov-Ovseenko arrests the PG. The Congress of Soviets passes several of Lenin's decrees, including those on war, land reform and government: the Council/Soviet of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom) is created. This ruling council is entirely Bolshevik and will rule until a Constituent Assembly is elected. General opinion is that the Bolshevik government won't last long.


 * October 27 ** : The Decree of the Press is issued, censoring Russian publications and press; many socialists are dismayed.


 * October 29 ** : Kerensky and General Krasnov advance on Petrograd with the few loyal forces they can muster but are beaten by larger Bolshevik forces at Pulkoso heights. Vikzhel, the Executive Committee of the massive railway workers' union, pushes for an all-party soviet government and forces the Bolsheviks to negotiate.