Context: there is still this widespread belief that the Bolshevik led October revolution threw down the old Tsarist system. This of course is completely false revisionist history that was heavily propagated by the Soviet Union and western intellectuals sympathetic to the Soviet Union.
In reality, the Nikolai II abdicated in February and the new Provisional Government started to plan free elections for the Constituent Assembley. The Provisional Government led mainly by Socialst Revolutionaries was then overthrown by the Bolsheviks in the October revolution. The elections – which to this day remain the only free elections in Russian history – were held in late November with Socialist Revolutionaries gaining twice as many seats as the Bolsheviks. The Assembley was then forcibly dissolved by Lenin 13 hours after being convened.
by peutschika
5 Comments
Oh yeah, in my country they taught that the democratist overthrew the tsar and established a 2 government body, and the Bolshevik job is to turn that number 2 into 1.Why u ask? Bc Bsv always right and that is what must be done to unite Russia.
What a bullshit…
It is an illiterate myth from 1990s.
It was NOT propagated in USSR.
К гражданам России!
Временное правительство низложено.
Государственная власть перешла в руки органа Петроградского Совета рабочих и солдатских депутатов — Военно-революционного комитета, стоящего во главе петроградского пролетариата и гарнизона.
Дело, за которое боролся народ: немедленное предложение демократического мира, отмена помещичьей собственности на землю, рабочий контроль над производством, создание Советского правительства — это дело обеспечено.
Да здравствует революция рабочих, солдат и крестьян!
Военно-революционный комитет при Петроградском Совете рабочих и солдатских депутатов.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrograd_Military_Revolutionary_Committee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union_(Bolsheviks)
Claiming that the Bolsheviks had no part in the fall of Tsarist rule is wild. Claiming Kerensky’s government was mainly led by SRs is wild, too.
The February revolution was conducted by a wide range of forces, both organised and unorganised. The resulting dual power of Provisional Government and the Soviets was, as a result, also a mix of various forces, with the Provisional Government itself dominated by conservatives, which included the right wing of the SR party. To just spell out “Social Revolutionaries” while intentionally leaving out the actual political positions of the various coalitions they were in and even their standing within their own SR party is a pretty transparent attempt at misrepresentation.
The one that thought it was a great idea to continue the war for literally no reason
So, when did any intellectual or the USSR itself claim it overthrew the tsar instead of the Kerensky government?
Hell, Kerensky not delivering on promises of february revolution, the failed Kerensky offensive as well as Kornilov coup attempt against Kerensky featured prominently in propaganda.
Closest would be among others fighting tsarist loyalists in the civil war, but that is far fetched.