Monthly Archives: September 2013

Kornilov waving to Crowds
http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&show=images&SubjectID=1917kornilov&Year=1917&navi=byYear

In March of 1917, in the face of societal unrest and military defeats, Nicholas II abdicated the throne of Russia. Nicholas relinquished power to his brother, Michael, calling on the people to support the tsar, working together to form a new Russia. The letter came when soldiers did not put down demonstrators against the tsar.  Following Nicholas II’s abdication, a dual power system was created between the Provisional Government and the Soviets led by the Petrograd Soviet. Aleksandr Kerensky became one of the leaders of the Provisional Government and would play a vital role in the Kornilov affair.

After the April Crisis, Kerensky appointed General Lavr Kornilov as the commander-in-chief and “he implicitly sanctioned Kornilov’s plan to restore the army’s fighting capacity by restoring discipline and the death penalty,” but Kornilov “doubted that the coalition had the will either to win the war or to stabilize the domestic front” (Freeze 287). Kornilov did not agree with the implementation of dual power and aimed to end dual power in Russia. Kornilov aimed to challenge the government of Russia, and his support for his cause is evident in hist address to the people, “The true son of the Russian people always perishes at his post, and sacrifices the greatest thing that he has, his life, for his Motherland” (Seventeen Moments)

General Kornilov, leader of the Kornilov Affair
http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&show=images&SubjectID=1917kornilov&Year=1917&navi=byYear

With Kerensky’s alleged support, Kornilov led troops to Petrograd to restore order; however, Keresky took advantage of the general in order to gain personal power. The event became known as the Kornilov affair.

“The main victor in the Kornilov Affair was the radical left, and in particular the Bolsheviks” (Seventeen Moments). The affair compromised the authority of Kornilov, Kerensky, and the Provisional government.

The chaos of revolution opened the door for conflict between the political right and left. Contradictions on how to handle social and economic developments and crises led to drastic efforts to establish a government in line with a specific ideology. From dual power, Kerensky and Kornilov saw the opportunity to eliminate chaos and “save” Russia from destroying itself; however, the long-term effects of the failed Kornilov affair “facilitated the Bolshevik seizure of power” (Freeze 288).

Despite failures, strikes continued to intensify, leading to the October Revolution of 1917. As October, and the events surrounding revolution, approached, Lenin and the Bolsheviks poised for political change, building off the stresses of the war and civil unrest.

Cited Sources:

Abdication of Nicholas II, March 2/15, 1917 documents: http://www.dhr.history.vt.edu/modules/eu/mod03_1917/evidence_detail_23.html

Seventeen Moments in Soviet History: 1917: Kornilov Affair: http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&SubjectID=1917kornilov&Year=1917&navi=byYear

http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&show=images&SubjectID=1917kornilov&Year=1917&navi=byYear

Gregory L. Freeze, Russia: A History (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), 287-288.

Gapon in London 1905

In 1904, Georgii Gapon, an Orthodox priest, recruited members into his ‘Assembly of Russian Factory Workers’ (Freeze 250). Although the police funded and infiltrated the organization to diminish anti-autocratic sentiment, the organization exposed members to Western ideology. “When in December 1904, some workers at the giant Putilov factory, members of Gapon’s Assembly, were dismissed, with little justification, in what appeared to be an effort to reduce the Assembly’s influence, the organization could not maintain its credibility unless it rose to the defense of the injured parties” (Freeze 251). Facing injustices, Gapon brought the workers under a united vision, inspiring a strike in January 1905. A mass march was organized against the Winter Palace, the home of Nicholas II. The petition of the organizers included demand for higher wages, shorter hours, and “free elections based on direct, universal manhood suffrage” (Freeze 251). Instead of receiving the petition, Nicholas II called for military action against the crowd consisting of men, women and children. January 9, 1905 became known as ‘Bloody Sunday‘ and was the turning point of the public against the tsar.

Despite marching over one hundred people to their deaths, Gapon gained popularity across the world. The press became interested in the man who inspired the strike and the type of change he envisioned. The New York Times published an article on Gapon on 18 Feb 1906. The article provides background on the man who inspired action in Russia. Gapon “turned his organized strikers into revolutionists and determined to make the Czr, by force if necessary, listen to the complaints of the strikers” (New York Times). The New York Times article also suggests the Ministry had promised the striker’s petition would be received without violence or resistance. The article also mentions the surprise of the police when the military took action against the crowds.

Although Father Gapon escaped harm, the whereabouts of Father Gapon became surrounded by mystery. What happened to Gapon? Conspiracy invaded the press in regard to Gapon. On May 14, 1906, the New York Times ran a story titled ‘MAY BE GAPON’S BODY.: Corpse Hanging from a Nail Found in a Villa in Finland.’ The story address the finding of a corpse whose “features resembled those of Gapon, and the clothing corresponded with that worn by the missing labor leader.” The media jumped on the controversial leader, expecting the Russian government to take action against the organizer.

The truth, saturated with conspiracy theories, may never be fully known; however, the change Gapon inspired allowed the Revolution of 1905 take place. ‘Bloody Sunday’ caused the country to turn on Nicholas II, although the petitioned topics were not successfully executed following the Revolution of 1905. Change, as typically seen in history, was not immediate.

Image Citation: “Gapon, the Hero of “Bloody Sunday”.” New York Times (1857-1922), Feb 18, 1906. http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/96601455?accountid=14826.

Cited Sources:

“Gapon, the Hero of “Bloody Sunday”.” New York Times (1857-1922), Feb 18, 1906. http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/96601455?accountid=14826.

“MAY BE GAPON’S BODY.” New York Times (1857-1922), May 14, 1906. http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/96642990?accountid=14826.

Gregory L. Freeze, Russia: A History (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), 250-252.

http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/HIS242/Notes/Gapon.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/bloody_sunday