MARXIST INTERNET ARCHIVE | Lenin Biography

The February Russian Revolution
(February 1917)

Years of Reaction (1907-1910) A New Rise of the Revolutionary Tide (1910-1914) First World War (1914 - February 1917) Leader of the October Russian Revolution (March-October 1917) Lenin and his comrades in Stockholm en route to their Motherland. March 1917. The exposition in this room opens with several photographs that characterise the difficult situation in Russia on the eve of 1917: ravaged villages, death by starvation, defeat on the front lines, and plants and factories at a stand-still. And as a conclusion, the words of Lenin: "Life teaches. Life is advancing, through the defeat of Russia, towards a revolution in Russia...." In January 1917, in a speech before young workers at the People's House in Zurich, Lenin spoke of the 1905 Russian revolution: "We must not be deceived by the present grave-like stillness in Europe. Europe is pregnant with revolution." Several weeks passed, and the bourgeois democratic revolution broke out in Russia in February 1917. The tsarist autocracy was overthrown. The main motive power and predominant force in the revolution was (he working class. However it could not concentrate absolute power in its hands because of its lack of class-consciousness and organisation. A dual power was established in the country: Soviets of workers' and soldiers' deputies, and the bourgeois Provisional Government. Directly opposite the entrance to the hall is the artist S. Lukin's painting, "It Has Come to Pass!": the tsar's throne-room, in the centre is a soldier with a lowered gun, in the background is the throne, no longer a symbol or the tsar's regalia, but simply an empty chair.... On the right-hand wall is a photograph-it is the burning of the tsarist emblems on Anichkov Bridge in Petrograd. V. I. Lenin learned of the revolution in Russia from Swiss newspapers in the beginning of March. There he evaluated the revolution and determined the new tasks for the proletariat and Bolshevik Party. On display in the exposition room are five of Lenin's "Letters From Afar", the leaflet "Comrades, Who Are Languishing in Captivity", "Parting Letter to Swiss Workers" and others. Here Lenin revealed the character of the February Revolution, gave a deep and comprehensive analysis of its motive forces, pointed out its specific features, prospects, and defined the tasks of the proletariat, elucidated the historical role of the Bolshevik Party which took the course of transition from the bourgeois-democratic revolution to the socialist revolution. On March 27 (April 9), 1917, overcoming great complications with customs, V. I. Lenin and a group of Russian emigres returned to Russia via Germany, Sweden and Finland. Photograph of Lenin and his comrades in Stockholm en route to their Motherland, and his belongings—a jacket, hat, boots and travel bag-are on display in this room. See also: Anatoly Lunacharsky. Lenin and Russian revolution. Alexandra Kollontai The First Benefit Fidel Castro October Revolution and Cuban Revolution and other historical documents and photos at the Defend Lenin mausoleum! site. Leader of the October Russian Revolution (March-October 1917)