The October Revolution

The October Revolution was a huge change in the course of history for Russia and, as history unfolded, the rest of the world. Russia would detour from having a representative government, taking over 70 years to get back on track.

Falling down

For centuries, the Czars (Russian take on the title Caesar) ruled over a vast Russian empire stretching across Asia.

So it came to pass, in 1914, that the Czar at the time was Nicholas II.

This was the year of the beginning of the Great War (World War I). Despite national optimism at the beginning of the war, the fight against Germany quickly goes very badly for Russia. Feeling his prime duty was to be the commander-in-chief, Nicholas spent most of his time away from Moscow, managing the war effort. Sadly, like Adolf Hitler and Lyndon Johnson would do later, he ended up over-managing a war he was ill-prepared to run.

The Russians kept losing the war. The German army kept advancing into Russia. And with them, the refugees kept fleeing and pouring into cities like Moscow, putting a strain on housing, food, fuel, and other resources.

Waiting for groceries, Petrograd (St. Petersburg)

When the people called on the Czar for help, all they got, at least in their eyes, was an answer to the effect of "You're on your own, folks!"

In March 1917, Russia simply blew apart under all the strain (the February revolution). The Czar was forced to step down, and a new provisional government tried to set up a representative government while at the same time continuing the war and holding the country together.

Protest in Petrograd gone wrong when the army opens fire on the protesters.

And then, there were the Bolsheviks (aka Communists, aka Socialists, aka the “Reds”)

Bad moon rising

In 1917 the Bolsheviks and their socialist platform did not enjoy popular support; their base was confined mainly to factory workers and students. In the rural areas, amongst the peasants, they were even less so. In the Duma (Russian parliament), they held only a fourth of the seats. But hey, why let a little thing like lacking majority support stop you? As the line from a song from the play Evita goes,

“How annoying that they have to fight elections for their cause

The inconvenience, having to get a majority

If normal methods of persuasion fail to win them applause

There are other ways of establishing authority”

This brings us to the night of October 25, 1917 (November 7 in the current calendar). Later, the socialist government would brand this "October revolution" as the inevitable popular uprising of the people. The masses, in their righteous indignation, stormed the government to establish a new government with equity, justice, etc. etc.

In fact, the truth was that a gang of Bolsheviks came in and took control of the government building, locking everyone else out. Far from a solution to Russian problems, it made a bad situation worse, as now no less than four armies were fighting in Russia.

• The Germans – The war with Germany was still going on. (Although, to be sure, an armistice would be agreed on the following month.)

• The loyalist Army – This was the army loyal to, and fighting to restore, the Czar.

• The "white" Army – This army sought to restore the provisional government and establish a representative government.

• The "red" Army – The army fighting to set up a socialist government. At its head was the socialist leader Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, commonly referred to as Lenin.

In the end, the Red Army would carry the day. Why? In part, they built up the biggest army. How? Easy! Lenin ordered that the army be fed first. Men joined the ranks of the red army just to get food, not believing in the red cause.

Setting up a new status quo

In 1922, the red army finally defeated their enemies in Siberia. Having established their authority on the battlefield, the next task befalling the Bolsheviks was establishing control. I will mention some of the “friendlier” approaches.

• Education – State-run, compulsory schooling proved a very effective way to ensure that the rising generation thinks the right types of thoughts and believes the right kinds of beliefs.

• Collective farming – The rural farmers were originally not on board with the new state. The larger farmers, in particular, posed a threat. So, to remove this threat, these farms were reorganized into state-controlled farms.

• Dance – Dance? Yes, many of the dances we associate with Russia are actually from the socialist period. These new dances were choreographed to show the joy of living in the new system.

Telling strange tales

We cannot leave this topic without mentioning a couple of mysteries or strange tales connected with this period.

Anastasia

OK, a brief statement needs to be made here. From a historical standpoint, the animated version of the movie Anastasia (1997) is a near wreck of historical inaccuracies – although I did enjoy the portrayal of the Soviet society, such as the "people's orphanage," as well as the sense of tragedy Anastasia feels as she tries to remember the echos of her childhood.

The truth is, shortly after stepping down, the royal family was removed from the palace "for their safety." In July of 1918, the entire family, as well as a few loyal servants, were killed by the Bolsheviks to prevent being rescued and possibly being restored to the throne.

Well, maybe.

Not long after the news of the killing got out, rumors started circulating that one of the princesses had managed to escape.

In 1920, Berlin police found a woman that had jumped off a bridge. She did not speak, had several scares, and had no form of identification. She was then sent to an institution for several months. Later, when she did speak, she was described as speaking with a Russian accent. Several people familiar with the Romanov family thought she could be the princess Anastasia and that she had survived the killings. But, her short temper and lack of cooperation made acceptance by the family problematic.

Genetic tests were conducted to see if she could be a Romanov, but the tests were inconsistent. (Go here for a more complete telling of the story.)

So, did Anastasia survive her family? You decide.

Grigori Rasputin

The story of the Russian revolution has more than its share of scary people, but none scarier than Grigori Rasputin.

A priest and mystic from Siberia, it was believed that he had hypnotic eyes and strange powers. At least Alexandra, the Czarina, thought so. He appeared to be able to use his “powers” to help her son Alexei with his hemophilia. Because of this, his influence with the royal court grew strong. Too strong for many.

1916 cartoon showing Czar Nicholas II dancing to Rasputin's tune.

In 1916 a group loyal to the Czar decided that he must go. On the night of December 30, they invited him over for dinner with the intent to kill him, but this proved very difficult.

• Rasputin was offered tea and cake, the cakes being heavily laced with cyanide. The poison did not appear to hurt him.

• He then drank three glasses of wine, also heavily poisoned. Nothing happened.

• One of the conspirators fetched his gun and shot him in the chest. He collapsed, was unconscious, and was presumed dead. Later, when they checked on him, he resumed consciousness and attacked his would-be killers. More shots down him again.

The job being done, his body was dropped into the river. The body was later found, and the cause of death was established.

Cause of death … drowning. Strange!

The Russian revolution was a tale of the good, the bad, and the ugly – light on the good part. Yet these tragic times would take the world on a different path – from World War II, the cold war, and even today.

Great films

Nicholas and Alexandra

(1971) This movie tells of the reign of Nicholas and his wife, Alexandra. An excellent depiction of their life, including their captivity and death, as well as the events surrounding them. I enjoyed the scenes in the Dumas where the provisional government began the work of piecing together a new government. The story is very well told, but it is not a feel-good movie.

Content: There is some content, primarily some strong language and violence. See more hear.

Tovarich

(1937) A light classic film with a good moral. Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna Romanov (Claudette Colbert) and Prince Mikail Alexandrovitch Ouratieff (Charles Boyer) are deposed members of the Russian aristocracy living as penniless refugees in Paris. With no other option, they hire themselves out as a maid and butler – after all, who could know better than they how a proper house is to be run?

They end up doing very well and learn to appreciate their new life.

Fiddler on the Roof

While not taking place during the revolution proper, the story does take place in 1905 Russia when social unrest was starting to build. One of the characters, Perchik, is a bit of a Bolshevik and is always preaching their doctrine. ("The bible clearly teaches, never trust an employer.")

Doctor Zhivago

(1965) OK, I'll confess upfront, this is not a feel-good, family-type movie. But if you want a movie to depict conditions during the Russian civil war and the tensions leading up to it, it is second to none. Also, the musical score and photography are top-notch.

The movie begins with a high-ranking officer of the communist party questioning a girl he believes is the illegitimate daughter of his half-brother, Doctor Zhivago. His story then is the focus of the plot.

Content: Given the story's premise, it should come as no surprise that adultery and having an affair are part of the story. To be sure, it is shown only a couple of times. See more here.

On the web

The Real Story of the Fake Anastasia

This site goes into the story of Anna Anderson, the most famous claimant to be the missing Anastasia.

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