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Revolution of 1905 and the October Manifesto
The Revolution of 1905 was a large wave of social unrest across the Russian Empire against primarily the Tsar, and the October Manifesto was a manifesto from Nicholas II to try to quell the protests by promising his people more rights. The picture was chosen as it demonstrates some of the scenes that took place during the 1905 revolution. -
The Beginning of World War 1
World War One began as Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, which is considered to be the final straw that caused the start of the war. The picture is a representation of Franz Ferdinand being shot by Gavrilo Princip, the Serbian nationalist. -
Czar Nicholas II Takes Sole Control of Military Operations
Czar Nicholas II full control of military operations as WWI began in an attempt to have them fight better. His poor handling of WWI would come to be one of his downfalls. The picture shows Czar Nicholas leading a group of soldiers into battle during WWI, demonstrating how he took control and was leading the military himself. -
Brusilov Offensive
The Brusilov Offensive was the largest and most deadly attack launched by the Russians during WWI and was done to force Germany to cease its attack on Verdun and move forces to the East to deal with the encroaching Russians. The picture represents the plan of attack that the Russians followed during the offensive. -
Return of Lenin from Exile
Lenin finally returned to Russia after having been exiled to Siberia for three years after he was arrested for sedition. The picture represents the people that greeted Lenin as he got off the train and stepped foot in Russia for the first time after having been exiled. -
April Theses Published
The April Theses were a series of ten directives from Lenin to his followers that made points such as that the war must end, and that the land should be transferred to the peasants of Russia. The picture shows Lenin as he was giving the April Theses to a crowd of people. -
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets Meet
Delegations of local Soviet convened in Petrograd to elect a central executive committee. The picture is one of the meetings of the first All-Russian Congress in the building in Petrograd, which is now St. Petersburg. -
Assassination of Rasputin
Rasputin was assassinated by Yusupov and his co-conspirators in an attempt to give Nicholas II one last chance to maintain his power and reconsolidate the support of the public, though that would prove to be futile. The picture depicts Rasputin as he was murdered by Yusupov and his fellow aristocrats. -
Wartime Communism created
Wartime Communism was instated and resulted in the nationalization of all industries and as well as incredibly strict central control. This went on to lead to many different food shortages due to rises in food prices, causing much starvation throughout Russia. The picture depicts a group of people eating a horse because to demonstrate how hungry the people of Russia were and the lack of food they had. -
International Women's Day March in Petrograd
Women textile workers marches through Petrograd that eventually came to engulf the entire city as they chanted "Bread and Peace", standing up to both the starvation that was running through Russia and the Tsar. The picture depicts one of the marches that happened in Petrograd during the event. -
Provisional Government Formed
After Nicholas II abdicated his power, a temporary government was set up to run Russia while a true government was set up. The picture below represents those who were at the head of the Provisional Government when it was put into power. -
Nicholas II Abdicates
Nicholas II abdicated his power after all of the protests and marches throughout Russia did not cease, in particular the International Women's Day March which happened almost directly before Nicholas II abdicated his power. The picture depicts Nicholas II after he abdicated his power and the reality of his situation was truly sinking in. -
July Days
The July days was a period of unrest in Petrograd with many different spontaneous armed demonstrations by soldiers and sailors against the Provisional Government. The picture depicts one such demonstration where many different people ended up being shot as a result. -
Kornilov Affair
The Kornilov Affair was an attempted coup by Military leader Lavr Kornilov against the Provisional Government and was headed by Aleksander Kerensky. The picture depicts Kornilov, the one who was the face of the coup. -
Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control
The Bolsheviks under Lenin's direction went and overthrew the Provisional Government, storming the Winter Palace and taking control by force. The picture depicts a representation of the scene when the Bolsheviks stormed the Winter Palace and ceased control. -
Cheka formed
The Cheka, the secret police force/security that was formed by Lenin to maintain power of the newly formed Bolshevik government. The picture depicts the logo that is commonly associated with the Cheka. -
Kolchak begins serious attacks against Reds from Siberia
Alexander Kolchak launched an attack against the Reds form Siberia, but they would amount to nothing as the Bolsheviks quickly reorganized and launched a counter attack. The picture is of Alexander Kolchak, the man who led the attack against the Reds. -
Constituent Assembly meets and is disbanded
The Constituent Assembly was disbanded because it was obvious that the Constituent Assembly opposed the Soviet Government. The Bolsheviks and Left SRs decided to disband the Constituent Assembly. The picture depicts the Constituent Assembly before is was disbanded. -
Trotsky organizes Red Guard to defend Petrograd
Leon Trotsky, who was the future Russian People's Commissioner reorganized the Red Guards and into a Workers' and Peasants' army to create a more effective fighting force. The picture depicts Leon Trotsky, the one who did organized all of this. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
A treaty between Germany and Russia that took a large portion of Russia's land as well as money in exchange for Russia being allowed to opt out of WWI. The people of Russia ended up being very unhappy with this treaty due to the large loss of land. The picture depicts the area of land that was lost by Russia in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. -
Red Terror
The Red Terror was a campaign launched by the Bolshevik government in which the Cheka was used to induce terror through violence to silence the enemies of the Bolsheviks. The picture represents how the people felt about the Cheka and the red army during the Red Terror and how they were terrified of it. -
Tambov Rebellion
The Tambov rebellion was the best-organized peasant rebellion that took place against the Bolshevik Government, though it was eventually put down by the Red Army through the use of chemical weapons. The picture highlights the area that the Tambov rebellion happened. -
Soviets attempt to take Warsaw
The Soviets attempted to capture Warsaw because capturing the Warsaw would be something that the Bolsheviks would be able to use as propaganda to raise the support for the government. However, the Soviets were not able to keep control of Warsaw due to a lack of air support. The picture is one that was taken along the lines during the Battle of Warsaw. -
Kronstadt uprising
The Kronstadt uprising was an internal uprising in Russia in which the sailors at the Kronstadt naval base, which was originally helped the Bolsheviks take control, held a munity against the government as they were unhappy with the government and the environment surrounding it, especially the treatment they endured. The picture shows the island where the sailors were during the Kronstadt uprising. -
Poles move towards Kiev
The Poles and Red Army fought in a conflict in which the Poles temporarily pushed the Soviets out of Kiev for a time. However, the Red army did launch a counter attack in which they managed to cause a withdrawal of the Poles from Kiev so that they could take control once again. The picture depicts a scene of what the battle looked like between the Poles and The Red army and the brutality of the battles. -
Ending of Wartime Communism
Wartime Communism came to an end due to the many protests of Russian citizens do the the poor economic conditions that had been caused by Wartime Communism. The New Economic Plan was soon put in place, allowing for slightly more economic freedom on the people's parts. The picture is a piece of propaganda by the Soviets that both made Lenin out to be powerful through the visual depictions, and also advertises the NEP that he put forth. -
Treaty of Rapallo
The Treaty of Rapallo was signed between Germany and Russia, reestablishing relations between the two countries which concerned countries such as France quite a lot. The picture depicts representatives of Germany and Russia meeting to discuss the Treaty of Rapallo. -
Treaty of Rapallo
The Treaty of Rapallo was a treaty signed between Germany and Russia that reestablished relations between the two countries, which concerned other countries such as France quite a bit. The picture depicts German and Russian representatives meeting to discuss and pass the Treaty of Rapallo. -
Formation of Soviet Union
Made up of a treaty between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Transcaucasia, all being united under the Soviet Government, led by Lenin. The picture depicts the area that made up the Soviet Union after it came to be. -
Ukraine brought under Soviet control
The end of World War one led to the territories that were Ukraine to join the Soviet Union, becoming the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The picture is of the flag of the Soviet Union, one that went on to represent the Union for as long as it would last. -
Lenin dies
Lenin died at 53 after he fell into a coma, his cause of death being recorded as an incurable disease of the blood cells. After his death, Stalin took power. The picture is of Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution and the founder of the Soviet Union.