Who were the Bolsheviks? The difference between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks

The Russian Social Democratic Party was founded in March 1898 in Minsk. At the 1st congress, only nine delegates attended. After the congress, the RSDLP Manifesto was issued, in which the participants expressed the idea of \u200b\u200bthe need for revolutionary changes, and the question of the dictatorship of the proletariat was included in the party program. The charter, fixing the organizational structure of the party, was adopted during the Second Congress, which took place in Brussels and London in 1903. Then the party split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

The leaders of the groups were V.I. Lenin and Martov. The contradictions between the groups were as follows. The Bolsheviks sought to include in the party program a demand for the dictatorship of the proletariat and demands on the agrarian question. And Martov’s supporters suggested excluding from it the requirement for the rights of nations to self-determination and did not approve that each member of the party permanently worked in one of its organizations. As a result, the Bolshevik program was adopted. It included such requirements as the overthrow of the autocracy, the proclamation of a democratic republic, clauses on improving the lives of workers, etc.

In the elections to the governing bodies, most of the seats were given to Lenin's supporters, and they began to be called Bolsheviks. However, the Mensheviks left no hope of seizing the leadership, which they managed to do after Plekhanov sided with the Mensheviks. During 1905-1907 members of the RSDLP took an active part in the revolution. However, later the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks diverged in their assessments of the events of those years.

In the spring of 1917, during the April conference, the Bolshevik party broke away from the RSDLP. The leader of the Bolsheviks at the same time put forward a number of theses, known as the April Theses. Lenin sharply criticized the ongoing war, put forward demands for the elimination of the army and police, and also spoke about the need for radical agrarian reform.

By the fall of 1917, the situation in the country worsened. Russia stood on the brink of chaos. The coming to power of the Bolsheviks was due to many reasons. First of all, this is the apparent weakness of the monarchy, its inability to control the situation in the country. In addition, the reason was the decline in authority and indecision of the Provisional Government, the inability of other political parties (Cadets, Socialist Revolutionaries, etc.) to unite and become an obstacle for the Bolsheviks. The Bolshevik revolution was supported by the intelligentsia. The situation in the country was also affected by the First World War.

The Bolsheviks skillfully took advantage of the situation that had developed by the fall of 1917. Using utopian slogans (“Factories to the workers!”, “Earth to the peasants!”, Etc.), they drew the broad masses to the side of the Bolshevik party. Although there were disagreements in the leadership of the Central Committee, preparations for the uprising did not stop. During November 6-7, Red Guard units captured the strategically important centers of the capital. On November 7, a congress of workers 'and soldiers' deputies began. Decrees “On Peace”, “On Earth”, “On Power” were adopted. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee was elected, which until the summer of 1918 included the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. On November 8, the Winter Palace was taken.

The most important demand of the socialist parties was the convening of the Constituent Assembly. And the Bolsheviks agreed to this, since it was rather difficult to maintain power, relying solely on the Soviets. Elections were held at the end of 1917. More than 90% of the deputies were representatives of socialist parties. Even then, Lenin warned them that, in opposition to Soviet power, the Constituent Assembly would doom itself to political death. The Constituent Assembly opened on January 5, 1918 in the Tauride Palace. But the speech of its chairman, Socialist-Revolutionary Chernov, was perceived by Lenin's supporters as a desire for an open confrontation. Although a party debate was launched, the guard commander Sailor Zheleznyak demanded that the deputies leave the room because the "guard was tired." The very next day, the Council of People's Commissars adopted the thesis on the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly. It is worth noting that the dispersal of the Constituent Assembly by the Bolsheviks was not accepted by most of society. Four days later, on January 10, the 3rd Congress of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies began in the Tauride Palace.

After the seizure of power, the policy of the Bolsheviks was aimed at satisfying the demands of the workers and peasants who supported them, since the new government needed their further support. Decrees were issued “On an eight-hour working day in industrial production”, “On the destruction of estates, civilian, court military ranks”, etc.

During the 20s. a one-party system was fully formed. All parties of the monarchist and liberal type, as well as the Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, were liquidated.

The Bolsheviks and Mensheviks until a certain point were considered members of one party — the RSDLP. The first officially proclaimed their independence shortly before the October Revolution.

But the actual split of the RSDLP began already 5 years after its formation.

What is RSDLP?

Russian Social Democratic Labor Party in 1898  united many supporters of socialism.

She was formed in Minsk at a meeting of previously scattered political circles. A major role in its creation was played by G.V. Plekhanov.

This included the participants of the disintegrated "Earth and Freedom", "Black Redistribution". Members of the RSDLP considered it their goal to uphold the interests of workers, democracy, and help the poorest segments of the population. The basis of the ideology of this party was marxism, the fight against tsarism and bureaucracy.

At the beginning of its existence, it was a relatively single organization, not divided into fractions. However, contradictions on many issues were quickly discovered among the main leaders and their supporters. One of the most prominent representatives of the party was V.I. Lenin, G.V. Plekhanov, Yu.O. Martov, L.V. Trotsky, P. B. Axelrod. Many of them were members of the editorial board of the Iskra newspaper.

RSDLP: the formation of two currents

The collapse of the political union occurred in 1903, on Second Congress of Delegates. This event occurred spontaneously and the reasons for it seemed to some small, up to the debate about several proposals in the documents.

In fact, the formation of factions was inevitable and had long been brewing due to the ambitions of some members of the RSDLP, primarily Lenin, and deep-seated contradictions in the current itself.

There were several questions on the agenda of the congress, such as powers of the Bund  (associations of Jewish Social Democrats), the composition of the Iskra editorial board, the establishment of the Party Charter, the agrarian question and others.

Intense discussions unfolded in many aspects.   Gathered divided on Lenin’s supporters and those who supported Martov. The former were more determined, propagandized the revolution, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the distribution of land to the peasants, and strict discipline within the organization. The Martovites were more moderate.

At first, this resulted in lengthy discussions about the wording in the Charter, the attitude to the Bund, to the bourgeoisie. The congress lasted several weeks, and the discussions were so heated that many moderate Social Democrats left it in principle.

Largely due to this, those who supported Lenin were in the majority and their proposals were accepted. Since then, Lenin called his associates at the second congress of the RSDLP the Bolsheviks, and the Martovites as the Mensheviks.

The name “Bolsheviks” turned out to be successful, took root and began to be used in the official abbreviation of the fraction. It was also beneficial from a propaganda point of view, as it created the illusion that Leninists were always in the majority, although this was often not true.

The name "Mensheviks" remained unofficial. Martov’s supporters are still   they called themselves RSDLP.

How do the Bolsheviks differ from the Mensheviks?

The main difference is in the methods of achieving goals. The Bolsheviks were more radical, resorted to terror, considered revolution the only way to overthrow the autocracy and the triumph of socialism. Existed and other differences:

1. There was a tough organization in the Leninist faction. It accepted people who were ready for an active struggle, and not just propaganda. Lenin tried to exterminate political rivals.
2. The Bolsheviks sought to seize power, while the Mensheviks were careful about this - an unsuccessful policy could compromise the party.
3. The Mensheviks leaned toward an alliance with the bourgeoisie, and denied the transfer of all land to state ownership.
4. Mensheviks promoted changes in society through reformrather than revolution. At the same time, their slogans were not as convincing and understandable to the general public as the Bolsheviks.
5. The differences between the two factions were also in their composition: the majority of the Martians were skilled workers, petty bourgeois, students, and representatives of the intelligentsia. The Bolshevik wing included in many respects the poorest, revolutionary-minded people.

The further fate of the factions

After the Second Congress of the RSDLP, the political programs of Leninists and Martovites were increasingly different from each other. Both factions participated   in the revolution of 1905moreover, this event rallied the Leninists more, and divided the Mensheviks into several more groups.

After the creation of the Duma, a small number of Mensheviks were included in its composition. But this reputation of the faction suffered even greater damage. These people had little influence on decision-making, but responsibility for their consequences fell on their shoulders.

The Bolsheviks completely separated from the RSDLP in 1917, before the October Revolution. After the coup, the RSDLP opposed them with harsh methods, so persecution began against its members, many of them, for example Martov, went abroad.

Since the mid-20s of the last century, the Menshevik party practically ceased to exist.

The second congress of the RSDLP was held in Brussels and London in July 1903. When the question of the election of central party bodies appeared on the agenda, the majority were supporters of V.I. Lenin, and supporters of his opponent Yu.O. Martov was a minority. So the Menshevik and Bolshevik factions in social Russia.

The victory in that historic vote allowed Lenin to call his faction “Bolsheviks,” which was a winning move in the ideological struggle against his opponents. Martov’s supporters had no choice but to recognize themselves as “Mensheviks”. However, it should be noted in fairness that in the future the Lenin faction often found itself in the actual minority, although the term "Bolsheviks" was fixed to the faction forever.

The formation of factions was caused by fundamental differences in views on the construction of the party that existed between the leaders of the Social Democrats. Lenin wanted to see in the party the militant and united organization of the proletariat. Martov's supporters sought to create an amorphous association in which it would be wide enough.

The Mensheviks did not accept the strict centralization of the party and did not want to give the Central Committee broad powers.

The struggle between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks

Differences in views between representatives of two factions of the Social Democratic Party were traced back to the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution. The supporters of Lenin, under his leadership, waged an implacable struggle against the Mensheviks, while at the same time trying to maintain the unity of the party.

When the first Russian revolution of 1905-1907 was defeated, part of the Mensheviks began to convince party members that it was necessary to break with underground activities and switch exclusively to legal work. Proponents of this opinion began to be called "liquidators."

Prominent representatives of the "liquidationist" movement were P. B. Axelrod and A.N. Potresov.

The clash of opposing views between the factions began to be very clearly traced when the First World War began. Among the Mensheviks, "defensive" views quickly gained strength. G.V. Plekhanov and A.N. Potresov, for example, was recognized as defensive for Russia and considered a possible loss a national tragedy.

IN AND. Lenin, in turn, sharply criticized the "defencists", believing that in the conditions it should seek the defeat of its government and contribute to the development of a world war into a civil war, the purpose of which would be the victory of the proletariat and the establishment of socialism.

After the victory of the February bourgeois revolution, some Mensheviks became part of the new Provisional Government, and also enjoyed serious influence in the Soviets. Many Mensheviks sharply condemned the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks, which occurred in October 1917. Subsequently, representatives of Menshevism were persecuted and repressed by the new Bolshevik government.

The Bolsheviks are those who, along with the Mensheviks, were once members of the Social Democratic Party. But in one thousand nine hundred and third year at the Second Congress, which was held in Brussels, Lenin and Martov disagreed on the rules of membership. Which led to the separation of the Bolsheviks, who demanded more active action.

The perspectives of the two main leaders

Vladimir Ilyich advocated small parties of professional revolutionaries. Julius Osipovich did not agree, believing that it was better to have a large group of activists. He based his ideas on experiences that existed in other European countries.

Vladimir Lenin argued that the situation in the Russian state was completely different. There it was impossible to form political parties under the autocratic rule of the emperor. At the end of the discussion, Julius Osipovich still won. But Vladimir Ilyich did not want to admit defeat and organized his own faction, and the Bolsheviks were those who joined her. Those who remained faithful to Martov began to be called Mensheviks.

Each batch needs cash

The Bolsheviks play a very insignificant role in the revolution of one thousand nine hundred and five, because most of their leaders live in exile and mainly abroad. And the Mensheviks are making tremendous successes, both in the councils and in the trade union movements. Already at one thousand nine hundred and seventh Vladimir Ilyich renounced the hope of an armed uprising.

He calls on like-minded people to Russia to participate in the elections to the third State Duma. The Bolsheviks are a party that was supposed to somehow exist, and Vladimir Lenin spent a lot of time searching for fundraising for the further development of his faction. Big donations were from Maxim Gorky and Sava Morozov, the famous Moscow millionaire.

Ways to make money in split fractions

When the parties split, and further separation became apparent, one of the most significant differences between them was how each faction decided to fund its revolution. The Mensheviks settled on collecting membership dues. And the Bolsheviks are those who resorted to more radical methods.

One of the most common ways was bank robbery. A similar attack, which was committed in one thousand nine hundred and seventh year, brings the party of Vladimir Ilyich about two hundred and fifty thousand rubles. And, unfortunately, this was not the only case. The Mensheviks, of course, resented such a way of earning.

What did the revolutionaries get money for

But the Bolsheviks constantly needed money. Vladimir Ilyich was convinced that the revolution can bring maximum results if people who devote their entire lives to the cause participate in it. And to compensate for the time and effort spent, he handed them a good salary for the sacrifice and dedication. This measure was specially taken to guarantee the revolutionaries and focus on their duties, as well as to force them to do their job.

Moreover, Vladimir Lenin constantly used party money for which was distributed in various cities and at rallies to expand activities. Such methods of financing became the obvious difference between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks and their beliefs.

Did the Bolsheviks have principles

By the beginning of one thousand nine hundred and ten years, support for the principles of the Bolsheviks was becoming almost non-existent. On Vladimir Ilyich lived in Austria. At a meeting of the Bolsheviks in Bern, he outlined his views on the war. Lenin stigmatized the war itself and all those who supported it, since, in his opinion, they had betrayed the proletariat.

He was shocked by the decision of most socialists in Europe to endorse hostilities. Now Vladimir Ilyich has devoted all the forces of his party to transforming the imperialist war into a civil war. The most exceptional difference between the parties was that the Bolsheviks were those who, with ferocious stubbornness, were pursuing their goals.

And in order to achieve them, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin often even deviated from his political ideas if he saw a guarantee of long-term benefits for his party. And this practice was widely used by him when trying to recruit peasants and illiterate workers. He convincingly promised them that a glorious life would come after the revolution.

The strongest propaganda on German means

And, of course, today many people have the question of whether the Bolsheviks are who? A group of like-minded people who deceived the common people to achieve their own goals? Or, after all, those who worked to create more optimal living conditions for the Russian proletariat?

First of all, it was which was the overthrow of the interim government and the creation of a new one. Moreover, the Bolsheviks really had loud slogans that promised significant changes in living conditions for the common people. Their agitation was so strong that they received public support.

The facts are known that the Bolsheviks are communists sponsored by the Germans, as they knew that Vladimir Ilyich wanted to pull Russia out of the war. And it was this money that helped develop such advertising campaigns that promoted a better life and other benefits for the population.

A few questions arising in connection with the advent of the Bolsheviks

In politics, those areas that embody the ideas of social equality or improve the lives of ordinary people are called leftists. They seek to create a level playing field, independent of national origin or ethnicity. Therefore, answering the question of whether the Bolsheviks are right or left, it is safe to attribute them to this particular direction.

As for the white movement, it was already created during the Civil War, which began in one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, and the Bolshevik party at that time was already formed. And the first task of the whites was the struggle against the Bolshevik ideology. Therefore, if someone has a question about whether the Bolsheviks are red or white, then based on these facts it is easy to find an answer to it.

Metro Bolsheviks, features of architectural design

What distinguishes this station in the first place is the main symbol of the proletariat of rather impressive dimensions - the Hammer and Sickle. It was opened on the thirtieth of October, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-fifth. And the metro called the Bolsheviks, which is located in St. Petersburg, "Prospect Bolsheviks."

The walls of the station are very beautifully decorated with light gray marble. The floor is laid with granite slabs of gray and red. And the arch of the station is illuminated by powerful lamps that create an atmosphere of airiness. The lobby is no less beautifully decorated.

And yet, the Bolsheviks-who is this? How necessary was the creation of this party for the country? First of all, Vladimir Ilyich himself and the faction organized by him (which they began to call the Bolsheviks) are part of the history of the Russian state. Whether they made mistakes or acted for the good of the people and the country, these people should take their place on the pages of textbooks and related literature. And only he who does nothing is not mistaken.

The Bolsheviks  - Representatives of the political current (fraction) in the RSDLP (since April 1917 an independent political party), headed by V.I. Lenin. The concept of “Bolsheviks” arose at the 2nd Congress of the RSDLP (1903), after the supporters of Lenin received the majority of votes in the elections to the governing bodies of the RSDLP (hence the Bolsheviks), their opponents a minority (Mensheviks). In the years 1917-1952. the word "Bolsheviks" was included in the official name of the party - RSDLP (b), RCP (b), VKP (b). The XIX Congress of the Party (1952) decided to name it the CPSU.

Bolshevism, which arose at the beginning of the XX century. in Russia, the revolutionary, consistent Marxist trend of political thought in the international labor movement, which was embodied in the proletarian party of a new type, in the Bolshevik party created by V. I. Lenin. Bolshevism began to take shape at a time when the center of the world revolutionary movement moved to Russia. The concept of Bolshevism arose in connection with the election of the party’s leading bodies at the Second Congress of the RSDLP (1903), when Lenin’s supporters made up the majority (Bolsheviks) and the opportunists made up the minority (Mensheviks). “Bolshevism has existed as a trend in political thought and as a political party since 1903” (Lenin V. I., Poln. Sobr. Soch., 5th ed., Vol. 41, p. 6).

The theoretical basis of Bolshevism is Marxism-Leninism. Lenin defined Bolshevism "... as the application of revolutionary Marxism to the special conditions of the era ..." (ibid., Vol. 21, p. 13). Bolshevism embodies the unity of revolutionary theory and practice, combines the ideological, organizational and tactical principles developed by Lenin. Bolshevism, summarizing the experience of the revolutionary movement in Russia and around the world, was the most important contribution of the Russian working class to the international communist and labor movement.

Bolshevism as a political party is a proletarian party of a new type, fundamentally different from the parties existing during its organization and development of the Second International. Bolshevism is a party of social revolution and dictatorship of the proletariat, a party of communism. Bolshevism fought against liberal populism, which replaced the revolutionary liberation movement with petty bourgeois reformism, with "legal Marxism", which tried to subordinate the labor movement to the interests of the bourgeoisie, and with "economism" - the first opportunist movement among Marxist circles and groups in Russia. Bolshevism grew and became tempered in the struggle against hostile political parties and movements: the Cadets, bourgeois nationalists, Socialist-Revolutionaries, anarchism, Menshevism. Of great historical significance was the struggle of Bolshevism against Menshevism - the main variety of opportunism in the labor movement of Russia, for the proletarian party of a new type, for the leading role of the working class in revolutionary battles against autocracy and capitalism. Bolshevism always strictly monitored the purity of its ranks and fought against opportunist movements within the Bolshevik party — the otzovists, “left communists”, Trotskyism, the “workers' opposition”, the right deviation in the CPSU (b) and other anti-party groups.

A characteristic feature of Bolshevism is consistent proletarian internationalism. Since its inception, Bolshevism has led a decisive principled struggle in the international labor movement for the purity of Marxist-Leninist theory, for the combination of scientific socialism with the labor movement, against Bernsteinism, with all kinds of opportunists, revisionists, sectarians, dogmatists, the struggle against centrism and social chauvinism II International. At the same time, the Bolsheviks, faithful to the ideas of proletarian internationalism, tirelessly rallied the leftist elements of the West European Social Democratic parties. By directing the Left Social Democrats in the direction of a consistent revolutionary struggle, patiently explaining their mistakes and deviations from Marxism, the Bolsheviks contributed to the consolidation of revolutionary Marxists. Since World War I, on the basis of Lenin rallying the left-wing elements of the West European Social Democratic parties, Bolshevism has led the revolutionary direction in the international labor movement, which took shape after the October Revolution into the Communist Parties and their union, the Third International (Comintern). As the most consistently implementing the Marxist-Leninist doctrine of the socialist revolution, the dictatorship of the proletariat and the construction of socialism, as well as the organizational, strategic and tactical principles of socialism, Bolshevism was recognized by the Comintern as a model for the activities of all communist parties. At the same time, the 5th Congress of the Comintern (1924) emphasized that this “... in no case should be understood as the mechanical transfer of all the experience of the Bolshevik party in Russia to all other parties” (“The Communist International in documents . 1919-1932 ", 1933, S. 411). Congress determined the main features of the Bolshevik party: in any conditions, it should be able to maintain an inextricable connection with the mass of workers and be an exponent of its needs and aspirations; to be maneuverable, that is, its tactics should not be dogmatic, but, resorting to strategic maneuvers in the revolutionary struggle, in no case should deviate from Marxist principles; under all circumstances, make maximum efforts to bring the victory of the working class closer; “... should be a centralized party, not allowing fractions, currents and groups, but monolithic, poured from one piece” (ibid.). The history of Bolshevism has no equal in its wealth of experience. True to its program adopted in 1903, the Bolshevik party led the struggle of the masses of Russia against tsarism and capitalism in three revolutions: the bourgeois-democratic Revolution of 1905-1907. , The February bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1917 and the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917

Implementing revolutionary theory, strategy and tactics, the Bolshevik party combined in one revolutionary stream the struggle of the working class for socialism, the popular movement for peace, the peasant struggle for land, the national liberation struggle of the oppressed peoples of Russia and sent these forces to overthrow the capitalist system. As a result of the victory of the socialist revolution of 1917, the dictatorship of the proletariat was established in Russia, the country of socialism arose for the first time in history. The first party program, adopted in 1903, was implemented.

The Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) became officially known as the RSDLP (Bolsheviks) - RSDLP (b) from the 7th (April) conference of the party (1917). Since March 1918, the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) - the RCP (b), since December 1925 the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) - the CPSU (b). The XIX Party Congress (1952) decided to call the CPSU (B.) The Communist Party of the Soviet Union - the CPSU.

G.V. Antonov.

The Bolshevik Party is the organizer of the victory of the Great October Socialist Revolution. During the February Revolution, the Bolshevik Party emerged from the underground and led the revolutionary movement of the working class, the working masses. Lenin, who returned from exile in April theses, substantiated the course towards the development of the bourgeois-democratic revolution into a socialist one and defined the driving forces of the revolution: the union of the proletariat with the peasant poor against the bourgeoisie of the city and village, while neutralizing the vacillating middle peasantry. He discovered a new form of political organization of society - the Republic of Soviets, as the state form of the dictatorship of the working class, put forward the slogan: "All power to the Soviets!"

The Seventh (April) All-Russian Conference of the RSDLP (B.) Of 1917 approved the theses of Lenin and aimed the party at the struggle for the transition to the second, socialist stage of the revolution. The party rebuilt its inner life on the principles of democratic centralism, quickly began to turn into a mass labor party (about 24 thousand members in early March, over 100 thousand in late April, 240 thousand in July). The Bolsheviks launched active political activity among workers, peasants, soldiers and sailors in the Soviets, most of which at that time belonged to the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, Soldier Committees, trade unions, cultural and educational societies, and factory committees. They led an energetic political struggle for the masses with the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, anarchists, cadets, and prepared a revolutionary army to storm capitalism. Exposing the policies of the petty-bourgeois and bourgeois parties, the Bolsheviks liberated from their influence more and more new layers of the working people of the city and village, soldiers and sailors.

Between February and October 1917, the Leninist party showed a great example of historical initiative, the correct consideration of the correlation of class forces and specific features of the moment. At different stages of the revolution, the party used flexible and diverse tactics, used peaceful and non-peaceful, legal and illegal means of struggle, showed the ability to combine them, the ability to move from one form and method to another. This is one of the fundamental differences between the strategy and tactics of Leninism, both from social democratic reformism and from petty-bourgeois adventurism.

Important events during the preparation of the socialist revolution in Russia were the April crisis of 1917, the June crisis of 1917, the July days of 1917, and the elimination of Kornilovism. These political crises, expressing deep internal socio-economic and political contradictions, testified to the rapid growth of the national crisis.

After the July events, power was completely in the hands of the counter-revolutionary Provisional Government, which turned to repression; The Socialist-Revolutionary-Menshevik Soviets turned into an appendage of the bourgeois government. The peaceful period of the revolution is over. Lenin proposed to temporarily remove the slogan "All power to the Soviets!" The Sixth Congress of the RSDLP (b), held semi-legally, guided by the instructions of Lenin, who was underground, developed a new tactic for the party and embarked on an armed insurrection to gain power.

In late August, the revolutionary workers, soldiers and sailors of Petrograd, led by the Bolsheviks, defeated the counter-revolutionary rebellion of General Kornilov. The elimination of Kornilovism changed the political situation. The mass Bolshevization of the Soviets began; the slogan "All power to the Soviets!" But the transfer of power to the Bolshevik Soviets was already possible only through armed insurrection.

The nationwide crisis that has matured in the country was expressed in a powerful revolutionary movement of the working class, which approached in its struggle directly to gain power, in the wide scope of the peasant struggle for land, in the overwhelming majority of soldiers and sailors on the side of the revolution, in strengthening the national liberation movement of the peoples of the outskirts , in the nationwide struggle for a just peace, in the severe ruin of the country's economy, in the chronic crises of the Provisional Government, in the expansion of petty-bourgeois parties. The Bolshevik Party in October 1917 numbered about 350 thousand members, and managed to win over the majority of the working class, the peasant poor, and soldiers. All objective conditions for a victorious socialist revolution have ripened.

Preparing an armed uprising, the party reacted to him as an art. The Red Guard was created (over 200 thousand people in the country), the Petrograd garrison (up to 150 thousand soldiers), the Baltic Fleet (80 thousand sailors and hundreds of warships), a significant part of the army and rear garrisons were politically won by the Bolsheviks. Lenin developed a plan for the uprising and outlined the most appropriate time for its beginning. The Central Committee of the party elected a revolutionary military center for the uprising (A.S. Bubnov, F.E. Dzerzhinsky, Ya. M. Sverdlov, I.V. Stalin, M.S. Uritsky), which became the leading nucleus of the Petrograd Soviet Military Revolutionary Committee - the legal headquarters for the preparation of the uprising (V. A. Antonov-Ovseenko, P. E. Dybenko, N. V. Krylenko, P. E. Lazimir, N. I. Podvoisky, A. D. Sadovsky , G.I. Chudnovsky and many others). All work on the preparation and conduct of the uprising was directed by Lenin. On October 25 (November 7), the uprising won in Petrograd, on November 2 (15) in Moscow.

On the evening of October 25 (November 7), the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies opened, the majority of which belonged to the Bolshevik Party (the second largest was the delegation of the Left Social Revolutionaries, who stood on the platform for transferring power to the Soviets). The congress adopted a historic decree on the transfer of all power in the Center and locally to the Soviets. According to Lenin's reports, the Congress of Soviets adopted the Decree on Peace and the Decree on Land, which contributed to the consolidation of the working masses around the Bolshevik Party and Soviet power. On October 26 (November 8), at the 2nd Congress of Soviets, the highest organ of the Soviet state was elected - the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, which included the Bolsheviks, Left Social Revolutionaries, etc. The first Soviet government was formed - the Council of People's Commissars (SNK), headed by Lenin. It completely consisted of the Bolsheviks (the Left Social Revolutionaries at that moment refused to enter the government and became members of it only in December 1917).

By uniting the nation-wide movement for peace, the struggle of the peasants for land, the struggle of the oppressed peoples for national liberation and the struggle of the working class for the dictatorship of the proletariat, for socialism, the Bolsheviks were able to implement in a short time (October 1917 - February 1918) the victory of Soviet power over almost the entire vast territory of the country. The October Socialist Revolution ushered in a new era in the history of mankind - the era of the triumph of socialism and communism.