CAS IR 349 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Alexander Kolchak, Leon Trotsky, Petrograd Soviet
18 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Iconoclast of Versailles: The Soviet Union, 1917-1930
What Is an iconoclast? – Someone who breaks the revered symbols.
Soviet Union therefore was the Iconoclast of the Versailles system. This was established to restore the
capitalist system but they were against it.
Long Term causes:
- Karl Marx writes that factory worker in around Europe and Russia have more in common
in each other than with other Russians and Europeans. Class consciousness is important
and fighting wars for imperialists is wrong.
- Socialists are found in Russia, Italy, Germany etc.
-World Wat 1 was so important for socialist parties because they could argue that they are getting
involved to defend their people against foreign aggression.
-Invasion: Socialists argued that they are fighting to keep the German ways of life in Germany. The
other Socialists said we are fighting for self-defense etc.
Russia has socialist parties but until 1917 March was still under the leadership of Nicholas 2.
Thee ae soe soialist paties ut the do’t hae a authoit all the a do is ake
suggestions. Unfortunately, Tsar Nikolas in March 1917 abdicates his throne. The family was still
royal but did not have any work.
So, who ran Russia? – Socialists who were in the party.
Vladimir Lenin who was banned from Russia, he was loyal to Socialist movement or the
Democratic Socialism. He is too far from Russia to implement it, so he approaches Germany for
help by promoting the idea of getting Russia out of the war. These socialist would eventually
convert Russia to Bolshevisms.
He converts the city of St. Petersburg (earlier known as something else) to Bolshevism. He issues
a statement to all the Russians who were dissatisfied with Tsar and the Socialists who were in
the party. So, take faith in the Bolshevik party.
-Petrograd Soviet: The council in Russia.
The Provisional Government:
- Duma: Decides to keep Russia in the war for two reasons:
-Straits: If they win, they will get access to 2 straits- Turkish Strait and one near
Copenhagen
- Miliuko: The fist peso to lead ude the Dua. The pole as he does’t eall
identify with the people in Soviets so he is shoved to side and replaced by Kerensky.
- Keesk: He as oe eegeti ad soialist. Hoee, he as’t a good stategist ad did
not know how to produce results.
- So, Lenin comes in against Kerensky the picture who fits more into the Blue-collar population.
The only problem is he wanted absolute loyalty. But there were many leaks. He had to snitches
Kamenev and Zinoviev. Both rat him out to Kerensky.
- Kamanev and Zioie aed Keesk aout Lei’s oup to oetho hi. “o, Keesk
does not do anything and Lenin comes to power
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
His Objectives:
- Peae ithout ideit o aeatio: The do ot at to ease a fo of lad.
Indemnity means there is no settlement from the losing side, no border changes etc.
- Control Russia: He even forgave the two Jewish snitchers. He managed to do what radical
socialists only dreamt of. He could take over Duma so easily because Duma was so
disorganized.
His only enemy was Tsar Nikolas II who believed in Marxist ideology and radical socialism. He
put them under House Arrest.
- World revolution
Russo-German Talks:
- Lenin had to get out of the war, so he makes a pact with Germans.
- The negotiations takes part in Polish town in Brest-Litovsk Nov 1917 to Feb 1918.
- Leon Trotsky leads the delegation for negotiations with Germany, although he was not a die-
hard Lenin fan he believed in him because Lenin did everything nobody else could do.
- Totsk poposed to Neithe a, o peae. We ill ot attak eah othe ut e ill ot
sign a treaty formally ending the war which means there would be exchange of land etc.
- German deny this and are willing to only sign a peace treaty. So a lot of land is handed over to
the Germans in the peace treaty from Russia.
- This peace treaty gets rid of western Russia, which was heavily industrialized and heavily
deeloped. Whih eat that Lei goeet as’t all that popula ith “oiets.
- Additionally, countries like UK and Japan that have heavily relied on Russia for supplies did not
like this. Because firstly, they had an alliance with Russia. Russia also had debts to other
countries and denied to pay it.
- The British and Japanese troops into Russia to protect their interest. Hopefully, organize a
movement to overthrow Lenin.
The Russia Ciil Wa. Reds s. Whites.
Dissatisfaction led to Civil war in Russia till 1919 between the two armies mentioned below.
- Reds: Bolsheiks Red as adopted Lei’s ouist Russia
- Lenin had enemies inside Russia as well. Led by Leon Trotsky.
- Trotsky made an army of criminals straight out of prison.
- He reached out to Germans to trade for training and ammunition
Red Advantage:
- Their soldiers were willing to do everything
- They had the railroad based towns ( Petrograd and Moscow) that meant soldier mobility
- hite disuit: Kolhak ad Deiki ee’t eall o good tes.
- Whites White fo huilit
- Royalists (Admiral Kolchak)
- Admiral Kolchak prepared his naval arm to attak Lei’s a ut the pole is he
is too far (eastern Russia) whereas Lenin is in West Russia
- Centrists (Gen. Denikin)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
- Peasats did’t like ouis as ell eause of lad issues.
- French Aid: The French were willing to provide soldiers and eapos. Fae’s idea as
to keep fighting against a different enemy.
The Fate of the Tsar:
Tsar wanted to go out and kill Lenin.
- Feared Liberation
- July 16, 1919: All of the murdered
- That destos oale: Kolhak’s people ho elieed i the Tsa.
- 19: Kolhak eeuted as a taito to Lei’s pat.
- However, the execution of the Tsar and his family were never public
Farewell, Ukraine
- 1918-1920: They get aid from France. But after Kolchak is killed, the Bolshevists wanted
to get rid of Ukraine
- 1920: Reds take over
The Russo-Polish War (1919-1921)
Poland was created through the Paris Peace treaty.
- 1919-1920: Poland attacks since it feared. Poles are very idealistic not practical. They
attack Russia and start taking Russia.
- Jul 9: Russia attaks ak. Totsk’s ed a pushes ak Polad.
- Alliances with Belgium and France
- Marc 1921: Treaty of Riga
- 1922: Soviet Union
Aims 2.0 (Lenin)
- Global revolutionary aid
- Ipeial
-Modernize
-Economy
-Defense
- Versailles System undermines both goals.
- He wanted to make Russia as effective as the rest of the Europe in terms of armament,
industrial development etc.
- Treaties signed at Paris Peace Conference undermines all of this
Ipeial Lei:
- Army
-German instructors (He has positive relationship with the German instructors who
train his army)
- Economy:
-1918-9: Wa Couis
The Goal was to emphasize a communist world.
- 9: Ne Eooi Poli: Lei talks aout etuig to soe eleets of
Capitalism. Like in factories production etc. Allowing people to open private industries
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Soviet union therefore was the iconoclast of the versailles system. This was established to restore the capitalist system but they were against it. Karl marx writes that factory worker in around europe and russia have more in common in each other than with other russians and europeans. Class consciousness is important and fighting wars for imperialists is wrong. Socialists are found in russia, italy, germany etc. World wat 1 was so important for socialist parties because they could argue that they are getting involved to defend their people against foreign aggression. Invasion: socialists argued that they are fighting to keep the german ways of life in germany. The other socialists said we are fighting for self-defense etc. Russia has socialist parties but until 1917 march was still under the leadership of nicholas 2. The(cid:396)e a(cid:396)e so(cid:373)e so(cid:272)ialist pa(cid:396)ties (cid:271)ut the(cid:455) do(cid:374)"t ha(cid:448)e a(cid:374)(cid:455) autho(cid:396)it(cid:455) all the(cid:455) (cid:272)a(cid:374) do is (cid:373)ake suggestions. Unfortunately, tsar nikolas in march 1917 abdicates his throne.
