February revolution took place in the fateful year for Russia in 1917 and became the first of many coups d'état, which, step by step, led to the establishment of the power of the Soviets and the formation of a new state on the map.
Causes of the February Revolution of 1917
The protracted war gave rise to many difficulties and plunged the country into a severe crisis. A large part of society opposed the monarchical system, and a liberal opposition even formed in the Duma against Nicholas II. Numerous meetings and speeches began to take place in the country under anti-monarchist and anti-war slogans.
1. Crisis in the army
At that time, more than 15 million people were mobilized into the Russian army, of which 13 million were peasants. Hundreds of thousands of victims, killed and maimed, terrible front-line conditions, embezzlement and mediocrity of the army's high command undermined discipline and led to mass desertion. By the end of 1916, more than one and a half million people were deserters from the army.
On the front line, there were frequent cases of "fraternization" of Russian soldiers with Austrian and German soldiers. The officers made many efforts to stop this trend, but among ordinary soldiers, it became normal to exchange various things and communicate with the enemy in a friendly manner.
In the ranks of the military, dissatisfaction and mass revolutionary sentiments gradually grew.
2. Threat of hunger
A fifth of the country's industrial potential was lost due to the occupation, food products were running out. In St. Petersburg, for example, in February 1917, there were only a week and a half of grain reserves left. The supply of products and raw materials was carried out so irregularly that some of the military factories were closed. The provision of the army with everything necessary also came under threat.
3. Power crisis
At the top, everything was also difficult: during the war years, four prime ministers were replaced with full of Strong personalities who could stop the crisis of power and lead the country after themselves, at that time there were no ruling elite.
The royal family always strove to be closer to the people, but the phenomenon of Rasputinism and the weakness of the government gradually deepened the gap between the king and his people.
In the political situation, everything pointed to the imminence of a revolution. The only question remained was where and how it would happen.
February revolution: overthrow of the age-old monarchical system
Since January 1917 throughout Russian Empire strikes took place en masse, in which a total of more than 700 thousand workers took part. The trigger in the February events was a strike in St. Petersburg.
On February 23, 128 thousand already went on strike, the next day their number increased to 200 thousand, and the strike took on a political character, and already 300 thousand workers in St. Petersburg alone took part in it. This is how the February Revolution unfolded.
Troops and police opened fire on the striking workers, and first blood was shed.
On February 26, the tsar sent troops to the capital under the command of General Ivanov, but they refused to suppress the uprising and actually sided with the rebels.
On February 27, the insurgent workers seized more than 40,000 rifles and 30,000 revolvers. They took control of the capital and elected the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies, which was headed by Chkheidze.
On the same day, the tsar sent an order to the Duma on an indefinite break in its work. The Duma obeyed the decree, but decided not to disperse, but to elect a Provisional Committee of ten people headed by Rodzianko.
Soon the tsar received telegrams about the victory of the revolution and calls from the commanders of all fronts to cede power in favor of the rebels.
On March 2, it was officially announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Russia, the head of which Nicholas II approved Prince Lvov. And on the same day, the king abdicated the throne for himself and for his son in favor of his brother, but he wrote the abdication in the same way.
So the February Revolution ended the existence of the monarchy on
After that, the tsar, as a civilian, tried to obtain permission from the Provisional Government to leave with his family to Murmansk in order to emigrate from there to Great Britain. But the Petrograd Soviet resisted so resolutely that it was decided to arrest Nicholas II and his family and deliver them to Tsarskoe Selo for imprisonment.
The former emperor will never be destined to leave his country.
February revolution of 1917: results
The interim government went through many crises and was able to survive for only 8 months. An attempt to build a bourgeois-democratic society was not crowned with success, since a more powerful and organized force claimed power in the country, which saw as its goal only the socialist revolution.
The February revolution revealed this strength - the workers and soldiers, led by the Soviets, began to play a decisive role in the history of the country.
The immediate cause of the revolutionary explosion was military exhaustion, which aggravated all the internal problems of society and the state. Its origins were rooted in Russia's unpreparedness for war and growing miscalculations. command admitted in 1914–16. There was a moral decay of the rear military units, including the Petrograd military district. Nicholas II was at the Headquarters in Mogilev and did not control the situation in the country. The dissatisfaction of the generals and officers, caused by military failures, by 1917 developed into a hidden opposition. The standard of living and food supply of the townspeople, especially in the capital, have noticeably deteriorated. Disruption of transport made it difficult for the regular food supply to Petrograd, creating interruptions in the supply of bread. The threat of starvation has sharply increased the dissatisfaction with the authorities. In connection with the mobilization of the workers of Petrograd in all sectors of the economy, the role of women has noticeably increased, especially those who had a hard time enduring the everyday and social difficulties of war.
The main events of the February Revolution took place in Petrograd. 23.2 (8.3) .1917 anti-war rallies dedicated to the traditional Workers' Day spontaneously began to develop into mass strikes and demonstrations under the slogans "Down with the war!", "Demand bread!" 24 Feb (March 9) a general strike began, rallies were held continuously. The commander of the Petrograd military district, General S. S. Khabalov, pulled the soldiers of the guards reserve regiments to the center of the city. The most important city highways were blocked, the protection of government buildings, the post office, telegraph office, etc. was strengthened. 25 Feb. (March 10) military and police outposts were set up at the bridges, but columns of demonstrators, bypassing them on the ice of the Neva, rushed to the city center. The prevailing slogans were: "Down with the Tsar!", "Down with the government!", "Bread, peace, freedom!", "Long live the republic!" In the evening, General Khabalov received an order from Nicholas II to immediately end the unrest in Petrograd. Several were arrested. Mensheviks, arrests were made at night among the workers of the revolutionary underground. On the same day, Nicholas II dissolved the State. thought. 26 Feb (March 11) the police and the mayor A.P. Balk removed the protection of the bridges, all the forces of the troops and the police were concentrated in the center, the soldiers were given cartridges. Fire was opened on demonstrators in several places of the city, killed and wounded appeared, workers on the proletarian outskirts began to build barricades and seize factories. Feb 27 (March 12) The general strike escalated into an armed uprising. Soldiers of a number of regiments revolted, they united with the insurgent workers. The District Court was set on fire, and those arrested were released from the House of Pre-trial Detention, as well as from the Kresty prisons and the Lithuanian Castle. In the Tauride Palace, the Council of Elders and the Private Meeting of the State. Duma elected a body of power - the Provisional Committee ("The State Duma Committee for the establishment of order in Petrograd and for communication with institutions and individuals"). He tried to take power into his own hands. The leaders of the Menshevik faction of the State. duma, representatives of soldiers and workers, journalists announced the creation of the Provisional Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet; in the evening the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies was elected [from March 1 (14) of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies]. 28 Feb (March 13) armed workers and soldiers occupied the Peter and Paul Fortress. General Khabalov transferred the remnants of government troops from the building of Ch. Admiralty to the Winter Palace, which was soon occupied by troops sent by the Provisional Committee of the State. Duma and the Executive Committee of the Petrosovet. Expedition of General N. I. Ivanov [from the evening of 27 Feb. (March 12) commander of the Petrograd military district], sent to suppress the uprising, failed. On March 1 (14), St. 394 K people from more than 900 enterprises, almost the entire Petrograd garrison went over to the side of the rebels. Under pressure from the insurgents, Order No. 1 of the Petrograd Soviet was adopted. He equalized the rights of soldiers and officers, introduced elected soldiers' committees that governed the life of the army, which led to a catastrophic decline in military discipline.
2 (15) .3.1917 by the Provisional Committee of the State. Duma, with the consent of the leaders of the Petrograd Soviet (chairman - the Menshevik NS Chkheidze, his deputy - Socialist-Revolutionary A.F. Kerensky), a Provisional government was formed - before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly (chairman - Prince G. Ye. Lvov). It consisted mainly of representatives of the Cadets and Octobrists. On March 13 (26), the Provisional Government formed a Special Conference on the preparation of a law on elections to the Constituent Assembly (it worked in May - September 1917; chairman - cadet F.F.Kokoshkin), which included representatives of various political parties, Councils, public and national organizations.
In this situation, the leaders of political parties, factions of the State. Duma and the generals associated with them hoped to achieve the abdication of Nicholas II from the throne in favor of his son and heir Alexei and the formation of a government responsible to the Duma. But the emperor on 2 (15) .3.1917 abdicated the throne for himself and for his son, handing over the crown to his brother - Grand Duke Michael, who also renounced it. The monarchy in Russia ceased to exist.
The small Bolshevik party did not play a noticeable role in the February revolution. Its growth began in April. 1917, with the return to Petrograd from emigration of V.I. Lenin, G.E. Zinoviev, N.I. Bukharin and others. L.B. Kameneva. Lenin, believing that the Bolsheviks should not follow the "conciliatory" course of the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, called for refusing confidence in the Provisional Government, transferring all power to the Soviets and making a socialist revolution, simultaneously carrying out democratic transformations. Kamenev believed that the Bolsheviks should work together with other socialist parties to achieve democratic reforms.
The Provisional Government made two attempts to continue Russia's participation in the 1st World War: in the April note 1917 min. foreign del Milyukov assured the Entente governments of Russia's loyalty to its obligations to continue the war to a victorious end; in the 2nd floor. June and July, offensive actions were carried out. armies on the Southwestern and Romanian fronts, which ultimately ended in defeat. Both attempts led to mass unrest, crises of power (April and July 1917) and a change in the political composition of the Provisional Government - from the initial predominance of liberals to an approximately equal (in July) ratio of their representatives and representatives of socialists, Ch. arr. Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks. In June, the government for the first time announced the date for elections to the Constituent Assembly - September 17 (30). and its convocation - 30 Sept. (Oct. 13) 1917. The governing bodies of the Soviets of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies, as well as peasant deputies, recognized the powers of a government body for the Provisional Government. The 2nd coalition government was formed on July 24 (August 6) (chairman - Kerensky). In aug. the meetings of the All-Russian on matters of elections to the Constituent Assembly of the Commission (All-elections; chairman - cadet N.N. Avinov) began, the election dates were postponed to 12 (25) November, and its convocation - to 28 November. (Dec 11). At the same time, the government convened in Moscow on August 12-15 (25-28). State meeting attended by members of the government, deputies of the State. Duma of all convocations, representatives of Soviets, commercial and industrial circles, banks, cooperative organizations, trade unions, army, navy, city and zemstvo self-government bodies, etc. On the State. At the meeting, General L. G. Kornilov outlined the requirements of the generals to the authorities: the introduction of the death penalty at the front and in the rear; suppression of anti-state and anti-national forces; restoration of the army's combat effectiveness; continuation of the war "to a victorious end." Appointed as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Kornilov agreed with Kerensky to suppress revolutionary anarchy by army forces and establish a "revolutionary dictatorship" of the Directory of Kornilov and Kerensky. At the end of Aug. 1917 General A.M. Krymov's corps moved to Petrograd. Fearing that the generals would sweep him away, Kerensky declared Kornilov a rebel and removed him from the post of Supreme Commander, then turned to the revolutionary-minded workers and soldiers for help. The Bolsheviks also called on them to prevent Kornilov's action and managed to raise significant forces against him. A massive replenishment of the Red Guard began - armed detachments of volunteer workers (the first steps to organize them were taken by the Bolsheviks of Petrograd and other cities in late March - early April 1917). The "rebel troops" were stopped, General Kornilov was arrested. As a result of these events, the alignment of political forces changed: the influence of the Bolsheviks increased significantly, the Bolshevization of the Soviets, especially the Petrograd one, began. The interim government, in search of a way out of the next crisis of power, transferred power to a temporary body - the Directory. 1 (14 Sept.) Russia was declared a republic.
The leaders of the Soviets, which were still dominated by Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, in an effort to lead the country along the path of bourgeois parliamentarism and in order to weaken the growing national crisis in the country, convened a Democratic Conference in Petrograd. It was attended by delegates from the Soviets, trade unions, organizations of the army and navy, national institutions, etc .; Socialist-Revolutionaries predominated, the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks had quite a lot of seats. At Lenin's suggestion, the Bolsheviks used the Conference as a platform to sharply criticize the experience of coalition power and to put forward demands for the transfer of power to the Soviets, the abolition of private ownership of land and its transfer to the peasantry, the nationalization of the most important industries, and the immediate conclusion of peace.
The Democratic Conference delegated representatives of all groups and factions in proportion to their number to the Pre-Parliament, formed to perform the functions of a representative body that could control the activities of the Provisional Government until the convocation of the Constituent Assembly. It was dominated by the Socialist-Revolutionaries, the Mensheviks and Cadets had quite a few places, smallest number the Bolsheviks received mandates. 23 Sep (Oct. 6) The Pre-Parliament approved the agreement of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, Mensheviks and Cadets on the creation of a new, 3rd coalition, Provisional Government. In the RSDLP (b), opinions on participation in the work of the Pre-Parliament were divided: L.B. Kamenev, V.P. Nogin, A.I. ... His point of view won: October 7 (20). the faction of the RSDLP (b), after harsh statements, left the Pre-Parliament. The Soviets agreed with this position. 24 oct. (Nov. 6) The Pre-Parliament adopted a resolution in which it demanded that the Provisional Government, along with suppressing revolutionary fermentation, immediately adopt a decree on the transfer of lands to the jurisdiction of land committees and appeal to the allies with a statement of peace terms and a demand to start peace negotiations.
At the same time, preparations continued for the elections to the Constituent Assembly: in September the councils of zemstvo and city dumas and zemstvos began compiling voter lists, and in October the lists of candidates for elections from political parties were published. However, the RSDLP (b) resolution of 10 (23) October. decided on an armed uprising. At the insistence of Lenin under the Petrosovet 12 (25) Oct. the formation of a legal military revolutionary committee, the All-Russian Revolutionary Committee, began (by the end of October, St. 40 had been formed across the country). 23 oct. (5 Nov.) The Center was formed in the structure of the Red Guard. the commandant's office, which was in close contact with the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, and Ch. headquarters. VRK and Red Guard of Steel armed force, on which the Bolsheviks were able to rely in the seizure of power.
The reasons for this revolution were political, economic and ideological.
The remnants of serfdom, namely, autocracy and landlordism, hindered the development of capitalist relations. This led to the country's lag behind the advanced powers in all areas. economic activity... This lag was especially acute and clear during the participation of Russia in the First World War, which became a catalyst for an extensive economic crisis that affected all spheres of production and entailed a complete collapse Agriculture... All this, along with a severe financial crisis, led to impoverishment. popular masses, which, in turn, led to the growth of the strike movement and the number of peasant unrest.
Economic difficulties and, especially, Russia's failures in the war, provoked an acute crisis of power. Everyone was dissatisfied with the rule of Tsar Nicholas II. Corruption, which struck the entire administrative apparatus from top to bottom, caused sharp discontent among the bourgeoisie and the intelligentsia. Anti-war sentiment was growing in the army and navy.
The decline in the authority of Nicholas II was facilitated by the continuous change of government members, most of whom were unable to solve the urgent tasks of bringing the country out of the protracted crisis. The appearance of personalities like Rasputin in the royal circle also discredited the monarchy in the eyes of the entire population of the country.
All this was aggravated by the growth of the national liberation struggle of the peoples that made up the national borderlands of Russia.
Stroke
The beginning of 1917 was marked by widespread food supply disruptions. There was not enough bread, prices rose, and along with them the discontent of the masses grew. In February, Petrograd was engulfed in "grain" riots - crowds of desperate disgruntled people they smashed the bread shops. February 23 according to Art. Art. the Petrograd workers went on a general strike, demanding bread, an end to the war and the overthrow of the autocracy. They were joined by students, office workers, artisans and peasants. The strike movement covered both capitals and many other cities of the country.
The tsarist government reacted to these riots by dissolving the Duma for two months, mass arrests of revolutionary movement activists and the shooting of demonstrators. All this only added fuel to the fire. In addition, the military began to join the strikers. On February 28, power in Petrograd passed to the strikers. The Duma deputies formed a Provisional Committee for the Establishment of Order .. In parallel, an alternative body of power was elected - the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet .. The next night, these structures jointly created the Provisional Government.
The next day was marked by the abdication of the king from power, in favor of his younger brother, who, in turn, also signed the abdication, transferring power to the Provisional Government, instructing him to elect the members of the Constituent Assembly. A manifesto about this was published on March 4.
Power, therefore, was, on the one hand, in the hands of the Provisional Government, on the other, in the hands of the Petrograd Soviet, which invited the rebels to send their delegates to it. The situation, called in the history textbooks "dual power", subsequently developed into anarchy. The constant disagreements between these structures, the dragging out of the war and the implementation of the necessary reforms, exacerbated the crisis in the country ...
Results of the February Revolution of 1917
The primary result of this event was the overthrow of the monarchy, the proclamation political rights and freedoms.
The revolution abolished inequality based on class, ethnicity, and religion, the death penalty, courts-martial, and the ban on political organizations.
An amnesty was held for political prisoners, and the working day was reduced to eight hours.
However, many pressing issues remained unresolved, which led to a further increase in popular discontent.
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The Great Russian Revolution is the revolutionary events that took place in Russia in 1917, starting with the overthrow of the monarchy during the February Revolution, when power passed to the Provisional Government, which was overthrown as a result October revolution the Bolsheviks who proclaimed Soviet power.
February Revolution of 1917 - Major revolutionary events in Petrograd
The reason for the revolution: Labor conflict at the Putilov factory between workers and owners; interruptions in the supply of food to Petrograd.
Main events February revolution took place in Petrograd. The leadership of the army, headed by the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, General MV Alekseev, and the commanders of the fronts and fleets, considered that they did not have the means to suppress the riots and strikes that had swept Petrograd. Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne. After his intended successor, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich also renounced the throne, the State Duma took control of the country, forming the Provisional Government of Russia.
With the formation of Soviets parallel to the Provisional Government, a period of dual power began. The Bolsheviks form detachments of armed workers (Red Guard), thanks to attractive slogans, they are gaining considerable popularity, primarily in Petrograd, Moscow, in large industrial cities, the Baltic Fleet, and the troops of the Northern and Western Fronts.
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Demonstrations of women demanding bread and the return of men from the front. |
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The beginning of a general political strike under the slogans: "Down with tsarism!", "Down with autocracy!", "Down with war!" (300 thousand people). Clashes between demonstrators and police and gendarmerie. Telegram from the tsar to the commander of the Petrograd military district with the demand "tomorrow to stop the riots in the capital!" |
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Arrests of leaders of socialist parties and workers' organizations (100 people). Shooting of workers' demonstrations. Proclamation of the Tsar's decree on the dissolution of the State Duma for two months. Troops (4th company of the Pavlovsk regiment) opened fire on the police. |
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Mutiny of the reserve battalion of the Volynsky regiment, its transition to the side of the strikers. The beginning of a massive transfer of troops to the side of the revolution. Creation of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma members and the Provisional Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet. |
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Creation of an interim government |
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Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II from the throne |
Results of the revolution and dual power
October Revolution of 1917 major events
During October revolution The Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, established by the Bolsheviks headed by L.D. Trotsky and V.I. Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government. At the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies, the Bolsheviks withstand a hard struggle with the Mensheviks and Right Socialist-Revolutionaries, and the first Soviet government is being formed. In December 1917, a government coalition of Bolsheviks and Left SRs was formed. In March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed with Germany.
By the summer of 1918, a one-party government was finally formed, and the active phase of the Civil War and foreign intervention in Russia began, which began with the uprising of the Czechoslovak Corps. The ending Civil war created the conditions for the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
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Main events of the October Revolution |
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The Provisional Government suppressed peaceful demonstrations against the government, arrests, the Bolsheviks were outlawed, the death penalty was restored, the end of dual power. |
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The 6th Congress of the RSDLP has passed - a course has been taken towards a socialist revolution. |
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State meeting in Moscow, L.G. Kornilova wanted to declare a military dictator and at the same time disperse all the Soviets. An active popular performance thwarted the plans. Raising the authority of the Bolsheviks. |
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Kerensky A.F. declared Russia a republic. |
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Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd. |
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Meeting of the Central Committee of the Bolsheviks, delivered by V.I. and stressed that it is necessary to take power10 people - for, against - Kamenev and Zinoviev. The Political Bureau was elected, headed by Lenin. |
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The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet (headed by Trotsky L.D.) adopted a regulation on the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (Military Revolutionary Committee) - a legal headquarters for preparing an uprising. The VRC was created - a military revolutionary center (Ya.M. Sverdlov, F.E.Dzerzhinsky, A.S.Bubnov, M.S.Uritsky and I.V. Stalin). |
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Kamenev in the newspaper New life”- protesting against the uprising. |
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Petrograd garrison on the side of the Soviets |
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The Provisional Government ordered the cadets to seize the printing house of the Bolshevik newspaper Rabochy Put and arrest the members of the All-Russian Revolutionary Committee who were in Smolny. |
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The revolutionary troops occupied the Central Telegraph, the Izmailovsky railway station, controlled the bridges, and blocked all the cadet schools. VRK sent a telegram to Kronstadt and Tsentrobalt to call the ships of the Baltic Fleet. The order was carried out. |
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October 25 - meeting of the Petrograd Soviet. Lenin delivered a speech, uttering the famous words: “Comrades! The workers 'and peasants' revolution, the need for which the Bolsheviks had been talking about all the time, has come to pass. ” |
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A salvo from the cruiser Aurora was the signal to storm the Winter Palace, and the Provisional Government was arrested. |
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2 Congress of Soviets, which proclaimed Soviet power. |
Provisional government of Russia in 1917
Heads of the Russian government in 1905-1917
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Witte S.Yu. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
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Goremykin I.L. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
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Stolypin P.A. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
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Kokovtsev V.II. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
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Shturmer B.V. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
January - November 1916 |
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Trenov A.F. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
November - December 1916 |
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Golitsyn N.D. |
Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
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Lvov G.E. |
March - July 1917 |
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Kerensky A.F. |
Minister-Chairman of the Provisional Government |
July - October 1917 |
How much do we know about the February revolution in Russia?
What can we tell our children and grandchildren about her?
Let's figure it out on our own. Let's figure it out in order to be ready for those streams of information that liberals and patriots will "pour" into our ears, eyes and souls.
The February Revolution of 1917 in Russia is still called Bourgeois Democratic.
It is the second revolution in a row (the first occurred in 1905, the third in October 1917). The February revolution began a great turmoil in Russia, during which not only the Romanov dynasty fell and the Empire ceased to be a monarchy, but the entire bourgeois-capitalist system, as a result of which in Russia completely the elite has changed. February was a popular revolution.
February Revolution February 23 - March 3, 1917 (old style)
Causes of the February Revolution
Unhappy participation of Russia in the First World War, accompanied by defeats at the fronts, disorganization of life in the rear
The inability of Emperor Nicholas II to rule Russia, which was reflected in the unsuccessful appointments of ministers and military leaders
Corruption on all levels of government
Economic difficulties
The ideological decay of the masses, who have ceased to believe in the tsar, the church, and the local leaders
Discontent with the tsar's policies by representatives of the big bourgeoisie and even his closest relatives
“… For several days we lived on a volcano… There was no bread in Petrograd, - the transport was badly disordered due to extraordinary snows, frosts and, most importantly, of course, because of the tension of the war… There were street riots… But it was certainly not in bread ... This was the last straw ... The point was that in this whole huge city it was impossible to find several hundred people who would sympathize with the authorities ... And not even that ... The point is that the authorities did not sympathize with themselves ... , in fact, not a single minister who would believe in himself and in what he is doing ... The class of the former rulers was fading away .. "
(Vas. Shulgin "Days")
February Revolution
February 21 - grain riots in Petrograd. Crowds smashed grain shops
February 23 - the beginning of the general strike of the workers of Petrograd. Mass demonstrations with slogans "Down with war!", "Down with autocracy!", "Bread!"
February 24 - More than 200 thousand workers of 214 enterprises went on strike, students
February 25 - 305 thousand people have already gone on strike, 421 factories stood. The workers were joined by white-collar workers and artisans. The troops refused to disperse the protesters
February 26 - Riots continue. Decay in the troops. Police failure to restore calm. Nicholas II
postponed the beginning of meetings of the State Duma from February 26 to April 1, which was perceived as its dissolution
February 27 - armed uprising. The spare battalions of Volynsky, Litovsky, Preobrazhensky refused to obey the commanders and joined the people. In the afternoon, the Semyonovsky regiment, the Izmailovsky regiment, and the spare armored division rose up. The Kronverksky arsenal, the Arsenal, the main post office, the telegraph office, railway stations, and bridges were occupied. The State Duma appointed a Provisional Committee "to establish order in St. Petersburg and to communicate with institutions and individuals."
February 28, night, the Provisional Committee announced that it was taking power into its own hands.
On February 28, the 180th Infantry Regiment, the Finnish Regiment, sailors of the 2nd Baltic Fleet Crew and the cruiser Aurora revolted. The insurgent people occupied all the stations of Petrograd
March 1 - Kronstadt, Moscow revolted, the tsar's associates offered him either the introduction of loyal army units into Petrograd, or the creation of the so-called "responsible ministries" - a government subordinate to the Duma, which meant the transformation of the Emperor into an "English queen."
March 2, night - Nicholas II signed a manifesto on the granting of a responsible ministry, but it was too late. The public demanded renunciation.
"The Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief," General Alekseev, requested by telegram all the commanders-in-chief of the fronts. These telegrams asked the commanders-in-chief for their opinion on the desirability of the emperor's abdication in favor of his son under the given circumstances. By one o'clock on the second of March, all the answers of the commanders-in-chief had been received and concentrated in the hands of General Ruzsky. These answers were:
1) From Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich - Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasian Front.
2) From General Sakharov - the actual commander-in-chief of the Romanian front (in fact, the commander-in-chief was the king of Romania, and Sakharov was his chief of staff).
3) From General Brusilov - Commander-in-Chief of the Southwestern Front.
4) From General Evert - Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front.
5) From Ruzsky himself - the commander-in-chief of the Northern Front. All five commanders-in-chief of the fronts and General Alekseev (General Alekseev was the chief of staff under the Emperor) spoke in favor of the Emperor's abdication from the throne. " (Vas. Shulgin "Days")
On March 2, at about 15 o'clock, Tsar Nicholas II decided to abdicate in favor of his heir, Tsarevich Alexei during the regency of the younger sibling Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. During the day, the king decided to abdicate also for the heir.
March 4 - the newspapers published the Manifesto on the abdication of Nicholas II and the Manifesto on the abdication of Mikhail Alexandrovich.
“The man rushed to us - Lovely!” He shouted and grabbed my hand. “Have you heard? There is no king! Only Russia remained.
He kissed everyone hard and rushed to run on, sobbing and muttering something ... It was already one o'clock in the morning when Efremov usually slept deeply.
Suddenly, at this inopportune hour, the cathedral bell rang out, echoing and briefly. Then the second blow, the third.
The blows became more frequent, a tight ringing was already floating over the town, and soon the bells of all the surrounding churches joined it.
Lights were lit in all the houses. The streets were filled with people. Doors in many houses were thrown wide open. Strangers, crying, hugging each other. A solemn and jubilant cry of locomotives flew from the station (K. Paustovsky "Restless Youth")
Results of the February Revolution of 1917
Abolished the death penalty
Granted political freedoms
Abolished "Pale of Settlement"
The beginning of the trade union movement
Amnesty for political prisoners
Russia has become the most democratic country in the world
The economic crisis has not been stopped
The participation in the war continued
Permanent government crisis
The collapse of the empire along ethnic lines began
The peasant question remained unresolved
Russia demanded a decisive government and it came in the person of the Bolsheviks.
