RUSSIAN HISTORY FALL 2010, YEAR 3 - CLASS 3

GCCC Instructor – Joe Boisvert

You Tube Video – Lenin Sleeps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkd

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After the Russian Civil War

After the war During and after the Russian Civil War, Soviet

Russia suffered great damage. In 1920 and 1921, there was little rain, which caused serious famine in 1921.

About one million Russians left Russia and went to other countries to live there on a permanent basis (not always Voluntarily). Many of them were very educated and expert persons. Many former members of upper classes.

Establishment of Government During this war, the government of the Soviet

Union could somehow manage the country. In March 1921, four months after the defeat of

the White Army in the Crimea, the Lenin administration abandoned the policy of War Communism and instead formulated the New Economic Policy

This allowed for the denationalization of agriculture and industry, but most financial institutions retained state ownership with a deregulation in such sectors

Vladimir LeninApril 22, 1870 – January 21, 1924

Lenin is the founder and the guiding spirit of the Soviet Republics –

a communist philosopher, ardent disciple of Karl Marx, leader of the Bolshevik Party and the mastermind of the 1917 October Revolution.

Some consider him a prophet, others a tyrant; there are those who call him a saint, many more – a devil.

What is certain is that Lenin played an enormous role in the history of the 20th century. He reshaped Russia and had millions of people bent to his will.

Lenin applied communist ideas to real life and his “experiment” forever changed the face of the world.

New Economic Policy - Collectives

Lenin’s Funeral; He died on the 21st of January 1924 at the age of 53.

Lenin Preserved Forever – Moscow Lenin’s Tomb - Honored in Death

Woman Communist March

Stalin and Trotsky Fight for Power

Stalin’s Hat

Russians and GermansLots of Effort After WW1 toSpread Revolution to Germany

On 30 December 1922, the USSR was formally created

The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Communist Party, and a new Constitution was adopted in 1918, acknowledging the existence of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR).

The Russian capital moved from Petrograd (St Petersburg) to Moscow.

1922 -  After eliminating all their enemies, the Bolsheviks established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 

Soviet Flag – USSR – Established in 1923 Before Lenin's Death

Trotsky Duties in the 1920’s

Trotsky was very involved in the October Revolution

Second only to Vladimir Lenin. During the early days of the Soviet Union, he served first as the First Peoples Commissar for Foreign Affairs.

The founder and commander of the Red Army and People's Commissar of War.

He was also among the first members of the Politburo.

Trotsky Portraits

Trotsky and Daughter

Trotsky in Exile

Trotsky was Anti-Fascism

Lead a failed struggle of the Left Opposition against the policies and rise of Joseph Stalin in the 1920s

Trotsky was then expelled from the Communist Party and deported from the Soviet Union.

He was an early advocate of Red Army intervention against European fascism, 

Trotsky also opposed Stalin's peace agreements with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s.

Even in Exile Trotsky Argued Against Stalin's Peace Agreements with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s

NKVD Secret Police Killed Trotsky

Finally, in 1940, the NKVD - the secret police under orders from Stalin arranged for Trotsky to be murdered.

Posing as a supporter of Trotsky, one of the Secret Polices agent talked his way into Trotsky's heavily guarded house, pulled out an ice-axe from beneath his coat and buried its point in Trotsky's skull.

Trotsky died of his wounds a day later, on 21 August 1940. 

The Leaders Funerals

Lenin’s Funeral

Trotsky's Funeral

Interesting Side Note to History - American’s Witnessed the Russian Revolution

On August 17, 1917, John Reed and Louise Bryant set sail from New York to Europe, then on to Russia. 

The pair were going as working journalists to see for themselves and report upon the sensational developments taking place in the fledgling republic of Russia. 

Reed and Byrant at Epic Center of Revolution

John Reed and Louise Bryant wound up at ground zero for the October Revolution, in which the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party (Bolshevik) headed by Vladimir Lenin toppled the Kerensky government.

In what they believed to be the first blow struck in a worldwide socialist revolution.

Jack and Louise Both Wrote Books Based on Their Experiences in the Revolution

Both Jack and Louise published books from their Russian experiences, with Louise's Six Red Months in Russia appearing first and Jack's 10 Days That Shook the World, published early in 1919, garnering the most notice.

Many Americans Sympathized withCommunism 1920’s Through the 1950’s

Reed was very active in the Revolution and its Aftermath. He new Trotsky and Lenin and was familiar with the inside Circle of Red Leaders.Later briefly took up arms for the Red Army Cover of

Reed’s Voice of Labor

Communist (Bolsheviks) Worked for World Wide Workers Revolution

The Bolsheviks Wanted to Start a World Wide Revolution of the Workers

Soviet Workers Pawns of Communists

Soviet Farmers Wife's Learning to Read – The End Class Three