January 5th (18th n.s.)
Numerous meetings of workers held on the Vyborg Side, Petrograd, at which the Bolsheviks call for a one-day strike on January 9.
January 6th (19th n.s.)
Publication of the ukase of Nicholas II suspending the State Duma and the Privy Council until February 14.
January 7th (20th n.s.)
The Petrograd and Moscow Committees of the Bolshevik Party issue an appeal for a strike and anti-war demonstration on January 9.
January 9th (22nd n.s.)
Lenin delivers a Lecture on the Revolution of 1905 to Young Socialists in Zurich, Switzerland.
Huge demonstrations, meetings and strikes held in Petrograd, Moscow, Nizhni-Novgorod and other cities, led by the Bolsheviks.
January 18th (31st n.s.)
Germany proclaims unrestricted submarine warfare.
Political strike in the Baku oilfields.
January 27th (February 9th n.s.)
Tsarist Government arrests eleven members of the labour group on the Central War Industry Committee (the Mensheviks Gvozdyev, Broido, and others).
February 1st (14th n.s.)
Secret treaty on war aims concluded between Russia and France.
February 6th (19th n.s.)
The Petrograd Military Area separated from the Northern Front and placed under the command of Lieutenant-General Khabalov.
The Bolshevik Central Committee calls for a demonstration on February 10—the anniversary of the trial of the Bolshevik members of the Fourth Duma.
February 10th (23rd. n.s.)
The Bolshevik Central Committee resolves to organise a demonstration under Bolshevik slogans on the opening of the Duma on February 14.
February 14th (27th n.s.)
Opening of the Duma. In response to the call of the Bolshevik Central Committee, a political strike embracing about sixty factories held in Petrograd. Processions in support of the Bolshevik slogans, “Down with the Autocracy!” and “Down with the War!” held in various parts of the city.
February 18th (March 3rd n.s.)
Strike begins at the Putilov Works, Petrograd.
February 22nd (March 7th n.s.)
Lockout of employees of the Putilov Works declared. About 20,000 employees of the works demonstrate.
Nicholas II leaves Tsarskoye Syelo for General Headquarters.
February 23rd (March 8th n.s.)
International Women’s Day. About 90,000 workers down tools in response to the call of the Petrograd Committee of the Bolshevik Party. Huge workers’ demonstrations held. Collisions with the police. The Bolshevik Committee of the Vyborg Side resolve that evening to continue the strike and to make it a general strike.
February 24th (March 9th n.s.)
About 200,000 workers on strike in Petrograd. The demonstrations grow in dimensions, demanding: “Give us Bread!” and “Down with the Tsar!” Cases of insubordination among the troops.
The Bolshevik Central Committee resolves to draw the soldiers into the active struggle.
February 25th (March 10th n.s.)
General strike in Petrograd.
Five members of the Bolshevik Petrograd Committee arrested. Leadership of the struggle passes to the Bolshevik Committee of the Vyborg Side.
February 26th (March 11th n.s.)
Tsar issues ukase dissolving the Duma.
Petrograd Bolshevik Committee publishes manifesto calling for the formation of a Provisional Revolutionary Government.
The Bolsheviks call for the formation of factory and district Soviets.
February 27th (March 12th n.s.)
The autocracy overthrown. Troops join the insurgents en masse. Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ Deputies formed. Provisional Executive Committee of the Duma set up.
February 28th (March 13th n.s.)
Tsar leaves General Headquarters for Tsarskoye Syelo.
Tsarist Ministers arrested.
General political strike in Moscow.
The Moscow Bureau of the Bolshevik Central Committee issues a proclamation calling for support of the revolution.
Moscow Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies formed.
March 1st (14th n.s.)
First joint session of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies held.
Petrograd Soviet issues Order No. 1.
Garrisons in Tver and Nizhni-Novgorod join the workers.
Joint meeting of the Provisional Committee of the Duma and representatives of the Petrograd Soviet to discuss the formation of a government.
March 2nd (15th n.s.)
Provisional Government set up with Prince Lvov as Prime Minister.
Provisional Government commissions A. I. Guchkov and V. V. Shulgin to visit Nicholas II in Pskov to persuade him to abdicate in favour of his son Alexei.
Nicholas II appoints Grand Duke Nicholas Supreme Commander.
Nicholas II abdicates in favour of his brother, Michael.
March 3rd (16th n.s.)
Michael Romanov abdicates.
March 4th (17th n.s.)
Lenin draws up his “Draft Theses” analysing the prospective development of the Russian revolution and the tasks of the Bolshevik Party. The Bolshevik Central Committee resolves to resume publication of the newspaper Pravda.
The sailors of the Baltic Fleet and the soldiers at Kronstadt, Sveaborg and Helsingfors join the revolution. Admirals Viren and Nepenin killed.
March 5th (18th n.s.)
First number of the Bolshevik newspaper, Pravda, appears.
March 7th (20th n.s.)
Lenin writes the first of his “Letters from Afar.”
Provisional Government orders the arrest of Nicholas Romanov.
First issue of the Bolshevik newspaper, Sotsial-democrat, appears in Moscow.
First Congress of the nationalist organisations of Byelorussia.
March 8th (21st n.s.)
Nicholas II arrested.
March 9th (22nd n.s.)
Provisional Government recognised by U.S.A.
Provisional Government announces decision to bring criminal proceedings against the peasants of the Kazan Province for agrarian disorders.
March 10th (23rd n.s.)
The Petrograd Bolshevik Committee sets up a commission to form Bolshevik organisations within the armed forces.
March 11th (24th n.s.)
Provisional Government recognised by France, Great Britain and Italy.
March 12th (25th n.s.)
Stalin returns from exile to Petrograd.
Provisional Government decrees abolition of the death penalty.
March 14th (27th n.s.)
Article by Stalin entitled “The Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies” appears in Pravda, No. 8.
Lenin delivers a lecture on “The Tasks of the R.S.D.L.P. in the Russian Revolution” to a meeting of Swiss workers in Zurich.
The Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies issues its manifesto, “To the Peoples of the World.”
March 15th (28th n.s.)
Bolshevik Central Committee publicly protests against the campaign of calumniation waged in the bourgeois Press against Pravda.
Pravda, No. 9, announces that Stalin has joined its editorial board.
Strikes in Moscow for an eight-hour day.
March 16th (29th n.s.)
Article by Stalin entitled “The War” appears in Pravda, No. 10.
Milyukov sends a telegram to the Russian diplomatic representatives abroad proclaiming the purpose of the Russian revolution to be to fight the war to a victorious finish.
The Bolshevik fraction on the Moscow Soviet proposes that the workers should adopt the eight-hour day without awaiting official sanction.
A Coalition Government of bourgeois parties and Socialists formed in Finland.
March 17th (30th n.s.)
Provisional Government publicly appeals to the peasants not to resort to arbitrary seizures of landed estates.
March 18th (31st n.s.)
Article by Stalin entitled “The Conditions for the Victory of the Russian Revolution” appears in Pravda.
March 19th (April 1st n.s.)
The Bolshevik members of the Fourth Duma return to Petrograd from exile in Siberia.
The First All-Russian Commercial and Industrial Congress opens in Moscow.
March 21st (April 3rd n.s.)
Russian defeat on the Western Front near the River Stokhod.
Peasants’ constituent assembly of the Moscow Province proposes the immediate prohibition of the sale and purchase of land.
March 23rd (April 5th n.s.)
First All-Russian Cossack Congress held in Petrograd.
Agrarian disorders break out in Simbirsk, Bessarabia and other provinces.
March 24th (April 6th n.s.)
U.S.A. declares war on Germany.
March 26th (April 8th n.s.)
The Bureau of the Bolshevik Central Committee publishes its resolution on the Provisional Government, the war and peace.
March 27th (April 9th n.s.)
Provisional Government declares its readiness to stand by the Allies in fighting the war to a victorious finish.
March 29th (April 11th n.s.)
Finnish Diet holds its first session in Helsingfors.
All-Russian Conference of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies opens in Petrograd.
March 31st (April 13th n.s.)
Moutet, Cachin and Lafond, French Socialists, and James O’Grady and Will Thorne, members of the British Labour Party, arrive in Petrograd.
April 2nd (15th n.s.)
General Alexeyev appointed Supreme Commander.
April 3rd (16th n.s.)
Lenin arrives in Petrograd from abroad and makes his first public speech in Russia on the square of the Finnish Railway Station.
Beginning of French offensive on the Western Front near the River Aisne under General Nivelle, ending in defeat and huge losses for the French Army.
All-Russian Conference of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies closes.
Strike of 300,000 munition workers in Berlin and Leipzig.
April 3rd-4th (16th-17th n.s.)
First Moscow City Conference of the Bolshevik Party. Resolution in favour of forming an “armed national militia” passed.
April 4th (17th n.s.)
Lenin delivers his report on “The Tasks of the Proletariat in the Present Revolution” (containing the “April Theses”) at a meeting of the Bolshevik delegates to the All-Russian Conference of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies.
April 5th (18th n.s.)
Strike of metal workers in Helsingfors.
April 6th (19th n.s.)
Central Rada formed at a Ukrainian National Congress in Kiev.
April 7th (20th n.s.)
Lenin’s “April Theses” published in Pravda.
A congress of army and workers’ deputies opens on the Western Front.
The First Provincial Congress of Peasants’ Deputies opens in Minsk under the chairmanship of M. V. Frunze.
April 8th (21st n.s.)
Albert Thomas, French Minister of Labour, visits Russia.
Prince Lvov, Prime Minister in the Provisional Government, orders the suppression of peasant disorders by military force.
April 10th (23rd n.s.)
Lenin speaks at a meeting of soldiers of the Izmailovsky Regiment.
April 11th (24th n.s.)
Provisional Government publishes a law entitled “Protecting the Crops” designed to safeguard the land and crops of the landlords.
April 14th (27th n.s.)
Article by Stalin entitled “The Land to the Peasants” appears in Pravda, No. 32.
The Petrograd City Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens. Lenin makes the report on the current situation.
The Petrograd District Committee of the Bolshevik Party passes a resolution calling for the immediate formation of a Red Guard.
The Moscow Committee of the Bolshevik Party resolves to form a Red Guard.
April 15th (28th n.s.)
First issue of the Soldatskaya Pravda (Soldiers’ Truth) appears.
Second Moscow City Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens.
Petrograd City Conference of the Bolshevik Party adopts a resolution proposed by Lenin on policy towards the Provisional Government.
April 16th (29th n.s.)
A demonstration of soldiers and sailors in Petrograd protests against the persecution of Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
April 17th (30th n.s.)
Finnish Regional Congress of Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Deputies opens in Vyborg.
First Moscow District Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens.
April 18th (May 1st n.s.)
Milyukov sends a note to the Allies announcing the readiness of the Provisional Government to fight the war to a victorious finish.
April 19th (May 2nd n.s.)
First Conference of Bolsheviks of the Central Industrial Region opens in Moscow.
April 20th (May 3rd n.s.)
Meetings and demonstrations protest against Milyukov’s note and demand his resignation.
April 21st (May 4th n.s.)
Provisional Government publishes regulations governing the Land Committees.
April 22nd (May 5th n.s.)
First “private conference” of members of the State Duma held.
April 23rd (May 6th n.s.)
Provisional Government publishes regulations governing the formation of workers’ committees in industrial enterprises.
Preliminary conference of delegates to the All-Russian Conference of the Bolshevik Party.
Negotiations begin for summoning an international Socialist conference in Stockholm.
April 24th (May 7th n.s.)
All-Russian (April) Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens in Petrograd. Lenin reports on the current situation. Stalin speaks in the discussion.
April 25th (May 8th n.s.)
On Lenin’s proposal, the April Conference resolves not to participate in the international Socialist conference in Stockholm.
April 27th (May 10th n.s.)
April Conference. Lenin reports on the war. Resolutions on the war and on policy towards the Provisional Government adopted.
The Third Extraordinary Congress of Representatives of the Council of Congresses of Commodity Market Trade and Agriculture opens in Moscow.
Prince Lvov writes to Chkheidze inviting representatives from the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies to join the cabinet.
April 28th (May 11th n.s.)
April Conference. Lenin reports on the agrarian question.
Conference of representatives of eighty-two Petrograd factories and twenty-six Bolshevik Party organisations discusses the formation of armed workers’ detachments.
The Vyborg Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies resolves to transform the militia into a Workers’ Guard.
April 29th (May 12th n.s.)
April Conference. Stalin reports on the national question. Lenin makes the closing speech of the conference.
“Draft Regulations of the Workers’ Guard” published in Pravda.
April 30th (May 13th n.s.)
Guchkov, Minister of War, resigns.
May 1st (14th n.s.)
The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies resolves to delegate four of its representatives to the cabinet.
First Congress of Soviets of the Far East opens.
All-Russian Moslem Congress opens in Moscow.
May 2nd (15th n.s.)
Negotiations started between representatives of the compromising parties on the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government for the formation of a coalition government.
May 3rd (16th n.s.)
Milyukov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, resigns.
Tereshchenko, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, sends a note on war aims to the Allies.
All-Russian Congress of Peasants’ Deputies opens in Petrograd.
May 5th (18th n.s.)
Coalition Provisional Government formed.
Provisional Government informs the Allies that it will not conclude a separate peace.
The first Ukrainian Army Congress opens in Kiev.
May 9th (20th n.s.)
Lenin sends an open letter to the All-Russian Congress of Peasants’ Deputies.
An all-Russian Menshevik conference resolves to give complete and unreserved support to the Provisional Government.
Petrograd City Conference of the United Social-Democrats (“Inter-Regionalists”) adopts a resolution expressing opposition to the coalition government.
All-Russian Officers’ Congress opens in Petrograd.
May 9th (22nd n.s.)
Eighth Congress of the Cadet Party opens in Petrograd.
May 11th (24th n.s.)
Great Britain replies to Tereshchenko’s note of May 3.
May 12th (25th n.s.)
U.S.A. replies to Tereshchenko’s note of May 3.
May 13th (26th n.s.)
France replies to Tereshchenko’s note of May 3.
May 15th (28th n.s.)
First number of the Bolshevik newspaper, Okopnaya Pravda (Trench Truth) issued on the Northern Front.
May 16th (29th n.s.)
A congress of commissars of the South-Western Front passes a resolution proposing that the front be reinforced by volunteer units.
U.S.A. grants a loan of $100,000,000 to the Provisional Government.
May 18th (31st n.s.)
General Denikin proposes the formation of shock battalions.
May 20th (June 2nd n.s.)
Inaugural meeting of the All-Russian Alliance of Landed Proprietors held in Moscow.
May 21st (June 3rd n.s.)
Conference of Socialist parties, trade union bodies and shop stewards’ committees in Leeds, England, adopts a resolution in favour of Councils of Workers and Soldiers and a peace without annexations or indemnities.
May 22nd (June 4th n.s.)
Lenin reports on the agrarian question at the First All-Russian Congress of Peasants’ Deputies.
General Brusilov appointed Supreme Commander in place of General Alexeyev.
May 25th (June 7th n.s.)
Third All-Russian Congress of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party opens in Moscow.
May 28th (June 10th n.s.)
All-Ukrainian Peasant Congress opens in Kiev.
May 31st (June 13th n.s.)
Bolshevik Central Committee adopts a resolution advocating “All Power to the Soviets.”
A Petrograd conference of factory and workshop committees adopts the resolution proposed by Lenin on measures for combating economic disruption.
June 3rd (16th n.s.)
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies opens.
June 4th (17th n.s.)
Lenin speaks at the All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies on policy towards the Provisional Government.
June 6th (19th n.s.)
Second All-Ukrainian Army Congress opens in Kiev.
Meeting of delegates of the crews of the Black Sea Fleet demands the resignation of Admiral Kolchak, Commander of the Fleet.
June 7th (20th n.s.)
All-Russian Cossack Congress opens in Petrograd.
June 9th (22nd n.s.)
Lenin speaks on the subject of the war at the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets.
First All-Russian Congress of Soviets vetoes the peaceful demonstration appointed by the Bolsheviks for June 10.
June 13th (26th n.s.)
An article by Stalin entitled, “The Crisis of the Revolution” appears in Soldatskaya Pravda.
June 15th (28th n.s.)
Two of the most revolutionary regiments quartered in Kazan dispatched to the front.
A General Secretariat—the executive organ of the Ukrainian Central Rada—set up.
June 16th (29th n.s.)
Kerensky orders the army and navy to take the offensive.
An all-Russian conference of Bolshevik organisations in the army at the front and in the rear opens in Petrograd.
June 18th (July 1st n.s.)
Russian offensive begins. Mass demonstrations held in Petrograd, Moscow and other cities under the Bolshevik slogans: “Down with the Capitalist Ministers!” and “All Power to the Soviets!”
June 19th (July 2nd n.s.)
Kaledin elected Ataman of the Don Cossacks.
Bourgeois demonstration in Petrograd in connection with the Russian offensive.
June 21st (July 4th n.s.)
An Economic Council and Chief Economic Committee of the Provisional Government set up.
June 22nd (July 5th n.s.)
A joint meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee, Petrograd Committee and the organisation in the army decide against an immediate armed insurrection.
June 26th (July 9th n.s.)
Provisional Government resolves to ration grainstuffs.
Skobelev, Minister of Labour, appeals to the workers to refrain from “arbitrary actions.”
July 1st (14th n.s.)
Second Petrograd City Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens.
A delegation from the Provisional Government, consisting of Kerensky, Tsereteli and Tereshchenko, sign a treaty with the Ukrainian Central Rada in Kiev.
July 2nd (15th n.s.)
Cadet Ministers resign from the Provisional Government.
July 3rd (16th n.s.)
A joint meeting of company committees and the regimental committee of the First Machine-Gun Regiment discusses the question of armed insurrection.
At a meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets, Stalin, in the name of the Central Committee and the Petrograd Conference of the Bolshevik Party, declares that the Bolsheviks are opposed to immediate armed action.
Strikes and huge demonstrations of workers and soldiers take place in Petrograd in support of the Bolshevik slogans.
About 10 p.m., a meeting of delegates of the Petrograd City Conference of the Bolshevik Party, members of the Bolshevik Central Committee and representatives of army units and factories resolve to participate in a peaceful demonstration on July 4 in support of the slogan “All Power to the Soviets!”
July 4th (17th n.s.)
Huge demonstrations of workers, army units and sailors from Kronstadt held in Petrograd in support of the Bolshevik slogans.
Sir George Buchanan, British Ambassador in Petrograd, demands the restoration of the death penalty and the punishment of the participants in the July demonstration.
Demonstration of workers and part of the garrison takes place in Moscow.
Demonstrators in Petrograd are fired upon.
July 5th (18th n.s.)
The Bolshevik newspapers, Pravda, Okopnava Pravda and Soldatskaya Pravda, closed down by the Provisional Government. Printshop and editorial offices of Pravda wrecked by junkers.
The Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies of Ivanovo-Voznesensk passes a resolution demanding the transfer of all power to the Soviets.
July 6th (19th n.s.)
Provisional Government orders Lenin’s arrest.
Lenin goes into hiding.
Listok Pravdy, replacing Pravda, begins publication.
Huge demonstration of workers and soldiers of the garrison held in Ivanovo-Voznesensk.
Strike of metal workers in Moscow.
German counter-offensive against the Russians begins. Breach forced in the Russian front near Tarnopol.
July 7th (20th n.s.)
Provisional Government orders the disbandment of military units which took part in the demonstration of July 3-4.
Provisional Government orders the dissolution of the Central Executive Committee of Sailors of the Baltic Fleet.
Prince Lvov, Prime Minister, resigns.
July 8th (21st n.s.)
Provisional Government endorses Kerensky as Prime Minister.
July 9th (22nd n.s.)
Moscow District Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens.
July 11th (24th n.s.)
Tarnopol captured by the Germans.
July 12th (25th n.s.)
Provisional Government restores the death penalty at the front. Provisional Government passes a decree restricting transactions in land.
July 14th (27th n.s.)
All-Russian Congress of Landed Proprietors opens.
July 15th (28th n.s.)
First Railway Congress opens in Moscow.
July 16th (29th n.s.)
Extraordinary Petrograd City Conference of the Bolshevik Party held.
July 18th (31st n.s.)
Finnish Diet proclaims itself the supreme power in Finland. Provisional Government orders the dissolution of the Finnish Diet.
General Kornilov appointed Supreme Commander in place of General Brusilov.
July 21st (August 3rd n.s.)
Second Moscow Regional Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens.
A joint conference of the Provisional Government and the Central Committees of bourgeois and petty-bourgeois parties opens. Kerensky is empowered to form a cabinet and select members at his own discretion.
July 23rd (August 5th n.s.)
First issue of the Bolshevik newspaper Rabochii i Soldat (Worker and Soldier) appears.
Ninth Congress of the Cadet Party opens.
July 24th (August 6th n.s.)
Rabochii i Soldat publishes an appeal of the Petrograd City Conference of the Bolshevik Party written by Stalin and entitled “To All Toilers and All Workers and Soldiers of Petrograd.”
Second coalition Provisional Government formed with Kerensky as Prime Minister.
July 26th (August 8th n.s.)
Sixth Congress of the Bolshevik Party opens.
Economic Council meets. It endorses the right of employers to declare lockouts.
July 27th (August 9th n.s.)
Sixth Congress of the Bolshevik Party: Stalin presents the political report of the Central Committee.
A Polish Volunteer Corps commanded by General Dowbor-Musnicki formed by order of General Kornilov.
July 28th (August 10th n.s.)
Provisional Government empowers the Minister of War and the Minister of the Interior to prohibit meetings and congresses.
July 30th (August 12th n.s.)
Sixth Congress of the Bolshevik Party: Stalin reports on the political situation.
July 31st (August 13th n.s.)
Sixth Congress of the Bolshevik Party: Stalin replies to the discussion of the report on the political situation.
All-Russian Congress of the Peasant Union opens in Moscow.
General strike begins in Spain.
August 1st (14th n.s.)
Nicholas Romanov and his family exiled to Tobolsk.
General strike in Helsingfors.
August 2nd (15th n.s.)
Sixth Congress of the Bolshevik Party: Party Rules adopted.
August 3rd (16th n.s.)
Kornilov submits his programme to Kerensky.
Second All-Russian Commercial and Industrial Congress opens in Moscow.
August 5th (18th n.s.)
First session of the Council of Nationalist Organisations of Byelorussia.
Central Executive Committee of the Soviets adopts a resolution favouring the postponement of the elections to the Constituent Assembly.
August 7th (20th n.s.)
General strike of rubber workers in Moscow.
Second Petrograd Conference of Factory and Workshop Committees opens.
August 9th (22nd n.s.)
Moscow District Committee of the Bolshevik Party resolves to organise a mass protest on the day of the opening of the Moscow Council of State.
August 10th (23rd n.s.)
Bolshevik newspaper Rabochii i Soldat prohibited.
August 11th (24th n.s.)
Mass protest of Moscow workers against the summoning of the Council of State.
Provisional Government adopts Kornilov’s programme of August 3.
August 12th (25th n.s.)
Council of State opens in Moscow.
General strike in Moscow on the occasion of the opening of the Council of State.
One-day protest strikes against the Moscow Council of State held in Kiev, Kostroma and many other cities.
Kornilov gives orders for the formation of reserve regiments of Knights of St. George on each of the fronts.
August 13th (26th n.s.)
First issue of the Bolshevik newspaper Proletarii (Proletarian) appears.
Manifesto of the Sixth Congress of the Bolshevik Party published.
General Kornilov arrives in Moscow for the Council of State.
August 16th (29th n.s.)
Proletarii No. 3 prints a letter from Lenin severely criticising the opportunist speech made by Kamenev at the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Soviets on August 6 on the subject of the Stockholm Conference.
August 17th (30th n.s.)
An article by Stalin entitled “The Results of the Council of State” appears in Proletarii, No. 4.
August 18th (31st n.s.)
Two articles by Stalin, “Reasons for the July Defeat at the Front” and “The Truth About the Defeat at the Front” appear in Proletarii, No. 5.
The Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies declares against the death penalty.
Conference held at General Headquarters on the subject of proclaiming a military dictatorship.
August 19th (September 1st n.s.)
Germans pierce the Russian front at Riga.
Joint congress of the R.S.D.L.P. (Mensheviks, Unity group and “non-factionalists”) opens in Petrograd.
August 20th (September 2nd n.s.)
General Headquarters orders the evacuation of the Riga area.
August 21st (September 3rd .n.s.)
Kornilov surrenders Riga to the Germans.
August 23rd (September 5th n.s.)
“Third Zimmerwald” Conference opens in Stockholm.
General strike in Italy demanding “Bread and Peace.” Bloody collisions between Italian workers and troops.
August 24th (September 6th n.s.)
Savinkov consults Kornilov on the question of dispatching a cavalry corps to Petrograd.
The Bolshevik paper Proletarii prohibited.
August 25th (September 7th n.s.)
First number of the Bolshevik paper Rabochii (Worker) appears. Kornilov troops begin to advance on Petrograd.
August 26th (September 8th n.s.)
Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party calls for the organisation of squads of armed workers in Petrograd, Moscow and other cities.
August 28th (September 10th n.s.)
Cadet Ministers resign.
August 30th (September 12th n.s.)
Lenin writes a letter to the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party on the tactics of the Party in connection with the Kornilov revolt.
General Krymov arrested. Kornilov revolt suppressed.
Savinkov resigns.
Kerensky appointed Supreme Commander.
August 31st (September 13th n.s.)
Petrograd Soviet adopts a Bolshevik resolution.
Minsk trade union organisations resolve to form a Red Guard.
“Committees for the Protection of the Revolution” formed in Vyatka, Lugansk and other cities.
General Krymov commits suicide.
September 1st (14th n.s.)
Directorate formed consisting of Kerensky, Nikitin, Tereshchenko, Verkhovsky and Verderevsky.
Provisional Government proclaims Russia a republic.
Conference of Bolsheviks from the region and the front opens in Minsk.
Kerensky issues an order to the army and navy prohibiting “self-formed” detachments on the pretext of combating counter-revolutionary actions.
Red Guard formed in Kronstadt.
September 3rd (16th n.s.)
The first number of the Bolshevik newspaper Rabochii Put (Workers’ Way) appears containing an article by Stalin, “The Crisis and the Directorate.”
September 4th (17th n.s.)
The crew of the torpedo boat Gnyevny passes a resolution demanding the transfer of the entire power to the Soviets.
Kerensky orders the dissolution of the committees and organisations created to combat Kornilov.
September 5th (18th n.s.)
A congress of Soviets of Central Siberia opens in Krasnoyarsk and supports the Bolshevik slogans.
The Moscow Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies calls for the conquest of power by the revolutionary proletariat and peasantry. Decides to form a Red Guard.
Palchinsky publishes an order for the compulsory registration of all firearms by September 20.
September 8th (21st n.s.)
The workers’ section of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies elects a Bolshevik presidium.
September 10th (23rd n.s.)
General Dukhonin appointed Chief-of-Staff of the Supreme Commander.
Third Regional Congress of Soviets of Finland opens under Bolshevik leadership.
Third Petrograd Conference of Factory Committees held.
September 10th-14th (23rd-27th n.s.)
Lenin writes his pamphlet, The Threatening Catastrophe and How to Combat It.
September 12th (25th n.s.)
Tashkent Soviet begins revolutionary action against the Provisional Government.
September 12th-14th (25th-27th n.s.)
Lenin writes his letter to the Central Committee, the Petrograd Committee and the Moscow Committee of the Party known as “The Bolsheviks Must Take Power.”
September 13th (26th n.s.)
Peasant revolts in the Kishinev Province.
September 13th-14th (26th-27th n.s.)
Lenin writes his letter to the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party known as “Marxism and Insurrection.”
September 14th (27th n.s.)
Peasant revolts in the Tambov Province. Punitive expedition sent from Moscow.
Formation of staffs of the Red Guard completed in all the districts of Petrograd.
The Democratic Conference opens in Petrograd.
September 15th (28th n.s.)
Unrest in the Orel garrison.
Kerensky wires Tashkent announcing the dispatch of a punitive expedition.
First North Western Regional Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens in Minsk.
September 17th (30th n.s.)
Lenin removes from Helsingfors to Vyborg in order to keep in closer touch with Petrograd.
An article by Stalin entitled “All Power to the Soviets!” appears in Rabochii Put, No. 13.
September 19th (October 2nd n.s.)
The Moscow Soviet of Workers’ Deputies elects a Bolshevik Executive Committee.
Agrarian disorders in the Taganrog area.
September 21st (October 4th n.s.)
Democratic Conference decides to form a Pre-parliament.
The Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies adopts a resolution expressing hostility to the Democratic Conference.
The Odessa Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies resolves to organise a Red Guard.
The Central Committee of the All-Russian Union of Railwaymen resolves to declare a general strike to begin at midnight on September 23.
September 22nd (October 5th n.s.)
The Democratic Conference closes.
The Central Strike Committee of the railwaymen’s union proclaims a national strike of railwaymen.
Congress of the French Socialist Party opens in Bordeaux.
September 24th (October 7th n.s.)
Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party holds joint meeting with the Bolshevik delegates to the Democratic Conference.
An article by Lenin entitled “The Heroes of the Swindle,” dealing with the Democratic Conference, printed in Rabochii Put, No. 19.
The Third Moscow District Conference of the Bolshevik Party opens.
September 25th (October 8th n.s.)
Donbas industrialists resolve to declare a general lockout in answer to the demands of the workers.
Third, and last, coalition government formed.
September 26th (October 9th n.s.)
Bolshevik Central Committee issues an appeal on the railway strike entitled “Help the Railwaymen!”
September 27th (October 10th n.s.)
General strike begins in the Baku oilfields.
August-September
Lenin writes his book, The State and Revolution (published in 1918).
October 1st (14th n.s.)
Lenin writes his pamphlet, Can the Bolsheviks Retain State Power?
October 3rd (16th n.s.)
The Second Baltic Fleet Congress demands Kerensky’s immediate removal from the Provisional Government.
Strikes in various parts of the country.
October 4th (17th n.s.)
Peasant revolts in the Kursk, Penza and Ryazan Provinces.
October 5th (18th n.s.)
A congress of the Lettish Riflemen of the Twelfth Army in Venden, supported by a meeting of 5,000 soldiers and workers, resolves resolutely to combat the counter-revolutionary Provisional Government under the slogan, “All Power to the Soviets!”
October 6th (19th n.s.)
A conference of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies of the Petrograd Province, held in Kronstadt, resolves to refuse to support the Provisional Government and to fight for the power of the Soviets.
October 7th (20th n.s.)
An article by Lenin, entitled “The Crisis Has Matured” appears in Rabochii Put, No. 30.
October 8th (21st n.s.)
Lenin writes his article, “Advice of an Onlooker.”
October 9th (22nd n.s.)
A meeting of several thousands of workers of the Obukhov Works demands the overthrow of the bourgeois government and establishment of the power of the Soviets.
October 10th (23rd n.s.)
Meeting of the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. (Bolsheviks) held, attended by Lenin. Lenin’s resolution to the effect that armed insurrection must be placed on the order of the day adopted with only two dissentient votes (Kamenev’s and Zinoviev’s).
Political Bureau consisting of seven persons elected.
October 11th (24th n.s.)
Congress of Soviets of the Northern Region opens in Petrograd.
October 12th (25th n.s.)
Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet resolves to form a Revolutionary Military Committee.
The Second Conference of Public Men opens in Moscow under the chairmanship of Rodzyanko.
October 13th (26th n.s.)
The formation of a Workers’ Guard department of the Petrograd Soviet announced.
October 14th (27th n.s.)
New Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Minsk Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies, consisting exclusively of Bolsheviks, elected.
Martial law declared by the Provisional Government in a number of districts of the Podolsk Province where peasant revolts are rife.
October 15th (28th n.s.)
The Soviets of a number of cities declare in favour of the immediate transfer of power to the Soviets.
October 16th (29th n.s.)
A meeting of the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. (Bolsheviks) and representatives from the Party organisations discusses the question of armed insurrection. Resolution proposed by Lenin, advocating preparations for armed insurrection, adopted. Kamenev and Zinoviev vote against Lenin’s resolution.
A practical centre for guiding the organisation of the insurrection elected, consisting of Stalin, Sverdlov, Dzerzhinsky, Bubnov and Uritsky.
October 16th-l7th (29th-30th n.s.)
Lenin writes “A Letter to the Comrades” subjecting Zinoviev’s and Kamenev’s objections to the insurrection to devastating criticism.
October 18th (31st n.s.)
Treachery of Zinoviev and Kamenev. Kamenev publishes a statement in Novaya Zhizn, No. 156, in his own name and that of Zinoviev declaring that “in the given circumstances” they are opposed to “any attempt to assume the initiative of the armed insurrection.”
Forewarned by the traitors, Zinoviev and Kamenev, the Provisional Government resolves to take measures against the expected action of the Bolsheviks.
Lenin writes “A Letter to the Members of the Bolshevik Party,” exposing the treachery of Zinoviev and Kamenev.
October 19th (November 1st n.s.)
Provisional Government troops wreck the Kaluga Soviet. The Kaluga Garrison, sympathetic to the Bolsheviks, offers armed resistance.
Lenin writes “A Letter to the Central Committee of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks),” demanding the expulsion of Zinoviev and Kamenev from the Party.
October 20th (November 2nd n.s.)
Lenin writes an article entitled “A New Fraud Practised on the Peasants by the Socialist-Revolutionary Party.”
October 22nd (November 4th n.s.)
Huge meetings in preparation for insurrection held in Petrograd on “Petrograd Soviet Day.”
The cruiser Aurora receives orders from the Soviet not to leave Petrograd.
October 23rd (November 5th n.s.)
The Revolutionary Military Committee appoints its commissars to the military units and to the key positions in Petrograd and its environs.
The Provisional Government resolves to shut down the Rabochii Put and the Soldat and immediately to arrest the Bolsheviks who took part in the events of July 3-4.
October 24th (November 6th n.s.)
All the junker schools put into a state of military readiness.
The Provisional Government orders an investigation into the activities of the Revolutionary Military Committee.
The Aurora is ordered to leave Petrograd.
The staff of the Military Area publishes an order for the dismissal and trial of the commissars of the Revolutionary Military Committee appointed to the military units. Junkers occupy the key positions in the city. The bridges are raised and telephone communication with the Petrograd Soviet cut off.
The Revolutionary Military Committee resumes the publication of the Rabochii Put and the Soldat forbidden by the Provisional Government.
Upon orders of the Revolutionary Military Committee, all military units are put into a state of military readiness.
All day arms are issued from the arsenal of the Fortress of Peter and Paul to military units and the Red Guard.
The Aurora is ordered by the Revolutionary Military Committee to lower the bridges across the Neva.
The Revolutionary Military Committee assumes the offensive.
In the evening Lenin arrives at the Smolny.
[1] All dates are Old Style.
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