Reacting to the
German occupation of the Western Estonian Archipelago, the Compromisers in the
Petrograd Soviet move for the creation of a Committee of Revolutionary Defense
in the capital. The initial responsibility of the committee would be to decide
questions about transfers from the Petrograd garrison to the front, now nearer
to the capital than at any previous time in the war.
This solved a
political problem for the Bolsheviks. How could the Soviet, which they
controlled, refuse reinforcements from the garrison without appearing to have
betrayed the soldiers at the front? The motion by the Compromisers put the onus
of the decision on them.
The Compromisers
were nevertheless a little surprised when the Bolsheviks supported the motion.
A bit more parliamentary work would be required before the committee became a
reality. In the end, it became a formidable tool, Trotsky says the “chief
lever,” of the October Revolution.
At the same
meeting Trotsky gave his report on the withdrawal of the Bolsheviks from the
Pre-Parliament. He concluded, pretty unambiguously, “Long live the direct and
open struggle for revolutionary power!”
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