Kerensky Orders an Offensive

One hundred years ago today, plus three, Alexander Kerensky, Social Revolutionary and Minister of War in the Coalition Government, ordered the Russian Army, whose private soldiers were largely conscripted peasants, to undertake an offensive all along the front against the armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary. He and his bourgeois friends in the cabinet were about the only people who thought this was a good idea.

Read about it here. Or read the whole chapter on the June Demonstration here. Or read the whole story from the beginning by following this link.

Pravda Calls for Protest

One hundred years ago today, plus three, Pravda, the Bolshevik party newspaper, marked the party’s place to the left of the other socialist parties by calling for demonstrations against the Coalition Government, in which those other parties happened to be participating.

See what success the Bolsheviks had here. Or read the whole chapter on the June Demonstration here. Or read the whole story from the beginning by following this link.

Congress of Soviets

One hundred years ago today, plus three, the All-Russia Congress of Soviets, first of its kind in the aftermath of the February Revolution, convened in Petrograd. People should understand that a soviet was not based on a geographic unit or a subdivision of the state, but rather, in good socialist form, on an economic unit such as a factory, industry, or agricultural region. And that the members were chosen democratically.

Read about it here. Or read the whole chapter on the June Demonstration here. Or read the whole story from the beginning by following this link.

The Root Mission

One hundred years ago today, plus three, the United States having added itself to the line-up of countries involved in the clash of imperialists on the previous April 7, the mission of Elihu Root from President Woodrow Wilson to the Provisional Government of Russia was in Petrograd. Root promised American loans, but only if Russia stayed in the fight against Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Read about it here. Or read the whole chapter on the coalition government here. Or read the whole story from the beginning by following this link.