1917: Communism — a New World Religion

Abstract

In October 1917 the pent-up fury, misery and grievances of generations of Russians erupted in a bloody revolution. The revolution began innocently enough on 8 March 1917 with a peaceful women’s march through Petrograd (St Petersburg) against bread rationing. The women were joined by other dissidents in an anti-government demonstration. On 10 March there were strikes in many parts of the city. Attempts to break the strikes by military force failed. On 11 March troops of the Petrograd garrison mutinied and joined the uprising. On 12 March, in a vast explosion of feeling, the people of Petrograd took to the streets. Unplanned, unforeseen and uncoordinated, the revolution was underway. This time, unlike the earlier uprising of 1905, which had followed Russia’s defeat by Japan, nothing could stem it. Panic seized the city. In an attempt to restore order, the Duma¹ formed a Provisional Government. On 15 March Tsar Nicholas, who was hurrying back to the capital from the front, was forced to abdicate.² The 300-year-old Romanov dynasty died.