February Revolution

February Revolution
Conflict	February Revolution
Partof	the Russian Revolution and the World War I
Date	8–16 March 1917 (O.S. 23 Feb – 3 Mar)
Place	Petrograd, Russian Empire
Result	Revolutionary victory
Combatant1	* Russian Empire * Provisional Government
Combatant2	* Petrograd Soviet * Revolutionaries * Mutinous army units
Commander1	* Nicholas II * Mikhail Rodzianko * Nikolai Golitsyn * Sergey Khabalov
Commander2	* Alexander Kerensky * Nikolay Chkheidze * Mikhail Tereshchenko * Vladimir Lenin (in exile)

February Revolution. The February Revolution was the first of two revolutions in the Russian Empire in 1917. It centered on the capital, Petrograd, and led to the collapse of the centuries-old Romanov dynasty. The uprising resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of a Provisional Government, sharing power with the Petrograd Soviet.

Background and causes

The revolution's roots lay in deep-seated discontent exacerbated by World War I. The Russian Empire's military suffered catastrophic defeats at battles like Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes, leading to massive casualties and plummeting morale. On the home front, Petrograd and other cities like Moscow faced severe food and fuel shortages due to inefficient rail transport and poor management by the Council of Ministers. Political authority was further undermined by the influence of Grigori Rasputin over the Tsarina, eroding the legitimacy of Tsar Nicholas II. Widespread strikes had occurred before, such as the Lena massacre, and opposition grew from groups like the Kadets and the Socialist Revolutionary Party.

Course of the revolution

The revolution began spontaneously on International Women's Day (O.S. 23 February) with demonstrations by women in Petrograd demanding bread. These protests quickly escalated, merging with striking workers from the Putilov Factory and other industrial districts like the Vyborgsky District. Key events included the defection of the Volynsky Regiment, followed by the Preobrazhensky Regiment and the Lithuanian Regiment, which turned the protest into an armed insurrection. The garrison commander, General Sergey Khabalov, failed to quell the uprising. Revolutionaries seized critical infrastructure, including the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Main Admiralty, and battled police in the Nevsky Prospect.

Abdication of Nicholas II

As the revolt paralyzed Petrograd, Tsar Nicholas II, at Mogilev at Stavka, attempted to return to the capital. His train was halted at Pskov by order of the State Duma chairman, Mikhail Rodzianko. Faced with unanimous advice from his military commanders, including Generals Mikhail Alekseyev and Nikolai Ruzsky, and the loss of support from the army high command, the Tsar abdicated on 2 March (O.S.). Initially intending the throne for his son, Tsarevich Alexei, he ultimately abdicated in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Michael.

Formation of the Provisional Government

Concurrently, the State Duma defied the Tsar's order to dissolve and formed a Provisional Committee, led by Mikhail Rodzianko. This committee negotiated the Tsar's abdication and formed the Provisional Government. Georgy Lvov became Minister-Chairman, with key posts going to figures like Pavel Milyukov of the Kadets as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Alexander Guchkov of the Octobrists as Minister of War. The new government's authority was immediately challenged, as it shared power with the newly formed Petrograd Soviet.

Dual power and the Petrograd Soviet

A system of Dual Power emerged, where the official Provisional Government coexisted with the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. The Soviet, led by Mensheviks like Nikolay Chkheidze and Irakli Tsereteli, and Socialist Revolutionaries, held de facto control over the military through its famous Order No. 1, which undermined officer authority. Key figures like Alexander Kerensky served as a liaison, holding the position of Minister of Justice in the government while also being a Soviet vice-chairman. This unstable arrangement defined politics until the October Revolution.

Immediate aftermath and significance

The immediate aftermath saw Grand Duke Michael refuse the throne, ending the Romanov dynasty. The Provisional Government pledged to continue the war effort alongside the Allies, a decision that proved deeply unpopular. It also faced the monumental tasks of convening a Constituent Assembly and addressing land reform. The revolution freed political exiles, allowing the return of Vladimir Lenin via the German-sealed train. The power vacuum and continued social unrest set the stage for the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin, to seize power in the October Revolution, profoundly altering the course of World War I and leading to the Russian Civil War and the creation of the Soviet Union.

Category:Revolutions Category:Russian Revolution Category:1917 in Russia Category:20th-century revolutions