In 1917, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (alias Lenin) seized control of Russia in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, and created the Soviet Union.
His slogan, “All power to the Soviets!”
Background
Russia entered World War I in August 1914 in support of the Serbs and their French and British allies. Militarily, imperial Russia was no match for modern, industrialized Germany.
Lenin advocated for Russian defeat in World War I, arguing that it would hasten the political revolution he desired. Hoping that Lenin could further destabilize their foe, the Germans arranged for Lenin and other Russian revolutionaries living in exile in Europe to return to Russia.
When Lenin returned home to Russia in April 1917, the Russian Revolution was already beginning. Strikes over food shortages in March had forced the abdication of the inept Czar Nicholas II, ending centuries of imperial rule.
Russia came under the command of a Provisional Government, which opposed violent social reform and continued Russian involvement in World War I.
While the war continued, food and shortages hit Russia severely weakening the people’s moral. They no longer wanted to be involved in the war. This lead to a gap in leadership power as the people could no longer trust their government. Lenin saw this opportunity and secretly organized factory workers, peasants, soldiers and sailors into Red Guards – a volunteer paramilitary force. On November 7 and 8, 1917, Red Guards captured Provisional Government buildings in a bloodless coup d’état.
The Bolsheviks seized power of the government and proclaimed Soviet rule, making Lenin leader of the world’s first communist state.
