HISTORY OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 1: Russia’s Path to February Revolution of 1917 (1905-1917) - Leon Trotsky

The History of the Russian Revolution - Leon Trotsky - HQ Full Book.

Part 1 (Vol. I Chapt. 1-6): Russia’s Path to February Revolution of 1917 (1905-1917).

Dive into the riveting world of revolutionary history with the "Secrets of Power" podcast, where we unravel the profound insights from Leon Trotsky's masterpiece, The History of the Russian Revolution. In this captivating series, we delve into Volume 1, Part 1, spanning the Preface and Chapters 1 through 6. Trotsky, a central figure in the Bolshevik uprising, offers an unparalleled Marxist analysis of the events that toppled the centuries-old Tsarist autocracy in 1917.

Preface
In the preface to The History of the Russian Revolution, Leon Trotsky outlines his approach to documenting the dramatic transformation of Russia from a Romanov monarchy in early 1917 to Bolshevik rule by year's end, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of this shift in a nation of 150 million. He asserts that the history of a revolution must explain what happened and why, adhering to its own laws rather than moral preconceptions. Trotsky highlights the masses' direct interference in historical events as a defining feature, breaking barriers to create a new regime, driven by class conflicts and rapid psychological changes within classes. He argues that revolutions stem from the masses' inability to endure the old order, with political programs emerging through successive approximations and growing leftward pressure, though reactions occur when movements face obstacles. Trotsky stresses the importance of studying mass consciousness to understand the roles of parties and leaders, likening mass energy to steam and organizational guidance to a piston-box. He clarifies that his work relies on verified documents, not personal recollections, and maintains a historical objectivity based on factual analysis rather than impartiality, using sources like the Essays on the History of the October Revolution. Dates are given in the old style calendar to preserve historical context.

Chapter 1: Peculiarities of Russia’s Development
In Chapter 1, "Peculiarities of Russia’s Development," Trotsky highlights Russia’s slow historical and economic development, marked by backwardness, primitive social forms, and low cultural levels, due to its vast, austere plain and struggles with nomads and harsh climate. Unlike Western Europe, which built on Roman ruins and developed commercial cities, Russia’s expansion diluted social differentiation, with active elements becoming traders or Cossacks rather than burghers. Russia, positioned between Europe and Asia, experienced the Tartar yoke and Western pressures, leading to an incomplete feudalism with Asiatic despotism traits, reinforced by serfdom lasting until 1861. Trotsky discusses the "privilege of historic backwardness," allowing Russia to adopt advanced technologies, skipping stages, resulting in a combined development of archaic and modern forms. This is evident in rapid industrial growth, with giant enterprises dominating, yet agriculture remained backward, and foreign capital controlled much of industry, giving Russia a semi-colonial character. The bourgeoisie, tied to foreign interests, was politically isolated, unable to lead, while the proletariat, formed from rural roots, was receptive to revolutionary ideas, setting the stage for future upheavals.

Chapter 2: Tsarist Russia in the War
World War I significantly strained Tsarist Russia, exposing its economic and military weaknesses. Russia's war aims, such as control over the Turkish Straits and Galicia, were secondary to the global imperialist ambitions of the major powers, reflecting Russia's semi-colonial status. The Russian bourgeoisie acted as an agent for foreign imperialism, benefiting from alliances while exploiting weaker nations. The Tsarist army, modernized only superficially, struggled against advanced European forces, relying on vast spaces and poor infrastructure rather than military prowess. Early in the war, Russia faced defeats, retreating in 1915, with generals blaming civilians and resorting to harsh measures like flogging soldiers. The war effort revealed industrial and logistical failures, with shortages of munitions and transportation, deepening dependence on allies. Mobilizing around 15 million men, Russia suffered about 5.5 million casualties, leading to widespread desertion and morale collapse. The war exacerbated internal discontent, with soldiers and civilians weary of conflict, setting the stage for revolutionary unrest. Liberal opposition, fearing social revolution, sought compromises with the monarchy, but Tsarist resistance to reform further destabilized the regime.

Chapter 3: The Proletariat and the Peasantry
In Chapter 3 of "The History of the Russian Revolution," Leon Trotsky examines the roles and interactions of the proletariat and peasantry during the revolutionary period. The Russian proletariat, concentrated in large enterprises and facing intense governmental persecution, developed political strikes as a primary method of struggle, especially evident in the strike figures from 1903 to 1917, with a peak of 1,843,000 participants in 1905. These strikes, often surpassing Western European scales, became the "battering ram" against absolutism, given the weakness of petty bourgeois democracy and the scattered peasant movement. The peasantry, burdened by the agrarian crisis and land shortages, sought to expand their holdings at the expense of landlords, a tension heightened by Stolypin's 1906 reform promoting capitalist farming among richer peasants. This reform, however, failed to resolve peasant discontent, as land statistics underscored the disparity, with 70 million dessiatins owned by 30,000 great landlords. The proletariat, despite being a minority, led the peasant revolution, a unique historical combination of a peasant war and proletarian insurrection, essential for the 1917 Soviet state, as the bourgeoisie could not solve the agrarian problem.

Chapter 4: The Tsar and the Tsarina
Chapter 4 of Leon Trotsky's "The History of the Russian Revolution" examines the personal and political characteristics of Nicholas II and Alexandra, the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia. Nicholas II, inheriting a vast empire and an impending revolution, displayed a profound indifference and lack of capability to govern, marked by a diary reflecting mundane activities amidst national crises, such as dissolving the Duma without emotional response. His fatalism and weak will, often mistaken for self-restraint, stemmed from spiritual emptiness, making him cruel in a passive, cowardly manner, approving violent suppressions. Politically, he recoiled from gifted individuals, preferring mediocrity, and maintained a narrow outlook influenced by reactionary media, leading to ineffective governance. Alexandra, a German princess, fiercely embraced Russian autocracy, supplementing Nicholas's weakness with her strong, inflexible character. She dominated internal affairs, especially during the war, opposing liberal reforms and advocating for autocratic control, as seen in her letters urging Nicholas to assert dominance. Intellectually limited, she sought simple company, notably with Vyrubova, and was heavily influenced by Rasputin, whose opinions superseded state decisions, reflecting the court's medieval, superstitious atmosphere amidst a modernizing Russia. Together, they embodied a regressive monarchy facing revolutionary pressures.

Chapter 5: The Idea of a Palace Revolution
In Chapter 5 Leon Trotsky examines the idea of a palace revolution as a potential means for the ruling classes to avert a broader state revolution. The possessing classes, though monarchist by interest and habit, sought a monarchy without Rasputin, but the monarchy insisted on maintaining its current form, rejecting demands for a decent ministry. The Tsarina, influenced by superstition, resisted constitutional changes, urging the Tsar to emulate autocratic rulers like Peter the Great. The upper circles, including nobility and bureaucracy, were marked by fear and division, with mysticism and distrust isolating the Tsar's family. Rumors of Germanophilism and treason, particularly against the Tsarina, fueled discontent, with some believing a separate peace was sought. Discussions of a palace coup emerged, involving figures like General Krymov and liberal capitalists Guchkov and Tereshchenko, but lacked resolution and practical planning. The murder of Rasputin by Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich and others was seen as a desperate act to save the dynasty, yet it sharpened the crisis rather than resolving it, highlighting the ruling classes' inability to act decisively against the monarchy, ultimately paving the way for the February revolution.

Chapter 6: The Death Agony of the Monarchy
Chapter 6 details the final crises leading to the fall of the Tsarist regime. Czar Nicholas II, isolated at Moghilev headquarters, initially dismissed reports of Petrograd disorders, influenced by the czarina's calls for firmness. As strikes and military mutinies escalated, the government, led by the ineffective Prince Golytsin, proved incapable of response, with ministers hiding and resigning. On February 27, Rodzianko warned of the dynasty's fate, but Nicholas remained detached, later attempting to send troops to suppress the rebellion. The czarina eventually conceded the need for concessions as troops defected. Nicholas's train was blocked by railroad workers, symbolizing revolutionary control. Generals, fearing their troops, urged abdication, and on March 2, Nicholas abdicated in favor of his brother, Mikhail, after initially considering his son. The monarchy's collapse was marked by internal betrayal, with officials swiftly aligning with the revolution, ending a reign of misfortune and repression.