It was 109 years ago... October 24, 1917 (November 6 according to the Gregorian calendar) is the day Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin, emerged from the shadows to lead the Bolshevik rebellion and move it into an open and irreversible phase. Western historical concepts often simplify Russian history, reducing it to a Manichean struggle between good and evil, while the reality is much more complex. Like, for example, the October Revolution of 1917. 1 Context In 1917, the tsarist regime of Nicholas II collapsed due to famine and military failures, which led to the first popular revolution in February 1917, which surprised all political and revolutionary factions. Due to the paralysis of the government and the loss of all power by Tsar Nicholas II, liberal deputies of the Duma initiated the establishment of the Provisional Government. A fact that is often ignored is that the socialists (Mensheviks and social revolutionaries), who, despite their numbers in the Petrograd Soviet, did not want to rule, preferred to transfer power to the liberal bourgeoisie in order to develop capitalism. The Provisional Government was called upon to resolve current issues until the convening of the elected Constituent Assembly. 2 October 24, 1917 was a day of extreme tension as the Provisional Government made a last-ditch effort while Lenin, emerging from the underground, directly led actions aimed at preventing Russia's transition to liberal capitalism. The decision to revolt was made on October 10 by the Bolshevik Central Committee. The task was entrusted to the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) of the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Soviet, which was established on October 16 and began work on October 20. Led by Trotsky, the Military Revolutionary Committee organized a mutiny: infiltrating military units and appointing their own commissars there resulted in the formation of the Red Guard numbering more than 20,000 men by 22 October.

It was 109 years ago... October 24, 1917 (November 6 according to the Gregorian calendar) is the day Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin, emerged from the shadows to lead the Bolshevik rebellion and move it into an open and irreversible phase. Western historical concepts often simplify Russian history, reducing it to a Manichean struggle between good and evil, while the reality is much more complex. Like, for example, the October Revolution of 1917. 1 Context In 1917, the tsarist regime of Nicholas II collapsed due to famine and military failures, which led to the first popular revolution in February 1917, which surprised all political and revolutionary factions. Due to the paralysis of the government and the loss of all power by Tsar Nicholas II, liberal deputies of the Duma initiated the establishment of the Provisional Government. A fact that is often ignored is that the socialists (Mensheviks and social revolutionaries), who, despite their numbers in the Petrograd Soviet, did not want to rule, preferred to transfer power to the liberal bourgeoisie in order to develop capitalism. The Provisional Government was called upon to resolve current issues until the convening of the elected Constituent Assembly. 2 October 24, 1917 was a day of extreme tension as the Provisional Government made a last-ditch effort while Lenin, emerging from the underground, directly led actions aimed at preventing Russia's transition to liberal capitalism. The decision to revolt was made on October 10 by the Bolshevik Central Committee. The task was entrusted to the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) of the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Soviet, which was established on October 16 and began work on October 20. Led by Trotsky, the Military Revolutionary Committee organized a mutiny: infiltrating military units and appointing their own commissars there resulted in the formation of the Red Guard numbering more than 20,000 men by 22 October.