8 November 1917. Leon Trotsky

Riots in Petrograd. Live broadcast.

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Leon Trotsky

Smolny Institute, Petrograd, Russian Republic

I felt like a surgeon who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation I must wash my hands, take off my apron, and rest. Lenin was in a different position. He had just arrived from his refuge, after spending three and a half months cut off from real, practical direction.

One thing coincided with the other, and this only added to my desire to retire behind the scenes for a while. Lenin would not hear of it, however. He insisted that I take over the commissariat of the interior, saying that the most important task at the moment was to fight off a counter-revolution. I objected, and brought up, among other arguments, the question of nationality. Was it worthwhile to put into our enemies’ hands such an additional weapon as my Jewish origin?

Lenin almost lost his temper. “We are having a great international revolution. Of what importance are such trifles?” A good-humored bickering began. “No doubt the revolution is great,” I answered, “but there are still a good many fools left.” “But surely we don’t keep step with the fools?” “Probably we don’t, but sometimes one has to make some allowance for stupidity. Why create additional complications at the outset?”

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George Buchanan

4, Dvortsovaya embankment, Petrograd, Russian Republic (British Embassy)

At six o'clock yesterday evening armoured cars took up positions at all points commanding the approaches to the Winter Palace, and shortly afterwards delegates from the revolutionary committee came and demanded its unconditional surrender. See more

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Nicholas II

Tobolsk, Russian Republic

From 10 o'clock to 11 o'clock I was with Kastritsky. During the evening I said goodbye to him. He left for the Crimea. The day became nice; in the sun it was 11 degrees. For a long time I chopped firewood.

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Julius Martov

The Menshevik faction proposes that the congress pass a resolution on the need to resolve this crisis peacefully by forming an all-democratic government. To this end, the congress must appoint a delegation to hold discussions with other democratic organisations and all the socialist parties. The Menshevik-Internationalist faction proposes that the work of the congress be suspended until the results of this delegation’s efforts become clear.

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Bolshevik representatives at the City Duma joined the Congress of Soviets.

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Lev Kamenev

The Duma faction has come to win or die with the All-Russian Congress.

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Leon Trotsky

Mass insurrection doesn't need justification. It is an insurrection, not a conspiracy. We've been building up the revolutionary tension of workers and soldiers. We've been openly calling masses for an uprising, not a conspiracy... The masses have been following us, and our insurrection has been victorious. And now we hear: back down, reach an agreement. With who? I am asking you, who should we conclude this agreement with? With those pathetic groups who left the building? But we've seen all of them. No one else in Russia supports them.

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Leon Trotsky

To those who left and who are now making those suggestions, we say: "You are pathetic, you are bankrupt, your part is over! Go back to where you belong now: the trashcan of history!"

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Julius Martov

Then we are leaving!

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Smolny Institute, Petrograd, Russian Republic

Bolsheviks introduce a resolution condemning Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries for leaving.

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John Reed

We hailed a cab. “Where to?” But when we said “Smolny,” the izvoshtchikCab driver shook his head. “Niet!” said he, “there are devils and….” It was only after weary wandering that we found a driver willing to take us—and he wanted thirty rubles, and stopped two blocks away.

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33/1, Nevsky prospekt, Petrograd, Russian Republic

Mensheviks and right-wing Socialist-Revolutionaries, who had left the Congress of Soviets, together with pre-parliament members and Duma deputies, gathered in the Alexandrovsky hall of the Petrograd city duma. They formed a Committee to Save the Motherland and the Revolution, designed to unite all Anti-Bolshevik forces. American journalist John Reed attended the meeting as well.

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Smolny Institute, Petrograd, Russian Republic

Left-wing Socialist-Revolutionaries remain at the Congress, but they oppose the Bolshevik resolution.

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Петроград, Смольный

At the Congress of Soviets, the Bicycle regiment soldiers announce that they refuse to follow the orders of the Provisional Government.

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Pavel Malyantovich

Who is now in actual control of the palace - us of the Bolsheviks?

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City Duma representatives, Mensheviks who left the Congress session and right-wing Social Revolutionaries are headed to the Winter Palace.

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From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

1916: Year in Review.

in Petrograd

in Moscow