Answer:
(1) The Bolsheviks Came Back
During Tsar Nicholas’ rule, leaders who were against his autocratic ways were either arrested and imprisoned (like Josef Stalin) or they just “disappear” or escape — and usually become exiles in other countries (like Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky).
So, when Tsar Nicholas abdicated, these leaders came back to Petrograd.
Joseph Stalin: Police Mugshot
12 March 1917 — Joseph Stalin was released from a prison camp in Siberia as part of the Provisional Government’s promise to free all “political prisoners”. After his release he immediately joined the editorial board of Pravda, the Bolshevik propaganda-newspaper.
Vladimir Lenin
16 April 1917 — Vladimir Lenin came back from Switzerland and assumed leadership of the Bolsheviks. He proclaimed total opposition to the Provisional Government of Kerensky — a warning of more troubles ahead for the government.
Leon Trotsky
4 May 1917 — Leon Trotsky arrives in Russia after being exiled in New York. At the first Council of Soviets, he was elected as a member of the powerful All-Russian Central Executive Committee (comprising of other leaders from soldiers and workers groups involved in the February Revolution).
(2) Kerensky’s Can’t Stop The War
The shortage of basic supplies (food and fuel) was one of the reasons why the people revolted against Tsar Nicholas in February 1917 and the same reason why demonstrations continued in Russia.
Most of these supplies were being sent to the Russian Army in the Eastern Front who were still fighting against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Why did Kerensky continue to support the war effort even if it caused sufferering for the Russian people?
- Russia still had an obligation as a member of the Entente Powers to support France and Britain militarily, in exchange of vital supplies being sent to Russia by France and Britain. Less supplies mean more suffering for the people.
- Kerensky feared that if Russia surrendered, Germany would ask for large Russian territories as the price for peace.
- Kerensky was hoping for a victory in the battlefield to boost the morale of the Russian Army, some of whom already joined the February Revolution because of disgust towards Russia’s failing military strategy.
Poster by the Provisional Government promoting the Kerensky Offensive
Instead of negotiating for peace, the Provisional Government launched “The Kerensky Offensive” against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Army (16 June-1 July 1917).
It was a total failure.
Russian troops, for the most part, refused to obey orders. Soldiers’ committees (formed during the February Revolution) discussed whether the officers should be followed or not. Even when a division did not flatly refuse to fight, no orders were obeyed without preliminary discussion by the divisional committee, and even when the latter decided to obey orders it was usually too late to be of any use.
(3) Kerensky Can’t Stop the Demonstrations
Government soldiers shooting at "July Days"-demonstrators
When the news of the failed offensive reached the capital Petrograd, it caused the spontaneous demonstrations by soldiers calling for peace. Later the soldiers were joined by workers (16 July 1917).
The Bolsheviks joined the demontrations and tried to keep it organised and peaceful. 500,000 soldiers and workers were on the streets by 17 July 1917. Their call for peace changed to a demand: “All Power to the Soviets”.
Historians call this the “July Days”.
The demonstration spiraled into violence when angry mobs stated attacking army officers and people who look “bourgeois”.
The government’s response was to send in troops to stop the demonstrations. A total of 700 people were shot, killed and wounded.
Later, Trotsky was arrested again and Lenin escaped to Finland with the help of Stalin who temporarily took over as leader of the Bolsheviks.
HYSTERICAL HISTORY 