The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union Episode 6 - Fumbling the Ball
Mar 13, 2025
Explore the tumultuous events of March and April 1917 that shaped the Russian Revolution. Discover the importance of Order No. 1 and its surprising impact on army morale. Unpack Lenin's strategical return to Russia and his groundbreaking April Theses. Witness the tension within the Bolsheviks as they navigated internal divisions and political challenges. A football analogy clarifies Lenin's urgency to seize the revolutionary moment. Delve into the clashes between socialist leaders and the rank-and-file over significant demonstrations.
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Order No.1 Was Misread
- Order No.1 did not authorize election of officers and insisted on military discipline during service.
- Misinterpretations fueled myths that the order alone collapsed the Russian army.
Peace Rhetoric Versus Real Policy
- The Petro-Soviet's Address called for immediate peace but not a socialist revolution.
- It mainly signaled popular demand for peace and contrasted with later pro-war government notes.
Defensism Versus Defeatism
- Revolutionary defensism framed support for one's bourgeoisie in wartime, but masked class solidarity across borders.
- Lenin's revolutionary defeatism argued workers must oppose their bourgeoisie to turn imperialist war into class struggle.
