October: Ten Days That Shook the World is also the name of a Soviet silent film Classic premiered in 1928 by Sergei Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov. It is sometimes referred to simply as  October in English.

    It is a celebratory dramatization of the 1917 October Revolution. The title is taken from the American journalist John Reed's book ( Ten Days that Shook the World) on the October

Revolution, which Reed experienced firsthand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuKK1Sfolng

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONAOS2 CREATING A NEW SOCIETY

Establishing the dictatorship of Bolsheviks

PART 1: The Sovnarkom and the Cheka

Learning intention: Understand how the Bolshevik’s established a

dictatoriship

• Explain what the Sovnarkon was and the role it played in establishing a Bolshevik dictatorship

• Identify how the Cheka contributed to the establishment on a Bolshevik dictatorship

Problems facing the new Government

Despite the October coup and consequent ten days of seizing power, the Bolsheviks were faced with various problems:

•The ongoing war•Economic problems•A diverse population of Soviet representatives•Not holding general popular support•The promise of a Constituent Assembly

Establishing control

October 24th: Petrograd Takeover

Generally straight forward Bolshevik takeover (disguised as Soviet

takeover)

October 25th: Support of Second Congress of

Soviets

Lenin and Trotsky convinced members it was a Soviet coup (not a Bolshevik coup), though many were sceptical. The power of the Soviets was considerable, so Lenin

and Trotksy had to be cautious

October 31st : ‘Soviet’ seizure of Moscow.

After several violent days of artillery and street fighting, Soviets had a tenuous control over Moscow

Sovnarkom: Dismantling the Old Regime

•Announced at the Congress of Soviets (25 October 1917):Bolsheviks referred to themselves as ‘Government of People’s Commissars’Ministers became ‘People’s commissars’Cabinet became ‘Sovnarkom’

•Sovnarkom were 15 powerful Bolshevik leaders in control of specific departments (e.g: Lenin as Chairman, Trotsky as Commissar of Foreign Affairs)

Sovnarkom Council in

session

Sovnarkom: Dismantling the Old Regime

•Sovnarkom was intended to represent Soviets but became purely Bolshevik. This angered other revolutionary parties seeking to establish a socialist coalition

Lenin established three executive bodies:

Sovnarkom

POLITBURO:

Policy making arm of the Communist Party

ORGBURO:

Organisational arm of the Communist Party

SECRETARIAT:

Appointed people to implement decisions of the Communist Party

The Cheka‘All Russian Extraordinary Commission to Fight Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and

Speculation’

As you read this paragraph on page 150-1, underline key information

that could be used to answer the following questions:1. Describe the purpose of the Cheka.

2. Outline its growth between December 1917 and 1921.

3. Using your own knowledge, explain why Malone argues that the Cheka was ‘[p]erhaps the greatest weapon introduced by the Bolsheviks to establish political control’.

Some facts on the Cheka‘All Russian Extraordinary Commission to Fight Counter-Revolution, Sabotage and Speculation’

•15 man team established in December 1917•Initially a temporary administrative body to carry out investigations, they became a form of security police•Quickly assumed power to arrest, and were assigned armed units in January 1918•By February it was given powers of conducting trials and execution, and sought out agents of enemy spies, counter-revolutionary agitators, organisers of revolts against the Revolution, and those selling weapons to counter-revolutionaries•100,000 men by 1921

‘It was necessary to make the foe feel that there was everywhere about him a seeing eye and a heavy hand ready to come down on him the moment he

undertook anything against the Soviet Government’Dzerzhinsky, Head of Cheka, December 1917

Summary

•Despite consolidating power during and after the October Revolution, the Bolsehvik’s hold on power was tenuous•Sovnarkom replaced the old regime’s political system and gave Bolsheviks that most power in the Soviets•The Cheka was established as Lenin’s political police and was used to prevent counter-revolution