Petrograd Soviet

What was the Petrograd Soviet?

The Petrograd Soviet was a council of workers' and soldiers' deputies in Russia.

When was the Petrograd Soviet formed?

The Petrograd Soviet was formed on 12th March, 1917.

Who was the founder of the Petrograd Soviet?

The Petrograd Soviet was formed by Leon Trotsky.

Who were the members of the Petrograd Soviet?

The leaders of the Soviet were a mix of radical socialists, Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries but also a small number of Bolsheviks. The leadership included Trotsky and Kerensky, who was also a member of the Provisional Government.

Why was the Petrograd Soviet created?

The Petrograd Soviet was set up because of the massive unrest in Petrograd. Tsar Nicholas II's government was collapsing and soldiers declared their support for the revolution.

Why was the Petrograd Soviet important?

The Petrograd Soviet was important for 4 key reasons:

• ❖ It shared power with the Provisional Government, called the dual authority or dual power, between March 1917 and October 1917.
• ❖ It issued Order Number 1 on 1st March which stated the armed forces should only obey the orders of the Soviet. It should not obey the Provisional Government if orders from that organisation contradicted or undermined those of the Soviet.
• ❖ It organised the defence of Petrograd during the Kornilov Revolt in August 1917, using the Red Guard after the Provisional Government gave them weapons.
• ❖ Trotsky used the Petrograd Soviet to help plan the October Revolution.

In what ways was the Petrograd Soviet's impact limited?

The Petrograd Soviet's impact was limited in 4 key ways:

• ❖ It was reluctant to take power because there were so many problems in Russia which would be incredibly difficult to solve. They did not want to take responsibility for failing to solve these problems.
• ❖ The Mensheviks in the Petrograd Soviet believed in a socialist revolution but they did not think that Russia was ready for the revolution yet. Therefore, they wanted to fully industrialise first and have a phase where it was controlled by the bourgeoisie or upper class.
• ❖ The Petrograd Soviet was prepared to support the Provisional Government because it represented the upper class and, by supporting it, the Petrograd Soviet appeared to not prioritise the needs of the workers.
• ❖ It did not want to weaken the Provisional Government because they feared the tsar would regain power.

What was the impact of the Petrograd Soviet on the First World War in Russia?

The Petrograd Soviet was significant in undermining the ability of the Russian Army to continue to fight the war. It spoke for the regular soldiers and sailors. They now had an alternative leadership to listen to and follow.