The July Days, 1917

What were the July Days in Russia?

The July Days were a period of social, economic and political upheaval in Russia while the Provisional Government was in power.

When were the July Days in Russia?

The July Days happened between 3rd and 7th July, 1917.

Why did the July Days happen in Russia?

There were 3 key reasons for the July Days uprising:

• ❖ Bread rationing was brought in by the Provisional Government due to shortages in March 1917. By July these food shortages had worsened.
• ❖ The June Offensive had totally failed and people were war weary.
• ❖ The Bolsheviks, under Lenin, had very successful anti-Provisional Government propaganda.

What happened during the July Days in Russia?

There were 6 key events during the July Days uprising:

• ❖ Workers, soldiers and Kronstadt sailors protested in Petrograd.
• ❖ The Bolshevik Party organised riots. The crowds used the Bolshevik slogans of 'Peace, Bread and Land', and 'All Power to the Soviets'.
• ❖ The Petrograd Soviet rejected a demand for them to take control.
• ❖ The Provisional Government, with the help of loyal troops, cleared the streets and regained control.
• ❖ Bolshevik leaders, including Trotsky, were rounded up and 800 members were arrested and imprisoned.
• ❖ Lenin fled to Finland and the reputation of the Bolsheviks was in tatters.

Who was involved with the July Days In Russia?

The protests during the July Days involved the following groups: revolutionaries, sailors, soldiers, Bolsheviks and workers.

What were the results of the July Days in Russia?

There were 3 key results of the July Days:

• ❖ The Provisional Government's reputation was restored.
• ❖ The opponents of the Provisional Government were imprisoned or had fled abroad, e.g. Lenin.
• ❖ Kerensky became the leader of the Provisional Government and worked with the Kadets and Socialists.

How did the July Days affect the course of the First World War in Russia?

The July Days were significant on the outcome of the war on the Eastern Front for 3 reasons:

• ❖ This period proved that the Bolsheviks were now the group that spoke for the regular soldiers and sailors.
• ❖ Up to now the soldiers with the most political influence had been those in Petrograd. However, Bolshevik propaganda and Marxist ideas were becoming more prevalent with the troops at the front.
• ❖ Desertions from the front were increasing as experienced troops had been replaced with peasant conscripts with low morale.