The Mensheviks opposed the government led by the Bolsheviks. Many ended up in prison or were killed. After that, they opposed the Bolsheviks from outside Russia, in exile. After the Revolution, the Bolshevik Party was called the Russian Communist Party.

The Decrees seemed to conform to the popular Bolshevik slogan “Peace, Land and Bread”, taken up by the masses during the July Days (July 1917), an uprising of workers and military forces.

Three slogans summed up the Bolshevik program: “Peace, Land, Bread,” “Worker Control of Production,” and “All Power to the Soviets.” What promises did the Bolsheviks make to the Russian people? A. By the end of October, 1917, the Bolsheviks had 240,000 members and held majorities in the Petrograd and Moscow soviets.

The Bolsheviks, on the other hand, had control of the main cities of Moscow and Petrograd (with their factories), control of the railways (vital), an army of 300,000 men, very strict army discipline, and internal lines of communication – giving them the advantage in the war.

The Bolsheviks may have taken power in the October Revolution but the hard part is hanging on to it. They negotiated the unfair Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to end Russia’s involvement in the First World War. Opposition party leaders were arrested and the Cheka was set up.

In April 1917, assisted by Germans, Lenin returned to Russia from Switzerland. At once he took control and direction over the Bolsheviks. First the Bolsheviks had to gain control of the Petrograd Soviet. Then they would take power in the name of the Soviet.

During this time, the Bolsheviks faced massive opposition to their rule in the form of the White Armies, led by former officers of the Tsarist state, and also from intervention by the forces of foreign countries. Yet, by the start of 1921, the Bolsheviks had defeated their enemies and gained a complete victory.

On 31 October 1917 (13 November, N.S), the Bolsheviks gained control of Moscow after a week of bitter street-fighting. Artillery had been freely used, with an estimated 700 casualties.

After World War II, documents discovered in the German Foreign Office seemed to confirm that Germany had financed the Bolsheviks but did not address the authenticity of the Sisson Documents. In 1956, George F. Kennan claimed that the Sisson Documents were forgeries in an article.

With Leon Trotsky as head of the Petrograd soviet, the Bolsheviks were in a position to claim power in the name of the soviets. During the night of November 6, Bolshevik forces seized the Winter Palace, the seat of the provisional government. This was largely due to the organizational genius of Leon Trotsky.

Why did the Germans facilitate V. I. Lenin’s return to Russia in April 1917? They hoped to add to the political chaos in Russia. The value of German currency was restored.

By the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia recognized the independence of Ukraine, Georgia and Finland; gave up Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary; and ceded Kars, Ardahan and Batum to Turkey.

Not only did Russia mobilize their country first, and prepare for the war in advance, but they were also apart of the Triple Entente. The Triple Entente consists of the powerful countries: England, France, and Russia. This group got stronger and stronger over the duration of World War 1.

Economically, widespread inflation and food shortages in Russia contributed to the revolution. Militarily, inadequate supplies, logistics, and weaponry led to heavy losses that the Russians suffered during World War I; this further weakened Russia’s view of Nicholas II. They viewed him as weak and unfit to rule.