What do you think of my [so far short] alternate history(that I hope to post later on in the finished timeline section) "Fall of the Bolsheviks"
In it(and its not fully fleshed out this is just an idea), Lenin suffers a almost completely random and fatal heart attack, sucking the Bolsheviks of much of their influence and stunning the Central Committee. Trotsky is forced to take the reigns abruptly, yet proves completely incompetent and he himself is reeling from the loss of Lenin. continuing the harsh policies(only much harsher this time), and dealing with ferocious attacks by Kerensky's forces, the Bolsheviks cave into moderate socialist demands to create a multiparty socialist state amid civil war in Petrograd, saving democracy at the last minute.
Braving the storm of civil war, the Moderates, led by an SR majority, the story kicks off from there, detailing the civil war and the curtailing of the harsh and autocratic measures by the Bolsheviks.
here it is:
Introduction
Famously, on 24 October the Bolsheviks were to seize power from the much loathed Provisional Government, where in Petrograd the Winter Palace, under light guard at the time, was seized suddenly and seemingly without warning. This nation shattering event was to later become known around the world as the “October Revolution.”
Wrapped in myth, it was said that Lenin led the people en mass on a grand assault on the Winter Palace, braving every obstacle against them. This could not be further from the truth. In actuality, only a small band of Bolsheviks loyal to Lenin were to stage the seizure of the Winter Palace, which for propaganda purposes was to be exploited heavily.
Toppled so suddenly from power, Kerensky managed to flee to the front line in search of soldiers to organize resistance, effectively leaving the country of Russia leaderless. In the meantime, the Bolsheviks were busy organizing a resistance of their own, with the formation of the MRC, or Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd Soviet. Weapons and ammunition were distributed to Bolshevik supporters, while troops were put under MRC control. This would mark one of the most chaotic periods of Russian history.
Part One: Uprising
“...A rising of the masses needs no justification ...Go Where You Belong-into the dustbin of history.” With these words Trotsky dismissed Iulii Martov, the leader of the Menshevik-Internationalists, at the Congress of the Soviets. Thus this signified the end of moderate socialist power amongst the Soviets.
From then on, The Bolsheviks would be on the rise, waging a brutal civil war against Russian reactionaries spearheaded by Kerensky himself nationwide. Lenin in the meantime, arousing much passion with his fiery speeches, would deliver on his promises to Peace, Land, and Bread. Decrees were issued by him that allowed for such extreme revolutionary acts as seizure of all private land, including church property and other such acts. To many, especially amongst foreigners, Karl Marx's utopian promises had come true(reluctantly or not so reluctantly depending on the person). Could it be true that the Bolsheviks were actually creating a socialist state? Was the end of capitalism nigh?
These questions could not be so far from the minds of the inhabitants of Petrograd, who soon got caught up in a massive revolutionary uprising. It was not soon before Kerensky came back with a vengeance. Kadets, right and centrist Mensheviks, as well as SR's all viewed the revolutionary overthrow of the Provisional Government as an act of treason, and thus rallied around the creation of the All-Russian Committee for Salvation of the Homeland and Revolution, or ACS. In fact, most newspapers in Petrograd would side with the ACS, so much so that the Bolsheviks proceeded to shut down all opposition newspaper presses. Lenin decreed that they[the opposition newspapers], some of which called for the overthrow of the Bolshevik government, were “No less dangerous than bombs and machine guns.”
on the 29 of October, Kerensky made preparations to stage a daring rebellion from within Petrograd itself, to make way for a military invasion of the city, led by Krasnov. However, soon his plans were leaked, yet Russians loyal to Kerensky would try anyway, all of whom were either killed or arrested.
Petrograd was now under martial law following the failed rebellion, under the direct authority of the MRC. The truth of the matter was that the Bolsheviks would not go down without a fight. It was their revolution, and they would not allow the “fruits of the revolution” to be destroyed. No, their revolution would have to be drowned in blood before they surrendered to Kerensky's forces.
Amid all the chaos of civil war, their were those in Petrograd of large importance who still sought to oppose the Bolsheviks and create a multiparty socialist government under the authority of the Soviets. Chief among these was Boris Kamkov, a Left SR, who pushed in his newspaper for the creation of a homogeneous revolutionary government composed of representatives of all socialist parties. Thus, all hope was not lost.
In it(and its not fully fleshed out this is just an idea), Lenin suffers a almost completely random and fatal heart attack, sucking the Bolsheviks of much of their influence and stunning the Central Committee. Trotsky is forced to take the reigns abruptly, yet proves completely incompetent and he himself is reeling from the loss of Lenin. continuing the harsh policies(only much harsher this time), and dealing with ferocious attacks by Kerensky's forces, the Bolsheviks cave into moderate socialist demands to create a multiparty socialist state amid civil war in Petrograd, saving democracy at the last minute.
Braving the storm of civil war, the Moderates, led by an SR majority, the story kicks off from there, detailing the civil war and the curtailing of the harsh and autocratic measures by the Bolsheviks.
here it is:
Introduction
Famously, on 24 October the Bolsheviks were to seize power from the much loathed Provisional Government, where in Petrograd the Winter Palace, under light guard at the time, was seized suddenly and seemingly without warning. This nation shattering event was to later become known around the world as the “October Revolution.”
Wrapped in myth, it was said that Lenin led the people en mass on a grand assault on the Winter Palace, braving every obstacle against them. This could not be further from the truth. In actuality, only a small band of Bolsheviks loyal to Lenin were to stage the seizure of the Winter Palace, which for propaganda purposes was to be exploited heavily.
Toppled so suddenly from power, Kerensky managed to flee to the front line in search of soldiers to organize resistance, effectively leaving the country of Russia leaderless. In the meantime, the Bolsheviks were busy organizing a resistance of their own, with the formation of the MRC, or Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd Soviet. Weapons and ammunition were distributed to Bolshevik supporters, while troops were put under MRC control. This would mark one of the most chaotic periods of Russian history.
Part One: Uprising
“...A rising of the masses needs no justification ...Go Where You Belong-into the dustbin of history.” With these words Trotsky dismissed Iulii Martov, the leader of the Menshevik-Internationalists, at the Congress of the Soviets. Thus this signified the end of moderate socialist power amongst the Soviets.
From then on, The Bolsheviks would be on the rise, waging a brutal civil war against Russian reactionaries spearheaded by Kerensky himself nationwide. Lenin in the meantime, arousing much passion with his fiery speeches, would deliver on his promises to Peace, Land, and Bread. Decrees were issued by him that allowed for such extreme revolutionary acts as seizure of all private land, including church property and other such acts. To many, especially amongst foreigners, Karl Marx's utopian promises had come true(reluctantly or not so reluctantly depending on the person). Could it be true that the Bolsheviks were actually creating a socialist state? Was the end of capitalism nigh?
These questions could not be so far from the minds of the inhabitants of Petrograd, who soon got caught up in a massive revolutionary uprising. It was not soon before Kerensky came back with a vengeance. Kadets, right and centrist Mensheviks, as well as SR's all viewed the revolutionary overthrow of the Provisional Government as an act of treason, and thus rallied around the creation of the All-Russian Committee for Salvation of the Homeland and Revolution, or ACS. In fact, most newspapers in Petrograd would side with the ACS, so much so that the Bolsheviks proceeded to shut down all opposition newspaper presses. Lenin decreed that they[the opposition newspapers], some of which called for the overthrow of the Bolshevik government, were “No less dangerous than bombs and machine guns.”
on the 29 of October, Kerensky made preparations to stage a daring rebellion from within Petrograd itself, to make way for a military invasion of the city, led by Krasnov. However, soon his plans were leaked, yet Russians loyal to Kerensky would try anyway, all of whom were either killed or arrested.
Petrograd was now under martial law following the failed rebellion, under the direct authority of the MRC. The truth of the matter was that the Bolsheviks would not go down without a fight. It was their revolution, and they would not allow the “fruits of the revolution” to be destroyed. No, their revolution would have to be drowned in blood before they surrendered to Kerensky's forces.
Amid all the chaos of civil war, their were those in Petrograd of large importance who still sought to oppose the Bolsheviks and create a multiparty socialist government under the authority of the Soviets. Chief among these was Boris Kamkov, a Left SR, who pushed in his newspaper for the creation of a homogeneous revolutionary government composed of representatives of all socialist parties. Thus, all hope was not lost.