July Days

• Led to a crisis in PG and most Kadets resigned, new coalition cabinet led by Kerensky

  • Mostly socalists (Mensh and SRs)
• By 4th July the rioting workers and soldiers were joined by 20,000 armed sailors from Kronstadt. Demanded that Petrograd Soviet seize power.
• Rioters were joined by middle-ranking Bolshs, but riots took Lenin by surprise, thought the time was not right for Revolution and would not provide them with leadership

  • feared it would be same as 1905
• Kerensky was able to use the army to put down the protest, meaning the PG had sufficient loyalty

  • somewhat success as they did crush the revolt
• Partly caused by soldier discontent at failure of June Offence
• Ukraine was a partial cause

  • Demands for autonomy in Ukraine
  • caused disputes in Russian Cabinet, resignation of 4 Kadet ministers
  • Ukrainians formed new govt (Central Rada) which had popular support and in May 1917 sent a request to PG for it to recognise an autonomous Ukraine
  • PG said to wait until CA is formed
  • Ukraine declares autonomy anyway
  • = DISAGREEMENTS
• Support for Bolshs was increasing rapidly in Petrograd

  • Largest single organisation of Bolshs was Petrograd Committee w 40,000 members (total = 240,000)
  • Double since April
  • Support in Urals, Donbass, Kharkiv
• There were 500,000 rioters present in July Days
• 30,000 factory workers from Pulitov enterprise joined.
• Bolshevik slogans were used

  • Lenin had already declared that Bolshs were ready to take power
  • Decided to hold their own demonstrations July 17th under slogan "All Power to Soviets"
  • No plan or strategy to acc take power
• Members of PG like Chernov were involved in demonstrations
• Effect on Bolshs:

  • Trotsky and leading Bolshs arrested
  • Lenin accused of being paid by Germans, fled in disguise to Finland, arrest warrant issued July 19
  • Headquarters and newspaper Pravda were raided 18 July
  • Trud print shop vandalised