Creation of the Revolutionary Committee

Creation of the Military Revolutionary Committee. November 4, 1917

Original Source: Izvestiia, 23 October 1917.

Yesterday there was a meeting of the executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet. The question of the protection of the capital and the need of taking part of the garrison out of the city to defend its approach called- forth a warm debate. Though admitting the strategic value of such a move, the Bolsheviks claimed that they had no confidence in the Government and its military leaders, and therefore proposed the organization of a revolutionary staff of their own... They introduced a resolution in which they said that the Soviet could assume no responsibility for the strategy of the Provisional Government and that the only way to save Petrograd was to hand over the government to the Soviets, to declare an armistice immediately, etc. The Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionists pointed out that to form a military staff alongside the Government's meant dual authority and a serious menace to the defense of the city... The following resolution was adopted:

  1. To appeal to the garrison to strengthen its war activity... to make energetic preparations, in case it should be necessary, to call out a part of the garrison from the capital to defend its approach.

  2. To form a college of representatives of the Petrograd Soviet, Central Committee, and "Tsentroflot" (revolutionary naval organization) to function alongside the commander of troops of the Petrograd Military Zone. No part of the garrison is to be moved without first notifying this college.

  3. To take steps to reorganize the militia.

  4. To take extra measures to clean out the commanding personnel.

  5. In addition, the Petrograd Soviet authorizes the Executive Committee, together with the presidium of the soldiers, section (of Soviet) and representatives of the Petrograd garrison to organize a committee of revolutionary defense. This body is to make a study of the question of the defense of Petrograd and its approach and work out a plan for the protection of the city with the active support of the laboring class.

Source: Frank Golder, ed., Documents of Russian History, 1914-1917 (New York: The Century Co., 1927), pp. 587-588.

1917

EVENTS February Revolution Formation of the Soviets April Crisis Revolution in the Army July Days Kornilov Affair Bolsheviks Seize Power First Bolshevik Decrees Constituent Assembly Treaty of Brest Litovsk
FOUR KINDS OF STATES Communist Party Building Economic Apparatus Building the Soviets Red Guard into Army State Security
DISINTEGRATION OF THE OLD SOCIETY Depopulation of the Cities Food Supply Conflict with the Church Death of the Old Culture Destruction of the Left The Empire Falls
CREATION OF A NEW SOCIETY New Letters and Dates Culture and Revolution The New Woman Workers Organization Peasant Revolution Organs of the Press Raising Socialist Youth