The Bolsheviks create a Politburo

The election demonstrated the Bolsheviks’ growing influence in the capital’s central workers’ and soldiers’ council. The source date is 25 September 1917 Old Style.

Party leaders reversed an earlier decision and rejected participation in the consultative body created around the Provisional Government. The source date is 5 October 1917 Old Style.

Soldiers’ representatives declared that the garrison would no longer recognize the Provisional Government’s authority. The source date is 6 October 1917 Old Style.

Trotsky denounced the body and led the Bolshevik delegation out, marking a final break with attempts to preserve coalition rule. The source date is 7 October 1917 Old Style.

After a clandestine debate, a majority endorsed Lenin’s proposal to prepare the overthrow of the Provisional Government. The source date is 10 October 1917 Old Style.

The committee coordinated armed workers, soldiers and sailors and became the operational centre of the uprising. The source date is 12 October 1917 Old Style.

The two Bolsheviks disclosed their opposition in a non-Bolshevik newspaper, alerting the government to internal debate over insurrection. The source date is 18 October 1917 Old Style.

An all-Russian conference of factory and shop committees adopted the demand for transfer of power to the soviets. The source date is 19 October 1917 Old Style.

Alexander Verkhovsky warned the Pre-Parliament that continued war would bring complete catastrophe. The source date is 20 October 1917 Old Style.

Kerensky’s ministers attempted to close revolutionary newspapers and suppress the Military Revolutionary Committee. The source date is 24 October 1917 Old Style.