Finland declares independence

Millions participated in the first broadly democratic national election in Russian history, with Socialist Revolutionaries winning the largest overall share.

Elected factory and shop organizations received authority to supervise production, finances and business records.

Workers’, soldiers’ and sailors’ representatives established Soviet authority in the major Pacific port. The source date is 18 November 1917 Old Style.

A Soviet decree established procedures for voters to remove representatives who no longer retained their confidence. The source date is 21 November 1917 Old Style.

The Soviet government restricted the pay of people’s commissars and high officials as part of its egalitarian programme. The source date is 23 November 1917 Old Style.

The Constitutional Democratic Party leadership was targeted as organizers of resistance to Soviet power. The source date is 28 November 1917 Old Style.

The armistice halted fighting on the Eastern Front while negotiations for a separate peace continued.

The Soviet government created an extraordinary commission to combat counter-revolution and sabotage under Felix Dzerzhinsky.

Soviet representatives and the Central Powers began formal negotiations to end Russia’s participation in the First World War.

The Soviet government placed the banking system under state control as part of its transformation of property relations. The source date is 14 December 1917 Old Style.