Trotsky is elected chairman of the Petrograd Soviet

Trotsky returned to a city shaped by workers’, soldiers’, and sailors’ soviets and a Provisional Government that continued the war. He entered a political field transformed by mass action and the...

After armed demonstrations by workers and soldiers, the Provisional Government arrested Trotsky and other Bolsheviks. He defended the demonstrators against charges of German conspiracy, while...

The Interdistrict (Mezhraiontsy) group, with Trotsky among its leading members, joined the Bolshevik Party at its Sixth Congress. The convergence brought together activists who had previously differed...

While jailed, Trotsky urged joint defense against General Kornilov’s attempted counterrevolution. The episode showed temporary cooperation between political forces otherwise divided, and the central...

The Provisional Government released Trotsky and other imprisoned Bolsheviks after the failed Kornilov coup. His renewed political activity came amid growing Soviet support for peace and transfer of...

The committee organized the defense of the Soviet and coordinated garrison units. Trotsky helped lead it as the Bolsheviks contested the Provisional Government; the MRC became the operational center...

The Military Revolutionary Committee occupied key points and overthrew the Provisional Government in Petrograd. Trotsky was central to the operation, while the transfer of power was contested across...

The new Soviet government appointed Trotsky to lead foreign affairs. He published secret treaties and called for an immediate democratic peace, challenging imperial diplomacy while navigating the...

Trotsky ended negotiations without signing Germany’s terms and declared that Soviet Russia would demobilize but not continue fighting. German forces soon resumed their advance, exposing the risks of...

After refusing to sign the imposed terms and Germany resumed its advance, Trotsky defended the decision to accept a harsh treaty as necessary to preserve the new Soviet government. This was a...