Upon arriving in Petrograd, Trotsky immediately assumes a leading position in the Petrograd Soviet, based on his role in 1905. Trotsky’s arrival is electrifying, providing a tremendous boost to the struggle being waged by Lenin and the Bolsheviks against the collaborationist, defensist, and opportunist forces that are currently in the Soviet’s majority. Meanwhile, the Mensheviks, populists, and Socialist Revolutionaries enter a “coalition” with the bourgeoisie to save the Provisional Government and continue prosecuting the imperialist war.
Petrograd, May 15 (May 2 O.S.): Miliukov resigns
In the wake of the April Crisis and the resignations of Guchkov and Kornilov last week, Pavel Miliukov resigns from his post as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government. Guchkov had been the Minister of War, and Kornilov had served as the commander of the Petrograd garrison. Miliukov, a Constitutional Democrat (Kadet), declines the offer of a position as Secretary of Education.
Miliukov is the author of the infamous telegram, dated May 1 (April 18 O.S.), which describes “the desire of the whole nation to fight the world war out to a decisive victory” and promises that Russia will “fully stand by its obligations towards our Allies.” This note prompted mass anti-war demonstrations in Petrograd that have brought the Provisional Government to the brink of collapse.
Petrograd, May 17 (May 4 O.S.): Trotsky arrives in Russia
After sailing with his family across the Atlantic, Trotsky arrives in Petrograd via Sweden and Finland by train. He is welcomed by delegations from the Bolsheviks and United Internationalists, but the Mensheviks fail to send anyone. At the Finland Station, Trotsky delivers a speech calling for the preparation of a second revolution. He…