1917: The Fragility of Power The First World War ensured the success of the Russian Revolution. Peace would have strangled it at birth. Paul Lay | Published in History Today Volume 67 Issue 10 October 2017 To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.