Soviet Union

The Russian Revolution in Today's Perspective

“We shall now proceed to construct the Socialist order” announced Lenin to the Congress of Soviets early on the morning of November 8th, 1917. He had prepared no blueprint from which to work, and forty years later, writes Ernest Bock, the structure of the Soviet state is very different from that which its founder envisaged.

Lenin's Journey

Lenin’s return to Russia by German agency in April 1917, writes David Woodward, was one of the turning points in 20th-century history.

Rostov-on-Don, 1917-1918

From her post as governess to a prosperous middle-class Russian family, writes Stephen Usherwood, a gifted young Englishwoman watched the gradual development of the Revolution.

Lenin in London

Lionel Kochan describes how two of the most important of Russian Revolutionary Conferences were held in Edwardian London.

The Spanish Blue Division

For nearly three years, 45,000 Spanish soldiers served under German command on the Russian front. By Gerald R. Kleinfeld and Lewis A. Tambs.

Jacob Blumkin, 1892-1929

Rex Winsbury profiles a Soviet gunman and secret agent who assassinated the German Ambassador and was himself shot in 1929 after visiting Trotsky in exile.

Trotsky in 1905

Rex Winsbury describes how the attempted Russian Revolution of 1905 was the prologue to greater events in 1917.