Dear Alexei,
I'm sorry I haven't written you in over a year love, but times in Russia have been chaotic. Its now December of 1917 and we have completely changed governments from a monarchy, to a provisional government, to Bolshevik control. Life has been hard the past 11 months or so, and I hope the Russian people can remain strong. But I'm getting ahead of myself.. Let me start at the beginning.
Czar Nicholas II abdicated in February 1917 due to the pressure of his advisers. This is the basic truth in the newspapers, in reality people were starving. The war in Europe had depleted supplies so much people couldn't find food to eat. Young soldiers were dying in this hopeless war, and we were fed up. Women were rioting in the street crying for bread in St. Petersburg, and Nicholas had no power to do anything. He abdicated, and a weak provisional government was set up.
Meanwhile, the socialist movement here started gaining power after Vladimir Lenin's return to Russia in April. He named his revolutionary party the Bolsheviks. Summer went by and men were still dying by the thousands due to a poorly planned Russian offensive. The provisional government seemed like it wasn't doing anything to help its people!! Troops started to desert the army and peasants were revolting even more violently.
Finally, the Bolsheviks overthrew the government in late October. Lenin was now entirely in power. I knew this was going to happen for awhile, but I was praying that it would somehow fail. I do not trust Lenin's communist idealogies. If wealth is distributed to all, won't everyone just be poor? The peasants got their land, but at what price? People are rejoicing in the streets, but I fear even harder times are still to come.
With all my heart,
Natalya
I'm sorry I haven't written you in over a year love, but times in Russia have been chaotic. Its now December of 1917 and we have completely changed governments from a monarchy, to a provisional government, to Bolshevik control. Life has been hard the past 11 months or so, and I hope the Russian people can remain strong. But I'm getting ahead of myself.. Let me start at the beginning.
Czar Nicholas II abdicated in February 1917 due to the pressure of his advisers. This is the basic truth in the newspapers, in reality people were starving. The war in Europe had depleted supplies so much people couldn't find food to eat. Young soldiers were dying in this hopeless war, and we were fed up. Women were rioting in the street crying for bread in St. Petersburg, and Nicholas had no power to do anything. He abdicated, and a weak provisional government was set up.
Meanwhile, the socialist movement here started gaining power after Vladimir Lenin's return to Russia in April. He named his revolutionary party the Bolsheviks. Summer went by and men were still dying by the thousands due to a poorly planned Russian offensive. The provisional government seemed like it wasn't doing anything to help its people!! Troops started to desert the army and peasants were revolting even more violently.
Finally, the Bolsheviks overthrew the government in late October. Lenin was now entirely in power. I knew this was going to happen for awhile, but I was praying that it would somehow fail. I do not trust Lenin's communist idealogies. If wealth is distributed to all, won't everyone just be poor? The peasants got their land, but at what price? People are rejoicing in the streets, but I fear even harder times are still to come.
With all my heart,
Natalya
http://www.st-petersburg-life.com/st-petersburg/1917-russian-revolution
Great entry--I love the way you're questioning the political promises that Lenin made. I'm looking forward to your next entries!
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