Ten Days That Shook the World · Chapter
Lenin's "Letter to the Comrades" explained
Lenin argues forcefully for immediate insurrection, countering objections from Kameniev and Riazanov.
What happens
Lenin argues forcefully for immediate insurrection, countering objections from Kameniev and Riazanov. He insists the Bolsheviks have majority support, the peasants' revolution is urgent, and waiting for the Constituent Assembly is dangerous. He warns that the bourgeoisie will sabotage the revolution, and calls for the dictatorship of the proletariat as the only alternative to Kornilov's dictatorship.
Themes in this chapter
Proletarian Revolution and Dictatorship
Lenin insists the only way out is the dictatorship of the proletariat, rejecting any middle course.
Class Conflict and Polarization
Lenin contrasts the bourgeoisie (Rodzianko, Kornilovtsi) with workers and soldiers, accusing compromisers of siding with the bourgeoisie.
Peasant Question and Land Reform
Lenin highlights the peasant revolution in Tambov as a key factor, with land seizures and bread deliveries.
Struggle for Legitimacy and Power
Lenin argues that the Constituent Assembly will be sabotaged by the bourgeoisie, and only Soviet power guarantees its success.
Characters to notice
- Vladimir Lenin
Author of the letter, arguing for insurrection and dictatorship of the proletariat.
- Lev Kamenev
Opposes insurrection, arguing the Bolsheviks lack a majority.
- Alexander Kerensky
Head of the Provisional Government, accused of potentially surrendering Petrograd.
- General Lavr Kornilov
Symbol of counterrevolution; Lenin contrasts his potential dictatorship with that of the proletariat.
- Mikhail Rodzianko
Mentioned as a man of action serving the bourgeoisie, advocating surrender of Petrograd.
Key passages
“People capable of speaking such things are falsifiers, pedants, or simply don’t want to look the real situation in the face.”
Lenin dismisses those who deny Bolshevik majority support as dishonest or out of touch.
Lenin's rebuttal to Kamenev and Riazanov's claim of insufficient popular support.
“Refusal of insurrection is refusal of 'All Power to the Soviets.'”
Lenin equates rejecting an uprising with rejecting the Bolshevik slogan of Soviet power.
Lenin insists there is no middle ground between insurrection and surrender to the compromisers.
“Let us forget everything except that there is no way out but by the dictatorship of the proletariat—either that or the dictatorship of Kornilov.”
Lenin frames the choice as stark: proletarian dictatorship or counterrevolutionary dictatorship.
Lenin's concluding call for immediate action, rejecting any wait-and-see approach.