10 Fascinating Facts About Russian Communist Revolutionary Vladimir Lenin
Arguably the most influential man of the 20th Century, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was responsible for the establishment of the first ever communist regime. Taking advantage of the political turmoil unleashed by the First World War the middle class Lenin rode the wave of instability to head what he liked to call the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Often seen as more pleasant and reasonable leader than his successor, Stalin, Lenin was, nevertheless a ruthlessly unpleasant totalitarian despot. Here are 10 fascinating facts about this pivotal character.
10Lenin was inspired by the actions of his older brother Alexander Ulyanov
9Lenin Was Not His Real Name
8Lenin was exiled for Revolutionary Activities by the Tsarist Authorities
7Lenin Wanted Russia To Lose WWI
While Lenin devoted his time abroad to working to support the proletariat of Russia he was anything but a patriot.
When Russia mobilized its armed forces and entered into the First World War every single political faction stood behind the Tsar and supported the country. Lenin, on the other hand, was convinced that the war would provide the catalyst (just as he Russo-Japanese War had provided the catalyst for the 1905 revolution) for the end of Tsarist rule. He instructed his Bolshevik party and its supporters to do all they could to undermine the war effort. It was, he instructed his followers, the perfect opportunity to turn the guns of the army, not on the Germans and Austrians but on the rulers of Russia.
Lenin aligned himself with the German’s who, seeing the opportunity to obtain peace on their eastern front, did all they could to support him. When the Tsar abdicated in 1917 Lenin rushed back to Russia and started to do all he could to undermine the Provisional Government aided by the German government who arranged safe and uninterrupted passage through war torn Europe. Lenin’s position was well known in Russia and many of his enemies called him a German Agent.
As soon as he became the leader of the Country he declared peace with Germany (the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was very pro-German and disastrous for Russia). Showing that Lenin was willing to side with whomever could give him the best deal he repudiated the treaty when the Germans lost to the allies in 1918.
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