What role did the Soviets play in the Bolshevik Revolution?

The Soviets played a crucial role in organising and leading the Bolshevik Revolution, providing support and coordination.

The Soviets, or workers' councils, were grassroots organisations that emerged during the Russian Revolution of 1917. They were made up of workers, soldiers, and peasants who sought to represent their interests and challenge the existing government. The most influential of these was the Petrograd Soviet, based in the capital city of Petrograd (now St. Petersburg). The Soviets became powerful because they had the support of the masses and were seen as more representative of the people's will than the Provisional Government, which had taken over after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.

The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, recognised the potential of the Soviets as instruments of revolution. They worked to gain influence within these councils, promoting their ideas of socialism and the need for a proletarian revolution. By October 1917, the Bolsheviks had secured significant control over key Soviets, including the Petrograd Soviet. This control allowed them to mobilise workers and soldiers effectively, providing the organisational backbone needed to carry out the revolution.

On the night of 25th October 1917 (7th November in the Gregorian calendar), the Bolsheviks, with the support of the Soviets, launched a coup against the Provisional Government. The Red Guards, a militia composed of armed workers and soldiers loyal to the Soviets, seized key locations in Petrograd, including the Winter Palace, where the Provisional Government was headquartered. The Soviets' involvement ensured that the revolution had broad-based support and was not just a small-scale insurrection.

In summary, the Soviets were instrumental in the Bolshevik Revolution by providing organisational support, mobilising the masses, and legitimising the Bolsheviks' actions. Their role was essential in the successful overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of Bolshevik control.