The day communists took control over Russia – level 2

07-11-1917

On November 7, 1917, Bolsheviks in Saint Petersburg are preparing an attack on the Winter Palace, the main building of the government of Russia. The palace isn’t very well protected. When the Bolsheviks attack, there is a short fight, but the defenders give up quickly.

The members of the government are put in prison by the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks also occupy other key buildings in Saint Petersburg. Now they control the main communication lines in the city.

Soon the Red Terror starts in Russia. Thousands of people from the opposition are arrested and killed. At the same time, the civil war begins, in which the Bolsheviks fight the opposition.

The Bolsheviks win in 1920. At the end of the civil war, Russia is in a bad economic situation and chaos. There are 8 million people dead. That’s four times more than the number of Russians who died during World War I.

Difficult words: Bolshevik (somebody from the communist party in Russia in 1917), give up (to stop an activity), occupy (to take control over something), Red Terror (political terror and killings done by the Bolsheviks), civil war (a war between two groups of people in one country).

What events led to the start of the Red Terror in Russia and how did it contribute to the chaos and economic struggles in the country?

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