Lenin and the Russian Revolution - Essay Example

Lenin The Russian Revolution is one of the most important events that took place in twentieth century because it resultedin a series of events which would affect the world for the rest of that century. Among the most important actors in this revolution was Vladimir Lenin who played a significant role in it as its leader. Furthermore, another significant player in the development of the revolution was Alexander Parvus, who played a role in ensuring that the Bolsheviks received the funding needed to successfully overthrow the Tsarist establishment. The Russian Revolution came about as a result of various political actors as well as funding from foreign powers such as Germany which were interested in making sure that it withdrew from the First World War. Vladimir Lenin was one of the most important leaders of the Russian Revolution and this was mainly because he was a charismatic leader who sought to ensure that the monarchy in Russia was brought to an end. An individual dedicated to the rights of the working class that formed the bulk of the Russian state, Lenin was an individual who not only completely opposed to the monarchy, but also took an active part in ensuring its end (Rice 135). His political activities forced him into exile in Switzerland where he was in constant touch with likeminded people who believed that a communist revolution in Russia was necessary. While this was the case, Lenin and his associates did not have the necessary funding to ensure a successful uprising but this was remedied by the German government which is believed to have funded Lenin as well as organizing the means for him to return to Russia to agitate for a revolution. Germany played a pivotal role in helping the Bolsheviks come to power because it was in its interests to make sure Russia withdrew from the First World War and the only way to do this was to overthrow the monarchy (Pipes 141). It should be noted that during this period, Germany was fighting a two front war with the Allies and Russia’s withdrawal meant that it could concentrate its efforts in the western front. The German government therefore provided Lenin with the means of achieving his revolutionary objective in Russia and it was through German funding and support that he was able to mobilize the support he needed to overthrow the Tsarist government. Alexander Lvovics Parvus was a significant factor in the Russian Revolution and he did this through his association with influential individuals in the German establishment such as Baron von Wangenheim (Karaömerlıoğlu 145). He presented the German general staff with a plan to ensure that the Russian state was divided to such an extent that it would be forced to withdraw from the war. He stated that the divisions within the Russian state could be achieved would be through ensuring that an opposing force was introduced in Russia to challenge the Tsarist government. This challenger, he proposed, would be the Bolshevik movement that would be sponsored by the German government in its bid for power in Russia. Parvus was instrumental as a link between the German government and Lenin and it was through his efforts that the latter was not only able to attain the funding that he needed to return to Russia, but was also responsible for the development of the treaty between Germany and Russia to the end of hostilities between them (Volkogonov 229). There has been speculation that Parvus was responsible for funding Lenin even before the revolution in Russia was organized, while the latter was in Switzerland. The numerous connections that Parvus had with Germany allowed for funds from the latter to be delivered to the Bolsheviks through diverse front companies as well as through other means in such a way that it was impossible to trace the source (Schurer 313). The ability of Parvus to ensure that these funds were delivered can be considered to have been among the most important ways through which the Russian Revolution was made possible. The connection between Lenin and Parvus has come to be questioned by scholars especially when considering its extent. Several historians have stated that Lenin tended to be weary of Parvus and maintained a distant relationship with him most likely as a result of Parvus’ well known relationship with the German establishment. However, despite Lenin’s seeming dislike for Parvus, it was the relationship between them that allowed or the development of the Russian Revolution (Service 241; Solzhenitsyn 127). The revolution would not have taken place without the funding and logistical support organized by Parvus from Germany as well as Lenin’s charismatic leadership that helped the Bolshevik movement take root in Russia and ensured that the monarchy was overthrown. The German involvement in the Bolshevik Revolution cannot be underestimated because it made it possible for the threat of Russia on the eastern front to be removed while allowing it to concentrate its military resources on France, Britain and the United States (Wiegrefe et al.). Thus, Lenin and Parvus were German agents in making possible the end of tsarist Russia and the rise of communism that would be one of the dominant ideologies of the twentieth century. In conclusion, the Russian Revolution came about as a result of various political actors as well as funding from foreign powers such as Germany which were interested in making sure that it withdrew from the First World War. Different historical documents show that Lenin and Parvus worked together to make sure that the communist movement gained political influence in Russia to such an extent that it brought about a change in government. Furthermore, it is as a result of this cooperation that it was possible for Russia to withdraw from the First World War and sign a peace treaty with Germany. Despite this being the case, the situation also brought about the conditions that led to the Russia Civil War that took a toll on the country. At the same time, the civil war ended up establishing Lenin as the paramount leader of the new communist state that came into existence as a result. Works Cited Karaömerlıoğlu, M. Asim. "Helphand-Parvus and His Impact on Turkish Intellectual Life". Middle Eastern Studies 40.6 (2004): 145–165. Pipes, Richard. Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print. Schurer, Heinz. "Alexander Helphand-Parvus–Russian Revolutionary and German Patriot". Russian Review, 18.4 (1959): 313-331. Rice, Christopher. Lenin: Portrait of a Professional Revolutionary. London: Cassell, 1990. Print. Service, Robert. Lenin: A Biography. London: Macmillan, 2000. Print. Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. Lenin in Zürich. H.T. Willetts (translator). New York: Faber, Straus & Giroux, 1976. Print. Volkogonov, Dmitri. Lenin: A New Biography. New York: Free Press, 2006. Print. Wiegrefe, Klaus, Altenhöner, Florian, Bönisch, Ggeorg, Buschke, Heiko, Pyljow, Wladimir, and Zeller, Anika. Germany and the Revolution: Lenin and the Kaiser. Der Spiegel. 18.12.2007. Web. 22 June 2015. Read More