The October Revolution

[ultraviolet]

Hi RevLeft. I was reading Trotsky's book "The History of the Russian Revolution" and in the chapters about the insurrection in October, he says that most (or all?) of the casualties suffered were during the confrontation at the Winter Palace.

Does anyone know about this? How many casualties were there before the Winter Palace? Zero?

And does anyone know the total number of casualties in the October Revolution?

I'm interested because I heard it was relatively bloodless, and that if the Winter Palace offensive had been better planned, then it might have been entirely bloodless. Wondering how true this is...

Thanks!

[Blake's Baby]

The official estimates are about 16 people were killed in the rising in Petrograd, if I remember correctly.

The massive death toll of the Civil War is then the fault of the Whites for not accepting the result.

That seems a little like logic-chopping to me - 'oh no, our revolution was practically bloodless, it was your counter-revolution and our response to that, that was horrific'.

It's not entirely innaccurate though.

[RedWorker]

The Winter Palace was taken bloodlessly. The whole initial uprising involved only very little violence. Of course, events such as the 'Red Terror' followed. There are estimates for the casualties of such events, but really they're pointless to look at. The exact number doesn't explain anything.

[ultraviolet]

Hi! Thank you both for your replies!

Blake's Baby, do you remember where you got that number of 16 from?

RedWorker, I don't think the WInter Palace was taken bloodlessly. In Trotsky's "The History of the Russian Revolution" he says the Winter Palace is where the first casualties were suffered.

[Blake's Baby]

I'm sorry ultraviolet, I've spent 30 or more years reading about the October Revolution, I must have read hundreds of books and articles about it. I'm not even sure it was 16 - but I am sure it was about 16. Less than 20.

My source is likely to be a secondary writer reporting 'official' figures, probably from some announcement by Trotsky.

[The Idler]

I think its generally accepted the storming of the palace was relatively bloodless.
Studying precise numbers don't tell us much though.
Eisenstein's representation of this event has influenced popular public perception.