The Kornilov Affair

1. Setting the Stage: In August 1917, Russia was in the throws of the Russian Revolution, and the Provisional Government struggled to maintain control. General Lavr Kornilov, a respected Russian military leader, believed the Provisional Government was too weak and that Russia was in danger of a Bolshevik uprising.

2. Kornilov's Plan: Kornilov planned to march his troops into Petrograd (modern-day St. Petersburg), the capital of Russia at the time, to "restore order" and to dissolve the Petrograd Soviet, which was a powerful council of workers and soldiers that he saw as a threat.

1. Miscommunication: There was a major communication breakdown between Kornilov and Alexander Kerensky, the head of the Provisional Government. Kornilov thought he had Kerensky's blessing for his plan, but Kerensky saw Kornilov's actions as a military coup.
2. Kerensky's Response: Kerensky fired Kornilov from his position and armed the Petrograd workers to defend the city. This move unintentionally strengthened the Bolsheviks, who were at the forefront of the defence.

3. Aftermath: Kornilov's troops never reached Petrograd due to a lack of support and the railway workers' sabotage. Kornilov was arrested, and the failed coup resulted in a surge of support for the Bolsheviks, who promised to end the war and give land to the peasants. This event was a significant step towards the Bolsheviks' seizure of power in the October Revolution.