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In July 1917, Leon Trotsky joined the Bolshevik party. Trotsky assumed key roles in the events and policies concerning the Bolshevik Government, which included the Bolshevik Revolution, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Civil War and views on Russia’s economic policies. “Lenin and Trotsky arrived, by parallel routes…”1 and Lenin depended greatly on Trotsky within his last years. “Trotsky appeared to be the obvious successor.”2 However, Trotsky’s role in the Leadership struggle changed this. On the 12th of October 1917 the Military Revolutionary Committee was established, lead by Trotsky, in order to plan a take over. “On the 12th October a Military Revolutionary Committee was established in the Petrograd Soviet. This was run by Trotsky and was the means whereby the mechanics of the seizure of power were worked out and put into effect.”3 On the night of the 23rd the Military Revolutionary Committee directed Red Guards and other loyal units of soldiers to “Seize the key points of the city,”4 which was successful in securing Bolshevik power. As McCauley states, “The MRC, operations, masterminded by Trotsky, had carried the day.” 5 Thus Trotsky’s leadership of the MRC and the success of the revolution, earned Trotsky Lenin’s respect and confidence as well as the appointment of minister for foreign affairs. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trotsky lead a delegation, into negotiations with Germany after an armistice was declared in December 1917.
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