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IB Higher History Nov 20th, 2003 Questions on Documents A-F: The Russian Revolution 1. Doc A implies that the February revolutionaries feared a successful resistance to their planned Communist revolution of the Bolshevik. This resistance would mostly come from an army that was loyal to the government. Document A shows that the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet (a part of the Bolshevik-Menshevik) party feared this. They even perhaps a successful counter-revolution before they could even attempt a Communist revolution. Another point one could consider is that they wanted to secure their power over the army, as it would serve as a useful tool in a violent revolution. This counter-revolution would probably also be executed by the army. Therefore, this party that represented the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ or the industrial and military proletariat resolved that the soldiers would have to follow certain points. Document A shows that this included that an authority other than the officers was to be formed within the ranks so that the army might serve another power other than the State Duma. The other authorities would be “…committees of elected representatives from the lower ranks…”This was accompanied by a defiance of orders should they conflict with the will of the soviets, “…[the orders] shall be executed only in such cases as they do not conflict with the orders and resolutions of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies…”. This shift of loyalty was further ensured by decreeing, “All kinds of arms, such as rifles, machine-guns, armoured automobiles and others, must be kept at the disposal and under control of the company and battalion committees…” By keeping the arms at the disposal of the groups loyal to the soviets, the soviets gained a stronger fighting force perhaps necessary for the upcoming revolution. Through the resolutions the Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, one can see that they feared the power of the army and how it might affect their wish to carry out their ideology. However, it also showed their wish to control the army. 2. Doc B suggests that Russia was governed by a dual-governance in March 1917. According to Document B states that while the Soviet “held the reins of power”, they would not govern, the cabinet of the Prince Lvov (the State Duma) attempted to govern without power. A limited cooperation was agreed between these two points of authority. However, this situation is ineffective as the Soviet are powerful but cannot officially govern while the cabinet of Prince Lvov governs but ineffectively as they have no power.