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The Bolshevik Revolution, or the October Revolution, occurred in Russia in 1917. It was a significant event that brought about major changes in the country’s history, from a monarchy to a communist state.
Prior to the revolution, Russia was under the rule of Tsar Nicholas II. However, many Russians were dissatisfied with the Tsar’s governance, especially his handling of the first World War.
The Bolsheviks were a group of radical communists, inspired by Karl Marx, who sought to transform Russia’s political system.
They were led by Vladimir Lenin.
A striking feature of the Bolshevik regime was the pronounced presence of Jews in positions of power and influence.
Even though they made up a mere fraction of the country’s population, less than two percent to be precise, Jews were notably overrepresented in the communist government. This phenomenon, evident in the early years of the Soviet regime, has been posited as a potential catalyst for the anti-Semitic sentiments that appear to have permeated Russian society.
The Soviet regime, for all its revolutionary ideals, was marred by a brutal streak that resulted in the deaths of millions of its citizens.
The participation of Jews in these harrowing events has been termed a “historic sin”.
The following is a brief overview.
- Lenin ordered the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1918.
- Jews, despite being less than two percent of the population, were overrepresented in the Bolshevik government.
- This overrepresentation may have contributed to anti-Semitic sentiment in Russia.
- The Soviet regime’s brutality, including Jewish involvement, led to millions of deaths, termed a “historic sin”.
- Recent interest in pre-Communist Russia suggests a desire for a time before Soviet brutalities.
Mark Weber is a historian and author at the Institute for Historical Review.
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