The Czar and Russian Revolution

With the deepening crisis, Czar Nicolas II is stopped on his journey back from the German front. Revolutionaries closed the line ahead and he is trapped on the imperial train. The Czar's front commanders insist he abdocate, and the people of Russia remove all Czarist symbols from public life.

The Czar has been rendered helpless to command his train to return to Petrograd.

All but one of his front commanders sent him telegrams telling him to abdocate. For 300 years his family had ruled over the Russian Empire. If he abdocated now, it would seem unlikey that anyone else would take over. His brother had already refused the throne, and his son, a hemophiliac, was much too weak and fragile. The Czar was staring at the end of the Romanov Dynasty.

With the Czar's abdocation and arrest and no-one to replace him, the Revolution appeared unstoppable.

Czarist symbols were torn down, and the country rushed enthusiastically into unchartered territory.

In March 1917, it is believed the uprising to be a 'bloodless revolution,' when everything looks like it is going to be fine from moderates, liberals to socialists joining together, succeeded to bring down the regime of the Czar and the army hasn't resisted.

This time was known as "the Honeymoon of the Revolution."

Kronstadt attracted radicals of all colors to come spread the word.

Printing presses could barely keep up with all the papers and leaflets proclaiming the dawn of a new era.

References

Russian Revolution in Color (DVD)
The Russian Revolution and Civil War, this bloodsoaked time from the battlefields, testimonies, and colorized archives help unfold the dramatic story of the Communist rise and seizure of power in 1917.