The Kornilov Affair - August 1917

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August 1917 - Russia on verge of chaos.

- Peasants seizing land.

- Industry production failing.

- German and Austro-Hungarian armies were advancing.

PG survived July Days and the Bolsheviks were temporarily out of the way.

- Fatal blow to the position of the PG = Kornilov Affair.

Brusilov was dismissed as the commander-in-chief of the army due to the failed June Offensive and replaced by General Lavr Kernilov.

- Loyal and concerned about a left-wing radical plot against the Government (Another July Days).

- To prevent this, Kornilov ordered Russian troops into Petrograd on 24 August 1917.

Prime Minister Kerensky panicked - fearing a military takeover.

- Ordered arrest of Kornilov and armed groups of workers in the capital (many Bolsheviks - also released from prison for the same reason).

1st September the whole affair was over.

- Devastating effect on the PG who looked very weak in the light of the events.

- Support for the PG fell, while support for the All-Russian Soviet increased.

- Main beneficiaries of the Kornilov Affair being the Bolsheviks. Krensky relied on the Bolsheviks = made them look strong and set them up as defenders of Petrograd = increase in numbers dramatically.

October 1917

- PG had lost most of its authority

- Contemporaries believed it would be replaced soon.

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