Editing Russian Revolution (section)

== February Revolution ==
{{Main|February Revolution}}
[[File:Feb 1917.jpg|thumb|Revolutionaries protesting in February 1917]]
[[File:Soldiers demonstration.February 1917.jpg|thumb|Soldiers marching in [[Petrograd]], March 1917]]
[[File:RJB23 – Friede 1917 1.jpg|thumb|Russian troops meeting German troops in No Man's Land]]
[[File:RJB23 – Friede 1917 2.jpg|thumb|Meeting before the Russian wire entanglements]]

At the beginning of February, [[Petrograd]] workers began several strikes and demonstrations. On {{OldStyleDateNY|7 March|22 February}}, [[Putilov plant|Putilov]], Petrograd's largest industrial plant was closed by a workers' strike.{{Sfn|Service|2005|page=32}} The next day, a series of meetings and rallies were held for [[International Women's Day]], which gradually turned into economic and political gatherings. Demonstrations were organised to demand bread, and these were supported by the industrial working force who considered them a reason for continuing the strikes. The women workers marched to nearby factories bringing out over 50,000 workers on strike.<ref>[http://www.fifthinternational.org/content/when-women-set-russia-ablaze When women set Russia ablaze], ''Fifth International'' 11 July 2007.</ref> By {{OldStyleDateNY|10 March|25 February}}, virtually every industrial enterprise in Petrograd had been shut down, together with many commercial and service enterprises. Students, white-collar workers, and teachers joined the workers in the streets and at public meetings.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Ėduard Nikolaevich |last=Burdzhalov |title=Russia's second revolution: the February 1917 uprising in Petrograd |publisher=Indiana University Press |date=1987}}</ref>

To quell the riots, the Tsar looked to the army. At least 180,000 troops were available in the capital, but most were either untrained or injured. Historian Ian Beckett suggests around 12,000 could be regarded as reliable, but even these proved reluctant to move in on the crowd, since it included so many women. It was for this reason that on {{OldStyleDateNY|11 March|26 February}}, when the Tsar ordered the army to suppress the rioting by force, troops began to revolt.{{Sfn|Beckett|2007|page=523}} Although few actively joined the rioting, many officers were either shot or went into hiding; the ability of the garrison to hold back the protests was all but nullified, symbols of the Tsarist regime were rapidly torn down around the city, and governmental authority in the capital collapsed – not helped by the fact that Nicholas had prorogued the Duma that morning, leaving it with no legal authority to act. The response of the Duma, urged on by the liberal bloc, was to establish a Temporary Committee to restore law and order; meanwhile, the socialist parties established the Petrograd Soviet to represent workers and soldiers. The remaining loyal units switched allegiance the next day.{{Sfn|Wade|2017|pages=40–43}}

The Tsar directed the royal train back towards Petrograd, which was stopped on {{OldStyleDateNY|14 March|1 March}},{{Sfn|Beckett|2007|page=523}} by a group of revolutionaries at [[Malaya Vishera]]. When the Tsar finally arrived at [[Pskov]], the Army Chief [[Nikolai Ruzsky]], and the Duma deputies [[Guchkov|Alexander Guchkov]] and [[Vasily Shulgin]] suggested in unison that he abdicate the throne. He did so on {{OldStyleDateNY|15 March|2 March}}, on behalf of himself, and then, having taken advice on behalf of his son, the [[Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia|Tsarevich]]. Nicholas nominated his brother, the [[Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia|Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich]], to succeed him. But the Grand Duke realised that he would have little support as ruler, so he declined the crown on {{OldStyleDateNY|16 March|3 March}},{{Sfn|Beckett|2007|page=523}} stating that he would take it only if that was the consensus of democratic action.{{Sfn|Browder|Kerensky|1961|page=116}} Six days later, Nicholas, no longer Tsar and addressed with contempt by the sentries as "Nicholas Romanov", was reunited with his family at the [[Alexander Palace]] at [[Tsarskoye Selo]].{{Sfn|Tames|1972}} He was placed under house arrest with his family by the Provisional Government.

The immediate effect of the February Revolution was a widespread atmosphere of elation and excitement in Petrograd.{{Sfn|Malone|2004|page=91}} On {{OldStyleDateNY|16 March|3 March}}, a provisional government was announced. The center-left was well represented, and the government was initially chaired by a liberal aristocrat, [[Georgy Lvov|Prince Georgy Yevgenievich Lvov]], a member of the [[Constitutional Democratic party|Constitutional Democratic Party]] (KD).{{Sfn|Service|2005|page=34}} The socialists had formed their rival body, the [[Petrograd Soviet]] (or workers' council) four days earlier. The Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government competed for power over Russia.

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