Kornilov Affair and Bolshevik Rise

The Kornilov Affair was a significant event in the Bolsheviks' rise to power in 1917, but it was not the sole factor. There were several other crucial elements that contributed to their success.

On one hand, the Kornilov Affair did serve to strengthen the Bolsheviks' position. At the time, Kerensky, the leader of the Provisional Government (PG), appointed General Kornilov as the commander of the armed forces, hoping to restore order in Petrograd. However, as opposition to the PG grew due to the continuation of the war and the failure of the June Offensive and July Days, Kornilov took troops to march on the capital. This move panicked Kerensky, who then released Bolshevik prisoners. The soviets, with the help of Trotsky, quickly organized the Red Guard, which successfully defended Petrograd within days. The Red Guard's ability to persuade Kornilov's soldiers to stand down without bloodshed portrayed them as the defenders of the revolution. This weakened Kerensky and the PG, and increased support for the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks' membership increased, and their armed forces were more easily able to seize power from the PG in November 1917.

On the other hand, there were more significant factors that played a pivotal role in the Bolsheviks' rise to power. The failure of the PG to resolve Russia's problems was a key factor. Issues such as the land dispute led to further land seizures by peasants, exacerbating social unrest. The continuation of the war resulted in higher casualties, food and fuel shortages, and inflation. The conscription of peasants into the military caused high unemployment and food shortages in the countryside, leading to mutinies and desertions on the front. Additionally, the Petrograd Soviet, which represented workers, soldiers, and later peasants, became a more representative institution than the PG. Controlled by moderate and radical socialists who opposed the war, the Petrograd Soviet gained significant popular support. Lenin's April Theses, which promised peace, bread, and land, along with the Bolsheviks' effective propaganda against the war and the PG, further enhanced their influence. Lenin's strong leadership, Trotsky's role as the Chair of the Soviet in September 1917, and the hardline approach of the PG towards the soviets and socialist leaders after the July Days, also played a vital role. Finally, the storming of the Winter Palace in the November Revolution, organized by Lenin and Trotsky, sealed the Bolsheviks' rise to power.

In conclusion, while the Kornilov Affair played a role in the Bolsheviks' ascent, it was not the sole cause of their rise to power in 1917. Other significant factors such as the failure of the PG to solve Russia's problems, the increasing support for the Petrograd Soviet, Lenin's leadership, effective propaganda, and the storming of the Winter Palace were equally, if not more, critical in the Bolsheviks' successful seizure of power.