Ten Days That Shook the World · Chapter
5: Appeal of the Soviet Government explained
The Soviet government issues a triumphant appeal announcing the victory of the Workers' and Soldiers' Revolution, the flight of Kerensky, and the Army's support for the new government.
What happens
The Soviet government issues a triumphant appeal announcing the victory of the Workers' and Soldiers' Revolution, the flight of Kerensky, and the Army's support for the new government. It calls on counterrevolutionary troops, Cossacks, and workers to lay down their arms and join the victorious people.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the narrator, after witnessing the destruction of sacred and historic Kremlin s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Counterrevolution and Civil War
The appeal directly addresses counterrevolutionary forces, calling on them to lay down arms and join the victorious revolution.
- Workers' Control and Economic Transformation
The appeal calls on railwaymen, postmen, and telegraphers to support the new government, emphasizing worker solidarity.
Characters to notice
- Alexander Kerensky
Fled after his counterrevolutionary campaign failed; troops at Gatchina laid down arms and decided to arrest him.
Key passages
“The detachments at Gatchina, deceived by Kerensky, have laid down their arms and decided to arrest Kerensky. That chief of the counterrevolutionary campaign has fled.”
Kerensky's forces at Gatchina surrendered and attempted to arrest him, but he escaped.
Highlights the collapse of Kerensky's counterrevolutionary effort.
“The Army, by an enormous majority, has pronounced in favour of the second All-Russian Congress of Soviets, and of the Government which it has created.”
The vast majority of the army supports the Congress of Soviets and its government.
Shows the military's endorsement of Bolshevik authority.
“The Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Revolution curses those who remain even for a moment under the flag of the People's enemies.”
The revolution condemns anyone who continues to side with its opponents.
Emphasizes the uncompromising stance of the new government.
