# Matvei Skobelev — Ten Days That Shook the World character guide

> Matvei Skobelev in Ten Days That Shook the World by John Reed.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Skobeliev

**First appearance:** 0011-i-background

## Snapshot

Menshevik Minister of Labor whose awkward position as a Russian delegate opposing his own government's foreign policy becomes a target for Miliukov's scorn.

## Who they are

Skobeliev embodies the impossible straddle of the Mensheviks, serving in a coalition government while their socialist principles pull them toward the Soviet's peace platform. Miliukov mocks him as a man who would appear abroad as a Russian delegate yet oppose his own government, asking what anyone could possibly discuss with him. His dilemma captures the paralysis of the moderate socialists, caught between responsibility and ideology as the Bolsheviks seize the initiative.

## In the story

### [III: On the Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/iii-on-the-eve)

Defends the Soviet nakaz and protests against sending Terestchenko to Paris.

### [V: Plunging Ahead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/v-plunging-ahead)

Speaks at the Committee for Salvation, urging unity against Bolsheviks.

### [The Committee for Salvation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/vi-the-committee-for-salvation)

Reports new adhesions to the Committee for Salvation and argues for excluding both Bolsheviks and Cadets.

### [Appendix to Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-i)

Listed as a Menshevik who joined the coalition ministry in June.

### [The Socialist Ministers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/3-the-socialist-ministers)

Skobelev is listed as a Menshevik participant in the coalition ministry.

### [Appendix to Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-ii)

Attacked by Miliukov for his position as a Russian delegate opposing government foreign policy.

### [The Nakaz to Skobeliev](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/5-the-nakaz-to-skobeliev)

Recipient of the Nakaz as the representative of Russian revolutionary democracy at the Paris Conference.

### [Terestchenko’s Speech (Resumé)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/8-terestchenko-s-speech-resum)

Referenced in relation to the nakaz (mandate) given to him, though Terestchenko declines to comment on it.

### [Miliukov's Speech (Resumé)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/12-miliukov-s-speech-resum)

Miliukov attacks Skobelev, suggesting his position as a Russian delegate opposed to government foreign policy would be absurd.

### [From the Council of People’s Commissars to the Toiling Cossacks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/16-from-the-council-of-people-s-commissars-to-the-toiling-cossacks)

Mentioned as a supporter of the July offensive, opposed to the Bolsheviks.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/characters/skobeliev
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/characters