The West Believes Two Myths About Russia’s Revolution, And Both Are False
When it comes to 1917 and the Russian Civil War, most Westerners fall into one of two neat, comforting narratives.
But both collapse the moment you start looking at actual facts.
🧵👇
When it comes to 1917 and the Russian Civil War, most Westerners fall into one of two neat, comforting narratives.
But both collapse the moment you start looking at actual facts.
🧵👇
Myth 1: “The People Hated the Tsar”
This cliché is often used to justify the revolution: Nicholas II was overthrown by a united, angry population.
The truth?
🔸 Nicholas abdicated under pressure from his own generals (and elites) Alekseyev, Ruzsky, Brusilov, not because of a mass uprising.
🔸 The army was still intact. There was no large-scale mutiny, no battlefield collapse.
🔸 In rural areas, people didn’t even hear about the abdication for weeks, and when they did, many responded with confusion or grief.
🔸 Millions later fought and died under the banner of “Faith, Tsar, and Fatherland.” These weren’t nobles but they were peasants, Cossacks, front-line soldiers.
🔸 And after the brutal execution of the Tsar’s entire family, including children, even moderates turned against the Bolsheviks.
Panikhidas (memorial services) were held in villages across Russia.
📖: Nicholas II’s diaries, Alekseyev’s memoirs, White Army archives, peasant testimonies.
This cliché is often used to justify the revolution: Nicholas II was overthrown by a united, angry population.
The truth?
🔸 Nicholas abdicated under pressure from his own generals (and elites) Alekseyev, Ruzsky, Brusilov, not because of a mass uprising.
🔸 The army was still intact. There was no large-scale mutiny, no battlefield collapse.
🔸 In rural areas, people didn’t even hear about the abdication for weeks, and when they did, many responded with confusion or grief.
🔸 Millions later fought and died under the banner of “Faith, Tsar, and Fatherland.” These weren’t nobles but they were peasants, Cossacks, front-line soldiers.
🔸 And after the brutal execution of the Tsar’s entire family, including children, even moderates turned against the Bolsheviks.
Panikhidas (memorial services) were held in villages across Russia.
📖: Nicholas II’s diaries, Alekseyev’s memoirs, White Army archives, peasant testimonies.
The Forgotten Fact: Monarchist Uprisings Swept Rural Russia
While modern narratives tell you “the people welcomed the revolution,” the reality is that from 1918 to 1922, monarchist and anti-Bolshevik peasant uprisings erupted across the country.
Examples:
🔻 Tambov Rebellion (1920–1921):
Peasants raised icons and portraits of the Tsar. One slogan: “Down with the commissars! Long live the people’s power!”
🔻 Chaplygin Uprising (1918):
In Lipetsk province, peasants killed the Bolshevik food detachment and raised a flag bearing the image of Nicholas II.
🔻 Altai and Siberian Uprisings (1919–1920):
Rebels called themselves “loyal subjects” and sang tsarist hymns.
🔻 “Green” rebels from Orel to Chernigov:
Independent partisans marched with icons, demanding the return of “true order.”
📖: Cheka reports, RCP(b) documents, Melgunov, Danilov, Soviet archival records.
While modern narratives tell you “the people welcomed the revolution,” the reality is that from 1918 to 1922, monarchist and anti-Bolshevik peasant uprisings erupted across the country.
Examples:
🔻 Tambov Rebellion (1920–1921):
Peasants raised icons and portraits of the Tsar. One slogan: “Down with the commissars! Long live the people’s power!”
🔻 Chaplygin Uprising (1918):
In Lipetsk province, peasants killed the Bolshevik food detachment and raised a flag bearing the image of Nicholas II.
🔻 Altai and Siberian Uprisings (1919–1920):
Rebels called themselves “loyal subjects” and sang tsarist hymns.
🔻 “Green” rebels from Orel to Chernigov:
Independent partisans marched with icons, demanding the return of “true order.”
📖: Cheka reports, RCP(b) documents, Melgunov, Danilov, Soviet archival records.
Myth 2: “The Whites Were Noble Knights, and Stalin Erased Orthodoxy”
This is the favorite myth of Western conservatives and staunch anti-communists, the idea that the Whites were chivalrous Christian heroes, and Bolsheviks destroyed all of Russia’s tradition.
But here is the truth:
🔸 The White movement was fractured and internally divided: monarchists, liberals, moderate socialists.
🔸 Many collaborated openly with Western powers like Britain and France, undermining their support among the Russian people.
🔸 In the countryside, peasants distrusted the Whites, who talked of “order” but wouldn’t solve the land issue.
🔸 Atrocities were committed on both sides. The Civil War wasn’t a fairytale, it was a bloodbath.
🔸 Religious persecution began under Lenin, especially 1921–1923.
🔸 But under Stalin religious persecution eased in 1930s and in 1943 the Patriarchate was restored, seminaries reopened, churches rebuilt.
📖: White memoirs (Denikin, Wrangel), ROC archives, Red Army orders.
This is the favorite myth of Western conservatives and staunch anti-communists, the idea that the Whites were chivalrous Christian heroes, and Bolsheviks destroyed all of Russia’s tradition.
But here is the truth:
🔸 The White movement was fractured and internally divided: monarchists, liberals, moderate socialists.
🔸 Many collaborated openly with Western powers like Britain and France, undermining their support among the Russian people.
🔸 In the countryside, peasants distrusted the Whites, who talked of “order” but wouldn’t solve the land issue.
🔸 Atrocities were committed on both sides. The Civil War wasn’t a fairytale, it was a bloodbath.
🔸 Religious persecution began under Lenin, especially 1921–1923.
🔸 But under Stalin religious persecution eased in 1930s and in 1943 the Patriarchate was restored, seminaries reopened, churches rebuilt.
📖: White memoirs (Denikin, Wrangel), ROC archives, Red Army orders.
So What Was It Really About?
While you’re stuck debating tired clichés “the Tsar was bad,” “the Whites were good,” “Stalin was the devil”, you all miss the real point.
Worse…you miss how it all connects to today.
The 1917 Revolution wasn’t a domestic upheaval. It was a war between financial systems, between a rising continental model Russia and Germany and the maritime colonial model (UK + USA).
🔸 The Anglo-American axis won that round by weakening both Russia and Germany.
🔸 Their financial system dominated the 20th century, shaping global institutions, currencies, and empires.
🔸 But today, that system is eroding, and those who benefited most from it are desperately fighting to keep it alive.
That’s why they want you to believe in fairy tales about peasants who hated their Tsar and revolutions that brought “freedom.” Because if you ever truly understand what happened back then you’ll understand exactly what’s happening now.
While you’re stuck debating tired clichés “the Tsar was bad,” “the Whites were good,” “Stalin was the devil”, you all miss the real point.
Worse…you miss how it all connects to today.
The 1917 Revolution wasn’t a domestic upheaval. It was a war between financial systems, between a rising continental model Russia and Germany and the maritime colonial model (UK + USA).
🔸 The Anglo-American axis won that round by weakening both Russia and Germany.
🔸 Their financial system dominated the 20th century, shaping global institutions, currencies, and empires.
🔸 But today, that system is eroding, and those who benefited most from it are desperately fighting to keep it alive.
That’s why they want you to believe in fairy tales about peasants who hated their Tsar and revolutions that brought “freedom.” Because if you ever truly understand what happened back then you’ll understand exactly what’s happening now.
Substack version: open.substack.com/pub/rinalu17/p…
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