General Lavr Kornilov, the army commander in chief, planned to seize power from Kerensky. But the local soviets throughout Russia rallied behind Kerensky. So did the Bolsheviks. The general advanced on Petrograd in September 1917, but his group broke up before reaching the city. After this episode, the soviets became more radical. Many army units supported the Bolsheviks. Lenin returned from Finland in October and convinced the Bolsheviks that they should try to seize power. He hoped a revolution would set off other socialist revolts in Western countries. Lenin's most capable assistant, Leon Trotsky, helped him plan the take-over. On November 7 (October 25 in the old Russian calendar), the armed workers took over important points in Petrograd. After a bloody struggle in Moscow, the Bolsheviks controlled that city by November 15.

General Lavr Kornilov, the army commander in chief, planned to seize power from Kerensky. But the local soviets throughout Russia rallied behind Kerensky. So did the Bolsheviks. The general advanced on Petrograd in September 1917, but his group broke up before reaching the city. After this episode, the soviets became more radical. Many army units supported the Bolsheviks.

Lenin returned from Finland in October and convinced the Bolsheviks that they should try to seize power. He hoped a revolution would set off other socialist revolts in Western countries. Lenin's most capable assistant, Leon Trotsky, helped him plan the take-over. On November 7 (October 25 in the old Russian calendar), the armed workers took over important points in Petrograd. After a bloody struggle in Moscow, the Bolsheviks controlled that city by November 15.