The Red Terror: Lenin's War on His Own People

In this episode of The Russian Revolution, Lucas and Luna explore the origins and implementation of the Red Terror, the Bolshevik campaign of mass repression that followed the October Revolution. They trace its roots in Lenin's ideology, the assassination attempt on his life, and the early decrees of the Cheka. The conversation covers key figures like Felix Dzerzhinsky and Moisei Uritsky, the Petrograd and Moscow Chekas, the hostage system, and the role of the Terror in winning the Civil War. They also discuss the debates within the Bolshevik leadership, the connection to the earlier French Revolutionary Terror, and the long-term consequences for Soviet society. Specific events include the assassination of Uritsky, the attempt on Lenin's life by Fanny Kaplan, and the mass shootings that followed. The episode concludes by reflecting on how the Red Terror set a precedent for state violence in the twentieth century.

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