[Unconfirmed] International Women’s Day and the ‘February Revolution’ in Russia

In the spring of 1917, the working women of Petrograd planned to celebrate International Women’s Day with a peaceful public parade. But in the conditions of poverty and famine after 21⁄2 years of the ‘Great War’, the march of women factory workers quickly became a demonstration demanding bread and peace.

When the Tsar Nicholas II ordered the feared Cossack mounted troopers to charge at the women and clear them off the streets, the Petrograd garrison defied their officers and mutinied. This started a growing series of revolts in the military, which led to the Army High Command forcing Nicholas to abdicate.

But this ‘February Revolution’ (according to the old Julian calendar then still in use in Russia) brought neither peace nor bread to the people. The Provisional Government led by Alexander Kerensky insisted on continuing the war – causing a fundamental division in society which culminated in the ‘October’ Bolshevik-led Revolution.

N.B. This event is tagged ‘unconfirmed’ because no contact details were provided to Interesting Talks Oxford and we were unable to find a website mentioning it.