April crisis (the first crisis of the Provisional Government)

April crisis (the first crisis of the Provisional Government)

The socio-political crisis caused by the contradictions between the position of the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Councils regarding the feat of war. Published on April 18, 1917, dip note of the Provisional Government, informing the Allies about a willingness to wage a war to the victorious end and a compliance with obligations according to the statements approved by the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet on “establishing a lasting peace on the basis of self-determination of the nations,” caused mass protests in many cities of Russia requesting resignation of the cabinets of the Minister of Foreign Affairs P N. Milyukov and the Minister of War and Navy A. I. Guchkov. As a result, they have resigned, and on May 5 (18), 1917, representatives of the socialist parties joined the Provisional Government.

This selection included the studies, archival documents, “Vestnik (bulletin) of the Provisional Government” newspaper cutouts, graphic materials allowing to get accustomed with both a chronicle of events and the views of some political figures of this period.