Momentary image of Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, Russian mystic and advisor to the Russian Imperial family. German troops fighting in no man's land on Western Front in World War 1. Ill prepared and equipped Russian troops clean themselves and clothing of fleas and lice, that cause heavy casualties from typhus. Explosions on front lines. Starving Russian civilians at aid camp. Demonstrations for increased bread rations, in St. Petersburg, Russia, March, 1917, getting out of hand. Tsarist troops sent in to quell the disturbance, instead, join in the revolutionary protests. Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky, member of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, vice-chairman of the Petrograd Soviet,and first Minister of Justice in the Provisional Government, is seen tipping his hat, and later giving a speech. Czar (Tsar) Nicholas II, seen sitting on a tree stump, with soldiers behind him. Russians crowding a square, breaking down prison bars, and releasing prisoners. Dissidents haranguing Russian crowds. Kerensky speaking to crowd. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin returning by railroad train from exile in Switzerland. Leon Trotsky arrives from Canada and is seen speaking to a crowd. Kerensky on a balcony as, head of the provisional government, in Summer, 1917, proclaiming Russia a Republic. Young women marching in parade. Lenin making remarks. Field filled with farm workers (worker army union, AKA Soviet) tilling soil with hand tools. Lenin, bareheaded (holding his cap behind his back) making a speech. An unidentified cathedral seen in background. Bolsheviks stir up unrest. Winged Victory column topples. Bolshevik mobs take over government buildings in Russian Revolution.
A documentary titled 'Why We Fight, The Battle of Russia' depicts battles fought by Russians, fighting military raids from other nations. Dramatized scenes of invasion of German knights in 1242. Town Pskov destroyed and civilians roped. In the battle of Novgorad, the Russians under emperor Alexender Nevesky defeat the Germans in a fierce battle. The Swedish attack Russia and get defeated by Russian army in battle of Poltava in 1704. French troops retreat in a frozen desert after getting defeated by Russians in 1812. German Kaiser Wilhelm II inspects World War 1 troops on Eastern front in 1917. Russian army of cavaliers and infantrymen march for battle. Map shows a part of Russia, Ukraine occupied during the battle. (World War II period).
Footage dealing with the Russian Revolution. Painting of Vladimir Llyich Lenin speaking to workers. photograph of hand-written speaking notes. Large crowd of Russians gathered and listening to a Bolshevik speaker at a public square. They hold banners and flags. The hide outs of Vladimir Llyich Lenin during exile period and painting of same. massive crowd of Russians raise and lower their hands. Citizens walk through the streets holding banners. Elevated view of Russian crowd of worker demonstrators that scatters and runs as shooting (presumably from Imperial Russian Army forces) begins and breaks up the protest. Debris left after the shooting. Identification papers used by Lenin, with an alias, showing him clean shaven and with a wig. Scenes of Finland where Lenin went, by way of Petrograd, on April 16,1917. Lake, hay stack, rough hay-covered shelter and fire pit with kettle hanging over it. A forest glen and rustic wooden house, with Lenin's office in a hay loft.
Headlines of prominent newspapers show rising tensions prior to World War 1. Headline of New York American 'Czar expects war declaration today, England and Germany ready to strike, Austrians and Serbs in big battle'. Montage of headlines from various newspapers regarding looming war. Berliner Tageblatt New York Times headlines say 'Austria and Serbia ready for war, Russia gives warning to Germany, London still sees hope for peace'. New York Times and Freier Press headlines about the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. Serbian police dragging the assassin. Blood stained tunic of Archduke. Burial ceremony of Archduke Ferdinand with coffin covered with Austrian flag. Czar Nicholas II of Russia reviews troops. Various Cossack regiments being reviewed. Russian Revolution scenes and mass demonstrations and riot in streets of Moscow as Bolsheviks seize power in 1917. Russian civilians and Bolshevik loyal soldiers armed with rifles marching in mass funeral processions and demonstrations in Russia against the Czar led government. Leon Trotsky speaking to a crowd and saluting Red forces as Bolshevik troops parade. Food distribution to Russian children and people eating on snow covered streets of Moscow around time of revolution. Headlines showing Russian entry in World War I. Snow covered Kremlin. Vladimir Lenin at a desk talking. More views of newspaper headlines regarding outbreak of World War 1.
Russia after the Bolsheviks came to power by the October Revolution (Russian Revolution of 1917). Vladimir Lenin addresses an assembly at the Red Square in Moscow. Russian soldiers on horsebacks cross the farmlands. Commander of another troop leads large number of soldiers on horses. Demonstrators during a protest march raise banners.
Russia after the Bolsheviks came to power by the Russian Revolution of 1917. Vladimir Lenin addresses a crowd of people in a Russian city. Lenin speaks to an assembly of Soviet Congress from a stage. Russian soldiers on horsebacks cross a river and march. Congressmen in the assembly listen to what Lenin speaks.