The Jacobins of the 20th century would not guillotine the capitalists. To follow a good example does not mean copying it. It would be enough to arrest 50 to 100 financial magnates and bigwigs, the chief knights of embezzlement and of robbery by the banks. It would be enough to arrest them for a few weeks to expose their frauds and show all

exploited people who needs the war. Upon exposing the frauds of the banking barons, we could

release them, placing the banks, the capitalist syndicates, and all the contractors working for the

government under workers' control.

Vladimir Lennon, editorial in Pravda, July 1917.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Thank you. a century. Episode 156 Locomotives for Heads.

We last looked in on the situation in Russia back in episode 148, and it's about time we check in again, as events, you know, continue to transpire.

In that previous episode, I told you about the event of the Bolsheviks grandly named the October Revolution,

or sometimes even the Great October Socialist Revolution.

It actually took place in November by the Gregorian calendar,

but the Julian calendar was still in use in Russia at the time,

so that explains the October in October Revolution.

Let me take this opportunity to remind you that for the purposes of this podcast,

I've been giving you Gregorian dates all along, because I think that's easier for both of us,

all things considered.

I'm happy to be able to tell you that

the Sovnarcum, the new government installed by the Bolsheviks, switched Russia to the Gregorian

calendar less than two months after taking power. Specifically, in Russia, Wednesday, January 31st,

1918 was followed by Thursday, February 14th for civil purposes.

The government explicitly declared that the change was for civil purposes only, and the Russian

Orthodox Church, like most Eastern Christian churches, continues to use the Julian calendar

...