Lenin at Smolny

Lenin directing the Bolshevik uprising from Smolny, illustration from a Soviet history book, 1968

By Alexandra Kollontai, published in English in 1947

Kollontai was a famed Bolshevik revolutionary leader, Marxist thinker, women's rights advocate and diplomat. You can learn more about her at: Remembering Alexandra Kollontai b. March 31, 1872.

This is her remembrance of Lenin in the early days of the Revolution:

If someone were to ask me what hour of my life I cherished most and remembered best, I should reply unhesitatingly that it is the hour Soviet power was proclaimed in Russia.

Never shall I forget and with nothing can I compare our pride and happiness, when from the tribune of the Second Congress of Soviets at the Smolny Institute we heard the words of the historic decision:

"All power has been transferred to the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies."

I shall always remember Vladimir Lenin in this great hour of triumph. He was in the Presidium, when the first famous decrees of Soviet power were proclaimed - about peace and the land, which from then on became the property of the people.

Lenin sat with his head resting on his hand. The palm seemed to embrace the long forehead, inside which the genius brain was at work. Penetrating, full of energy and thought, Lenin's mind looked into the future - he saw things we did not see; the transformation of the decrees into action and the future that had yet to be won.

Concentrated and inspiring, Lenin sat at the table of the Presidium of the first Soviet Legislative Assembly, when the Bolsheviks, in the first hours of triumph, began the construction of a new world in Russia . The reins of power of the workers and peasants were in the hands of the great thinker and genius Vladimir Lenin.

I found myself in the seething atmosphere of the Smolny in October 1917, then the Bolshevik headquarters of the Revolution.

The ground floor was occupied by the general staff of the Red Guard. The floor above was taken up by the Bolsheviks.

In those memorable days Stalin worked at Smolny. Often we saw Stalin moving about the long corridor in his usual light and measured steps, deep in thought. We did not stop him with idle talk, knowing how precious was his every minute.

Vladimir Lenin arrived at Smolny on the night of November 6. He had come from Lesnoye, where he had been in hiding from the enemies of the Revolution on the decision of the Party, and went directly to the hall where the Petrograd Soviet was in session.

Several people tried to dissuade him from appearing openly at the meeting of the Soviet. Those who lived through those tense minutes will never forget their anxiety for the safety of Lenin.

But the days of the underground had passed! Lenin ignored the warnings. He did not even argue, but just walked straight on to the assembly hall.

Lenin knew what would be his reception in the Soviet. He knew better than we did the mood of the proletariat of the towns and villages and the feeling of the soldiers. He knew that they were eager to hear his decisive and historic speech.

Hardly had Lenin crossed the threshold when the word was passed on: "Lenin!" And then followed a thunderous ovation.

Lenin delivered his speech with vigor and conviction.

"We cannot delay ! Here and now we must decide on the transfer of power into the hands of the Soviets. To delay action will be fatal!" These words were understood as the battle order of the great leader of the Revolution.

Returning from the meeting, Lenin said to us with a faint smile:

"See how the deputies reacted, and you doubted..." And with a reproachful shake of the head , he cast a sly glance in the direction of his zealous bodyguard.

Lenin took into his own hands the direction of the uprising.

I recall the room in the Smolny with the windows looking out on the Neva. It was a dark October evening. In the room an electric bulb threw a dim light over a small square table. Around it sat the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party.

Lenin was among us. This gave us courage and confidence in victory. Lenin was calm. Lenin was firm. This clarity of thought and firmness of mind was evident in every order he gave, in every sphere of activity. It was the guiding hand of a skilled captain at sea over taken by the storm. And it was a storm of immeasurable force-the storm of the greatest of social revolutions.

Beside Lenin - his right hand Stalin - stood in a black Russian shirt. Strong willed and energetic, Stalin said little. There were some among us who talked too much, who were too ready with advice and recommendations, so wordy and so very, very nervous. Stalin, on the contrary, was the embodiment of will and composure.

I had the good fortune and the great honor to work with Lenin and Stalin in the first Soviet Government.

The meetings of the Council were always business like, but conditions of work were more than unsatisfactory. The table of the chairman - Lenin's table stood against the wall; we the People's Commissars sat around Lenin and some behind him. Every time Lenin gave someone the floor or addressed instructions, he had to turn. But it never occurred to anyone to move the table and make things a little more comfortable - all were too engrossed in vital affairs.