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The Russian Revolution

Lucy explores the myths and fibs that swirl around the dramatic events of 1917 and discovers it was really a group of women workers who kick-started the Russian Revolution.

We think we know the story of the Russian revolution - in October 1917, the Bolsheviks rose up, swept the tsar from power and communism was born. In this film, Lucy explores the myths and fibs that swirl around the dramatic events of 1917. She finds it was really a group of women workers who kick-started the Russian Revolution in February 1917. At the time, the Bolsheviks tried to stop it, and Lenin, the radical leader of the Bolsheviks, wasn鈥檛 even in the country.

Lucy discovers that the tsar was forced to abdicate long before the Bolsheviks took control. And she finds out how King George V betrayed his cousin by opposing the British government鈥檚 offer of asylum to the tsar and his family. This was kept secret for decades.

Along the way, Lucy finds reveals how the Bolsheviks used films and books to big up the October revolution while belittling the February revolution as irrelevant and bourgeois. And when Lenin died in 1924, Stalin lied his way to the top - he repressed Lenin鈥檚 last wishes and faked paintings and photographs to support his claim to be Lenin鈥檚 chosen successor.

10 months left to watch

58 minutes

Signed Audio described

Last on

Tue 22 Aug 2023 03:00

Music Played

  • Boney M.

    Rasputin

  • Insomnia

    Release The Beast

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Lucy Worsley
Director Andrew Thompson
Executive Producer Chris Granlund

Broadcasts