(1985) MiNo. 2805 ** - Czechoslovakia - 115th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin

V. I. Lenin: Leader of the Russian Revolution and Founder of the Soviet State

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), by his own name Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. His life and work profoundly influenced not only the history of Russia but also the development of international politics. Lenin was the main ideologue of Bolshevism, the leader of the October Revolution of 1917 and the founder of the Soviet Union.

Lenin came from an intellectual family and studied law at St. Petersburg University. He was led to radical political activity by the execution of his older brother Alexander, who was involved in a plot against the Tsar. In the 1890s Lenin became involved in the Marxist movement, was imprisoned several times and spent many years in exile. During this time, he formulated his key political views, which differed from classical Marxism in their emphasis on the role of the vanguard party and the necessity of armed revolution.

After the outbreak of the February Revolution in 1917, Lenin returned to Russia from exile and quickly took the initiative in the revolutionary movement. Under his leadership, the Bolsheviks staged a coup d'état in October of that year. After taking power, he became the head of the Soviet government. His first steps included making peace with Germany (the so-called Brest-Litovsk Peace), nationalizing land and banks, and dissolving the Constituent Assembly.

Lenin's reign was marked by civil war (1918-1921), during which the Bolsheviks faced a number of opponents. During this time, the so-called policy of war communism, which included widespread repression, food confiscation and direct control of the economy, took hold. After winning the civil war, Lenin launched the New Economic Policy (NEP), which temporarily allowed some elements of a market economy.

Health problems forced Lenin to withdraw from active politics in the last years of his life. His body was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow, where it is still on display today.

Lenin's figure remains a subject of controversy. For some, he represents the revolutionary who overthrew the oppressive tsarist regime and laid the foundations of a socialist state; for others, he is a symbol of authoritarian power, censorship and political repression. In any case, he is a key figure in modern history whose ideas and actions have influenced the course of an entire century.