On this day, 7 November 1917, the October revolution began in Russia

On this day, 7 November 1917, the October revolution began in Russia (named because of the different calendar which was in use at the time). Bolsheviks, anarchists and Left-Socialist Revolutionaries participated in the overthrow of the Alexander Kerensky-led provisional government, which was committed to continuing Russia's participation in the disastrous First World War. They seized control of key locations in St Petersburg, culminating in the storming of the Winter Palace. 
Socialist journalist John Reed was with the crowd:



"Like a black river, filling all the street, without song or cheer we poured through the Red Arch, where the man just ahead of me said in a low voice: ‘Look out, comrades! Don't trust them. They will fire, surely!’ In the open we began to run, stooping low and bunching together, and jammed up suddenly behind the pedestal of the Alexander Column.
‘How many of you did they kill?’ I asked. ‘I don't know. About ten.’
"After a few minutes huddling there, some hundreds of men, the army seemed reassured and without any orders suddenly began again to flow forward. By this time, in the light that streamed out of all the Winter Palace windows, I could see that the first two or three hundred men were Red Guards, with only a few scattered soldiers. Over the barricade of firewood we clambered, and leaping down inside gave a triumphant shout as we stumbled on a heap of rifles thrown down the yunkers who had stood there."

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