Just finished Victor Sebestyen’s excellent 2017 biography Lenin: The Man, the Dictator, and the Master of Terror recently. This Twitter (X) thread sums the story up pretty succinctly:
2h • 22 tweets • 7 min read • Read on X
In 1917, Russia was collapsing. The Tsar had abdicated, World War I was bleeding the country dry, and revolution was in the air.
Then, suddenly, Vladimir Lenin—Russia’s most radical revolutionary—returned from exile.
How? Germany smuggled him back... (bookmark this):
By 1917, Germany was still locked in World War I, fighting both France and Britain in the west and Russia in the east.
The German High Command knew:
If Russia stayed in the war, Germany would remain trapped in a two-front conflict.
If Russia collapsed into revolution, Germany could focus all its forces on the Western Front.
The best way to make that happen? Send Lenin to Russia to create chaos.
Before 1917, Lenin was living in Switzerland, exiled for his radical communist activities.
When the Tsar abdicated in March 1917, Lenin saw his chance.
He wanted to return to Russia—but there was a problem.
He couldn’t travel through Allied countries (France and Britain would arrest him).
The only way in was through Germany—Russia’s enemy.
And that’s exactly what Germany arranged.
They would put Lenin and his comrades on a sealed train from Switzerland to Russia.
The train would cross Germany and Sweden, avoiding Allied territory.
Lenin would promise to spread anti-war agitation in Russia.
On April 9, 1917, Lenin boarded the train in Zurich.
The Germans paid for his journey.
The train was sealed shut to make it look like Lenin wasn’t technically entering Germany.
Inside the train were 32 revolutionaries, including Lenin’s wife and closest allies.
The destination? Petrograd (St. Petersburg), the heart of the Russian Revolution.
On April 16, 1917, Lenin arrived in Petrograd.
His mission? To overthrow the Provisional Government that had replaced the Tsar.
Immediately, he began spreading anti-war propaganda:
He denounced the Provisional Government for keeping Russia in World War I.
He called for "peace, land, and bread"—a slogan that resonated with war-weary Russians.
He demanded a second revolution—one that would bring communism.
Germany’s plan was working.
Germany didn’t just transport Lenin. They funded his revolution.
The German government funneled millions of marks into Bolshevik propaganda.
Bolshevik newspapers, rallies, and activists were bankrolled with German cash.
The goal? Weaken Russia from within and force it out of the war.
It worked.
By October 1917, Lenin’s Bolsheviks had grown strong enough to launch a coup.
On October 25, Bolshevik forces stormed the Winter Palace.
The Provisional Government collapsed without a fight.
Lenin took power, establishing the world’s first communist state.
Within months, Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany, ending its role in World War I.
Germany had successfully knocked Russia out of the war—by installing Lenin.
At first, it seemed like Germany had won.
With Russia out of the war, Germany focused on the Western Front.
But then, things unraveled...
Lenin’s revolution spread beyond Russia.
Communist movements arose in Germany itself.
Germany lost World War I in 1918.
The Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany, setting the stage for Hitler’s rise.
By 1945, Germany itself would fall to Soviet forces—led by Lenin’s successor, Stalin.
The empire that once smuggled Lenin into Russia would be crushed by the monster they created.
By helping Lenin, Germany accidentally:
Created the Soviet Union, which would dominate the 20th century.
Inspired global communist revolutions, from China to Cuba.
Set in motion events that led to the Cold War.
It remains one of the greatest unintended consequences in history.
Germany thought they were playing a clever game.
Instead, they helped unleash one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever seen.
Imagine if Germany had never helped Lenin.
Would Russia have stayed in World War I?
Would the Bolsheviks have failed without German money?
Would the Soviet Union have ever existed?
One decision—putting Lenin on a train—changed the course of world history.
Germany thought they were weakening Russia. Instead, they created their greatest future enemy.
A reminder that short-term strategy can lead to long-term disaster.
Humble Flow
@HumbleFlow2h • 22 tweets • 7 min read • Read on X
In 1917, Russia was collapsing. The Tsar had abdicated, World War I was bleeding the country dry, and revolution was in the air.
Then, suddenly, Vladimir Lenin—Russia’s most radical revolutionary—returned from exile.
How? Germany smuggled him back... (bookmark this):
By 1917, Germany was still locked in World War I, fighting both France and Britain in the west and Russia in the east.
The German High Command knew:
If Russia stayed in the war, Germany would remain trapped in a two-front conflict.
If Russia collapsed into revolution, Germany could focus all its forces on the Western Front.
The best way to make that happen? Send Lenin to Russia to create chaos.
Before 1917, Lenin was living in Switzerland, exiled for his radical communist activities.
When the Tsar abdicated in March 1917, Lenin saw his chance.
He wanted to return to Russia—but there was a problem.
He couldn’t travel through Allied countries (France and Britain would arrest him).
The only way in was through Germany—Russia’s enemy.
And that’s exactly what Germany arranged.
They would put Lenin and his comrades on a sealed train from Switzerland to Russia.
The train would cross Germany and Sweden, avoiding Allied territory.
Lenin would promise to spread anti-war agitation in Russia.
On April 9, 1917, Lenin boarded the train in Zurich.
The Germans paid for his journey.
The train was sealed shut to make it look like Lenin wasn’t technically entering Germany.
Inside the train were 32 revolutionaries, including Lenin’s wife and closest allies.
The destination? Petrograd (St. Petersburg), the heart of the Russian Revolution.
On April 16, 1917, Lenin arrived in Petrograd.
His mission? To overthrow the Provisional Government that had replaced the Tsar.
Immediately, he began spreading anti-war propaganda:
He denounced the Provisional Government for keeping Russia in World War I.
He called for "peace, land, and bread"—a slogan that resonated with war-weary Russians.
He demanded a second revolution—one that would bring communism.
Germany’s plan was working.
Germany didn’t just transport Lenin. They funded his revolution.
The German government funneled millions of marks into Bolshevik propaganda.
Bolshevik newspapers, rallies, and activists were bankrolled with German cash.
The goal? Weaken Russia from within and force it out of the war.
It worked.
By October 1917, Lenin’s Bolsheviks had grown strong enough to launch a coup.
On October 25, Bolshevik forces stormed the Winter Palace.
The Provisional Government collapsed without a fight.
Lenin took power, establishing the world’s first communist state.
Within months, Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany, ending its role in World War I.
Germany had successfully knocked Russia out of the war—by installing Lenin.
At first, it seemed like Germany had won.
With Russia out of the war, Germany focused on the Western Front.
But then, things unraveled...
Lenin’s revolution spread beyond Russia.
Communist movements arose in Germany itself.
Germany lost World War I in 1918.
The Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany, setting the stage for Hitler’s rise.
By 1945, Germany itself would fall to Soviet forces—led by Lenin’s successor, Stalin.
The empire that once smuggled Lenin into Russia would be crushed by the monster they created.
By helping Lenin, Germany accidentally:
Created the Soviet Union, which would dominate the 20th century.
Inspired global communist revolutions, from China to Cuba.
Set in motion events that led to the Cold War.
It remains one of the greatest unintended consequences in history.
Germany thought they were playing a clever game.
Instead, they helped unleash one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever seen.
Imagine if Germany had never helped Lenin.
Would Russia have stayed in World War I?
Would the Bolsheviks have failed without German money?
Would the Soviet Union have ever existed?
One decision—putting Lenin on a train—changed the course of world history.
Germany thought they were weakening Russia. Instead, they created their greatest future enemy.
A reminder that short-term strategy can lead to long-term disaster.
