Leon Trotsky

Leon Trotsky was a Russian revolutionary, writer, and political leader. He was born on 7 November 1879 in Ukraine, which was then part of the Russian Empire. His birth name was Lev Davidovich Bronstein. He later used the name Trotsky as a pseudonym, which is a name used instead of a real name. Trotsky became one of the main leaders of the Russian Revolution in 1917.

Trotsky became involved in revolutionary politics as a young man. He opposed the rule of the tsar, the emperor of Russia. Because of his political activities, he was arrested several times and sent into exile, which means forced to live away from home. During these years, he studied political ideas and wrote articles. He became known for his skills as a speaker and organizer.

In 1917, Trotsky returned to Russia during a time of unrest caused by war and shortages. He joined the Bolsheviks, a political group led by Vladimir Lenin. Trotsky played a major role in the October Revolution, which brought the Bolsheviks to power. He worked closely with Lenin and became chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, a council of workers and soldiers.

After the revolution, Trotsky helped organize the new government. One of his most important roles was leading the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. The Red Army was the military force of the Bolshevik government. Trotsky helped turn it into a large and organized army. The civil war lasted from 1918 to 1921 and ended with Bolshevik control of most of Russia.

After Lenin’s death in 1924, Trotsky lost influence within the Soviet leadership. He came into conflict with Joseph Stalin, another leading figure. Stalin gained more power, and Trotsky was removed from government positions. In 1929, Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Union and forced into exile. He lived in several countries, including Turkey, France, and Mexico.

Trotsky continued to write about politics while in exile. He criticized the Soviet government under Stalin. On 20 August 1940, Trotsky was attacked at his home in Mexico City and died the next day. He remains an important figure in the history of the Russian Revolution and the early Soviet period.