Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet

The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, commonly known as the Petrograd Soviet Ispolkom (Russian: Петроградский исполнительный комитет) was a self-appointed executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet. As an antagonist of the Russian Provisional Government, after the 1917 February Revolution in Russia, the Ispolkom became a second center of power. It was dissolved during the Bolshevik October Revolution later that year.

The Ispolkom are known for the controversial "Order No 1" (and 3) which stipulated that all military units should form committees like the Petrograd Soviet and that the military from every political perspective should not contradict the Ispolkom. The socialists at the Petrograd Soviet feared that officers were the most likely counter revolutionary elements and the intention of the Order was to limit their power. These orders rendered the officers powerless at the Russian front lines of World War I, which led to confusion, disastrous military discipline, and desertions.

History

During World War I, on 22 February 1917 (Julian Calendar) Tsar Nikolai II decided to leave Petrograd and travel to the front. The following day minor riots began on International Women's Day. Within a few days, riots morphed into a revolution in Russia's capital city - the February Revolution. The Tsar abdicated at Pskov on the afternoon of 2 March.