To an extent that most accounts still underrate, the Bolshevik Revolution was a German-financed operation, though it was greatly facilitated by the incompetence of the Russian liberals.1 Lenin's goose should have been cooked after the failure of the first Bolshevik coup attempt in early July and his exposure as a German agent in the newspaper Zhivoe Slovo, which led to formal charges of treason against him and ten other Bolshevik leaders.
The Bolshevik Revolution was significantly supported by German financing, a fact that many narratives overlook. The internal weaknesses of Russian liberals further enabled the Bolsheviks' rise to power. Despite facing a serious setback in early July when his first coup attempt failed, Lenin managed to avoid severe repercussions, partly due to the political circumstances at the time.
Lenin's reputation suffered after being labeled a German agent in an article in Zhivoe Slovo, leading to charges of treason for him and other Bolshevik leaders. However, the chaotic political landscape allowed Lenin to eventually recover and continue his revolutionary activities, demonstrating how external support and internal strife played pivotal roles in the Bolshevik's success.
