Leon Trotsky played a fundamental role in the 1917 Russian Revolution, together with Lenin. There have been many attempts to distort and even to deny the role of Trotsky, especially on the part of the official Stalinist historians. But any reading of a serious history of the events in 1917 will show how Trotsky's name was inseparable from that of Lenin. Trotsky played a particularly important role in building up the Red Army, without which the revolution would have been crushed.

We also recommend the following texts as additional reading on the subject:

• The meaning of October
  A detailed article by Alan Woods, published in 1992 as a general introduction to the events of 1917.
  
• The History of the Russian Revolution
  A very good and detailed account of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky. Available from Wellred.
  
• Lessons of October
  A good, brief account of the revolution by Trotsky. Available from Wellred.
  
• 'The Year of Revolution'
  This is part six of Alan Woods' book, Bolshevism, the road to revolution. Available from Wellred.
  
• Ten Days that Shook the World
  The famous eyewitness account by the American Communist, John Reed.