On 8th July 1917, Alexander Kerensky became the new leader of the Provisional Government. Kerensky was still the most popular man in the government because of his political past. In the Duma he had been leader of the moderate socialists and had been seen as the champion of the working-class. However, Kerensky was unwilling to end the war. In fact, soon after taking office, he announced a new summer offensive. His commitment to continue the war upset other groups in Russia that were adamantly against the war.

Soldiers on the Eastern Front were dismayed at the news and regiments began to refuse to move to the front line. There was a rapid increase in the number of men deserting and by the autumn of 1917 an estimated 2 million men had unofficially left the army.

On 19th of July, Kerensky gave orders for the arrest of leading Bolsheviks who were campaigning against the war. This included Vladimir Lenin, Gregory Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev, Anatoli Lunacharsky, and Alexandra Kollontai. The Bolshevik headquarters at the Kshesinsky Palace was also occupied by government troops. After the dissention in the military had taken place, disgruntled generals planned on revolting and asked the Bolsheviks for help. Lenin instructed the Bolshevik army and commanders that the revolting generals were to be stopped at Petrograd, instead of help.

Under pressure from the nobility and industrialists, Alexander Kerensky was persuaded to take decisive action. On 22nd October he ordered the arrest of the Military Revolutionary Committee. The next day he closed down the Bolshevik newspapers and cut off the telephones to the Bolshevik headquarters.

Leon Trotsky, one of the leaders of the Bolsheviks now urged the overthrow of the Provisional Government. Lenin agreed and on the evening of the 24th of October 1917, orders were given for the Bolsheviks to begin to occupy the railway stations, the telephone exchange and the State Bank. The following day the Red Guards surrounded the Winter Palace. Inside was most of the country's Cabinet,
although Kerensky had managed to escape from the city.

At 9 p.m. the Bolsheviks began to open fire on the palace. Little damage was done but the action persuaded most of those defending the building to surrender. The Red now entered the Winter Palace and arrested the Cabinet ministers.

On 26th October 1917, the All-Russian Congress of Soviets met and handed over power to the Soviet Council of People's Commissars. Vladimir Lenin was elected chairman and other appointments included Leon Trotsky for Foreign Affairs.