Chronology of the Russian revolution

March 8 (Thursday) - Shortage of bread caused unrest. Workingmen struck at various munitions factories. Hungry people raided food shops.

March 9 (Friday) - Petrograd streets were under guard of mounted police. Hungry people broke into bread stores and were dispersed by police. Petrograd garrison, half-hearted in suppression of disorders, fired blank cartridges on the mobs, now steadily increasing.

March 10 (Saturday) - Government officials ordered troops to fire into solid masses of people in Nevsky Prospect. The troops flatly refused. Officials promptly replaced them with police, who fired several volleys. The czar ordered the duma dissolved.

March 11 (Sunday) - Widespread clashes continued. A Russian regiment of the Petrograd garrison revolted when ordered to fire on the hungry people. Five more regiments joined them. These forces took the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul, after a brief battle. Wholesale mutinies followed. Troops killed their officers or overwhelmed those who still remained loyal to the czar. Then the troops marched in force against the police and defeated them in a bloody street fight. This was the first day of the organized revolution.

March 12 (Monday) - Street fighting continued. In the afternoon one government regiment opposing the regiments fighting for the people suddenly left its place in barricades and joined the revolution. The desertion spirit swept the whole line. Thousands joined. Within an hour nearly all of Petrograd fell into the hands of the revolutionists. Immediately the duma met. Manifestos were issued; the czar was apprised that the people would now rule. The imperial ministry resigned. A new cabinet was named by the revolutionists. This was really the second day of the revolution as an organized affair. At night the troops made vigorous assault on the few government buildings still held by the czar's officials.

March 13 (Tuesday) - Early the third day of the organized revolt the remnant of the government forces and officials surrendered. The ministers were arrested. President Rodzianko of the duma sent a final appeal to the czar demanding immediate reform measures. The revolutionists then assumed full control.