Births on February 10

Fanny Kaplan, Ukrainian-Russian activist (d. 1918)

Fanny Kaplan: The Socialist-Revolutionary Who Attempted to Assassinate Vladimir Lenin

Fanny Efimovna Kaplan, born Feiga Haimovna Roytblat (February 10, 1890 – September 3, 1918), was a pivotal figure in early Soviet history. An Ukrainian Jewish woman, she rose to prominence as a dedicated Socialist-Revolutionary and became known as an early Soviet dissident. Her name is indelibly linked to one of the most significant events of the Russian Civil War period: the attempted assassination of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik party and the head of the Soviet government, in August 1918. Kaplan was subsequently convicted of this act and executed by the Cheka, the formidable Soviet secret police.

A Life of Revolutionary Zeal and Disillusionment

Kaplan's journey began with deep commitment to revolutionary ideals. As a member of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party, a major political force that advocated for agrarian socialism and peasant land redistribution, she initially shared the broader revolutionary fervour that swept Russia. However, her vision of a democratic, multi-party socialist state sharply diverged from the path taken by the Bolsheviks following the October Revolution of 1917. The Socialist-Revolutionary Party, which had a significant base among the peasantry and secured the most votes in the 1917 Constituent Assembly elections, found itself increasingly marginalized and eventually suppressed by the Bolshevik government.

The Betrayal of the Revolution: Kaplan's Perspective

For Kaplan and many other non-Bolshevik revolutionaries, Vladimir Lenin and his party became "traitors to the revolution." This profound disillusionment stemmed from the Bolsheviks' swift implementation of one-party rule and their forceful dissolution of the democratically elected Constituent Assembly in January 1918. This act, seen as a betrayal of democratic principles and the broader socialist movement, solidified Kaplan's belief that Lenin had hijacked the revolution for the sole benefit of his authoritarian party, rather than fulfilling the aspirations of the wider populace for freedom and social justice.

The Fateful Day: August 30, 1918

Driven by her conviction, Fanny Kaplan took drastic action on August 30, 1918. She approached Vladimir Lenin as he was leaving the Mikhelson (now Vladimir Ilyich) Factory in Moscow, where he had just addressed workers. Drawing a Browning pistol, she fired three shots at him at close range. Two of the bullets struck Lenin, severely injuring him. One lodged in his collarbone, puncturing a lung, and the other entered his shoulder. Although he survived the immediate attack, these injuries are widely believed to have significantly contributed to his declining health in later years and his eventual series of strokes.

Interrogation, Execution, and the Onset of the Red Terror

Immediately after the attempt, Kaplan was apprehended. She was subjected to intense interrogation by the Cheka, the Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage, which had been established by the Bolsheviks in December 1917 to secure their power. Despite the severe pressure, Kaplan steadfastly refused to name any accomplices, asserting that she acted alone and was driven by her profound opposition to the Bolshevik regime. Just four days later, on September 3, 1918, she was summarily executed by a Cheka firing squad in the courtyard of the Moscow Kremlin without a formal trial.

The assassination attempt on Lenin, coupled with the assassination of Moisei Uritsky, the head of the Petrograd Cheka, on the very same day (August 30, 1918), provided the Soviet government with a pretext for an unprecedented wave of repression. These events were directly used to justify the reinstatement of the death penalty, which had been abolished by the Russian Provisional Government in March 1917 following the February Revolution. On September 5, 1918, the Council of People's Commissars issued the decree "On Red Terror," officially launching a brutal campaign of mass arrests, executions, and persecution against perceived enemies of the Bolshevik regime, marking a dark turn in Soviet history.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fanny Kaplan and the Lenin Assassination Attempt

Who was Fanny Kaplan?

Fanny Kaplan was a Ukrainian Jewish Socialist-Revolutionary and an early Soviet dissident known for her attempt to assassinate Vladimir Lenin in 1918. Her real name was Feiga Haimovna Roytblat.

Why did Fanny Kaplan attempt to assassinate Vladimir Lenin?

Kaplan viewed Lenin as a "traitor to the revolution" because the Bolsheviks, under his leadership, established one-party rule, dissolved the democratically elected Constituent Assembly, and suppressed other socialist parties, including her own Socialist-Revolutionary Party. She believed Lenin had betrayed the broader goals of the Russian Revolution.

What was the Cheka?

The Cheka (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage) was the Soviet secret police force established in December 1917. It served as a primary instrument of Bolshevik power, responsible for suppressing opposition, intelligence gathering, and carrying out summary executions.

What was the outcome of the assassination attempt on Lenin?

Lenin was severely injured by two bullets but survived the immediate attack. His long-term health was significantly impacted by these wounds, which are thought to have contributed to his later incapacitation and death. Fanny Kaplan was arrested, interrogated, and executed by the Cheka shortly after the attempt.

How did the Soviet government respond to the assassination attempt?

The attempt on Lenin's life, alongside the assassination of Moisei Uritsky, was used by the Soviet government to justify the reinstatement of the death penalty and to initiate the "Red Terror." This was a brutal campaign of mass repression, arrests, and executions against perceived counter-revolutionaries and enemies of the state, fundamentally altering the course of the Russian Civil War and Soviet governance.