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as a complete and definite rupture with socialism.
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These were the conditions existing at the time when I was surprised by the October revolution. I use the word surprised deliberately, for as in February I had been unable, or had not desired to expect the arrival of the events which, as a matter of fact, continued to develope in the most logical manner. However, it turned out that I was to persist to my error. Not only did I not understand, but I did not even guess that the revolution was not a mere accident, but was what appeared to be a real upheaval of the popular masses of the Russian people, who, under the standard of the Proletariat and the International, were striking their first decisive blow at the old world. Under the influence of my impressions I saw but two things:
a) Firstly, the question of the war. Firmly convinced that the bolsheviks, who at that time meant Lenin, Trotzky and certain „supernumaries“ for me, were paid agents of the Germans, I did not even question for one second that the October coup d'etat was a German move brought about with the definite aim of abolishing the eastern front and of scattering ail hope for a revival of the combatant force of the Russian army. In other words, I was persuaded that the days of October were not a revolution, but a plot, one more important than those which had preceeded it (the July attempt, and the retreat from Tarnopol).
