The October Revolution and the Tactics of the Russian Communists.
By Joseph V. Stalin.
Source:Problems of Leninism, by J.V. Stalin,
Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1976, p. 117.
Three
circumstances of an external nature determined the comparative ease
with which the proletarian revolution in Russia succeeded in breaking
the chains of imperialism and thus overthrowing the rule of the
bourgeoisie.
Firstly,
the circumstance that the October Revolution began in a period of
desperate struggle between the two principal imperialist groups, the
Anglo-French and the Austro-German; at a time when, engaged in mortal
struggle between themselves, these two groups had neither the time
nor the means to devote serious attention to the struggle against the
October Revolution. This circumstance was of tremendous importance
for the October Revolution; for it enabled it to take advantage of
the fierce conflicts within the imperialist world to strengthen and
organize its own forces.