Background
Podvoiskii, Nikolai was born in 1880.
Podvoiskii, Nikolai was born in 1880.
Joined the Social Democratic Party, 1901. Took part in the 1905 Revolution. One of the leaders of the Military Revolutionary Committee in Petrograd during the October Revolution 1917.
As chairman of the Committee during the Bolshevik takeover, directed the storming of the Winter Palace. Minister for Military Affairs, November 1917-March 1918. During the Civil War, one of the organizers of the Red Army, also Minister of Military and Naval Affairs of the Ukraine.
Head of Vsevobuch (the compulsory military training scheme) and of some Cheka forces. Later held several high party positions.