Lenin's Exile and Settlement in Pskov

Lenin's exile began when the First World War erupted, leading to his arrest in Galicia due to his Russian citizenship. After a brief imprisonment, he was released when his anti-Tsarist credentials were clarified. Following this incident, Lenin and his wife moved to Bern, Switzerland, where they sought refuge from the political turmoil in Russia. The couple later relocated to Zürich, which became a significant base for Lenin's revolutionary activities. In Zürich, he engaged with other exiled Russian revolutionaries and intellectuals, fostering discussions that would shape the future of the Bolshevik movement. This period was marked by Lenin's prolific writing and strategic planning, as he sought to galvanize support for the overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the establishment of a socialist state in Russia. His time in Zürich was crucial for developing the ideological framework that would later underpin the October Revolution. The city provided a relatively safe environment for Lenin to organize and communicate with his supporters, as well as to critique the ongoing war and the conditions in Russia. The interactions and collaborations he formed during this time laid the groundwork for his eventual return to Russia, where he would play a pivotal role in the revolution that transformed the country.