Russia · Politics / SDP. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Trotsky and most of the Iskra editors supported Martov and the Mensheviks while Plekhanov supported Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Pro-Iskra delegates unexpectedly split into two factions, Lenin and his supporters (known as Bolsheviks) argued for a smaller but highly organized party, Martov and his supporters (known as Mensheviks) argued for a larger and less disciplined party
Trotsky left the Mensheviks in September 1904 over their insistence on an alliance with Russian liberals and their opposition to a reconciliation with Lenin and the Bolsheviks
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