he rising death tolls of World War I disillusioned many Russian citizens, and the country’s political and economic turmoil, aggravated by the poor leadership of Czar Nicholas II, ultimately led to a revolt by the people. Socialist leaders moved into power, taking advantage of the hostile environment. In February 1917, the regime of Czar Nicholas II fell and a socialist government was formed. However, by October 1917, Vladimir Lenin and his Bolsheviks took over leadership of Russia, creating the communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, which controlled Russia and neighboring countries for the next seventy-four years.