The Sixth of July 1968

History

Thriller

Drama

Runtime

112 mins

Language

Russian

Directed by

Yuli Karasik

Made by

Mosfilm

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The Sixth of July Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Sixth of July (1968). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In Russia, hunger, devastation and intervention set the stage for a turning point as the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers, Peasants, Red Army and Cossack Deputies opens in Moscow on July 4, 1918. Within the revolutionary ranks, a split widens: the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries seek to wrest power from the Bolsheviks. At the request of the Left Socialist-Revolutionary faction, a representative of the underground Ukrainian peasant congress, Aleksandrov, addressed the deputies with a fiery speech urging them to vote against the Brest-Litovsk treaty. Lenin, Yuriy Kayurov, spoke against any war with the German Empire, and the congress adopts a Bolshevik resolution approving the activities of the Council of People’s Commissars.

On July 6, the Central Committee of the Left Socialist Revolutionary Party gathers in emergency session. To break the Brest-Litovsk treaty, which they see as counterrevolutionary, they decide to physically eliminate the German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach. The assassination signals the start of an uprising. One by one the buildings of the most important city services fall into the hands of the revolutionaries. Dzerzhinsky, Vasili Lanovoy, and Latsis are arrested. A message is received from Yaroslavl about a rebellion led by the Socialist Revolutionary Boris Savinkov. By evening, using their last reserves, the Bolsheviks send delegates to labor collectives for mass agitation and organization of the defense of the city. They resolve to counteract the uprising with a coordinated military force, not just volunteers.

At dawn, units of the Latvian Riflemen enter the city. Danishevsky, sent for negotiations, completes his mission. After several hours of heavy fighting, the Left Socialist Revolutionary uprising is crushed.

On July 9, 1918, the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets continues its work under Bolshevik one-party rule.

The Sixth of July Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Sixth of July (1968) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Fifth All-Russian Congress opens in Moscow

On July 4, 1918 the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets opens in Moscow amid hunger and upheaval. The session is marked by a split, with the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries challenging Bolshevik authority. Lenin delivers a keynote, and the congress ultimately endorses a Bolshevik resolution supporting the Council of People's Commissars.

July 4, 1918 Moscow

Left SRs push to reject Brest-Litovsk

Within the congress, the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries advocate rejecting the Brest-Litovsk treaty. Aleksandrov, a representative from the underground Ukrainian peasant congress, delivers a fiery speech urging deputies to oppose the treaty. The atmosphere intensifies as the Left SRs position themselves against the Bolshevik leadership.

July 4, 1918 Moscow

Bolshevik consolidation affirmed by Lenin’s stance

Lenin speaks against waging war with the German Empire, arguing for a strategic stance that aligns with Bolshevik goals. Following his speech, the congress adopts a Bolshevik resolution endorsing the activities of the Council of People's Commissars. The mood shifts toward consolidating Bolshevik control over the revolutionary process.

July 4, 1918 Moscow

Emergency Left SR meeting on breaking the treaty

On July 6, the Central Committee of the Left Socialist Revolutionary Party holds an emergency meeting. They resolve to physically eliminate the German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach to break the Brest-Litovsk treaty. The decision marks a turning point toward open rebellion.

July 6, 1918 Moscow

Assassination of Wilhelm von Mirbach

The assassination of the German ambassador signals the outbreak of a broader uprising. The act triggers widespread chaos as revolutionary factions seize control of key city institutions. The event immediately escalates the confrontation between the Left SRs and the Bolsheviks.

July 6, 1918 Moscow

Uprising expands as city services fall under rebel control

Soon after Mirbach’s assassination, important city services fall into the hands of the revolutionaries. Buildings once held by the state are seized in quick succession as the revolt spreads through Moscow. The lack of centralized command prompts the need for rapid reorganization by the Bolsheviks.

July 6-7, 1918 Moscow

Dzerzhinsky and Latsis are arrested

As the uprising unfolds, security forces move against key Bolshevik figures, resulting in the arrest of Dzerzhinsky and Latsis. The arrests illustrate the depth of the political crisis and the volatility within Moscow's power struggle. The confrontation intensifies as both sides jockey for leverage.

July 6-7, 1918 Moscow

News from Yaroslavl about Boris Savinkov’s rebellion

A message arrives from Yaroslavl reporting a separate rebellion led by Socialist Revolutionary Boris Savinkov. The intelligence underscores a broader, nationwide challenge to Bolshevik authority. The city’s leaders must contend with simultaneous uprisings beyond Moscow.

July 6-7, 1918 Yaroslavl

Bolsheviks mobilize labor collectives for defense

By evening, the Bolsheviks deploy mass agitation among labor collectives and organize the defense of the city. Delegates are sent to workplaces to rally workers and coordinate resistance. The move signals a shift from lone protests to organized, state-backed defense.

Evening of July 6, 1918 Moscow

Uprising countered with organized military force

The Bolsheviks resolve to counter the uprising not with volunteers but with an organized military force. This decision reflects the seriousness of the threat and the Bolsheviks’ intent to reclaim control quickly. The approach prioritizes discipline and centralized command over ad hoc volunteers.

July 6, 1918 Moscow

Latvians riflemen enter the city at dawn

At dawn, units of the Latvian Riflemen enter Moscow to bolster the defense. Their arrival marks a critical turning point in the battle to quell the uprising. Dense fighting continues as loyal forces regain ground from the rebels.

Dawn July 7, 1918 Moscow

Danishevsky negotiates a resolution

Danishevsky is sent to negotiate and completes his mission successfully. The negotiations aim to de-escalate the conflict and prevent further bloodshed. The attempt underscores attempts at diplomacy amidst civil upheaval.

July 7, 1918 Moscow

Heavy fighting pacifies the uprising

After several hours of heavy fighting, the Left Socialist Revolutionary uprising is crushed. The resilience of loyal forces, aided by the Latvian Riflemen, brings Moscow back under Bolshevik control. The city braces for the aftermath and political consolidation.

July 7-8, 1918 Moscow

Congress continues under Bolshevik one-party rule

On July 9, the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets resumes its work, now operating under Bolshevik one-party rule. The shift marks the consolidation of power and the suppression of the LeftSR challenge. The event closes the immediate crisis and sets the stage for a new political era.

July 9, 1918 Moscow

The Sixth of July Characters

Explore all characters from The Sixth of July (1968). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Maria Spiridonova (Alla Demidova)

A prominent Left Socialist Revolutionary figure at the congress, she embodies the faction’s challenge to Bolshevik hegemony during the July crisis. Her presence underscores the ideological conflict and the stakes of the decision to resist or accept the Brest-Litovsk policy.

🎭 Left Socialist Revolutionary 🧭 Ideological conflict

Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich (Yuriy Nazarov)

A Bolshevik delegate who helps coordinate the defense and responses to the uprising. He represents the party’s organizational resolve and willingness to use force to preserve power.

🎯 Bolshevik 🗳️ Political strategy

Prosh Proshyan (Armen Dzhigarkhanyan)

A member of the Left Socialist Revolutionary faction involved in critical decisions during the crisis. His actions mirror the factional debates that shaped the uprising’s course.

🎭 Left Socialist Revolutionary ⚖️ Strategic actor

Vladimir Lenin (Yuriy Kayurov)

The Bolshevik leader whose speeches and positions influence the congress’s stance on war with Germany. His influence helps steer the party’s approach to the crisis and the prosecution of the uprising.

🏛️ Lenin 🧭 Leadership

Felix Dzerzhinsky (Vasili Lanovoy)

Head of security who becomes a central figure in enforcing the defense of the city. His role reflects the hardline security response that accompanies revolutionary upheaval.

🛡️ Security 🗡️ Repression

Dmitri Popov (Aleksandr Yanvaryov)

A Bolshevik official involved in the events and emergency measures. He embodies the party’s active, on-the-ground organization during the crisis.

🎯 Bolshevik 🗺️ Political organizer

Nikolai Podvoisky (Vladimir Samoylov)

An early Bolshevik figure who helps drive the party’s response to the uprising. His role illustrates the rapid mobilization and planning that followed the crisis.

🎯 Bolshevik 🧭 Strategy

Yakov Sverdlov (Vladimir Tatosov)

A central Bolshevik leader whose decisions shape the party’s coordinated action during the revolt. He represents the executive arm of the revolutionary government.

🧭 Leadership 🌀 Centralization

Vladimir Bonch-Bruyevich (Georgiy Kulikov)

A key party figure involved in high-level decisions about coping with the uprising and the push toward consolidating power.

🎯 Party leadership 🗳️ Politics

Inessa Armand (Nina Veselovskaya)

An associate of Lenin and a visible presence among revolutionary circles. Her portrayal highlights the involvement of Anna Armand’s circle in shaping ideological and political currents.

📝 Revolutionary 🗝️ Ideology

The Sixth of July Settings

Learn where and when The Sixth of July (1968) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

July 1918

The narrative unfolds from July 4 to July 9, 1918, against the backdrop of post-revolutionary Russia and the failed Brest-Litovsk negotiations. The assassination of the German ambassador sparks an uprising, prompting a rapid military response and a brutal consolidation of power. The period marks the shift toward Bolshevik one-party rule.

Location

Moscow, Russia

In July 1918 Moscow becomes the epicenter of a violent power struggle between Bolsheviks and the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries. The city endures street fighting and the seizure of key services as factions clash over the revolution’s future. The film frames Moscow as both battlefield and stage for decisive political maneuvers.

🏛️ City 🧭 Political upheaval 🗺️ Moscow

The Sixth of July Themes

Discover the main themes in The Sixth of July (1968). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

⚔️

Power Struggle

The film centers on a brutal clash between rival factions within the revolutionary movement. It shows how the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries attempt to overturn Bolshevik dominance, while the Bolsheviks mobilize organized force to defend their authority. The struggle unfolds across the city as factions vie for control of the state’s direction.

🎭

Political Intrigue

Behind public speeches lies a web of secret meetings, shifting alliances, and urgent decisions that determine loyalties. The narrative highlights strategic maneuvering among leaders, deputies, and party organizers as they navigate a volatile crisis. Choices made in these rooms accelerate the move toward centralized, one-party governance.

🔥

Uprising and Consolidation

The uprising acts as both a spark of conflict and a turning point toward centralized power. The film traces how violence and mass agitation are deployed to suppress opposition and solidify Bolshevik control. It culminates in a reconfigured political order, with the congress continuing under one-party rule.

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The Sixth of July Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Sixth of July (1968). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the bleak winter of 1918, Moscow teeters on the edge of collapse. The city’s streets echo with the hollow sounds of hunger, foreign armies inching ever closer, and the frantic whispers of a nation trying to redefine itself. Against this backdrop, the Fifth All‑Russian Congress of Soviets gathers, a sprawling assembly that feels both a beacon of hope and a powder keg of competing ideologies. The atmosphere is thick with tension, the air charged by the clash of revolutionary fervor and the desperate need for stability, setting the stage for a story as much about the weight of history as the pulse of individual ambition.

Within the congress, a sharp divide begins to surface. Aleksandrov, a fiery delegate representing an underground Ukrainian peasant congress, delivers a impassioned appeal to reject the peace terms that many view as a betrayal. Across the hall, Lenin counters the call with a steely resolve, arguing that any new war would drown the fledgling Soviet project. Meanwhile, Dzerzhinsky watches the proceedings with a cold, calculating eye, his presence a reminder that the secret police never sleeps. These contrasting voices create a volatile mix, hinting at alliances that could shift with a single whispered word.

Beyond the polished chambers, a secretive faction of Left Socialist Revolutionaries begins to plot a dramatic gambit. Their aim is to eliminate the German ambassador, Wilhelm von Mirbach, hoping the act will ignite popular outrage and push Russia back into conflict with Germany. The plan, bold and reckless, reflects the desperation of those who see the current treaty as a death sentence for their revolutionary ideals. As whispers turn to actions, figures like Danishevsky, a negotiator tasked with delicate talks, and Boris Savinkov, a rebel whose name reverberates through the city’s underground, underscore the unseen forces that swirl beneath the surface.

The film balances the stark realism of a war‑torn capital with the feverish intensity of political intrigue. It draws viewers into a world where every speech, every decision, and every conspiratorial glance could tip the balance between order and chaos. The mood is one of impending storm—an uneasy blend of historical gravitas and the suspense of a thriller—leaving the audience to wonder which side will seize the reins of a Russia on the brink of transformation.

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