2.2 The Civil War

Question 1

Who were the Whites?

Answer 1

They were a formation of many different groups with little similarities other than their hatred for the Bolsheviks.

They were called the Whites to directly contrast with the Bolshevik Reds.

Formed in 1917.

Question 2

Why did lefts join the Whites?

Answer 2

They believed the Bolsheviks were ignoring the Soviet’s who were responsible for their power in the first place:

• The Bolshevik ideology directly alienated the Mensheviks
• The SRs despised the Bolshevik’s for forcing them out of the Constituent Assembly

Question 3

Why did members of the Russian population join the Whites?

Answer 3

• Many believed the Bolshevik’s had not submitted to the popular election’s outcome
• Minorities were uncertain about Bolshevik promises, many saw the opportunity to invoke chaos and fight for independence
• The Bolshevik’s seemed incapable of solving the economic crisis. This was worsened by the loss of Ukraine which threatened risks of food shortages.

Question 4

Why did rights join the Whites?

Answer 4

• They believed the Bolsheviks had no right to rule as they had taken power by force
• The Bourgeoisie were alienated by Bolshevik ideology
• Some members still supported a Tsarist regime

Question 5

When and what was the significance of the murder of the Tsar?

Answer 5

17th July 1918.

Lenin ordered the murder of the Tsar and the Romanov family to remove the Whites figurehead.

Question 6

Who were the Greens?

Answer 6

Russian fighters who wanted independence from Russia.

Mainly consisted of Ukrainians, Poles, Finns or Georgians.

Question 7

How many died during the Civil War?

Answer 7

10 million members of the pop. due to war, famine and disease.

Question 8

What was the Treaty of Riga 1921?

Answer 8

This granted independence to Poland, as well as the Baltic states after Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Polish War.

Question 9

What were the Reds Strengths?

Answer 9

• They consisted of 5 million well disciplined troops led by Trotsky.
• They had seized control of the railways and industrial districts
• Had heavy control over central Russia, including Petrograd and Moscow

Question 10

What were the weaknesses of the Whites?

Answer 10

• Had less support by the people as they were associated with the Tsar
• The White Armies were corrupt, undisciplined and struggled to communicate with other districts of the army
• The Tsar, their figurehead, had been executed by the Reds