Bolshevik consolidation - Unit 2 - 1918-21 The civil war Flashcards
Why was there a civil war in Russia?
Absolute rule and policies of the Bolsheviks
Lenin wanted a short conflict to end opposition
People wanted or wanted to stop independence of nationalities
The Allies influence - they wanted to keep the war going on the Eastern Front
Who occupied the territory in the North and Central Russia?
Reds
Who occupied the territory in the Far north, East and South?
The Whites
Who occupied the territory in the Ukraine?
The Greens
Who had access to most troops with 70 million in their areas?
The Reds
Why did the Reds win?
They were a disciplined force
They introduced conscription (70 million available)
Trotsky’s leadership
They shared an ideology
They controlled the main cities and communication networks
What was the red army used for?
Red Terror, attacks, defence and Military discipline
Did the Civil War cause more or less centralisation?
More
When were the Royal family executed?
17/07/1918
Why were the Royal family executed?
Some feared they would be a focus for rebellion
In March 1918, the Bolsheviks renamed themselves as the All Union Communist Party. From then on they became known as the what?
Communists
What were the Whites weaknesses?
Support from the allies - used in propaganda against them
Divided aims, leaders, ideology, by geography
Communication was difficult and had to be held in Paris
20 million fewer workers and soldiers
Little access to factories
Diverse regions
Who were the Greens?
Small area in Ukraine
Limited population and resources
Surrounded by whites
How did Lenin control Russia?
Cheka and Red terror
The Red Army defence of Communism
Red army attacks for more land
Cheka enforced military discipline
Lenin centralisation of industry and government
Use of war communism
What was war communism?
Part of state capitalism - a way to control the country
1) Grain requisitioning
2) Rationing (largest rations to soldiers and workers, smallest to the bourgeoisie)
3) Abolition of money - hyper inflation so paid via rations
4) Abolition of trade - private trade became illegal
5) Nationalisation of industry - all businesses taken over by the state
6) Conscription - fight or work
Why was war communism introduced?
May 1918 - economy collapsed - food prices soared, industrial production shrank, value of the rouble collapsed.
He hoped Nationalism would lead to grater efficiency , get experts to run the economy - Vesehka ( a state group that would set targets and organise the economy)
STATE CAPITALISM
Re-establish worker discipline - pay more to the most productive
Proper management of factories by paid specialists
Co-ordinate economic production to meet need.
Why was war communism necessary?
Ensure high levels of production to met war goals
To ensure the efficient allocation of workers
Food production to feed soldiers, workers and civilians
What was red terror?
30th August an attempted assassination of Lenin led to:
- Repression using the cheka to get rid of all opposition - estimated 500,000 dead.
What was the Tambov revolt?
Peasants led by Antonov - rebellion against grain seizure and cheka brutality - they were largely unbeaten. Around 50,000.
What was the Kronstadt rising?
A rebellion by the naval officers in the Petrograd naval base
Previously loyal sailors they were complaining about the repression and rule of the Bolsheviks and wanted democratic socialism
A wake up call for Lenin but it was still put down brutally
What was NEP?
- The end to grain requisitioning - a tax in kind instead
- Private trade permitted
- Small factories opened under private control
- Heavy industry, railway etc still under Government control
- Money re-introduced
What was the Comintern?
Established in March 1919 to promote world wide revolution
Lenin wanted to create communist parties abroad that would be loyal to Moscow
The aim was to overthrow foreign governments
What was the Russo-Polish War?
A bid to export revolution in 1920 and they invaded Poland
Expected the Polish working class to support
It failed as the Polish resisted what they saw as traditional Russian expansionism
What was the Rapello Treaty?
An agreement with Germany
Both nations promised to co-operate in meeting their economic needs
re-establishment of diplomatic relations
Russia provided Germany’s military training ground and resources
Russia allowed special trading rights to Germany
What was the Zinoviev letter?
Soviet regime enjoyed an imporved relationship with Britain Anglo-Soviet trade agreement 1921
Communist party in Britain 1920-21
25th October 1924 - Daily mail fake letter - saying the comintern had encouraged a revolution in Britain via the Labour party
The letter reenforced the idea that the labour party was too close to Communism - the conservatives won the election.
They were hostile to soviet relations
What was Lenin’s rule like by 1924?
Lenin died in 1924
Promised peace, bread and land - led Russia into a brutal civil war and policies created a famine in 1921
Soviet democracy usurped the party
NEP unpopular
BUT he had succeeded in making Russia Communist, he had seized power and retained it.
He hoped in time the party would lead Russia and the world to Communism.
Why did NEP have to go?
- Famine in 1921
- Growing opposition
- Need to get the economy going.
